Criterion and MGM

[Props55]

Hey, now I get it! Criterion releases what they want not what I want. Now if someone will remind me that they're also in business to make money I'll have a perfect trifecta of standardized replies to opinions in these speculative threads.

[Brian C]

Hey, now I get it! Criterion releases what they want not what I want. Now if someone will remind me that they're also in business to make money I'll have a perfect trifecta of standardized replies to opinions in these speculative threads.

Also, there's just NO WAY that they should do THE OFFENSE before they get to (Sternberg silents/Rivette/Transformers)!

[ianungstad]

The rights to Zulu seem split between Paramount and MGM. Unless someone here knows more, it looks like MGM has rights to the USA and Paramount has rights overseas? (Yes, I know the film is technically in the public domain but the elements are with Paramount and MGM).

I'm getting this mostly from this snippet from DVD Savant: There is now a far superior MGM version of this film out that permanently eclipses this Roan disc. The one disappointment is its audio track, which is straight mono as opposed to the multi-channel stereo found on the R2 Disc. Although one would like to blame someone, it's hard to know who. MGM archivists continually asked Paramount, which held the elements, for the stereo tracks and were told they didn't exist. Then Paramount's R2 disc appeared. Although deliberate sabotage comes to mind, it apparently was a mistake of miscommunication -- the Paramount contact honestly thought the track didn't exist. Among the studios, the sharing of elements for films with split rights is normally a civilized process.

I think the MGM Zulu is barebones as well. Would be nice to see Criterion do a special edition, they did one for laserdisc and they don't seem to have problems doing deluxe versions of PD stuff. They are also friendly with Paramount and could easily grab the commentary and featurettes from the two-disc R2 special edition and add a few new bits themselves and create an awesome dvd.

[John Hodson]

The rights to Zulu seem split between Paramount and MGM. Unless someone here knows more, it looks like MGM has rights to the USA and Paramount has rights overseas? (Yes, I know the film is technically in the public domain but the elements are with Paramount and MGM).

I'm getting this mostly from this snippet from DVD Savant: There is now a far superior MGM version of this film out that permanently eclipses this Roan disc. The one disappointment is its audio track, which is straight mono as opposed to the multi-channel stereo found on the R2 Disc. Although one would like to blame someone, it's hard to know who. MGM archivists continually asked Paramount, which held the elements, for the stereo tracks and were told they didn't exist. Then Paramount's R2 disc appeared. Although deliberate sabotage comes to mind, it apparently was a mistake of miscommunication -- the Paramount contact honestly thought the track didn't exist. Among the studios, the sharing of elements for films with split rights is normally a civilized process.

I think the MGM Zulu is barebones as well. Would be nice to see Criterion do a special edition, they did one for laserdisc and they don't seem to have problems doing deluxe versions of PD stuff. They are also friendly with Paramount and could easily grab the commentary and featurettes from the two-disc R2 special edition and add a few new bits themselves and create an awesome dvd.

Last I heard (just after the release of the last Paramount SE in the UK; and this was from a normally unimpeachable source - backed up to a degree by IMDB where under 'distributors' it says 'Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)') was that Paramount had taken control of worldwide rights, including US rights from MGM, and were getting ready to release their SE in the US. Obviously, for whatever reason, that has now not happened.

Savant's right about the sound, in a way. The stereo track is decent enough, but they've been trying to track down the 6-Track soundtrack from the 70 mm prints for some years without success. Now that would be something.

[AfterTheRain]

The rights to Zulu seem split between Paramount and MGM. Unless someone here knows more, it looks like MGM has rights to the USA and Paramount has rights overseas? (Yes, I know the film is technically in the public domain but the elements are with Paramount and MGM).

I'm getting this mostly from this snippet from DVD Savant: There is now a far superior MGM version of this film out that permanently eclipses this Roan disc. The one disappointment is its audio track, which is straight mono as opposed to the multi-channel stereo found on the R2 Disc. Although one would like to blame someone, it's hard to know who. MGM archivists continually asked Paramount, which held the elements, for the stereo tracks and were told they didn't exist. Then Paramount's R2 disc appeared. Although deliberate sabotage comes to mind, it apparently was a mistake of miscommunication -- the Paramount contact honestly thought the track didn't exist. Among the studios, the sharing of elements for films with split rights is normally a civilized process.

I think the MGM Zulu is barebones as well. Would be nice to see Criterion do a special edition, they did one for laserdisc and they don't seem to have problems doing deluxe versions of PD stuff. They are also friendly with Paramount and could easily grab the commentary and featurettes from the two-disc R2 special edition and add a few new bits themselves and create an awesome dvd.

Last I heard (just after the release of the last Paramount SE in the UK; and this was from a normally unimpeachable source - backed up to a degree by IMDB where under 'distributors' it says 'Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)') was that Paramount had taken control of worldwide rights, including US rights from MGM, and were getting ready to release their SE in the US. Obviously, for whatever reason, that has now not happened.

Savant's right about the sound, in a way. The stereo track is decent enough, but they've been trying to track down the 6-Track soundtrack from the 70 mm prints for some years without success. Now that would be something.

That last bit about Paramount now has the rights to Zulu sounds like very tantalizing piece of gossip. Really hope that the possibility of them releasing the special edition here in the US is true.

[HistoryProf]

I just noticed the MGM disc of Khartoum is out of print...seems it has been for a while. That'd be a nice one I think - we need more British Empire debacles in the collection!

[ianungstad]

At one point it had been a strongly rumored title, maybe Criterion picked up Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have it?

On Facebook they said no to Zulu and Serpent's Egg.

[AfterTheRain]

The film version of Hawaii looks like a 'no', but you never know what might go down and Shanghai Express has run into some problems:

"No plans on Hawaii at the moment, and Shanghai has a long standing
materials problem-- missing footage, that we haven't been able to solve so far."

[ianungstad]

Is there any missing footage on the R2 of Shanghai Express? If there isn't, that seems kind of an odd response. Then again, Scarlett Empress has great elements available and the best Criterion could come up with made it look worse than a VHS tape.

[ianungstad]

Maybe Criterion might be interested in one of the Scorsese titles?

The MGM dvd of Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha went out of print this week according to Mike's Movie Mayhem. The old dvd didn't have any features and I could see Criterion being interested, even if it's minor Scorsese. The disc is included in the Scorsese MGM box which is still in print (for now). I think the Scorsese MGM box will be going out of print soon. The box has the old version of New York, New York which has been discontinued by MGM (though Amazon still has new copies for sale) and has been replaced with the 30th Anniversary DVD. I don't think MGM will continue producing new copies of the old New York, New York disc and print new copies of Boxcar Bertha just for the box...wouldn't make any sense. It's days are numbered IMO.

FYI, The MGM dvds of Koyaanisqatsi/Powaqqatsi also went out of print this week, as did Malle's Viva Maria! (last week)

On Facebook they told me NO to John Huston's Moby Dick.

[HistoryProf]

The film version of Hawaii looks like a 'no', but you never know what might go down and Shanghai Express has run into some problems:

"No plans on Hawaii at the moment, and Shanghai has a long standing
materials problem-- missing footage, that we haven't been able to solve so far."

Interesting that they ignored the Khartoum part of the question...might that actually be in the works?

[Jeff]

The MGM dvd of Scorsese's Boxcar Bertha went out of print this week according to Mike's Movie Mayhem. The old dvd didn't have any features and I could see Criterion being interested, even if it's minor Scorsese.

It would certainly make a natural home for Criterion's Scorsese shorts on a second disc.

[AfterTheRain]

The film version of Hawaii looks like a 'no', but you never know what might go down and Shanghai Express has run into some problems:

"No plans on Hawaii at the moment, and Shanghai has a long standing
materials problem-- missing footage, that we haven't been able to solve so far."

Interesting that they ignored the Khartoum part of the question...might that actually be in the works?

I hope so! I heard that the 70mm print was undergoing restoration about a year ago, so that definitely sounds good for a possible new DVD in the future.

[John Hodson]

Also gone OOP this week from MGM/UA according to another forum:

Broadway Danny Rose, Fall Of The House Of Usher / Pit And The Pendulum, The Passion Of Anna, Hound Of The Baskervilles (1978), Theater Of Blood / Madhouse, September and...Red River.

[Jameson281]

There was a new HD transfer of KHARTOUM last year from 70mm, but no new DVD is planned.

[HarryLong]

Also gone OOP this week from MGM/UA according to another forum:

Broadway Danny Rose, Fall Of The House Of Usher / Pit And The Pendulum, The Passion Of Anna, Hound Of The Baskervilles (1978), Theater Of Blood / Madhouse, September and...Red River.

So keep your eyes peeled at Big Lots and the Walmart dump bin if you don't have 'em ...

[John Hodson]

Also gone OOP this week from MGM/UA according to another forum:

Broadway Danny Rose, Fall Of The House Of Usher / Pit And The Pendulum, The Passion Of Anna, Hound Of The Baskervilles (1978), Theater Of Blood / Madhouse, September and...Red River.

So keep your eyes peeled at Big Lots and the Walmart dump bin if you don't have 'em ...

While I have them, I would much - MUCH - rather have a Criterion BD edition of Red River; wouldn't you?

[ianungstad]

On Facebook Criterion posted a message indicating that they picked up Howard Hawk's Red River. (much more definitive of an answer than their evasive/cutesy reply last time.) They said no to Smile (Michael Ritchie)

This is turning out to look like one of their better deals with a major studio!

[HerrSchreck]

Is there any missing footage on the R2 of Shanghai Express? If there isn't, that seems kind of an odd response. Then again, Scarlett Empress has great elements available and the best Criterion could come up with made it look worse than a VHS tape.

That's a huge exaggeration on the Empress disc, coming from someone who's seen the VHS.

On Shanghai, the missing footage is the explanation from the Major Lenard character regarding his termination from the military, i e an indescretion more than likely involving what I always (correct me if I'm wrong, those in the know) assumed was a homosexual affair.

[HerrSchreck]

Thanks for the correction-- I had a feeling if anyone could deliver truth about good ol Joe, it'd be you, brother.

Good god, how banal a reason if that's the reason! First the French getting prickly for Express, then the Spanish getting knucklheaded over The Devil Is A Woman.

Such strange insanity. The man was such an artist, parades should be thrown for him several times a year!

[ianungstad]

On Facebook they said NO to Boxcar Bertha. Also Jeff...I agree with you about The Misfits and you can take that off the "coming" list. There was another facebook message from Criterion, that indicates as much. Hey, at least Red River is probably coming!

[John Hodson]

...and after asking about Woody Allen and/or Roger Corman/Vincent Price, they said 'Not soon'. Which is better than 'Not'.

[HarryLong]

It would certainly be nice for Corman to get the legitimacy that a Criterion box of his Poe efforts would lend ... but who even thought they might be considering them?
Meanwhile the recent Midnite release can (mostly) be found at places like Nina's Discount Oldies for only a few bucks. If you're missing any, scoop 'em up while ya can.

[fdm]

Probably a better link around somewhere or other, but MGM Library Up For Sale.

[ianungstad]

Ugh, I really hope MGM doesn't end up being an imprint in the sprawling AOL/Time Warner Conglomerate. I would rather see any other studio pick up the MGM library. Even better would be sell the library off film by film so some of the independent labels stand a chance at purchasing some select titles.

Warner Bros are growing dangerously close to being a monopoly and I don't think WB swallowing up yet another studio is going to benefit anyone.