Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 6

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jwd5275 · #1801 Post by **jwd5275** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:51 pm

I completely disagree. Despite the technical flaws in The Big Parade release, it did show that they are quite aware of thes significance of these films. The fact that they had Kevin Brownlow do their booklet for this release itself is a major clue. Warners Bros has always been quite self aware of its own history, hell, they even released a whole animated series riffing off it.

Gregory · #1802 Post by **Gregory** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 9:52 pm

If so, they have a very odd way of showing it. They've routinely left films as important as The Big Parade out of circulation for far too long.

Drucker · #1803 Post by **Drucker** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:01 pm

I agree with Gregory. It doesn't matter how they view the prestige of their library if it doesn't translate to making it available to an audience. And considering the level of care given to Kane, Oz, and Casablanca, it is disheartening that they can't find a way to release other masterpieces in some way shape or form.

I don't expect a coffee table book sized boxset for, say, The Crowd, but they can't give it a stellar visual presentation with minimal extras and perhaps a slightly higher MSRP?

jwd5275 · #1804 Post by **jwd5275** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:42 pm

I actually agree with you both. What I was responding to was only:

Numero Trois wrote:I seriously doubt that Warner executives have the same definition of "saving face" that you do. Especially when itcomes to films that only a tiny fraction of the population are interested in.

I do believe Warners does understand the importance of these films and this likely has led them to opt to not issue them at all rather than issue them on pressed discs that will lose money or dump them in the archive. It is not simply these won't make us money so we're not going to let them see the light of day. If so, these would have been dumped in the archive long ago. One option now would be make them available to stream, which they have already done for three of those five silents mentioned above. Another would be to license them out to Criterion which is how this whole discussion started.

movielocke · #1805 Post by **movielocke** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 1:11 am

I think they understand and respect their library, the archive alone has released over 2000 new to disc films, about 25% of their library of 8000 plus unreleased films, and all the widescreen releases at least have all gotten new masters made as a result, and a big chunk of the non widescreen release have had new masters made also.

regardless of whether or not a pressed fetish is satisfied at the consumer release level, in house WB is doing incredible asset management of their library by actively and aggressively making new masters. And they are also getting all these masters available for access as downloads and streaming. In terms of access to their library, WB has far outstripped everyone else in the market in terms of quality and quantity, it is pretty staggering what they have achieved.

sir_luke · #1806 Post by **sir_luke** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 3:51 am

Matt Zoller Seitz said today that he's writing a piece on Hiroshima Mon Amour. Possibly for an upcoming reissue?

Red Screamer · #1807 Post by **Red Screamer** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 3:59 am

sir_luke wrote:Matt Zoller Seitz said today that he's writing a piece on Hiroshima Mon Amour. Possibly for an upcoming reissue?

I hope so. His Harold and Maude essay is one of my favorites in the Collection

ptatler · #1808 Post by **ptatler** » Thu Oct 23, 2014 7:38 pm

Interesting podcast interview with Michael Koresky. He says another Eclipse set is ready to be announced soon.

sir_luke · #1809 Post by **sir_luke** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 8:44 pm

Random question: Does anyone have an idea about what might happen to Valerie and Her Week of Wonders? Just recently watched it on Hulu+ and absolutely loved it... It looked a bit rough in places (and I have no authority or real knowledge whatsoever in this area) but with some restoration it could look gorgeous. I heard Kim say at the Wexner talk that the transfer on Hulu for an unreleased film is not necessarily the final one... Does anyone know if the existing elements are HD-ready? Also, do you think the film will be released in the mainline or will it be kept for a second Czech Eclipse set? Just curious.

#1810 Post by **swo17** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 8:52 pm

It was originally tapped to be included in the third Czech New Wave Eclipse set. I don't believe the film has seen an HD release yet anywhere else.

sir_luke · #1811 Post by **sir_luke** » Fri Oct 24, 2014 8:59 pm

swo17 wrote:It was originally tapped to be included in the third Czech New Wave Eclipse set. I don't believe the film has seen an HD release yet anywhere else.

Wow, I didn't know about those plans. Thanks for the info!

Cinephrenic · #1812 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:36 am

Third set? What was the second set?

#1813 Post by **swo17** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 5:38 am

That one hasn't happened yet either.

What A Disgrace · Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:34 pm

There hasn't been a decent Eclipse series in 2 years, so I'm hoping the next one will be something rad.

#1815 Post by **domino harvey** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:42 pm

Watch it be something wholly superfluous like a SD barebones version of Arrow's Stray Cat Rock set (they were hVe in the US...)

#1816 Post by **swo17** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 1:54 pm

What A Disgrace wrote:There hasn't been a decent Eclipse series in 2 years, so I'm hoping the next one will be something rad.

On balance, I'd say the Ray set is pretty decent, though I will concede that it probably isn't very rad.

EddieLarkin · #1817 Post by **EddieLarkin** » Sat Oct 25, 2014 2:05 pm

I found When Horror Came to Shochiku both decent and rad. That one's only 23 months old!

solaris72 · #1818 Post by **solaris72** » Tue Oct 28, 2014 3:59 pm

I'd love if they finally got to the second volume of the Rossellini history films...but I think last we heard there were arcane rights issues that seemed unlikely to unravel.

Mouse · #1819 Post by **Mouse** » Thu Oct 30, 2014 8:05 pm

Well criterion just announced their compilation book of cover artwork. Explains the recent post on their instagram page with the grand illusion cover titled "work".

MoonlitKnight · #1820 Post by **MoonlitKnight** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 2:45 am

Anderson's "O Lucky Man!" would be another Warner title I'd love to see get the Criterion treatment.

Bruce · #1821 Post by **Bruce** » Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:56 am

MoonlitKnight wrote:Anderson's "O Lucky Man!" would be another Warner title I'd love to see get the Criterion treatment.

+1

Cinephrenic · #1822 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:10 am

I just watched Scanners last night, and wondered when Criterion will release an Eclipse set titled, "The First Films of David Cronenberg".

- The Brood
- Rabid
- Shivers
- Crimes of the Future

Valin Kenobi · #1823 Post by **Valin Kenobi** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:54 am

I like to think he's too high-profile to get dumped on Eclipse, but it would be far better than nothing.

Is there any precedent for anything from Eclipse getting upgraded to a mainline release?

knives · #1824 Post by **knives** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:55 am

I highly doubt they'll leave those to eclipse especially with an HD Brood already ready. The only chance for Cronenberg eclipse is for the television films which I doubt anyone besides me cares about.

Valin Kenobi · #1825 Post by **Valin Kenobi** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:57 am

Television films? *ears perk up* Not familiar with those, but I could see them getting Eclipsed since they would likely not be HD ready.

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