Criterion Newsletter

[jaredsap]

I know we've been down this path last month with Buscemi, but does anyone think Rian Johnson's (somewhat conspicuous) presence in the August newsletter means either BRICK or his upcoming THE BROTHERS BLOOM (both from Focus, i.e. Universal) will enter the Collection? I'm not a big BRICK fan myself, but of all the emerging American filmmakers right now, he seems like the most prime Criterion candidate. I don't think we've had any young American newcomers enter the Collection since David Gordon Green.

[domino harvey]

I will PayPal you $10 American Dollars if either of those films ever comes into the collection, that is how sure I am of it never happening. And as polarizing a film as Brick was, I don't think even its most ardent fan would claim Johnson as anything short of a new kid on the block. I'm pretty sure the reason a film as recent as George Washington got picked up is because it didn't have another distributer to begin with.

[jbeall]

I know we've been down this path last month with Buscemi, but does anyone think Rian Johnson's (somewhat conspicuous) presence in the August newsletter means either BRICK or his upcoming THE BROTHERS BLOOM (both from Focus, i.e. Universal) will enter the Collection? I'm not a big BRICK fan myself, but of all the emerging American filmmakers right now, he seems like the most prime Criterion candidate. I don't think we've had any young American newcomers enter the Collection since David Gordon Green.

Brick is out on dvd (from Focus) with plenty of extras--including a commentary track--so probably not. I really like the movie, but the Focus edition is more than enough for me.

[Derek Estes]

I figure he's around to give some sort of appreciation for an upcoming release. I really don't think any of his films will be joining the collection yet.

[zedz]

The same thing occurred to me, especially as he said "I'm a huge Criterion fan, like most filmmakers you work with, I'm sure."

But I doubt we'd be seeing a Criterionization of Brick, which seems to have an adequate release already. Maybe he's been brought in to add his 'expert' opinion to some future noir (or neo-noir) releases?

[domino harvey]

The same thing occurred to me, especially as he said "I'm a huge Criterion fan, like most filmmakers you work with, I'm sure."

I think this was just some poor sentence structure on Johnson's part, what he was saying was, "As a Criterion fan, I'm aware that many other directors have expressed their fondness for the label, and I am no different. Here's my list of favorites."

[jaredsap]

And as polarizing a film as Brick was, I don't think even its most ardent fan would claim Johnson as anything short of a new kid on the block.

I certainly wouldn't either. But Criterion does, on rare occasion, reach out to the new kid on the block. See also: Lynne Ramsay. Criterion had already put out RATCATCHER before MORVERN CALLAR even got its US release.

I'm pretty sure the reason a film as recent as George Washington got picked up is because it didn't have another distributer to begin with.

Fair point. I agree BRICK and THE BROTHERS BLOOM are long shots.

[mcginty]

Of the precode Lubitsch talkies, MacDonald and Chevalier costarred in the Love Parade, the Merry Widow, and One Hour With You. MacDonald was in Monte Carlo and Chevalier was in The Smiling Lieutenant. One Hour With You and the Smiling Lieutenant are both listed under Distinct Possibilities in the Forthcoming thread. I guess it could be a pair of releases, but I'm hoping for a box set.

[Matt]

It would be nice to see Criterion release The Merry Widow, but it's definitely, absolutely, positively a Warner title.

[Jeff]

It would be nice to see Criterion release The Merry Widow, but it's definitely, absolutely, positively a Warner title.

Indeed. Warner confirmed in the HTF chat earlier this year, "Merry Widow is still very much in our plans."
My money's on One Hour with You, since Criterion could play up Cukor as well as Lubitsch. Besides that, it's a remake of The Marriage Circle (which Image owns), and it had a French version filmed simultaneously, both of which would make fine supplements.

[mikeohhh]

so I'm still a little confused as to how Nelson Eddy fits in. This reminds me of that "move over Lugosi, make way for Karloff" clue that had me drooling over a possible Criterion Black Cat but we just got those Monsters & Madmen flicks instead. In that case, Lugosi had nothing to do with the films that were to be released.

[JHunter]

so I'm still a little confused as to how Nelson Eddy fits in. This reminds me of that "move over Lugosi, make way for Karloff" clue that had me drooling over a possible Criterion Black Cat but we just got those Monsters & Madmen flicks instead. In that case, Lugosi had nothing to do with the films that were to be released.

Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald did many movies together.

[jaredsap]

BRICK or his upcoming THE BROTHERS BLOOM (both from Focus, i.e. Universal)

FWIW, I think I'm wrong about THE BROTHERS BLOOM being Focus. A few sites are crediting them, but apparently the Weinsteins have international rights and US distribution is still up for grabs. I can't imagine the film not going to one of the studios or their arms, though.

[mikeohhh]

so I'm still a little confused as to how Nelson Eddy fits in. This reminds me of that "move over Lugosi, make way for Karloff" clue that had me drooling over a possible Criterion Black Cat but we just got those Monsters & Madmen flicks instead. In that case, Lugosi had nothing to do with the films that were to be released.

Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald did many movies together.

Oh yeah, I know that. I meant how does mentioning him in the clue narrow down the short list of Lubitsch titles we're thinking the clue could refer to. I guess it doesn't.

[zedz]

Oh yeah, I know that. I meant how does mentioning him in the clue narrow down the short list of Lubitsch titles we're thinking the clue could refer to. I guess it doesn't.

Well, it narrows down the clue (Chevalier films) to Chevalier / Macdonald films (which is the only sense in which Eddy could be considered to be 'moving over' for Chevalier), which is back where we started. Well, I'm glad this is a clue that still leaves room for ambiguity, anyway.

[justeleblanc]

Spoiler

SUCK IT, MUTHAFUCKAS!!!!!!!!

Sorry.

This was what I irrationally leaked over a year ago (in that bullshit cryptic clues I thought were funny -- in retrospect I can see why others thought it was obnoxious to the nth degree) and then I got banned from the forum, and then I had to sign on on my friend's computer as a different name, and then the mods caught on and let me back in.

Anyway, I guess they finally came through. I had assumed these were dead ideas, and I've been trying to convince Cinephrenic to delete them from level 3, but alas, i guess they're confirmed.

LUBITCH MUSICALS BOX
-THE LOVE PARADE
-ONE HOUR WITH YOU
-THE SMILING LIEUTENANT

At the time of the leak I was under the impression that MONTE CARLO was not a choice, and I assume this is still the case, given that it's weaker and that it does not have Maurice in the lead.

And for what it's worth, THE MERRY WIDOW is definitely a Warner property, and LOVE ME TONIGHT is definitely a Kino property. And I am definitely one happy cinephile.

EDIT: And I'm pretty sure that the Eddy/MacDonald films are Warner properties as well.

[domino harvey]

Spoiler

SUCK IT, MUTHAFUCKAS!!!!!!!!

thanks for spoiling the best line in the Love Parade [-X

[zedz]

You were banned from the forum for making cryptic hints?! (and I'm not normally an emoticon guy)

[souvenir]

LUBITCH MUSICALS BOX

I wonder if Criterion have considered forming a flag football team named the "LUBITCHES"

[justeleblanc]

You were banned from the forum for making cryptic hints?! (and I'm not normally an emoticon guy)

It was either that or my obnoxious attempt to delete all my clues from the site. Or maybe, the clues themselves were too obnoxious for words that I was banned on principle.

Either way, I was banned for basically being a complete ass. I would have probably banned myself as well.

[ianungstad]

LUBITCH MUSICALS BOX
-THE LOVE PARADE
-ONE HOUR WITH YOU
-THE SMILING LIEUTENANT

Do you really think it will be a box set? Are all the films owned by Paramount? Interesting....

Has anyone seen any of these films who would like to comment on them? I haven't seen much Lubitsch, but did love Heaven Can Wait.

[justeleblanc]

They are all Paramount/Universal titles.

I'm a rather big fan of these films. They are Lubitsch's first few talkies and they track the development of his wit and charm through the use of sound design, something he perfects in TROUBLE IN PARADISE. The use of music and song is also fairly experimental, even a bit more so than THE MERRY WIDOW, which is almost depressing to watch when you think of how Hollywood musicals really simplified any expressive qualities that the musical was capable of. Not to knock the classics, but Lubitsch does a terrific job at turning a film musical into an art and only a few directors managed to come close.

Plot wise, the films are playfully brutal when it comes to sexual battles. I watched these three, plus MONTE CARLO, with a girlfriend in college and she was taken aback by how offensive or even mean spirited Lubitsch's courtships are (but they're also pretty hot). I think LIEUTENANT is probably the most outrageous in its moral compass, but I haven't seen it in a while. ONE HOUR WITH YOU struck me as being the most tame despite the concept being about swinging. I hope they decide to include MONTE CARLO in this set. It's not as good as the other three, but because the male lead -- in a casting blunder -- is clearly gay, the film can't help but be slightly on the bizarre side.

I was actually thinking of sitting down at some point and re-watching all five of his musicals again (I dubbed them off of the old Laserdiscs) but maybe I'll wait for the better transfers.

[Jeff]

Do you really think it will be a box set? Are all the films owned by Paramount? Interesting....

Just to clarify, all three of these would have been licensed from Universal, not Paramount, and are not part of the new Paramount deal. Even though these were all originally produced by Paramount, they were part of the 750+ films acquired by MCA in the late fifties. They are all part of the Universal library.

I must say, JLB, that your source provides quite a long lead-time for tips. Can you tell us what Criterion will be releasing in 2010?

[domino harvey]

I must say, JLB, that your source provides quite a long lead-time for tips. Can you tell us what Criterion will be releasing in 2010?

Eisenstein the Silent Years: Coming Soon

[souvenir]

I anxiously await the supplements to these Lubitsch releases. Criterion seem strained in the other two films put out in terms of extra material. I'd love to see something a littler meatier. With all the Lubitsch releases on the DVD market, there is very, very little background on his films or him, with the exception of the commentary on Trouble in Paradise.