MoC Forthcoming, Wishlist, and Random Speculation

[andyli]

Peerpee, given the established collaboration of MoC and Gaumont, do you have any plan on porting over the new transfers of the 3 Fellini blu-ray? It would be dream come true to own a MoC 8 1/2 blu-ray. Otherwise I'll just bite the bullet and order the French blu-ray. :-"

[TMDaines]

Why would you want an MoC 8 1/2 when the Criterion is so stacked? What a waste of time. The UK is surely the one country where there's no excuse for not being region free as there's been several very cheap options and there still are.

Thumbs up for the rest of the Fellinis that only the French have released though.

[Calvin]

Peerpee, given the established collaboration of MoC and Gaumont, do you have any plan on porting over the new transfers of the 3 Fellini blu-ray? It would be dream come true to own a MoC 8 1/2 blu-ray. Otherwise I'll just bite the bullet and order the French blu-ray. :-"

I'd love to see some Fellini from MoC too. As far as I know, 8 1/2 (and La Dolce Vita and I Vitelloni) are with Nouveaux but I haven't heard about them in a while and their releases seem to be dropping like flies - Juliet of the Spirits and The Tin Drum have been re-released by Arrow; Empire of Passion, In the Realm of the Senses and Hiroshima Mon Amour have been re-released by Optimum/Studio Canal; Come and See and The Cranes are Flying have been re-released by Artificial Eye. So, with so many 'big' titles going elsewhere, I'd be surprised if they're still going.

The Criterion 8 1/2 is already pretty good but I'd love for MoC to acquire La Dolce Vita.

[Peacock]

Didn't Nouveaux release the Blu of Suspiria though? Maybe they're just clinging onto the big titles?

But yeah I agree with TMDaines, why ask for even more Criterion overlap when there are plenty of things still looking for their first english friendly release?

[andyli]

I prefer the more film-like Gaumont transfer and believe it deserves an English friendly edition. No other than MoC would I like to see this edition from. And I guess a title as big as 8 1/2 would actually make money for them, so why avoid it if they are prepared to look into the other two?

Anyway, this is just wishful thinking and I agree the other two titles have more appeal to the English-speaking region now. But I guess CC is also gonna tackle those two some day.

p.s. La dolce vita is great idea! A newly restored print is out there for the taking.

[Calvin]

As far as I can tell, Suspiria was Nouveaux's last release and it was back in 2010.

But yeah I agree with TMDaines, why ask for even more Criterion overlap when there are plenty of things still looking for their first english friendly release?

8 1/2 (or La Dolce Vita) would likely be a big seller for MoC, which could subside the debut releases. I agree though, I'd love for some home video/english friendly debuts.

Re: Tsai. I'm not a huge fan but I'd like to see MoC release Vive L'Amour. That being said, I'd much rather have some Yang (anything, ANYTHING!) or Hsiao-Hsien (Coming of Age Trilogy, A City of Sadness, Puppetmaster)!

[Calvin]

After the Birth of a Nation announcement, is there any chance or more Eureka titles moving over to the MoC label? I think the Eisensteins could be improved upon (from the previous Eureka, Criterion and Tartan releases) though whether or not they'll need to be restored first I don't know.

[Drucker]

After the Birth of a Nation announcement, is there any chance or more Eureka titles moving over to the MoC label? I think the Eisensteins could be improved upon (from the previous Eureka, Criterion and Tartan releases) though whether or not they'll need to be restored first I don't know.

I'd also wonder about Golem, which I need to get my hands on!

[neilist]

After the Birth of a Nation announcement, is there any chance or more Eureka titles moving over to the MoC label? I think the Eisensteins could be improved upon (from the previous Eureka, Criterion and Tartan releases) though whether or not they'll need to be restored first I don't know.

Nick's said that they're keen to get 'Das Cabinet des Dr. Caligari' and are awaiting a 'stupendous HD restoration'. Whether this means that an actual HD resoration is on the cards or not I'm very keen to find out...

[rwaits]

After the Birth of a Nation announcement, is there any chance or more Eureka titles moving over to the MoC label? I think the Eisensteins could be improved upon (from the previous Eureka, Criterion and Tartan releases) though whether or not they'll need to be restored first I don't know.

I missed this. When was this announced?

[eerik]

After the Birth of a Nation announcement, is there any chance or more Eureka titles moving over to the MoC label? I think the Eisensteins could be improved upon (from the previous Eureka, Criterion and Tartan releases) though whether or not they'll need to be restored first I don't know.

I missed this. When was this announced?

Eureka Entertainment are very pleased to announce the acquisition of rights to a sparkling new HD restoration of one of the great silent films – one of the most controversial films of all time – D. W. Griffith's THE BIRTH OF A NATION.

The film tells the story of the American Civil War and its aftermath, as seen through the eyes of two families. The 1915 film has shocked audiences with its attitudes towards race yet remains one of the defining films of the silent era.

THE BIRTH OF A NATION will join Eureka's Masters of Cinema Series, the home of classic silent movies, and will be released later in the year on Blu-ray for the first time in a dual format (DVD & Blu-ray) edition.

[neilist]

Has anyone heard when, or would anyone from MoC care to reveal, when the announcement of titles for release in July/August/September is going to be made? The last announcement was made in January, so I'm expecting it in a few weeks maybe?

From what we know is forthcoming, I think it's been suggested that there's a bit of a wait on dual-format upgrades of 'Tabu' and 'Muriel', so I'm not expecting those quite yet. 'Die Nibelungen' was revealed as coming out before Christmas, so I assume that's a release for the end of the year. I'm expecting 'Ro.Go.Pa.G.' to get announced and potentially 'The Birth Of A Nation' too, but then that may be one for later in the year as well?

[Calvin]

If all of those titles are on track then it seems there isn't much left to be announced!

[swo17]

It was hinted that there would be 24 dual format releases in 2012 and 1 DVD-only release. Titles officially announced so far plus BOAN, Nibelungen, and Ro.Go.Pa.G only come to 17.

[Calvin]

Well that's exciting. If Tabu/BOAN/Nibelungen are on track then we can assume there will be no more silents. Has anything else been confirmed/hinted/rumoured for this year?

[Peacock]

Don't forget the other unannounced Pasolini's which were hinted at coming the end of this year as well (Edipu, Porcile, Hawks)

[swo17]

Tabu won't be this year.

Peacock, where are you getting your information? All I see is this confirming two more on the way, and one of those could be Ro.Go.Pa.G.

[Drucker]

In case there was any doubt at this point, though it seems Tabu is confirmed eventually.

[MichaelB]

Tabu won't be this year.

Peacock, where are you getting your information? All I see is this confirming two more on the way, and one of those could be Ro.Go.Pa.G.

Educated guesswork suggests that MoC picked up the rights to the titles in Tartan's old Pasolini box - they've already released or announced Accattone, Comizi d'amore and RoGoPaG, and the other three were Peacock's titles.

I think those are all that are available, as Mr Bongo has Mamma Roma and the BFI has the rest (Teorema, Medea, Trilogia della vita, Salò).

[bigP]

Has anything else been confirmed/hinted/rumoured for this year?

There is also the as-yet unnamed Lubitsch confirmed by Nick on Twitter.

[Peacock]

There's been so many announcements and hints in the past few months that I can't remember the source post, but as MichaelB says, the titles come from educated guesswork and I'm sure the original post, on Twitter or here, was something like: there will be more Pasolini titles in Q3/4 beyond those announced. Presumedly Hawks and Sparrows will be the bonus feature for one of the other two films.
Forgive me for not being more helpful!

Edit: Here's the discussion

[Calvin]

I think there was also a hint about more Yamanaka though whether or not it'll be this year is anyones guess. Wouldn't mind an upgrade of Humanity and Paper Balloons either. I'm not sure on the quality of the materials available but the recent Artificial Eye Mizoguchi set was pleasing.

[evillights]

Has anyone heard when, or would anyone from MoC care to reveal, when the announcement of titles for release in July/August/September is going to be made?

We'll be announcing the Q3 2012 lineup a few weeks from now.

[fred]

Wouldn't mind an upgrade of Humanity and Paper Balloons either. I'm not sure on the quality of the materials available but the recent Artificial Eye Mizoguchi set was pleasing.

I saw a beautiful HD broadcast of this on NHK earlier this year. The materials are there and they look good. Would absolutely love a blu-ray of this.

[Calvin]

Could we be seeing an MoC release of Ford's The Sun Shines Bright? MoC tweeted this last night. As it's a Republic Pictures titles, that means that Universal have the distribution rights in the UK (I think?)