Criterion and MGM

[Cinephrenic]

They said "check back in a few months" on Cul-de-sac a year ago. Although, I think he is recording a commentary from his Swiss cell.

[AfterTheRain]

They said "check back in a few months" on Cul-de-sac a year ago. Although, I think he is recording a commentary from his Swiss cell.

Naturally, and as usual they have someone supervising him while he's recording his thoughts.

[ianungstad]

Another problem title. Looking into solving it, but it looks like it won't be quick.

Facebook reply re: Love Streams.

Sounds like it might be a possibility? One could translate Criterion's doublespeak to be: It's one of the titles we requested from MGM, even if we do get it, we'll be focusing on the heavy hitters first so don't look for it soon...

Someone named Shawn asked about a bunch of misc. United Artists titles which all got no's : Any chance for Wajda's Man of Iron, Canadian classic 'The Grey Fox', or Ivan Passer's Cutter's Way?

[Napier]

I just saw Dodsworth for the first time on TCM last night, and wow! What a great film, superb acting and directing, Walter Huston is excellent in the title role. And you just love to hate Ruth Chatterton. This would be a great Criterion release if they could license it from MGM, if they already haven't.

[Jeff]

Criterion's increasingly oblique Facebook responses regarding The Night of the Hunter, Sweet Smell of Success, and Kiss Me Deadly have me giddy. I can't think of three MGM titles I'd like them to acquire more!

[Tribe]

Criterion's increasingly oblique Facebook responses regarding The Night of the Hunter, Sweet Smell of Success, and Kiss Me Deadly have me giddy. I can't think of three MGM titles I'd like them to acquire more!

They are being awful cute with the references aren't they...someone posted something about Aldrich's Kiss Me Deadly and also asked whether there might be an Eclipse box of the three Kiyoshi Kurosawa titles that were released by Home Vision. Criterion's response was something like "we're glad you're excited over Aldrich...but no on Kiyoshi..." Who knows what that means.

[ianungstad]

It also sounds like Love Streams and Park Row are on Criterion's list of 15 or whatever. They aren't shy about nixing possible titles, which helps to figure out what we are looking at... one has to read between the lines a bit. All the high profile and previously released films that it seems like we're going to get makes sense. MGM might not be around a year from now...and if their assets are liquidated, the new owners might not license anything to Criterion at all. Might as well grab all the major titles they can, so that they have long term distribution contracts inked in case MGM goes BK. Any new owners would have to honor previous agreements signed with MGM.

Just a thought.

[domino harvey]

A Criterion double-slam of Sweet Smell of Success and Kiss Me Deadly might just be too beautiful for this world

[Tribe]

A Criterion double-slam of Sweet Smell of Success and Kiss Me Deadly might just be too beautiful for this world

Sweet Smell of Success would mean Johnny Yuma would finally make it into the Collection.

[scotty2]

If they really are going for around 15 titles, I can't imagine Wyler's OOP The Best Years of Our Lives wouldn't be on the list.

[ianungstad]

I asked about that and they said No.

They've also said no to early Cronenberg, so that eliminates The Brood and Scanners. They've said no a few times to Bergman's Persona. Someone also asked about Budd Boetticher Westerns for United Artists, which all got "no's". I had asked about Hal Ashby (Harold and Maude and The Landlord specifically) and they said they'd love to take a crack at a good Ashby but nothing was in the works, so that eliminates The Landlord. They've declined some other MGM stuff, can't remember the titles off the top of my head though.

EDIT: I remember them saying they didn't have any more Mamet in the pipeline, so that would seem to discount the OOP Oleanna.

[captveg]

They haven't ruled out the Kubrick titles (Paths of Glory, The Killing, Killer's Kiss), so I'd say those have a good chance of being part of the 15.

[Jeff]

I would say that when they give Ian the "50-50" response when he asks about the chances of Criterion releasing two particular titles, they are indicating that one of the titles is coming and the other is not. Obviously, they've already signed the papers with MGM and know for sure which titles are coming now, or they wouldn't be playing this game with us at all.

They have given that response to two inquiries: "Paths of Glory/The Misfits" and "Sweet Smell of Success/Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend." Since they've alluded to the possibilities of the early Kubricks and Sweet Smell of Success in other posts, I would say those are the ones that are coming. The Misfits probably wouldn't be at the top of Criterion's priorities, and I really can't fathom them trying to license The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend from Fox.

My assumptions thus far for the titles in this package: The French Lieutenant's Woman, Night of the Hunter, Sweet Smell of Success, Kiss Me Deadly, Early Kubrick (not sure if they'll go for a paired spine release of The Killing and Paths of Glory, or include Killer's Kiss and do an "Early Kubrick" box), and The Fugitive Kind. I know that Criterion has talked about wanting to work on Cul-de-sac, Love Streams, and Park Row -- all of which would be wonderful since they don't have Region 1 releases, but it sounds like their may still be some hiccups with those titles, and I'm not 100% convinced that even if Criterion gets them, MGM will be the credited licensor.

[Cinephrenic]

I'm hopeful on those, even if some might not make the cut. They couldn't have easily knocked it down with a 'no' or similar answer.

[Ben Cheshire]

Sweet Smell would be great to see blu. Is it true the only R1 DVD release isn't anamorphic? I just bought it without checking because I caught it on cable, what a stunning movie.

[jaredsap]

A big, Blu SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS package would probably be among the all-time Top 3 Criterion releases for me. And, like domino said, perhaps too beautiful for this world.

[Cinephrenic]

Has anyone asked them about Fellini's Satyricon and Roma?

[ianungstad]

I asked about Satyricon. Their reply indicated more Fellini on the way but no specific titles.

Unlikely but I would really like them to release On The Beach.

[Jeff]

Reasonable possibilities (some remote) that I don't think Criterion has addressed:

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (Reisz), Look Back in Anger (Richardson), Mademoiselle (Richardson), Prick Up Your Ears (Frears), Darling (Schlesinger), These Three/The Children's Hour Double Feature (Wyler), Ball of Fire (Hawks), Red River (Hawks), Man of the West (A. Mann), Viva Maria! (Malle), Odds Against Tomorrow (Wise), Never on Sunday (Dassin), Topkapi (Dassin), Elmer Gantry (R. Brooks), Moby Dick (Huston), The Spiral Staircase (Siodmak)

And of course lots of Truffaut...
The Wild Child
Small Change
The Bride Wore Black
The Story of Adele H.
The Man Who Loved Women
Mississippi Mermaid

[beamish13]

I wonder if Criterion could snag some Tony Richardson from MGM. I've heard that "Tom Jones" is in need of a major restoration, but there's always "The Hotel New Hampshire".

[kaujot]

Didn't Ball of Fire get one of those Fox Cinema Classics releases? Or am I imagining things?

[Tom Hagen]

Any of the Almodovar's still with MGM? Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown? Live Flesh?

Of the Truffaut's, Adele H is the key title, though I wouldn't understand Criterion acquiring more Truffaut when they're still sitting on some Janus titles.

[Cinephrenic]

They said no to Almodovar.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

Didn't Ball of Fire get one of those Fox Cinema Classics releases? Or am I imagining things?

It had a very nice release back a few years back from MGM, I believe. I don't remember if it had any special features.

[brendanjc]

A big, Blu SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS package would probably be among the all-time Top 3 Criterion releases for me. And, like domino said, perhaps too beautiful for this world.

Agreed, what a great film. It was playing on HDNET a few months back and it looked pretty fantastic, I think it's a title that would demand a Blu release.