Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.3

[peerpee]

Speaking of which, I know someone in Brooklyn who has some great advertising materials from IoLS and would like to put her in touch with CC and Eureka...but no one has responded to my emails yet. Jon & Kevin...I'm just trying to help!

So no one from either company has responded to my emails. Should we just give up on trying to help with this release, then? Does someone else have a suggestion of what to do?

Nobody's emailed me -- my email address is clearly displayed at the MoC website -- it's [email protected]

[Gary Gnu]

Once again, most (if not all) of the Malles and Chabrols are Janus properties. Far from something they have 'recently gone after', it is their own back-catalogue finally seeing the light of day. Additionly, these are the first that the films have seen a release since the VHS days, so there is no low cost competion...

I was only commenting on the "approachability" of Woody Allen. I was more referring to the directors instead of their films.

[zedz]

Is it Woody o'clock again? So soon?

These films are hardly obscure or hard to find. They've got a very high profile, a strong cult following, tawdry OscarTM marketing hooks galore and corporate sponsors / owners with deep pockets, and Allen isn't interested in presenting contextualising extras. They'll come out on barebones BluRay in the fullness of time, at a fraction of the cost of an identical Criterion edition. Why on earth should these films be Criterion priorities?

I know there's something of the idea of Criterion being a big game hunter when it comes to collecting the antlers and ears of various auteurs, but that's probably the least important function of the label - and frankly, there's much bigger game still out there.

[Gary Gnu]

Like Tiny Furniture?

EDIT: I'd better clarify that that's a joke; and that I don't really have a bone to pick with Criterion for announcing this title, which really isn't a half bad film.
... Not Woody Allen caliber, but not much is.

[Jeff]

When Criterion was cutting its deal with MGM, MGM explicitly gave a long list of titles that they could not have. Last Tango was sadly one of them.

I don't think that MGM gave Criterion a list of "off limits" titles. You may be thinking of the list compiled by me in the first post of the MGM thread. It catalogs which titles Criterion said were and were not coming on Facebook, plus some further confirmations and denials I've received. Criterion may not have even asked for many of these titles.

[atcolomb]

Criterion did release a Woody Allen film..."Annie Hall" but on laserdisc in 1990 and back then it was to see that movie letterboxed.

[Gary Gnu]

Criterion did release a Woody Allen film..."Annie Hall" but on laserdisc in 1990 and back then it was to see that movie letterboxed.

I know. Crimes And Misdemeanors, too. At the very least, I'd like to see the two of those get released again. Crimes And Misdemeanors is actually in my Top 10, I think.

I don't think that MGM gave Criterion a list of "off limits" titles. You may be thinking of the list compiled by me in the first post of the MGM thread. It catalogs which titles Criterion said were and were not coming on Facebook, plus some further confirmations and denials I've received. Criterion may not have even asked for many of these titles.

Thanks for making the list. It's very convenient, and I did misinterpret it. I thought that Criterion had displayed an interest in acquiring the rights to those titles and MGM had shot it down. I still think some of those titles were of interest, but MGM wanted to keep them for themselves. (Selfish!!)
By the way, what's been the most recent update on the list? I love monitoring these deals, and I know you update your lists regularly.

Actually, it looks like you updated the list just recently.

[Arthur House]

Hey guys, I found a (sorta) special feature on a Woody Allen DVD!

On Image's now OOP What's Up, Tiger Lily? disc, they included a side-by-side comparison feature for the TV/VHS dub vs. the track by Woody & co.

Of course, Woody had no say over this special feature, and he probably doesn't even know about this disc, nor remember making the film. But it's out there!

[Norbie]

Well there's the oft-discussed thing that Allen doesn't like special features and thinks his films should stand on their own. And I doubt Criterion would want to pay the cash for something like Allen without special features. Although a) his viewpoint seems pretty backwards in 2011, so I wouldn't be surprised if it has somewhat relaxed. b) Criterion released The Makioka Sisters with just a trailer recently, so it's possible if that's the only option, that they could do budget releases in a similar manner.

But to be honest I think the reason his films aren't in the collection is down to rights, and a lack of interest in his later, less well received, work.

Why not something like this - A BBS style package.

The Individual discs have no special features besides a trailer (Keep Woody happy). Also include a disc that is nothing but documentaries/featurettes concerning the films in the set along a Woody retrospective (Makes Us happy). Oh.... and don't forget a thick booklet as well.

Ta Da!!!! Everyone's Happy!!!

peace

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Hey guys, I found a (sorta) special feature on a Woody Allen DVD!

On Image's now OOP What's Up, Tiger Lily? disc, they included a side-by-side comparison feature for the TV/VHS dub vs. the track by Woody & co.

Of course, Woody had no say over this special feature, and he probably doesn't even know about this disc, nor remember making the film. But it's out there!

The R2J Whatever Works has a twenty-minute interview where a very tired-looking Woody displays remarkable patience with some remarkably bad questions ("Who do you think has the sharpest tongue in your life?"). It also has a lousy transfer of the main feature that reminds me of a mid-range Fox Lorber release.

[Gary Gnu]

Why not something like this - A BBS style package.

The Individual discs have no special features besides a trailer (Keep Woody happy). Also include a disc that is nothing but documentaries/featurettes concerning the films in the set along a Woody retrospective (Makes Us happy). Oh.... and don't forget a thick booklet as well.

I like that idea. Love it, actually. Oh, if only.

[swo17]

Hey, I know guys, maybe Criterion could release Woody Allen's films through a hole in a sheet.

[ShellOilJunior]

A box set of Woody Allen films would be sublime. Lord knows his films need some love. The current MGM DVD's of some of his films are unacceptable (Crimes and Misdemeanors - scene by the fireplace nearly made me cry it looked like an old playstation game, Annie Hall Hall, Manhattan, etc.).

There could be a box of his "earlier, funny films". (Love and Death, Sleeper, Bananas, etc)

Then a box of the 70's and 80's, 90's. (Annie Hall, Manhattan, Crimes and Misdeanors, Another Woman, Stardust Memories, Deconstructing Harry, etc).

The possibilities excite me. Otherwise, who is even working on these films? Heck, Match Point isn't even on Blu-ray and that was a big success internationally.

[rrenault]

Criterion doesn't need to release Woody Allen's films. The end. Maybe Criterion should release A Clockwork Orange while they're at it too.

[domino harvey]

These two things which are not equal are in fact equal!

[ShellOilJunior]

If Criterion doesn't release them then who will? I've heard no rumors of even Annie Hall on blu-ray.

[Peacock]

MGM.
It'll happen eventually. Anyway, there are still so many greater directors than Allen without even bare bones non-anamorphic dvds for their films.

[eerik]

I wonder if Criterion has any interest in Stanley Kramer's films. Most of them are distributed by United Artists/MGM and Columbia/Sony.

[matrixschmatrix]

There have been rumors about the Kramer-produced 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.

[Brian C]

Cranky today, and while I find it distasteful to play wannabe moderator, I'll just point out that there's already a pointless whining thread where all these Woody Allen comments belong.

Speaking of, is there any chance that Gary Gnu and The Fonz are the same person? They ... share similarities.

[Mr Sausage]

They don't use the same IP addresses, although it looks like they share the same service provider.

[Gary Gnu]

I wonder if Criterion has any interest in Stanley Kramer's films. Most of them are distributed by United Artists/MGM and Columbia/Sony.

I'd like to see the full cut of It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World surface.

Speaking of, is there any chance that Gary Gnu and The Fonz are the same person? They ... share similarities.

I must be missing something, because Fonzie's a character from Happy Days.
But yes, I am well aware that I am as cool as him.

[Tom Hagen]

There have been many, many questions posted in this thread recently that could have been easily resolved with the use of the search function.

[Gary Gnu]

Anyone notice swimminghorses' "random speculation??" He had a dream about Aguirre The Wrath Of God getting announced on July 15... Is that so crazy??

[Brian C]

They don't use the same IP addresses, although it looks like they share the same service provider.

... and desire to turn the Speculation threads into extensions of Criterion's facebook page.