Criterion and MGM

[swo17]

12 Angry Men has a special place in my heart as it was one of the earliest classic films I had the sense to seek out on my own. If I remember right, I took a psychology class that had us watch this for an assignment, only they pushed us toward the Tony Danza-starring remake, and I was like, eff that (which was the style at the time).

[colinr0380]

Not that it should ever be considered in any way superior to the Lumet version but if we're talking Tony Danza remakes I'm actually quite partial to the female-skewed Kelly McGillis/Lauren Hutton TV movie, We The Jury myself (there appears to have been a resurgence of interest in films about juries arguing about guilt and innocence in the mid 90s - due to the O.J. Simpson trial, perhaps?) It's in no way an official remake but close enough to be obvious where it got most of its 'inspiration' from.

Anyway, add me to the list of those excited for a feature packed Criterion edition of the Lumet film. Don't worry Jeff, three or four more of us on the side of being excited for the film and we'll manage to form a consensus to batter down What A Disgrace's 'only for dads' prejudices!

[matrixschmatrix]

There's a David Kalat essay about 12 Angry Men, and how his obsession with it spilled over into real-life jury duty. There's definitely material floating around for a seriously features-packed disc.

Besides, it's been a while since Criterion put out Stagecoach, and I need Christmas gifts for my dad.

[triodelover]

12 Angry Men has a special place in my heart as it was one of the earliest classic films I had the sense to seek out on my own. If I remember right, I took a psychology class that had us watch this for an assignment, only they pushed us toward the Tony Danza-starring remake, and I was like, eff that (which was the style at the time).

Of course, 12 Angry Men the 1957 film was itself a remake of the Studio One TV version broadcast in 1954, starring (retch) Robert Cummings in the Henry Fonda role.

[flyonthewall2983]

I love the Lumet film, manage to always catch it on TCM while channel surfing. I'd really like to see a Night Falls On Manhattan CC release too, but would settle for a new transfer from Paramount.

[MoonlitKnight]

For anyone hoping for a Criterion edition of Richard Lester's How I Won the War, forget it. It's being released exclusively through MGM's VOD service this month.

Then how about "The Bed-Sitting Room" instead? 8-[

[rrenault]

Aren't the few Bergman films that haven't been released by Criterion owned by MGM, such as Persona? Basically this.

[andyli]

The Bergmans have been excluded by Criterion on facebook.

[felipe]

The Bergmans have been excluded by Criterion on facebook.

What do you mean excluded?

[andyli]

The chance they are part of the deal is excluded.

The first post of this very thread has a list summarizing all the titles mentioned not to be in this deal.

[rrenault]

No Last Tango in Paris either. That sucks. I doubt MGM would ever release a Special Edition of that film even if they've just put out a blu ray.

[aox]

The chance they are part of the deal is excluded.

The first post of this very thread has a list summarizing all the titles mentioned not to be in this deal.

It also says this:

Directors and films NOT part of the late-2009/early-2010 deal (but perhaps part of a future deal?)

[andyli]

Yeah. Fair enough.
Since we are at it, is there any further information on a second deal with MGM? Any titles announced or rumored to be in a second deal?

[Tom Hagen]

Perhaps some of the hesitation in picking up Truffauts and Bergmans from MGM is that Criterion already has plenty of unreleased films and Blu upgrades to do for both of them.

[felipe]

Is Europa Europa a possibility?

[rrenault]

Well I believe The Soft Skin is coming anyway, but that's besides the point I would think, since it's not an MGM film, but Criterion's obviously never getting Day for Night since it's a WB film.

[HistoryProf]

The Bergmans have been excluded by Criterion on facebook.

what and when did they say this?

[andyli]

OK. I give in. Maybe I misremembered. Just check the first post of this thread, or if you have time go through the whole thread.

I did a simple search. Looks like someone in the middle of this thread said something like he has seen the list, no Bergman titles. And then someone else said he asked Criterion about Persona and Criterion said no.

Just use the search function...

[rrenault]

Too bad if only for the fact that nobody else besides criterion would likely release a film like Persona on blu ray. Then again, MGM did release Last Tango in Paris on blu ray, so who knows.

[Feego]

Yes, but Last Tango in Paris is a much more marketable film than Persona. It's still well known for its "graphic sex" (even though it's not all that graphic by today's standards), its controversy, and Brando.

[rrenault]

Eh, I'd pretty much say Marlon Brando is the single factor in its increased marketability. I read at one point they were planning on casting jean-louis Trintignant in the role, and I'll bet it wouldn't have a tenth the marketability with him instead of Brando, even if it still would have been the same great film. I don't think its dated. It's aged pretty well, and the sex is still a bit graphic, and I'm sure it would have still been NC-17 had it been released for the first time in this day and age, although I doubt it would have sparked such controversy, if only because the mainstream would never even pay attention to a film like Last Tango today. It would be an obscure art house picture playing in maybe 10-20 theaters across the country. Art films don't really achieve the success they once did.

[felipe]

Has Criterion ever mentioned the possibity of Verhoeven? Some of his early films saw MGM dvds (Spetters, Flesh and blood)...

[MoonlitKnight]

Perhaps some of the hesitation in picking up Truffauts and Bergmans from MGM is that Criterion already has plenty of unreleased films and Blu upgrades to do for both of them.

Indeed, Criterion's already sitting on like 9 or 10 Bergman titles (mostly from the 50s).

[SamLowry]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned a number of titles in their Avant Garde & World Cinema series. The dvd's often had mediocre transfers, were letterboxed (with the subtitles in & outside the frame, so you couldn't enlarge the image to fit your screen), poor sound, edited and/or no noteworthy extras. In addition to Europa, Europa, King Of Hearts, & Prick Up Your Ears (much better choice than La Cage or Laundrette), I'd like to see

Darling (restored & uncensored)
The Party
Casino Royale
The Adjuster
1984
The Handmaid's Tale
Blood Simple
Choose Me
Dance With A Stranger
Hidden Agenda
Rhapsody In August
The Children's Hour
On The Beach
Birdman Of Alcatraz
Elmar Gantry
The Fixer
Women In Love
Lianna
Judgement At Nurenberg
The Little Foxes
Gaslight
The Spiral Staircase
The Haunting
Manon of The Spring
Together
Dance With A Stranger
Mademoiselle
Monsieur Hire
Angels & Insects
The Secret Garden
The Taking of Pelham One Two Three
Brother From Another Planet
She's Got To Have It
I Bury The Living
Bucket Of Blood
The Trip
Wild In The Streets
The Loved One
Lenny
Raise The Red Lantern
To Live
The Wedding Banquet
Escape From New York
and of course all of Hitchcock's MGM titles.

[rrenault]

This may be off topic with regard to MGM, but will Criterion ever release Face to Face?