Arrow Films

[fdm]

Part of why I'm not in a great hurry. I do have it (somewhere...) though.

[Jonathan S]

I only watched it once, bought it quite a while ago (in '06). At the time I wrote "small glitch at 78:45". (I don't have ready access to it, else I'd give it a look-see for you.)

That one-second digital glitch is also on my copies of Conversation Piece, but my main problem occurs earlier and is far more serious with several minutes completely unplayable. I'm sure you'd have noted (and remembered) that too if you'd experienced it, so thanks for your input. Maybe mine are from a bad batch....

[tenia]

Definitely for worse. (That's one of the worst looking Blu-rays I've ever seen.)

The Gaumont French BD is much better. It contains the English track but only french subs though.

[TMDaines]

The Raro BD is comfortably the worst Blu-ray I have yet seen. Still amazed at how it got generally positive reviews. I was certain there was something wrong with my setup at first as my experience didn't correlate with the online reviews. But, nope, it really does look like an oil painting in motion.

[isakborg]

Ditto. I ended up gritting my teeth and going with the mistitled (?!?) French English dubbed version. (I kept reminding myself that there isn't an original language version of the film anyway and Lancaster in this and Il Gattopardo is, for me, more effective without that distinctive vocal rhythm of his - trapeze artists, pirates, scandal sheet columnists, si; Sicilian aristocrats, retired professors of art, no.)

[AidanKing]

I notice that Arrow is releasing Jessica Hausner's Amour Fou (in cinemas and on DVD) and wonder whether MichaelB was involved in its acquisition in any way as I seem to remember (although my recollection may be faulty) that he gave Lourdes a very good review in Sight and Sound.

I also wonder how the new films side of Arrow fits in with the archive Arrow and Arrow Academy releases and whether the same team is involved in the transfers, cover design and so on.

[MichaelB]

I notice that Arrow is releasing Jessica Hausner's Amour Fou (in cinemas and on DVD) and wonder whether MichaelB was involved in its acquisition in any way as I seem to remember (although my recollection may be faulty) that he gave Lourdes a very good review in Sight and Sound.

I did indeed, but it had nothing to do with me. I don't think I've communicated with the Arrow cinema team on any level whatsoever, even via a quick email.

I also wonder how the new films side of Arrow fits in with the archive Arrow and Arrow Academy releases and whether the same team is involved in the transfers, cover design and so on.

Completely separate, as far as I'm aware.

[effigy105]

Looks like Videodrome is coming from Arrow. Postcards are included in their edition of Thief.

[Finch]

Michael, any chance Arrow can get Spider? I think it was Redbus or Pathe who used to be (or still are) the UK rights holder for this Cronenberg.

While we are at it, I'd love an Arrow edition of Kurosawa's Cure.

[Robin Davies]

While we are at it, I'd love an Arrow edition of Kurosawa's Cure.

So would I.
Is there any truth in the story that the general release is cut?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123948/boa ... /190412097" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JamesF]

Two more postcards for upcoming titles that I haven't seen announced here yet - The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai and Hellraiser.

[Calvin]

Arrow on Facebook: "Anyone like Bollywood? We've long thought about the possibility of doing some of the classics, as hard as it might be. Any fans out there?"

I'd love to see Arrow tackle Sholay, Mughal E Azam, Mother India, Awaara and some Guru Dutt.

[David M.]

I'd love to do a great BD of Sholay. I saw it for the first time on a not-so-hot DVD.

[Buttery Jeb]

June Arrow USA Slate:

Contamination

The Happiness of the Katakuris

Spider Baby

[chatterjees]

Arrow on Facebook: "Anyone like Bollywood? We've long thought about the possibility of doing some of the classics, as hard as it might be. Any fans out there?"

I'd love to see Arrow tackle Sholay, Mughal E Azam, Mother India, Awaara and some Guru Dutt.

I saw that post on their FB page and also saw the general public hatred towards the Bollywood musicals in the replies.

I also hate musicals, but there is always a way to avoid the musicals and find out the HIndi Art films. They still make great films. I think Arrow (if they are really intested) should look for the Bollywood Art films. There are a lot of independent names working under the Bollywood brand, but are able to produce several milestone classics in the Hindi film industry.
I have made this short list of some contemporary films (which could easily be great candidate for even Arrow Academy) and I am guessing some of you might know these names of the directors and as well as the films. Most of these are NFDC classics, which were recently remastered by them too. I also think that NFDC is a better owner company to deal with in term of leasing.
1. 27 Down (1974) –Awtar Krishna Kaul
2. Aranyak (1994) - Apurba Kishore Bir
3. Dharavi (1992) - Sudhir Mishra
4. Ek Din Achanak (1989) - Mrinal Sen
5. Ek Doctor Ki Maut (1991) - Tapan Sinha
6. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) - Kundan Shah
7. Kamla Ki Maut (1989) - Basu Chatterjee
8. Mammo (1994) - Shyam Benegal
9. Mirch Masala (1985) - Ketan Mehta
10. Party (1984) - Govind Nihalani
11. Paar (1984) - Goutam Ghose
12. Junoon (1978) - Shyam Benegal
13. Mandi (1983) - Shyam Benegal
14. Masoom (1983) - Shekhar Kapur
15. 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) - Aparna Sen

Finally, I have no trouble if Arrow is able to get their hand on the more mainstream Bollywood biggies like films of Amitabh Bachchan (Sholey etc.) or Old classics like the films of Guru Dutt, Raj Kapoor or Bimal Roy. These will be excellent. If Arrow could pool a deal with NFDC and get some of these contemporary Hindi Art films from them to release on BD, the effect will be of immense madnitude on not only the cinefiles from around the World, but also on any Indian film buffs.

[colinr0380]

It also might be worthwhile Arrow seeing if they can contact Nasreen Munni Kabir as she has been the producer behind Channel 4's annual Indian subcontinent film season, which has varied from the Bollywood to the art film end (there have been seasons of Ritwik Ghatak, Shyam Benegal and Shekhar Kapur to go with the first screenings of their films). It could potentially allow for some of those documentaries or five minute introductions that have appeared before the films over the years to get another airing.

(Or maybe do a deal with Mondo Macabro for some of their Indian horror films and extras. We certainly need some Ramsay Brothers films in the UK!)

[chatterjees]

It also might be worthwhile Arrow seeing if they can contact Nasreen Munni Kabir as she has been the producer behind Channel 4's annual Indian subcontinent film season, which has varied from the Bollywood to the art film end (there have been seasons of Ritwik Ghatak, Shyam Benegal and Shekhar Kapur to go with the first screenings of their films). It could potentially allow for some of those documentaries or five minute introductions that have appeared before the films over the years to get another airing.

(Or maybe do a deal with Mondo Macabro for some of their Indian horror films and extras. We certainly need some Ramsay Brothers films in the UK!)

My list was mostly focused on the Bollywood films (avoiding harcore musicals). Ghatak is my all time favorite director (after Ray), but he is not Bollywood. He is solely a Bengal property. Shyam Benegal will be great. Shekhar Kapur will be good too, but he has only a few films he has made in India. I have mentioned his Masoom (1983) (which was probably his best before he made Bandit Queen) in my list. The other hit film he had was Mr. India, which is a mainstream Bollywood musical, but is a very popular film.

I have only seen Veerana(1988) when I was 9 or 10. It scared the crap out of me. I remember I started sleeping next to my mom for next few days. Now, when I think of them it seems that those films were extremely cheesy and nobody cares for them. I am glad to see the popularity they still have. I just did a imdb search and found some familiar names, but most of the films, which I heard of are the old ones. I am not even sure if the elements still survive. I have no idea about the new films.

[L.A.]

If Arrow decides to put out some Bollywood, you can expect support from me.

My hopes for possible titles:

Boot Polish (1954)
Mother India (1957)
Mughal-e-Azam (1960)

[kekid]

Bollywood films I would like to see (in order of preference):
1. A box set of 3 Guru Dutt Films (Kagaz-ke-phool, Pyasa, Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam)
2. Jagte Raho (my preferred Raj Kapoor film)
3. Mughal-e-Aazam (the original, not the colorized version)
4. Mother India
5. Ganga Jumna (in my opinion the best Dilip Kumar performance)

Separately, some non-Bollywood Hindi films would be most welcome.
These would include a selection of Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani films, for a starter.

Perhaps Arrow and Masters of Cinema can share this initiative.
So should Criterion, but given everything else in their plate, I have little hope that they will take this up.

[chatterjees]

Bollywood films I would like to see (in order of preference):
1. A box set of 3 Guru Dutt Films (Kagaz-ke-phool, Pyasa, Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam)
2. Jagte Raho (my preferred Raj Kapoor film)
3. Mughal-e-Aazam (the original, not the colorized version)
4. Mother India
5. Ganga Jumna (in my opinion the best Dilip Kumar performance)

Separately, some non-Bollywood Hindi films would be most welcome.
These would include a selection of Shyam Benegal and Govind Nihalani films, for a starter.

Perhaps Arrow and Masters of Cinema can share this initiative.
So should Criterion, but given everything else in their plate, I have little hope that they will take this up.

You don't want to see Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin (1953)? To me Bimal Roy was the Father of all the directors represented in your list. Do Bigha Zamin (1953) was the first Indian film to win the International Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, after Neecha Nagar (1946), which won the Palme d'Or. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity to watch Neecha Nagar.

You are definitely right about Criterion. I also think that they will never have time for working on these films. They might not even get the change to release all the Ray films they have got. BD format might be obsolete by that time. Also, it seems to me that MoC is scared to even upgrade Abhijaan (1962), because the DVD didn't sell well. So, I am not sure how much initiative you can expect from them. I am really thankful to Arrow that at least they have shown interest. I wish they were little more specific in their post. What exactly did they mean by Bollywood Classics?

MichaelB should be able to share some insight, I hope.

[Stefan Andersson]

Chatterjees - excellent initiative to start a discussion re: Arrow and Bollywood art films & musicals.

I´m all for more Bollywood and Bengal art films in good DVD editions.

Here´s my +1 vote, in no special order of preference, for some titles and/or directors that interest me:

Satyajit Ray films - basically all those restored titles that Criterion have - though I think Distant Thunder (1974) and some other titles are MIA from that list

Guru Dutt films - Kagaz-ke-phool, Aar-Par, Pyasa, Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam
Was it Kagaz-ke-phool or Pyaasa that was shot both flat and in CinemaScope? Films Sans Frontieres did a widescreen VHS release in France of one of those films, but my VHS is tucked away right now so I´cant check

Govind Nihalani films
Mrinal Sen films - Khandhar (1984), excellent film, recently restored; Genesis also sounds interesting; other suggestions welcome
Shyam Benegal films - Bhumika (The Role), Ankur, Junoon, Nishant, other suggestions welcome
Raj Kapoor films - Awaara, other suggestions welcome
Adoor Gopalakrishnan films - suggestions welcome
Ritwik Ghatak films - Subarnarekha, other suggestions welcome
Gunga Jumna, Nitin Bose
Pakeezah
Mother India
Mughal-e-Azam

[Drucker]

Arrow says on Twitter that they have another Robert Altman film coming, but won't say which one.

[Forrest Taft]

A while back, they wrote this:

Not looked into HEALTH. May be one for the future, we will see how The Long Goodbye does...

Maybe it'll finally make it's home video debut [-o<

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Good to see the man himself having an opinion.
As long as it's not O.C. and Stiggs.

[What A Disgrace]

I'm thinking it will either be Images or Thieves Like Us.