The OOP Heads-Up Thread

[Minkin]

Just a quick update: We no longer hold the rights to the films of Russ Meyer, we have stopped supplying the trade so whatever is with retailers is all that is available.

[Feego]

Just a quick update: We no longer hold the rights to the films of Russ Meyer, we have stopped supplying the trade so whatever is with retailers is all that is available.

So glad I finally picked up that set a couple of months ago. I suppose we can think positive and hope that better prints/transfers will surface through another company, but I doubt we'll see anything this comprehensive again.

[domino harvey]

All of the in-print films in the Merchant Ivory collection appear to have gone out of print

[Matt]

That must be part of the settlement.

[RyanGallagher]

All of the in-print films in the Merchant Ivory collection appear to have gone out of print

Which titles are you referring to? I'm not seeing any OOP films when I look here:

http://www.criterion.com/explore/153-is ... ames-ivory" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[domino harvey]

These ones, according to Michael's Movie Mayhem (Where I pull all my OOP announcements from this thread)

The Courtesans of Bombay / Street Musician of Bombay
The Europeans
Hullabaloo Over Georgie And Bonnie's Pictures
In Custody
Jane Austen In Manhattan
Maurice
the Perfect Murder
Quartet
Roseland
Savages

[HypnoHelioStaticStasis]

When I search MMM, they're all listed as "Out" (or in-print).

[domino harvey]

He posts the new OOPs on DVDTalk on Sundays, I pulled em right from his post. Still not sure why there's so much skepticism that these could be out of print?

[Professor Wagstaff]

Criterion's website will list them in-print until their personal inventory runs out. There must be at least a few still in the warehouse.

[zedz]

Criterion's website will list them in-print until their personal inventory runs out. There must be at least a few still in the warehouse.

95% of the original run, even.[/snark]

[knives]

That assumes what sells is popular taste here.

[domino harvey]

Albert Brooks' squirmasterpiece Modern Romance

[hearthesilence]

Does this 4-film set use the same mastering/transfer? It's only $6.

[knives]

I believe yes, though there might be compression differences and the like.

[Matt]

All of the in-print films in the Merchant Ivory collection appear to have gone out of print

Confirmed by Criterion. Available through the end of June, then OOP.

[jindianajonz]

As someone who knows nothing about Merchant Ivory, is there anything I should pick up before its too late?

[Minkin]

As someone who knows nothing about Merchant Ivory, is there anything I should pick up before its too late?

I, rather fortunately, foresaw this happening about a year ago and picked up some titles while on 50% off (sorry, that doesn't help anyone else out).

I think most agree that the bulk of the Merchant Ivory titles are rather middling and not worth the effort.

I did purchase Bombay Talkie based on the strength (and hilarity) of this scene alone. Here's the full song (just as great).

I can't really see any other company topping or doing any extra favors to these films (over what Criterion/Home Vision did). For the record was it James Ivory who initiated the lawsuit or the bond company stooges that sued over lost profits? The films could probably stand to be advertised a bit better, but I can't see any other company rushing at the gates to release these films (other than Howard's End). Unless they are self-distributed by the bond company, most will probably remain OOP (even then I doubt they will release much -once they see the "profits" and "demand" rolling in - Criterion really was their best hope at getting attention for them).

So I'd say just get whatever interests you. The documentaries and short films on some of the DVDs are probably better than the main features on most (so probably go with the non-bare-bones ones).

[manicsounds]

If you're in no hurry, the UK Merchant Ivory discs are a good alternative, for better or worse.

Most titles have the same extras as the US discs, and a few have more extras.
But some titles are non-anamorphic, have no subtitles, so check before you buy.

[knives]

As someone who knows nothing about Merchant Ivory, is there anything I should pick up before its too late?

Maurice is easily their best film and the one that everyone should get. After that Savages and The Deceivers are the big titles. Any random Ivory directed title after that is a priorty. The Merchant directed titles are the weakest.

[matrixschmatrix]

Isn't the Simon Callow directed Ballad of the Sad Cafe part of the Merchant Ivory collection? I have an affection for that one, which isn't as formal and dull as I find a lot of their work to be.

[knives]

Yes it is (I just haven't seen it).

[Giulio]

is howard's end going OOP too? or just the merchant ivory dvds?

[Brian C]

Yes, Howard's End too.

[domino harvey]

Many many Warner boxed sets, including Katharine Hepburn, Loy and Powell, Thin Man, Lucille Ball, Homefront, Gary Cooper, Frank Sinatra Golden, Bette Davis Vol 3, Doris Day Vol 2, James Stewart, Marx Bros, Twisted Terror, Western Classics

K Street

[colinr0380]

As someone who knows nothing about Merchant Ivory, is there anything I should pick up before its too late?

Maurice is easily their best film and the one that everyone should get. After that Savages and The Deceivers are the big titles. Any random Ivory directed title after that is a priorty. The Merchant directed titles are the weakest.

I agree with knives but personally would add in Shakespeare Wallah as well, which is a quite neat semi-autobiographical albeit dramatised for effect film about a group of actors travelling around India performing plays. It is Felicity Kendal's first starring role and is apparently based on something her family did while she was growing up (her parents are also in the film).

Although the above is mainly of interest due to Felicity Kendal being a well known name in the UK for her role in the 70s BBC sitcom The Good Life, so it might not have the same inherent celebrity name appeal to a US audience. However it was fascinating recently to see Kendal turn up in that big box of BBC Shakespeare plays doing by far the best and most endearing version of Viola in Twelfth Night that I have seen so far - from that point of view it is also fascinating to get an, abeit fictionalised, insight into her Shakespearian beginnings and upbringing in the early Merchant Ivory film.