Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films

[kaujot]

Well with decent to great transfers and actual pressed DVDs rather than burned DVD-Rs.

Edit: And $5 cheaper!

[Tommaso]

And available world-wide. Though so far the Warner Archive has the more eagerly desired films.

[Amazing Goose]

Does anyone have any insights on how well the EAH box sets are selling? They seem to be aimed at an even narrower market than Criterion's mainline: people who are interested in art film enough to buy a box set of foreign/art house movies yet who aren't interested in any supplements.

I've looked them up on Amazon and there isn't one customer review for any of the three EAH box sets (although vol. 3 is ranked 32,000 in sales, while vol. 2 is 62,000).

Originally, it seemed like the line was going to release the "Essential 50 Films" set (which I do have and enjoy) one by one, but their shift to, as someone said, a sort of "single-serving Eclipse" line seems like a plausible idea.

However, if Night and Fog, Patriotism, and Bergman Island can all get their own spine numbers, why not Le Jour Se Leve? A main line release with a lower price point and sparse supplements would be much more visible for sales. Perhaps, despite the above-mentioned anomalies, they want to keep main line releases better-stocked with extras.

It seems that the EAH line is still so unknown that, in tight economic times, it's probably not the best place to focus their resources.
But, as has been said before, this forum may not be indicative of their overall purchasing demographic.

(For what it's worth, I'm hoping Zero for Conduct is on disc 2 of a lovely L'Atalante release.)

[anne_zombie]

I failed to find a place as to where to insert this topic, and I hadn't the patience to go through all the previous entries on this thread. My question is: Do any of the Essential Art House CDs sport new transfers when compared to their initial incarnations as regular Criterion DVDs? If memory serves I vaguely recall I read something like The Wild Strawberries essential art house DVD boasts an improved transfer (perhaps only as part of the box set)?? I don't remember the source, but if this is correct, are there other titles that fits this description, too? I'd be grateful for any response. Thanks.

[knives]

No, all of the present, fucking stuck space bar, transfers were used for the EHA discs.

[MuzzyV]

I have acquired a copy of the Essential Art House collection complete with all 50 films and the book in mint condition from a relative of mine. I am not a film buff and this is a whole new world to me. I have limited time and to watch all 50 discs would take me forever so my question is this; for a newbie to this scene, which three films should I watch first? (I am flying abroad next week and thought I could watch three en route).

[htshell]

You could literally pick any three and would probably have a great experience. That said, three favorites of mine are The 400 Blows, The Seventh Seal and Loves of a Blonde.

[domino harvey]

Indeed! And I'd vote for Black Orpheus, the Life and Death of Col Blimp, and Miss Julie (though the above are good suggestions as well)

[jindianajonz]

Since you say you aren't a film buff, I'd recommend Ikiru, 39 Steps, and Seventh Seal for a broad, varied and approachable introduction. All the films in the set are excellent, but some are more difficult to get into than others. Any of the ones mentioned above are good, though, as are Wages of Fear, Umberto D, and Mr Hulot's Holiday.

[Drucker]

If La Grande Illusion is in that set, I'd definitely watch that!

[swo17]

I'm going to go with:

The Fallen Idol
The Importance of Being Earnest
Pépé le moko

Which I think are generally less celebrated but just as good as the heavy hitters in that set.

[Roger Ryan]

...I am not a film buff...

This is what concerns me. The ESSENTIAL ART HOUSE collection contains many of the finest films every made, but if you aren't a fan of European, Russian or Japanese cinema, you may not find much in this set to get excited about.

I took so long trying to evaluate all of these great films that others have already beaten me to the post. Here's what I think...

If you enjoy mysteries, or well-plotted thrillers, the Hitchcock films might be fun. In this same wheelhouse is THE THIRD MAN which I often consider the finest film ever made for its deft juggling of plot, character and mood. If you're interested in action-adventure stories, THE SEVEN SAMURAI is fantastic; THE WAGES OF FEAR is exciting as well. GRAND ILLUSION is a superb prisoner-of-war film.

Beyond that, it really depends on your taste. Know that the Bergman films, along with the Antonioni, are going to be slowly-paced and ambiguous (especially the Antonioni). If you're open to silent films, then PANDORA'S BOX is one of the finest dramas made during this era. Few films are as dreamlike as Cocteau's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST while THE RULES OF THE GAME is probably the best social satire in cinema, although VIRIDIANA is not far behind in that category.

Given that virtually all of these films have been critically-lauded and art house favorites for decades makes this post feel like an exercise in reductionism. Pick any three and let us know what you think!

[domino harvey]

This thread is proof that there's nothing a film lover enjoys more than being asked to recommend films!

[Drucker]

Or any buff/snob/lover of any art form quite frankly.

[MuzzyV]

Thanks for the replies folks, It sounds like any three will do and it's interesting to hear the varied opinions. As Roger Ryan says above "Given that virtually all of these films have been critically-lauded and art house favorites for decades makes this post feel like an exercise in reductionism. Pick any three and let us know what you think!". Not a bad idea and one which I might take up. I'm now starting to worry that taking three discs on a plane and taking them out of this beautifully presented box may not be a good idea!

Thank you all for your opinions. I guess the only real solution is to watch them all over a period of time, but I can't see that happening as I get so little time to watch films.