Criterion and StudioCanal

[CSM126]

That is good news to me. Maybe they can finally do a 4K (or even higher) scan on the 65mm elements and issue a superb edition. People satisfied with the original releases can hold on to them anyway.

Ha! They'll do what they do with everything else they own:license it to Lionsgate and watch it gather dust in a vault.

[Matt]

There's yet another new restoration of Playtime (and other Tatis) underway by the CNC, I would imagine another worldwide theatrical rerelease and Blu-ray would follow.

[andyli]

Ha! They'll do what they do with everything else they own:license it to Lionsgate and watch it gather dust in a vault.

To be fair they did treat La Grande illusion well.

[Brianruns10]

In this case, I'm not so sad to see it go. I think Playtime has been one of CC's most problematic releases...the first, disastrous DVD incarnation with all it's color timing issues and being the bastardized cut, and the later dvd/blu which, while a marked improvement, was still hindered by the fact it could've been so much more, had they made the transfer from a 65mm/70mm element rather than a 35mm reduction print and it's added haze of grain.

This is a film that really needs to be scanned in 8K from the 65mm camera neg for preservation, then restored in 4K with the master from that restoration. That is the proper way.

[FilmFanSea]

I have gone back and forth this week in light of the planned new restoration of Playtime whether to upgrade the Criterion re-release DVD to the BR during the B&N sale. I had talked myself out of the upgrade until this latest news. I am equally crestfallen at the thought of CC losing the rights to Mon Oncle and Les Vacances (let alone the long-awaited Jour de fête).
I hope StudioCanal will do them justice.

[jwd5275]

The question is not of whether they will do them justice, but will they even release them (in the US)...

[HistoryProf]

so i guess I should quit waiting for Mon Oncle and M. Hulot's Holiday to be upgraded and just buy the regular DVDs this weekend?

[mfunk9786]

Sounds like it

[onedimension]

What is Lionsgate's angle with all this? They pay for the films and then don't release them- are we really now hoping that StudioCanal has simply tied their hands by putting together product just for the European market? Maybe the 'Grand Illusion' blu this month is a sign of gathering momentum..

[knives]

As, I believe, Captveg has pointed out that Lionsgates has released everything they could under the banner. These releases have mostly been tied up in other companies though making it seem like they have been holding out.

[ianungstad]

They pay the big bucks for North American rights to films like Total Recall, Terminator 2, Basic Instinct, etc. I don't think Lionsgate is the problem. I'm sure they would love to cherry pick the titles they want from Canal.

[onedimension]

So we're just dependent now on StudioCanal largesse in putting out titles that can be distributed in the U.S... Any value in Internet-petitioning?

[zedz]

so i guess I should quit waiting for Mon Oncle and M. Hulot's Holiday to be upgraded and just buy the regular DVDs this weekend?

Don't forget that M. Hulot's Holiday is out on Blu from the BFI (though that might be an imminent OOP announcement, given this news).

[captveg]

Sucks, because i was really looking forward to the Criterion upgrades of M. Hulot's Holiday and Mon Oncle, not to mention the scheduled but now never forthcoming Jour de fête and Parade.

Hopefully SC does them sooner rather than later.

Now... to buy the Criterion DVDs of M. Hulot's Holiday and Mon Oncle before the B&N sale is over.... hmmmm....

[captveg]

As, I believe, Captveg has pointed out that Lionsgates has released everything they could under the banner. These releases have mostly been tied up in other companies though making it seem like they have been holding out.

Yep, that was my epiphany a couple months back. We'll see if it holds true, as one would expect Lionsgate to announce That Obscure Object of Desire and Port of Shadows for release sometime before Q2 of 2013 (could be a few months behind in the US like Grand Illusion is).

[jwd5275]

My issue is that of all these 39 OOP Studiocanal titles:
Alphaville
El Amor Brujo
Billy Liar
The Blood of a Poet
Blood Wedding
Bob le flambeur
Carmen
Contempt
Le corbeau
Coup de torchon
The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
Diary of a Chambermaid
Diary of a Country Priest
The Fallen Idol
Forbidden Games
Gervaise
Grand Illusion
Kind Hearts and Coronets
Le jour se lève
Last Holiday
The Man Who Fell to Earth
Mayerling
The Milky Way
Peeping Tom
Pierrot le fou
The Phantom of Liberty
Port of Shadows
Quai des Orfèvres
Ran
The Small Back Room
The Tales of Hoffmann
Testament of Orpheus
That Obscure Object of Desire
The Third Man
Touchez pas au grisbi
Trafic
Le trou
Variety Lights
The White Sheik
Woman is a Woman

only 5 have been put into print by Lionsgate (Ran, Third Man, Contempt, Pierrot le fou and Grand Illusion).

This does not bode well for the Tatis. Jour de Fete and Parade may as well been thrown down a well. I'm praying that this is a situation where Criterion/ Janus is allowed retain the rights for some time after the initial deal goes down and we get a rush of Tatis on Blu. Was actually looking forward to seeing the English version of Mon Oncle that Janus was touring on the eventual blu upgrade

[captveg]

Lionsgate can only put out what StudioCanal puts out. Aside from Pierrot le fou, That Obscure Object of Desire and Port of Shadows - the latter two which have only just been announced by SC in Europe for October - SC hasn't announced any of these anywhere, so Lionsgate's hands are tied. (They probably haven't bothered with Pierrot yet because there are plenty of Criterion Blu copies available).

[jwd5275]

Not necessarily blaming Lionsgate here, the blame likely lays on StudioCanal. Just stating how miserable this looks...

[Jeff]

Lionsgate can only put out what StudioCanal puts out. Aside from Pierrot le fou, That Obscure Object of Desire and Port of Shadows - the latter two which have only just been announced by SC in Europe for October - SC hasn't announced any of these anywhere, so Lionsgate's hands are tied. (They probably haven't bothered with Pierrot yet because there are plenty of Criterion Blu copies available).

StudioCanal has released Peeping Tom and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie on Blu-ray in the U.K. The just didn't use the "StudioCanal Collection" branding.

[captveg]

StudioCanal has released Peeping Tom and The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie on Blu-ray in the U.K. The just didn't use the "StudioCanal Collection" branding.

Good to know.

[RossyG]

They've also released The Man Who Fell To Earth on Blu-ray.

[eerik]

And Kind Hearts and Coronets.

[Brian C]

The Man Who Fell To Earth just had a theatrical run here in the US earlier this year, so I was actually expecting a Lionsgate Blu at some point in the near future.

[onedimension]

Is it possible SC/Lionsgate are waiting for more blu ray market penetration before they release titles in the U.S., especially when Criterion has put out so many on DVD already?

[Perkins Cobb]

Is it possible SC/Lionsgate are waiting for more blu ray market penetration before they release titles in the U.S., especially when Criterion has put out so many on DVD already?

Yes, and they're also waiting for more DVD market penetration before they put out any more classic movies on that format, too.