Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[John Shade]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 4856820564

New Criterion Facebook post about sketches done for The Lady Eve. With the wave of screwball films getting releases, is it crazy to think (not just because of this post) that an upgrade of The Lady Eve is not far off.

I've read it's been rumored before, or maybe people just suggest it every month during the guessing thread (I've guessed it too). Hopefully soon. As for ribs comment about Kubrick, I feel like Dr. Strangelove and Paths of Glory are widely acknowledged in the film community and big gets for Criterion. That is not to say they could get 2001, Clockwork, or The Shining, but it wouldn't surprise me if one of those latter two somehow found a way.

[Costa]

Well, as long as someone releases new restorations, I'll be fine. It doesn't have to be Criterion.

[Minkin]

I'd imagine that Lolita is likely coming to Criterion at the very least. It was a former Laserdisc title, received a barebones WB Blu (like Barry Lyndon). That and I'm sure we'll get an upgrade of Spartacus at some point.

After that, perhaps Eyes Wide Shut would be most likely of the remaining titles? Who owns Flight of the Padre / Day of the Fight? I know MoC put them on their Fear and Desire Blu, but Kino didn't - which makes me wonder why not (although Kino's blu was one of those PD "Library of Congress" editions, so even that can probably be improved upon).

I wouldn't strike out Criterion getting 2001 / Clockwork Orange / Shining eventually (I'm sure WB will part with them at some point, even if its not for another 5-10 years). But like Wizard of Oz and Casablanca, they're one of the few reliably profitable classic films that the studio can still put out in "37th anniversary editions with a snowglobe, t-shirt and pencil case."

[sabbath]

Lolita would be great. And I sincerely hope we can get The Shining, Full Metal Jacket and Eyes Wide Shut in three different aspect ratio (1.33:1, 1.66:1, 1.85:1) as in On the Waterfront Criterion Blu, which is hard to expect from Warner Bros.

[HitchcockLang]

After that, perhaps Eyes Wide Shut would be most likely of the remaining titles? Who owns Flight of the Padre / Day of the Fight? I know MoC put them on their Fear and Desire Blu, but Kino didn't - which makes me wonder why not (although Kino's blu was one of those PD "Library of Congress" editions, so even that can probably be improved upon).

I can't recall the exact details, but Kino had originally announced that as Early Kubrick or Kubrick Short Films or something and it was to include all four films, but for whatever reason, at the eleventh hour they had to drop Flight of the Padre and Day of the Fight and rebranded the release as simply Fear and Desire even though it still includes The Seafarers as a supplement.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

I'd imagine that Lolita is likely coming to Criterion at the very least. It was a former Laserdisc title, received a barebones wrong AR WB Blu (like Barry Lyndon).

The WB Blu for Lolita is 1.66:1. Is that the wrong AR for that film? The Kubrick-approved LD had Strangelove-style varying ARs, but this was almost certainly the result of doing an open-matte transfer of a film with partial hard matting and I doubt the film was ever theatrically exhibited that way (and if Criterion didn't use varying ARs for their Strangelove Blu, I don't see any reason to think they'd do it for Lolita).

[djproject]

I'd imagine that Lolita is likely coming to Criterion at the very least. It was a former Laserdisc title, received a barebones wrong AR WB Blu (like Barry Lyndon).

The WB Blu for Lolita is 1.66:1. Is that the wrong AR for that film? The Kubrick-approved LD had Strangelove-style varying ARs, but this was almost certainly the result of doing an open-matte transfer of a film with partial hard matting and I doubt the film was ever theatrically exhibited that way (and if Criterion didn't use varying ARs for their Strangelove Blu, I don't see any reason to think they'd do it for Lolita).

Here we go again ... (and please delete if this is not helping anyone)

1) The Criterion LD was sourced from Kubrick's own personal print where I'm sure he had it matted for his own personal viewing. I am very sure that one matte was applied for theatrical exhibition and it would have ranged from 1.66 to 1.85.

2) As it has been established elsewhere, there is no real definitive AR to his full-frame 35mm films as the mattes were not consistent from theatre to theatre. Thus he employed the "shoot and protect" method where the image could accommodate different ARs (including full frame). If it didn't look good in multiple ARs a la On the Waterfront, we wouldn't be having this debate =].

3) The consensus seems to be that 1.66:1 works across the board through all of his films from The Killing onward (Fear and Desire and Killer's Kiss were made and first exhibited just before the flat/soft widescreen practice).

4) The other exception is, of course, Spartacus and 2001 as they were shot in 65mm (and thus at least 2.20:1, depending on whether it was projected at 70mm or not).

So basically I can't see why Lolita *shouldn't* be presented in 1.66:1. It *may* work better - it's been a while since I last saw it - as 1.33:1 because it was meant to evoke an MGM screwball comedy of sorts but again, I think widescreen was the expectation at this time and Stanley would have made it work =].

[Roger Ryan]

The Lolita credit sequence is already pretty loose at 1.66:1 - I can't imagine an open frame (1.33:1) version being particularly appealing.

[Minkin]

Hah! I actually made the mistake with my comment about the AR on Lolita. I looked up the disc and read it wrong. I didn't mean to wade into another Kubrick / early projection AR debate (I thought the WB Blu's AR was 1.78). So please ignore that aspect of my post. I do think its still very likely for a future Criterion, along with most of the other former WB laserdisc titles.

Here's a question back on the forthcoming topic:

Are Dead Presidents (1995) and Evita (1996) both still with Disney/ABC/Buena Vista? Criterion has of course licensed Straw Dogs + the former Hitchcock films from Disney, but I wonder what else might be part of that deal - and the above were former laserdisc titles. I know Kino has also licensed from Disney, but it seems that Criterion got the pick of the litter.

[kcota17]

I could be wrong, but I believe ABC Films, which Straw Dogs and the Hitchcock films are licensed from, is a completely separate company from the Disney ABC we all know.

[flyonthewall2983]

The company was owned by the network, but dissolved years before Disney bought it.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

ABC's film division(s) were wound down long ago but the films stayed with ABC. When Disney bought the company, they decided for some reason not to distribute the films themselves and licensed them out first to Anchor Bay and then to MGM. I think Criterion originally sublicensed Straw Dogs and the three Hitchcocks from Anchor Bay near the end of their deal, hence their rather brief window of availability. (IIRC Straw Dogs even had a sticker on the shrinkwrap noting that it would only be available for a limited time.) I don't have the new releases of Straw Dogs or Rebecca, but the reviews on this site list the licensor for both as Buena Vista. Whether Criterion could get stuff like Evita and Dead Presidents depends on whether Buena Vista is willing to license out films from their other libraries or if they're still treating the ABC catalog as an exception.

[zedz]

There are people clamouring for an Evita Criterion?

[flyonthewall2983]

I feel like there could be an awesome opportunity for Criterion to get more than just those films, but more from the Touchstone/Hollywood pool. Those divisions are pretty much gone as Disney has focused much entirely more on Marvel and LucasFilms, and their own in-house films as well of course. And that naturally would extend to the home video market too, as you don't see too many films from those divisions coming out on Blu-ray except by other lesser-known labels.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

The fact that Kino Lorber is apparently releasing Kundun suggests Disney is open to licensing Touchstone titles, but then they might just be making an exception for Kundun because there's no way Disney themselves will ever release that movie again.

[DRW.mov]

The three Hitchcocks and Straw Dogs were originally actually licensed from Buena Vista, which you can verify if you still have your old discs. Criterion also licensed Chasing Amy, the Michael Bay films, and Rushmore through the Life Aquatic through Buena Vista and continues to do so in the case of the Anderson pictures. The rereleases of Rebecca and Straw Dogs are again licensed through Burna Vista but what appeared (mainly based on Mr. Lime’s few comments) to be Buena Vista only licensing back out the ABC library to Kino and Criterion definitely seems to have blossomed in the wake of such big titles as Kundun and Dead Man which is wonderful. This means that even more Criterion laserdisc titles, specifically Dead Presidents and A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies are back on the table.

And it also bodes well for one of my favorite movies, Noises Off!, no matter who it lands with.

[DRW.mov]

Here is a complete list of former Criterion Laserdiscs (as yet never on Criterion DVD/Blu) owned by Buena Vista:

Pulp Fiction
The English Patient
Trainspotting
Dead Presidents
Evita
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese
Supercop
Sling Blade


Personally I would love to see Trainspotting and Personal Journey get nice Criterion editions (they’d be big sellers to boot) but Dead Presidents is probably the most in need.

Needless to say Supercop and Pulp Fiction are quite unlikely.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

The rereleases of Rebecca and Straw Dogs are again licensed through Burna Vista but what appeared (mainly based on Mr. Lime’s few comments) to be Buena Vista only licensing back out the ABC library to Kino and Criterion definitely seems to have blossomed in the wake of such big titles as Kundun and Dead Man which is wonderful.

Here is a complete list of former Criterion Laserdiscs (as yet never on Criterion DVD/Blu) owned by Buena Vista:

Pulp Fiction
The English Patient
Trainspotting
Dead Presidents
Evita
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese
Supercop
Sling Blade

Almost none of these are owned by Buena Vista today, as Disney sold off the Miramax/Dimension catalog after the Weinsteins left. The only exceptions are Kundun, Evita, and Dead Presidents, which were released by other divisions and should still be with with Disney. Lionsgate currently handles the Miramax/Dimension catalog and their relationship with Criterion has been limited to just a couple of titles (Kicking and Screaming, Naqoyqatsi). Dead Man may be licensed from Lionsgate but I'm betting it's reverted to Jarmusch.

[Costa]

Here is a complete list of former Criterion Laserdiscs (as yet never on Criterion DVD/Blu) owned by Buena Vista:

Pulp Fiction
The English Patient
Trainspotting
Dead Presidents
Evita
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese
Supercop
Sling Blade

Ι would love a Criterion bluray of The English Patient and Evita!!

[dwk]

A bunch of Godzilla movies are streaming on Starz and the Showa era films have Criterion branding

edited to add:
looks like War of the Gargantuas and Rodan also have Criterion branding

[knives]

I couldn't be happier if they do manage to come out with a boxset.

[Morbii]

Not even Eclipse, either.

[Minkin]

Oh shit!

And they managed to get Godzilla vs Megalon + Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla too!

I knew this must've been inevitable after the phantom page for Godzilla Raids Again, and that Janus now has the original Godzilla movie, but its still fantastic news!

Here's the list of titles appearing on there:

Destroy all Monsters
Ghidorah: The Three-Headed Monster
Godzilla Raids Again
Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla
Godzilla vs Megalon
Godzilla vs. Monster Zero (Invasion of the Astro-Monster)
Godzilla vs Mothra
Godzilla's Revenge (All Monsters Attack)
Rodan
Son of Godzilla
Terror of Mechagodzilla
War of the Gargantuas

Bold titles were unreleased Criterion laserdiscs.
(speaking of which, I don't care about Evita - just wondering what else Criterion might go after from Disney)

If they wanted to do a complete Showa era set, they're missing Godzilla vs Gigan, vs Hedorah and vs the Sea Monster. All three of these were released in 2014 by Kraken (in old masters / barebones editions). Criterion did pick up Megalon / Destroy all Monsters - which were released around the same time by Tokyo Shock (back when every company except Classic Media was tripping over themselves to release Godzilla on Blu to profit off of the new film). So who knows when Kraken's Toho license expires for the films. There's also King Kong vs Godzilla that could be licensed from Universal (or does Toho retain rights to it - other than for the character of Godzilla?). And I suppose if they really felt inclined, most everything else (post-Showa) is with Sony. But I think at the very least we'll either get a Showa era set or a new title every several months (you might laugh at such an idea, but these will all probably be some of Criterion's best sellers - boxset or not).

For those wondering whether its just a mistake or something: they say "Janus Films" on the film's Starz page.

My only question: Why Starz?

[dwk]

I hope that Criterion also picked up stuff like The Mysterians and Matango.

[knives]

Varan FTW!