Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 6

[Edmund Lachmann]

Just a question about the article that appeared at www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-cabiria-1914 and had a recent discussion over at Home Theater Forum. A beautifully reconstructed 180 minute version of the 1914 historical epic, CABIRIA, directed by Giovanni Pastrone played at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. Roger Ebert wrote that "the glory of this restoration is that almost all of it is sharp and clear". The original score composed for the film was played by an orchestra for the screening, which I certainly hope was recorded and preserved. At the end of the article, in italics, a blurb added "The Criterion Collection is preparing a DVD edition of CABIRIA". Anyone know anything about this? What an event it would be if a BD of this wonderful restoration with the original score would be released by Criterion in the year of the film's 100th anniversary. Criterion has done so much for the preservation of great historical films and this is certainly one the most infamous as it served as inspiration for Griffith's INTOLERANCE and most of DeMille's early epics. A 148 minute version was released on standard DVD by Kino some years ago. Ebert's review suggests that this new version, "restored to within three minutes of its original running time", blows that one out of the water. What an opportunity! I so hope that this momentous release will be realized.

[domino harvey]

It was denied directly to some of our members years ago, sadly

[knives]

I suspect it would more likely go to Cohen who have done some great work lately with Kino being the second most likely. I highly doubt it would go to Criterion.

[Edmund Lachmann]

Thank you for the reply. I would also think that Kino might be the likeliest to do it, but I'm still saddened that it won't be a Criterion release as you do such a wonderful job on projects like this one. CABIRIA probably won't go to Cohen, either, as I understand they rely mainly on materials they already own. I'll have to contact Kino about it. It would be tragic if the 100th went by without a centennial release for such a gorgeous reconstruction.

[onedimension]

Seconding 'Alphaville' hopes, even from StudiocAnal- the film seems increasingly prescient now that sh*t's gone all digital all over, and although I suspect I'll be corrected, I can't think of an earlier better example of sci-fi(lm) noir..

[Lowry_Sam]

Well, with Alain Resnais' passing, Providence or Mon Oncle d'Amerique would be nice acquisitions.

[Zardoz]

Well, with Alain Resnais' passing, Providence or Mon Oncle d'Amerique would be nice acquisitions.

The Resnais film "Je t’aime, Je t’aime" was restored in a new 35mm print from The Film Desk/Bleeding Light Film Group earlier this year. It has never been released on American home video, so that might be another acquisition for Criterion to consider.

[SirhanSirhanSolo]

The following Criterion-worthy titles are currently out of print in their original versions and/or have no Blu-ray release on the horizon:

Out of Sight
The Limey (Criterion does love itself some Soderberg and together these would make a killer double release)

The Long Goodbye
McCabe & Mrs. Miller (following NASHVILLE, more Altman?)

Don't Look Now (alongside a BAD TIMING update?)

The Innocents (sure, maybe a little too similar to THE UNINVITED. Maybe...)

The Last Detail
Shampoo (more Ashby please)

The similar disappearance/lack of Blu-ray news preceded both the ROSEMARY'S BABY and NASHVILLE announcements. I know it's nothing solid, but can you imagine those titles in the collection? (!)

[domino harvey]

Out of Sight is both in print and available on Blu-ray

[ianungstad]

Lots of Criterion titles discontinued today according to Movie Mayhem's database:

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList2 ... ort3by=ASC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All that Heaven Allows
L'Eclisse
Hearts and Minds
Picnic at Hanging Rock

Also:
Ace In the Hole (dvd)
Olivier Shakespear box

Nothing that I would suspect they lost the rights to. All the discontinued titles are probably scheduled for blu upgrades this year.

[The Narrator Returns]

Out of Sight is both in print and available on Blu-ray

And The Limey isn't too likely either (going by the sum title of two previous Lionsgate titles licensed to Criterion). I'm not even sure it would be necessary, because the Artisan DVD has the Soderbergh/Dobbs commentary, which is probably better than anything Criterion could pull out of their hat.

[FrauBlucher]

The Last Detail has had a 4k restoration. I saw it last spring/summer. It looked great. Fingers crossed for a CC release.

[captveg]

Lots of Criterion titles discontinued today according to Movie Mayhem's database:

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList2 ... ort3by=ASC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All that Heaven Allows
L'Eclisse
Hearts and Minds
Picnic at Hanging Rock

Also:
Ace In the Hole (dvd)
Olivier Shakespear box

Nothing that I would suspect they lost the rights to. All the discontinued titles are probably scheduled for blu upgrades this year.

Hopefully. Been kind of expecting the Olivier Shakespeare & Sirk titles to be upgraded for a while.

[domino harvey]

The Last Detail is with Mill Creek

[captveg]

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Warner. Only the suicidal should hold their breath.

[salad]

Well, with Alain Resnais' passing, Providence or Mon Oncle d'Amerique would be nice acquisitions.

Presumably 'Mon Oncle d'Amerique' is acquired since it's available on Hulu Plus via Criterion.

[dwk]

The Last Detail is with Mill Creek

According to this post, Mill Creek said they do not have the Blu-ray rights to The Last Detail

[ianungstad]

Lots of Criterion titles discontinued today according to Movie Mayhem's database:

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList2 ... ort3by=ASC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All that Heaven Allows
L'Eclisse
Hearts and Minds
Picnic at Hanging Rock

Also:
Ace In the Hole (dvd)
Olivier Shakespear box

Nothing that I would suspect they lost the rights to. All the discontinued titles are probably scheduled for blu upgrades this year.

Hopefully. Been kind of expecting the Olivier Shakespeare & Sirk titles to be upgraded for a while.

I don't think they'll reissue the other Olivier titles in the near future. The box probably went out of print because it had the old version of Richard III and they don't want to press more copies. They would have to include the redux version from last year in any new pressing.

[feihong]

McCabe & Mrs. Miller

Warner. Only the suicidal should hold their breath.

Worst thing ever. Does anyone know if Warner still has the rights to Blowup and Zabriskie Point?

[Noiradelic]

The Zabriskie Point DVD is still in print.

[Glowingwabbit]

Lots of Criterion titles discontinued today according to Movie Mayhem's database:

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... ort3by=ASC

All that Heaven Allows
L'Eclisse
Hearts and Minds
Picnic at Hanging Rock

Also:
Ace In the Hole (dvd)
Olivier Shakespear box

Nothing that I would suspect they lost the rights to. All the discontinued titles are probably scheduled for blu upgrades this year.

Well this is good news. I think it's likely we'll see all of these titles on blu ray in the near future. The Ace in the Hole blu upgrade has already been announced, Picnic at Hanging Rock and All that Heaven Allows have been hinted at, and I figured we would get an upgrade of either Hamlet or Henry this year (with the other one coming in 2015). Also with L’avventura on the horizon, L'Eclisse seems likely for an upgrade as well.

Not sure about Hearts and Minds. But if Deer Hunter is really coming to the collection this year, then releasing a blu upgrade of a Vietnam documentary as a companion release seems appropriate.

[Bando]

Anything that even remotely adds to the mountain of evidence suggesting a Picnic at Hanging Rock upgrade is A-OK in my book. Now, if only The Last Wave were thrown in there as a sort of Peter Weir Upgrade Spectacular...

[jwd5275]

Lots of Criterion titles discontinued today according to Movie Mayhem's database:

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList2 ... ort3by=ASC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

All that Heaven Allows
L'Eclisse
Hearts and Minds
Picnic at Hanging Rock

Also:
Ace In the Hole (dvd)
Olivier Shakespear box

Nothing that I would suspect they lost the rights to. All the discontinued titles are probably scheduled for blu upgrades this year.

Add to this the fact that after the flash sale, the following titles are now on backorder:

Kwaidan
Ikiru
Shoot the Piano Player
Short Cuts
Spirit of the Beehive (which I believe has been unavailable for a while now)

All of these seem to be likely blu upgrades too....

[ianungstad]

Regardless of the Deer Hunter being slated for this year or not; 2014 also happens to be the 40th Anniversary for Hearts and Minds.

[Gregory]

It'd also be desirable to rerelease Hearts & Minds with a cover that doesn't look like a bootlegger downloaded a small picture, blew it up, and printed it on a cheap color printer.