Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2

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HerrSchreck · #851 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 10:59 pm

Jeez are we cine-policy wonks or what? Getting emotional over the assignation of distribution rights by region, then over entity-labeling via the flexibility of a list of studios which turns out to be not studios but Primary-rights holders.

After adding You forgot every other Copyright-Holder/Licenser Which Hasn't Sold Distribution Rights To CC (like, say Bank of America Savings & Trust Assoc'n, Matin Gang & Gladys Glad Hellinger Gottlieb which has not released, say Dassin's BRUTE FORCE or NAKED CITY or others to CC), I'm going to sign off as continued obsession with this kind of minutiae portends bad things for Time Management stuff & me.

Gordon · #852 Post by **Gordon** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:42 pm

davidhare wrote:While I see the Criterion is listed as 1.78 anamorphic, the R4 disc states: "anamorphic full height" which suggests 1.66, I guess.

"Anamorphic full height", means 1.78:1.

DRSchwarz · #853 Post by **DRSchwarz** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:33 am

What about Drowning by Numbers? To my knowledge it has never been released on DVD. Does anyone have any information on this?

backstreetsbackalright · Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:10 pm

DRSchwarz wrote:What about Drowning by Numbers? To my knowledge it has never been released on DVD. Does anyone have any information on this?

I'm pretty sure it's a Peter Greenaway film. Circa '88 or so.

tavernier · #855 Post by **tavernier** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 2:55 am

backstreetsbackalright wrote:
DRSchwarz wrote:What about Drowning by Numbers? To my knowledge it has never been released on DVD. Does anyone have any information on this?
I'm pretty sure it's a Peter Greenaway film. Circa '88 or so.

It's on DVD in a lousy, pan and scan disc. It actually looks worse than an old VHS tape! #-o

Derek Estes · #856 Post by **Derek Estes** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 6:22 am

justeleblanc wrote:Hey, when was the last time anyone get an email from JM?

I was just coming here to ask the same thing. Has anyone received a reply from Jon Mulvaney since he returned from his vacation? I've sent a few recently and have heard nothing.

Gordon · #857 Post by **Gordon** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:32 am

Derek Estes wrote:
justeleblanc wrote:Hey, when was the last time anyone get an email from JM?
I was just coming here to ask the same thing. Has anyone received a reply from Jon Mulvaney since he returned from his vacation? I've sent a few recently and have heard nothing.

I asked him if he had a good time on his holiday. He said that he went to a seaside resort where his presence provoked one catastrophe after another, involving dogs, boats, and firecrackers. He also said that he dressed up as a pirate, which I found fascinating, as I myself am a pirate.

Derek Estes · #858 Post by **Derek Estes** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:30 am

Jon Hulot, perhaps?

pzman84 · #859 Post by **pzman84** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 3:11 am

Okay, on Criterion's website, they have listed a bulletin promoting the Don Siegel retrospective @ the Film Forum. They are doing this to promote their copy of The Killers as they often do with theatrical rereleases.

However, they bring up the films Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Riot in Cell Block 11, and Escape from Alcatraz. Now all three of those titles are owned by Paramount (for the record, they do bring up Dirty Harry). The Dirty Harry title I can understand, it being Siegel's best known film. However, why bring up 3 titles owned by Paramount, especially when two of them (Cell Block 11 and Body Snatchers) you just got the rights to (via Republic)?

Now, I may just be a conspiracy theorist and read into things too much, but, hey, maybe there is a deal going on with Paramount.

Theodore R. Stockton · Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:38 pm

Paramount hasn't licensed titles to Criterion, so it would be extremely unlikely that there would be a special deal just for some Siegel. Any Criterion with a Paramount logo was licensed through Universal who owns some early Paramount films.

Cinephrenic · #861 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:47 pm

Titles are great, but another dull month with 3 releases. When will they announce 4 or 5 titles a month again.

souvenir · #862 Post by **souvenir** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 5:52 pm

cinephrenic wrote:Titles are great, but another dull month with 3 releases. When will they announce 4 or 5 titles a month again.

Yeah, three $39.95 releases at that. Last June and July saw the lower tiered The Browning Version and Unfaithfully Yours with commentaries. It appears that A nos amours, as well as Elevator to the Gallows neither have commentaries yet are both quite pricey.

Schkura · #863 Post by **Schkura** » Sat Mar 18, 2006 6:33 pm

Wait until that Dazed and Confused stoner-money starts rolling in. I don't mind new, lower-tiered titles coming out at high price-points if they're eventually adjusted (as should have been the case with Nights of Cabiria or High and Low, say)-- I mean, after the 2 great years Criterion has strung together, I imagine they could use a little pocket change. Meanwhile, I'm using this down-time (if you can call it that with great titles like Late Spring, Elevator to the Gallows, and Mr. Arkadin on the horizon) to catch up on some great titles that I missed along the way.

I'm trusting this is a lull and nothing more.

flyonthewall2983 · Sun Mar 19, 2006 6:52 pm

pzman84 wrote:Okay, on Criterion's website, they have listed a bulletin promoting the Don Siegel retrospective @ the Film Forum. They are doing this to promote their copy of The Killers as they often do with theatrical rereleases.

However, they bring up the films Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Riot in Cell Block 11, and Escape from Alcatraz. Now all three of those titles are owned by Paramount (for the record, they do bring up Dirty Harry). The Dirty Harry title I can understand, it being Siegel's best known film. However, why bring up 3 titles owned by Paramount, especially when two of them (Cell Block 11 and Body Snatchers) you just got the rights to (via Republic)?

Now, I may just be a conspiracy theorist and read into things too much, but, hey, maybe there is a deal going on with Paramount.

On the subject of Siegel, would The Beguiled be out of the question by now? I'd think this would make a perfect Criterion because it could also feature the original EPK of the film, which was the first directorial effort of the film's star.

justeleblanc · #865 Post by **justeleblanc** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:39 am

I'm not sure if this is random speculation...
but I decided to watch the R1 DVD of WEEKEND today on my friend's really nice TV with a really nice sound system and I was disgusted with the transfer and the audio.

Do we know for how long New Yorker has the DVD rights to WEEKEND and whether or not it still has a chance to see a Criterion release?

Also, TCM has that website where you vote for which films you wish were released onto DVD -- the one where everyone was all pissed that GREED wasn't at the top of the list. Anyway, I was thinking it might be interesting to set one up here on the LISTS thread somewhere -- just for curiousity's sake, if one hasn't been done already.

pzman84 · #866 Post by **pzman84** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:47 am

It should be noted that on the Rialto picture's website, they state to get non-theatrical bookings for certain titles from New Yorker.

I personally think Weekend is public domain but New Yorker has the best possible print (if not the only 35mm print in the US). So, if Criterion can get their hands on a new print, they could be in business.

#867 Post by **domino harvey** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:08 am

the Week End has a great Steritt commentary tho, and he's a scholar who seems to not find a big fanbase in the Criterion Offices.

The Fanciful Norwegian · Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:19 am

I personally think Weekend is public domain

Wait, what? This is the first time I've heard anyone even suggest that Weekend is public domain. What's your basis for this?

pzman84 · #869 Post by **pzman84** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:20 pm

The Fanciful Norwegian wrote:
I personally think Weekend is public domain
Wait, what? This is the first time I've heard anyone even suggest that Weekend is public domain. What's your basis for this?

Did you read the entire quote: Weekend is PD but New Yorker owns the only print in the US. This is just a theory. Don't try to spin what I said, The Fanciful Norwegian.

carax09 · #870 Post by **carax09** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:46 pm

What spin? You didn't answer TFN's question (and I'd like to hear the answer too).

rwaits · #871 Post by **rwaits** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 6:52 pm

As would I.

kekid · #872 Post by **kekid** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 8:48 pm

I must express my unhappiness with Criterion's June release announcements. I can live with fewer releases each month. I can live with some less-than first rank material being taken up by Criterion. But I have difficulty dealing with both. When they issue only 3 DVD's a month, I expect the best of what they have access to. If they release 6 DVD's a month, they can slip in one or two promising-but-not-yet-quite-there directors. It is disappointing when two out of 3 announced titles in June fall in the latter category. I would love to understand the process and criteria by which Criterion(!) decides what to release. If anyone from Criterion is reading this, I would invite them to seriously revisit those processes and criteria.

toiletduck! · #873 Post by **toiletduck!** » Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:01 pm

You know, such as accumlation of worthy supplements and proper restoration preceding a release. Where's your head at, Mulvaney?

-Toilet Dcuk

siberry · #874 Post by **siberry** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 7:33 pm

Jonathan Rosenbaum in his dvd-column:

I've furnished notes for Criterion's DrÃ´le de drame, Eclipse, F for Fake, â€œStage & Spectacle: Three Films by Jean Renoirâ€

#875 Post by **Jeff** » Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:34 pm

[quote="siberry"]Jonathan Rosenbaum in his dvd-column:

I've furnished notes for Criterion's DrÃ´le de drame, Eclipse, F for Fake, â€œStage & Spectacle: Three Films by Jean Renoirâ€

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Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2