Criterion and Sony

[domino harvey]

So were Milestone bluffing when they claimed it was coming from them, or did they just not act fast enough?

[jaredsap]

So were Milestone bluffing when they claimed it was coming from them, or did they just not act fast enough?

I believe you, but where has Milestone claimed this?

A sublicense to Milestone is just as feasible as a sublicense to Criterion. If Milestone has publicly claimed they're releasing TO SLEEP WITH ANGER, there's no reason not to trust them. But this title is owned by Sony.

[Matt]

If Milestone has publicly claimed they're releasing TO SLEEP WITH ANGER, there's no reason not to trust them. But this title is owned by Sony.

I think the expectation that Milestone was releasing this is a misunderstanding, possibly of this post by Dennis Doros (of Milestone):

When is To Sleep With Anger coming out? Say soon.

The producers would love it to come out soon. As Charles Burnett's friend and distributor, we're trying to help.

Milestone has not claimed that they were releasing the film.

[domino harvey]

I didn't manufacture a rumor though. I asked because I had read this

Together with his colleagues, Mr. Burnett (who would go on to make "My Brother's Wedding" in 1983 and "To Sleep With Anger," in 1990, both of which will be released on DVD by Milestone later this year) found poetry in the tedium of daily life — a discovery that forms the backbone of "Killer of Sheep."

And the Milestone rep's response didn't indicate anything to the contrary other than a delay. Looking back, perhaps the Sun were either confused or misused grammar, but that article clearly states To Sleep With Anger was coming from Milestone.

[jaredsap]

Jared I need to jump in here, unfortunately.

I have a very bad P&S TV dupe of this from early 80s which I mentioned to some people in NYC a couple of years ago (via this forum in fact, during a thread on ALan Rudolph.) Somone came back and said they had heard Rudolph himself comment that he understood the negs for the movie were lost or had perished.

I can simply say no more than this, but I would be more than happy to hear some correction.

I have confirmed Sony has all the elements for REMEMBER MY NAME. Nothing has been lost. As I said, we also have great release prints (I saw one a few weeks ago).

Also, I talked to Rudolph's producer last week and he told me Rudolph is notorious for going around in public and erroneously claiming his films are lost.

[Fiery Angel]

I have confirmed Sony has all the elements for REMEMBER MY NAME. Nothing has been lost.

Too bad. (Sorry all, but do I loathe this movie!)

[Cold Bishop]

Too bad. (Sorry all, but do I loathe this movie!)

And I (and several others on this board) think its Rudolph's masterpiece, so it balances out.

So.... what exactly is going to be done about these elements?

[beamish13]

I'm sure it'll never happen, but I'd love to see Ralph Bakshi's "American Pop" on Criterion. The CC really needs to include some more animated films, and some of Bakshi's oeuvre would be perfect. He's made a number of largely unseen shorts that would be great supplemental material, too.

[jaredsap]

Now you know one title: REPULSION.

[Jeff]

I'm guessing that Housekeeping, The Fisher King, and Here Comes Mr. Jordan are the next most likely titles out of the gate. Ian has virtually confirmed Housekeeping, and the other two were Criterion laserdiscs with commentary.

In the laserdisc days, Criterion occasionally announced a title, got far enough along in the production process to assign it a spine number, and never released it. There are 15 spine numbers in the Criterion laserdisc collection for which no disc was ever released. Supplements were likely prepared for many of these titles. For a few of those titles (Green for Danger, Spirit of the Beehive, The Fireman's Ball) Criterion was finally able to use some of their supplements on the eventual DVD release. Of the 12 remaining Phantom Criterions, eight are Columbia pictures properties. These are: A River Runs Through It, A Few Good Men, City of Hope, The Bridge On the River Kwai, Easy Rider, The Lady From Shanghai, On the Waterfront, and Polanski's Macbeth.

I think we can all agree that A Few Good Men, The Bridge On the River Kwai, Easy Rider, The Lady From Shanghai, On the Waterfront are all highly unlikely since they have well-appointed Sony editions, and are probably decent sellers. I'm not sure that A River Runs Through It is really Criterion's cup of tea anymore (contrary to popular opinion, they release far fewer mainstream titles than they used to). City of Hope and Macbeth seem pretty likely though, especially if Criterion has been sitting on commentary tracks and other supplements for 15+ years. I wonder if there was even some legal wrangling that held up that batch of Columbia-licensed Criterion lasers. That might even explain why many other Sayles films have been released in special editions by Sony, but City of Hope wasn't released at all.

[justeleblanc]

I'm still not ruling out Husbands. I know that Sony mentioned it would be released, but that announcement didn't seem to fructify, and if Gena got involved, I would not be surprised if Sony decided to hand off the film to Criterion.

[bamwc2]

In the laserdisc days, Criterion occasionally announced a title, got far enough along in the production process to assign it a spine number, and never released it. There are 15 spine numbers in the Criterion laserdisc collection for which no disc was ever released. Supplements were likely prepared for many of these titles. For a few of those titles (Green for Danger, Spirit of the Beehive, The Fireman's Ball) Criterion was finally able to use some of their supplements on the eventual DVD release.

Jeff, Green for Danger was indeed a Criterion laserdisc release, but was discontinued at some point. If I remember the discussion from a few forums back, Willow almost was released as well. There are even rumors (of which I'm highly skeptical) that for some of these titles that you mentioned there were a handful of discs printed as promos/gifts for the staff that never made it to general production.

[Zumpano]

I wish they'd do an edition of Mike Nichols' "The Fortune". I finally got to see this as they aired it on TCM for Beatty's birthday a couple weeks back. I hope those that have wanted to see this had their DVRs set (I also understand they will be showing this as part of the Nichols retrospective in NYC this month).

While it is not a neglected masterpiece, it is certainly not the flop its reputation has made it out to be. It is a very silly movie with very silly performances by Beatty and Nicholson. There are some interesting pieces of slapstick, comic set pieces done in one shot (in particular a scene involving a traffic jam on a bridge that reminded me of Tati), beautiful photography, and a nice 1930's (by way of the '70's) vibe and decor. While this film wasn't "laugh out loud funny", I found myself chuckling pretty much through the whole thing. A nice easy-going, watch-on-a-sickday, kind of movie.

I've read that the Coens are big defenders of this film and I can totally see that: period film comedy dealing with greedy people trying to obtain money (that isn't theirs) to comically disastrous results. Beatty's character is clearly the model for Clooney's character in "Oh Brother", down to the mustache and speech patterns.

Has anyone else seen this film and care to post their thoughts? I don't really understand why it has been "hidden" for so long. I understand it carries the same type of reputation as "Ishtar" (which I haven't seen either), which I really think is unfair. What were audiences expecting back in the day?

[Jeff]

I wish they'd do an edition of Mike Nichols' "The Fortune".

Jeff Wells has been talking about this film lately. He interviewed Mike Nichols, who apparently doesn't like it.

[ianungstad]

With Repulsion announced for July, I'm pretty certain Housekeeping is coming. I asked Mike at Sony about The Fisher King, he said that there was no special edition of that film on the horizon. I didn't ask about Here Comes Mr.Jordon, so that one could be a possibility. Looks like a no on the Gilliam though.

[beamish13]

With Repulsion announced for July, I'm pretty certain Housekeeping is coming.

Marilynne Robinson's going to be at the L.A. Times Festival of Books this weekend. I'll try to see if I can get any info from her.

[ianungstad]

I'm still not ruling out Husbands. I know that Sony mentioned it would be released, but that announcement didn't seem to fructify, and if Gena got involved, I would not be surprised if Sony decided to hand off the film to Criterion.

I asked Mike at Sony and he said that Husbands will be out this summer via the Martini movies line. He also said there are no plans for a special edition of Here Comes Mr.Jordan. He also mentioned that they've talked about releasing a dvd of Macbeth but there are no concrete plans as of yet. So it doesn't look like Criterion licensed any of these titles.

[PfR73]

He also mentioned that they've talked about releasing a dvd of Macbeth but there are no concrete plans as of yet. So it doesn't look like Criterion licensed any of these titles.

Is this in reference to a "special edition"? Because Polanski's "Macbeth" is already out on DVD

[Perkins Cobb]

The Sony film noir set will consist of The Sniper, The Big Heat, Five Against the House, The Lineup, and Murder by Contract.

[souvenir]

The Sony film noir set will consist of The Sniper, The Big Heat, Five Against the House, The Lineup, and Murder by Contract.

The Big Heat ? Is that accurate or did you mean Human Desire?

[Perkins Cobb]

I was told The Big Heat. Not sure if that was a mistake, or if they really are reissuing it ... I'm guessing the latter, though.

[domino harvey]

That's a pretty eclectic slate of titles

[jaredsap]

I was told The Big Heat. Not sure if that was a mistake, or if they really are reissuing it ... I'm guessing the latter, though.

It's not a mistake. The titles you listed are accurate.

[Person]

He also mentioned that they've talked about releasing a dvd of Macbeth but there are no concrete plans as of yet. So it doesn't look like Criterion licensed any of these titles.

Is this in reference to a "special edition"? Because Polanski's "Macbeth" is already out on DVD[/quote]
Please don't tease me with statements like this as Polanski's The Tragedy of Macbeth is a film that I have embarrassing levels of admiration for. Cinematographer Gil Taylor is still alive, celebrating his 95th birthday last week. Jon Finch gives good interview, not that he gives many, though. A fifteen-minute on-set featurette exists. Apart from the scratchy opening credits, the current Sony transfer (from 2002) is excellent.

[AfterTheRain]

Great news about the contents of the Noir box set. =D> Especially looking forward to seeing The Sniper.

Jared, any news about when it will come out?

BTW, are there any plans for A Song to Remember, Nightwing, Two Rode Together, The Reckless Moment, and (are you ready for this?) Ishtar?