Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2

[godardslave]

Does anybody have any ideas what's up with Criterion's release schedule? In the past two and a half months only two titles have been added to their 'Coming Soon' list (Elevator and Late Spring), while others have been removed (Viridiana) or shimmered for a moment but failed to materialise (Harlan County, A nos amours, Grey Gardens revamp, probably more). Right now, in terms of number of releases, they're tracking far behind where they were at by this time last year.

Thank you. I thought it was just me.

delaying/slowing down for possible blu-ray / HD-dvd future releases is one possibility...

[denti alligator]

The Beav's recent "chat" with Becker

where's this to be found, david?

[HerrSchreck]

Yeah, what I find strange is the hiccuping on the already "announced" titles... plus the mess being made of the announcement process itself, i e something pops up on the Image site but not CC-site... or the Beev gets a tidbit & announces it... or you bump into something unusual with a high (or ZERO!) spine number while surfing the BROWSE THE COLLECTION feature on the Hungari-- I mean the Criterion site.

Their releasing rythym, once so smooth & regular-- and filled with the occasional LE SAMOURAI-type surprise-- feels all off to me.

[pzman84]

Maybe something big is going to happen (not only release the long awaited Sergei Eisenstein Silent Years collecetion but actually bring back Eisenstein from the dead to do commentary).

[ianungstad]

Criterion were/are moving to a larger facility, maybe that caused some delays? Not that I buy that moving offices necessairly is going to cause these issues.

[HerrSchreck]

Maybe they finally secured the distribution rights to Koerber's VAMPYR restoration and they all passed out from shock. I'm gonna grab some chloroform & run across town. Be right back.

[bunuelian]

Have you ever tried moving offices in rural Wyoming? At least in New York they'll have an army of movers. But yeah it's as good an excuse as any.

[Buttery Jeb]

Image has the single-disc release of "The 400 Blows" now slated for release on May 9th. They even have cover art attached, which I can't seem to save well enough to post here.

http://www.image-entertainment.com/deta ... ctID=49920

As of right now, the May slate seems confirmed at "Late Spring" and the "400 Blows" reissue on the 9th; followed by "Harlan County, U.S.A." and "Viridiana" on May 23rd.

-BJ

[godardslave]

theres clearly a lack of co-ordination (deliberate or otherwise) between the image website and the criterion website.

[edgarnazaretian]

edit: moved to cover art

[Cinephrenic]

I don't think I can complain of the titles Criterion is putting out this year, but the lack of them and the speed in which they are releasing films. Almost half the year is announced at 15 titles not counting the re-issues. I certainly hope the other half of their production schedule is busy and numerous in releases.

[Cinesimilitude]

I agree, does anyone know how many of the 54 films released in 2005 were released in June and later?

[Gregory]

I only count 51 new films released in 2005 (plus Wages of Fear re-releases). Of those, 24 were released in the first five months.

[ByMarkClark.com]

Just watched the Bogdanovich interview on the new LA BETE HUMAINE disc. During the interview, as he talks about Renoir's films of the 1930s, shots are inserted from a few films of the period -- all of which are currently available from Criterion (GRAND ILLUSION, BOUDU, RULES) except one, THE CRIME OF M. LANGE. As this a subtle hint that the next Renoir we can expect from the CC is CRIME, or is that only wishful thinking?

[ByMarkClark.com]

>>Almost half the year is announced at 15 titles not counting the re-issues...<<

And 4 of those are Louis Malle films! His filmography currently accounts for 26.6 percent of the announced 2006 Criterions. Go figure!

[richast2]

Just watched the Bogdanovich interview on the new LA BETE HUMAINE disc. During the interview, as he talks about Renoir's films of the 1930s, shots are inserted from a few films of the period -- all of which are currently available from Criterion (GRAND ILLUSION, BOUDU, RULES) except one, THE CRIME OF M. LANGE. As this a subtle hint that the next Renoir we can expect from the CC is CRIME, or is that only wishful thinking?

Probably wishful thinking. There's a clip from THE MAGICIAN in the doc on SEVENTH SEAL, and that came out years ago.

[ellipsis7]

I think LE CRIME DE M. LANGE is quite likely as the next CC Renoir... Was the third film on the UK R2 Warner/Studio Canal set (along with GRAND ILLUSION & LA BETE HUMAINE), and JM was relatively positive about in the past...

[Cinephrenic]

LE CRIME DE M. LANGE

Obvious choice for the next Renoir. Does Kino have the rights on La Chienne?

[ByMarkClark.com]

They apparently have VHS rights, but I doubt they have the DVD rights. If they did, they would have a DVD already on the market. Unless they have the rights and can't find decent source material, which seems unlikely. I have a friend who works at Kino, I'll ask her when I see her.

[justeleblanc]

They apparently have VHS rights, but I doubt they have the DVD rights. If they did, they would have a DVD already on the market. Unless they have the rights and can't find decent source material, which seems unlikely. I have a friend who works at Kino, I'll ask her when I see her.

A bad print certainly hasn't stopped Kino before, but they might be trying to change their image -- yes yes a pun. It would have made a logical release along side Scarlet Street so I doubt they have the rights. Maybe Criterion would pull this one out of their hat this year. My VHS copy is pretty decent so I'm in no rush for either.

[FilmFanSea]

When I asked Kino several years ago about their Renoir rights, I was told that Interama had the VHS rights (for which Kino was the distributor), but not the DVD rights to La Chienne, The Crime of M. Lange, and A Day in the Country. My money would be on Criterion for all three.

[stroszeck]

Wow, for all those Satyajit Ray fans, I got some VERY VERY interesting info today. I e-mailed the Northern California UC which restores Ray's films and they stated that Criterion was very interested and pursued the rights to Ray's films, from the Apu trilogy to Charulata and Mahangar but that the Indian producers, since they do not understand that Ray is not exactly "commercial" property, wanted $50,000 PER FILM and would only allow the rights for 5 years. Therefore, Ray films will continue to bask in limbo, until someone can convince the producers to lower their "demands." Sucks.

[LightBulbFilm]

Wow, for all those Satyajit Ray fans, I got some VERY VERY interesting info today. I e-mailed the Northern California UC which restores Ray's films and they stated that Criterion was very interested and pursued the rights to Ray's films, from the Apu trilogy to Charulata and Mahangar but that the Indian producers, since they do not understand that Ray is not exactly "commercial" property, wanted $50,000 PER FILM and would only allow the rights for 5 years. Therefore, Ray films will continue to bask in limbo, until someone can convince the producers to lower their "demands." Sucks.

Damn Indian producers. Don't they see that Ray's films are works of art for EVERYONE.

[peerpee]

There's more to this story. I suspect the $50g is a one-off payment -- no royalties -- as the Indians like it. If so, it's quite a bargain for the US market, even for 5 years -- (although 7 or 10 is far more preferable).

[nick]

I searched around and could not find this posted anywhere...I went to a screening last night of Milou en Mai (US: May Fools) by Louis Malle and the film was preceded by a Janus logo. To me it looked like a new print, though I cannot confirm this as fact.

3/22/06 Edit:

Went to a screening of Vive Le Tour and Humain, trop humain(Human, Too Human) and both films were preceded by Janus Logos and Humain, trop humain looked like a brand new print.