Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 4

[Jeff]

I think that was always more wishful thinking than a rumor.

[bainbridgezu]

This could easily be nothing, but it certainly doesn't seem outlandish: a poster on facebook who met Thelma Schoonmaker at Scarecrow Video thinks that Criterion may be releasing Scorsese's King of Comedy. Here's the relevant text:

I asked her for any hot rumors about upcoming releases. She said that "King Of Comedy" is currently being restored [...] She didn't say specifically [for a Criterion release], just that Regency finally loosened the strings.

[ianungstad]

A Criterion King of Comedy makes sense. It's not a title I really see FOX making a priority for themselves.

[What A Disgrace]

Its Scorsese's best film by a wide margin, so I'd be all over a Criterion of it.

[Peacock]

Heard from a very reliable source that Criterion will be upgrading (I believe upgrading the DVD as well) 39 Steps and announcing it this or possibly next month.

[Jeff]

Heard from a very reliable source that Criterion will be upgrading (I believe upgrading the DVD as well) 39 Steps and announcing it this or possibly next month.

That would be a fine time for them to release Foreign Correspondent as well then.

[dustybooks]

That's good news about The 39 Steps ... Hope they don't drop that Art of Film featurette though, a gem for the title sequence alone.

I do wish there was some chance of other British Hitchcocks -- especially Blackmail and Man Who Knew Too Much -- getting some attention (though I suppose BFI is at work on the silent Blackmail at least).

[Drucker]

So for this month, what's expected?

New:
Gold Rush
Shallow Grave
?
?

Upgrade:
39 Steps?
Children of Paradise?

Essential Art House-Bare Bones Release
-?

[jwd5275]

Children of Paradise will not be this month. Janus just re-released it for a rep run.

[Askew]

I'm thinking that Madadayo might be this month's announced bare-bones release since March is Kurosawa month. Finally getting Rashoman would also be nice.

[Bruce]

This could easily be nothing, but it certainly doesn't seem outlandish: a poster on facebook who met Thelma Schoonmaker at Scarecrow Video thinks that Criterion may be releasing Scorsese's King of Comedy. Here's the relevant text:

I asked her for any hot rumors about upcoming releases. She said that "King Of Comedy" is currently being restored [...] She didn't say specifically [for a Criterion release], just that Regency finally loosened the strings.

That would be great. The King Of Comedy has always been a favourite of mine, and is probably Scorsese's most underrated film.

As they are already releasing The Last Temptation Of Christ this month, it makes sense that they will want to add to their representation of Scorsese in the Criterion library. The other Scorsese film I hope they will eventually get around to is The Age Of Innocence. This badly needs a Blu-ray upgrade, and Sony seem to have virtually lost any interest in releasing back catalog titles themselves, even for relatively recent films of the 90's and 00's.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

King of Comedy would be wonderful! I'm sure Sandra Bernhard would love to be interviewed for it.

[Matt]

And get Jerry while he's still with us and full of beans (knock wood).

[mfunk9786]

He's full of something.

[FerdinandGriffon]

He's full of something.

?

Not crazy about the movie, but forget Rivette, the Collection needs some Jerry!

[captveg]

The other Scorsese film I hope they will eventually get around to is The Age Of Innocence. This badly needs a Blu-ray upgrade, and Sony seem to have virtually lost any interest in releasing back catalog titles themselves, even for relatively recent films of the 90's and 00's.

The Age of Innocence was licensed by Sony to Image. Image re-released the DVD in December 2010, but as of yet have not released a Blu-ray. Sony handles all the authoring of their titles that they license to Image so that may be the hold up.

Here's hoping The King of Comedy does indeed make its way to Criterion.

As for the predictions for June releases, I'm going with:

L'avventura (Blu upgrade only)
The Gold Rush
Picnic at Hanging Rock (DVD & Blu upgrade)
Shallow Grave
Week End
Y tu mamá también

Though I thought of this list before figuring out the low-priced bare bones release of the month, so if that comes to pass I'm also thinking Madadayo.

[tarpilot]

He's full of something.

?

Well, I would certainly expect the greatest comedic filmmaker who ever lived to be full of an intangible something we cannot pin down, a certain, unmistakable je ne sais quoi. Good thinking, mfunk!

[domino harvey]

Jerry Lewis deserves to be in the collection for a real Jerry Lewis film-- maybe an Eclipse with his later unreleased films? (Three on a Couch, the Big Mouth, &c)

[tarpilot]

With Fujiwara penning the essay, that would be a dream release.

[Tom Hagen]

Obviously their first choice for a Jerry Lewis title would be this.

[domino harvey]

There can never be too many links to SCTV clips

[tarpilot]

Man, the eighties were a great time for parody

[Jeff]

Oh, is this the 80s Bergman parody thread? My fave is SCTV's Whispers of the Wolf. You think it's not scary being depressed!?

[Matt]

It's not 80s, but I've always liked the French & Saunders sketch.

[CSM126]

Not 80s either, but we can't neglect this.