Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2

[What A Disgrace]

Jonathan Rosenbaum in his dvd-column

Assuming you're speculating over Drôle de drame, his linear notes essay appeared in the Home Vision DVD of the film. I believe that is what he is referring to (and as I recall, its a fine little DVD; albeit barebones, so the film doesn't need to be re-released in my opinion).

[tryavna]

Assuming you're speculating over Drôle de drame, his linear notes essay appeared in the Home Vision DVD of the film. I believe that is what he is referring to (and as I recall, its a fine little DVD; albeit barebones, so the film doesn't need to be re-released in my opinion).

Indeed! This is an interesting little film (by Carne and Prevert), and HVe gave it an interesting little release. Highly recommended if you can find it for under $15!

[redbill]

Spike Lee, on the YES network's "Centerstage", just mentioned that this year is the 20th anniversary of the release of "She's Gotta Have It". Perfect timing for the long-rumored SE DVD of this film?

The NYT has as an article on Spike Lee today, and it mentioned a DVD release of "She's Gotta Have It" within the next couple months...

[Gigi M.]

Spike Lee, on the YES network's "Centerstage", just mentioned that this year is the 20th anniversary of the release of "She's Gotta Have It". Perfect timing for the long-rumored SE DVD of this film?

The NYT has as an article on Spike Lee today, and it mentioned a DVD release of "She's Gotta Have It" within the next couple months...

I was the one who confirmed this release last year. Juan Gonzalez, a former assistant of Lee's, told me at the Dominican Film Festival that Criterion would release it for its 20th anniversary. I hope Criterion announce it very soon.

[justeleblanc]

Spike Lee, on the YES network's "Centerstage", just mentioned that this year is the 20th anniversary of the release of "She's Gotta Have It". Perfect timing for the long-rumored SE DVD of this film?

The NYT has as an article on Spike Lee today, and it mentioned a DVD release of "She's Gotta Have It" within the next couple months...

I was the one who confirmed this release last year. Juan Gonzalez, a former assistant of Lee's, told me at the Dominican Film Festival that Criterion would release it for its 20th anniversary. I hope Criterion announce it very soon.

Who the hell is Spike Lee. Damn it, Criterion sucks. There are so many Linklater films that still need to be released. \:D/

[tavernier]

Who the hell is Spike Lee. Damn it, Criterion sucks. There are so many Linklater films that still need to be released. \:D/

Or Noah Baumbach...

[pzman84]

Or Noah Baumbach...

Don't forget the Orsen Welles' equal, Whit Stillman.

[carax09]

Yeah that's real funny and all, but I'm still waiting to hear your source on the Weekend as public domain controversy.

[pzman84]

Yeah that's real funny and all, but I'm still waiting to hear your source on the Weekend as public domain controversy.

We have controversies on this board? Anyway, I forgot to mention it was just randon speculation. A lot of the distributors of the 60s and 70s went belly up. There was a very haphazard way foreign films were released in the 1960s. For example, Pierrot le Fou was released after Weekend in the US.

Since some company named Grove Press released it in 1968 in the US (according to IMDB, so you sould take it with a grain of salt), I assumed it no longer existed and the rights were up in the air. However, and this is important, I assumed New Yorker had the only North American 35mm print to it, so it really didn't matter if it was public domain because you could not make a decent transfer of it anyway.

I am sorry I hurt your feeling so carax09. I should have given this answer when I posted it. I was in a crummy mood. Anyway, I am not paid to give you my thoughts. You shouldn't take this board so seriously. It is people like you who are ruining the experience this forum has to offer. The fact you bring up a post from a week ago with a major gruge creeps me out (along with your avatar). I have to live up to my avatar. Carax09, you're on notice.

[ellipsis7]

Grove Press is a publisher of softcover/paperback books - put out many scripts as printed text with accompanying stills, the earlier 'fetish form' that allowed the viewer to possess a film, predating video and DVDs...

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Since some company named Grove Press released it in 1968 in the US (according to IMDB, so you sould take it with a grain of salt), I assumed it no longer existed and the rights were up in the air. However, and this is important, I assumed New Yorker had the only North American 35mm print to it, so it really didn't matter if it was public domain because you could not make a decent transfer of it anyway.

The IMDb entry is correct in this case, and while Grove Press no longer exists as an independent company, they were acquired by Atlantic Monthly Press in the mid-'80s (as outlined in this Wikipedia article) and now exist as Grove/Atlantic Inc. But none of this has any bearing on the copyright for Weekend, since Grove never held the copyright to begin with -- as far as I can tell they had no role whatsoever in the production of the film (although they did co-produce Vladimir and Rosa and maybe one or two of the other Groupe Dziga Vertov films), so there is no reason they would control the copyright.

So who does control the copyright? Well, the packaging of the New Yorker DVD shows that it is or was jointly held by the four companies that produced it, none of which still seem to be active in film production (at least if the IMDb is to be believed). But just because a company goes belly-up doesn't mean their copyrights are automatically null and void, even if it means there's no one around to actually maintain and enforce those copyrights. In such cases a film becomes more or less de facto public domain, but legally speaking it's still copyrighted. I doubt that's what happened here, though -- the most likely scenario is that one or more of the original copyright holders still exists as an on-paper holding company, much like the modern-day RKO.

[carax09]

Oh, fuck it. It's a beautiful sunny day here, and you are so not worth getting worked-up over. I should just be happy with the little things in life (like jellybeans) and that I wasn't cursed with a mild form of mental retardation.

[kschell]

Since some company named Grove Press released it in 1968 in the US (according to IMDB, so you sould take it with a grain of salt), I assumed it no longer existed and the rights were up in the air.

The IMDb entry is correct in this case, and while Grove Press no longer exists as an independent company, they were acquired by Atlantic Monthly Press in the mid-'80s (as outlined in the Wikipedia article linked to by kinjitsu) and now exist as Grove/Atlantic Inc.

As a footnote, my partner who operates a small independent press was contacted recently by Grove who wanted to buy the American rights to one of the books he publishes.

[Taketori Washizu]

More Godard in the future? Breathless, My Life to Live, The Little Soldier, Les Cabineres, Pierre Le Fou, Made in U.S.A. Two Or Three Things I Know About Her, La Chinoise and why not their own release of Week end while they are at it? Those would be good to start off with.

[domino harvey]

Made in USA can't be released in USA due to rights
Pierrot le fou and Two or Three THings are already known to be in Criterion's future
Fox Lorber is pretty in love with Le Petit Soldat, Breathless, and Les Caribiniers, I don't see them giving up the rights.
There's nothing wrong with the existing Week End DVD.

[justeleblanc]

Made in USA can't be released in USA due to rights
Pierrot le fou and Two or Three THings are already known to be in Criterion's future
Fox Lorber is pretty in love with Le Petit Soldat, Breathless, and Les Caribiniers, I don't see them giving up the rights.
There's nothing wrong with the existing Week End DVD.

I'm not sure I buy the Made in USA argument on why it can't be released in USA. Is it that the author didn't want it to be? As for Fox Lorber's trilogy, didn't they also own the rights to A Woman Is A Woman and Pierrot Le Fou? And look what happened to those? And what about My Life to Live?

(or maybe Made In USA will be an easter egg on the 2 or 3 Things disc.... wishful thinking maybe).

[Andre Jurieu]

There's nothing wrong with the existing Week End DVD.

There are PAL--->NTSC transfer problems and apparently some brief frames that were cut. The PAL version doesn't have the commentary. It's not a crime-against-humanity, but the situation isn't perfect either.

[justeleblanc]

There's nothing wrong with the existing Week End DVD.

There are PAL--->NTSC transfer problems and apparently some brief frames that were cut. The PAL version doesn't have the commentary. It's not a crime-against-humanity, but the situation isn't perfect either.

The car accident scene is pretty bad. And the overall image quality is kind of fair. I'm sure though that once a better print is discovered Criterion will release it.

[ellipsis7]

The AE Pal R2 DVD is decent - anamorphic transfer, with i/v's with cinematographer Raoul Coutard and admirer director Mike Figgis...

[domino harvey]

Made in USA can't be released in USA due to rights
Pierrot le fou and Two or Three THings are already known to be in Criterion's future
Fox Lorber is pretty in love with Le Petit Soldat, Breathless, and Les Caribiniers, I don't see them giving up the rights.
There's nothing wrong with the existing Week End DVD.

I'm not sure I buy the Made in USA argument on why it can't be released in USA. Is it that the author didn't want it to be? As for Fox Lorber's trilogy, didn't they also own the rights to A Woman Is A Woman and Pierrot Le Fou? And look what happened to those? And what about My Life to Live?

(or maybe Made In USA will be an easter egg on the 2 or 3 Things disc.... wishful thinking maybe).

well, but they've put some money into the editions of these three films (Breathless, Le Petit Soldat, Les Caribiners) with commentary tracks and articles included on all the discs, plus being packaged together in a boxed set. no such extras exist for My Life to Live, so I would imagine they'd sell the rights to that before the others.

Criterion should put out an 80s Godard boxed set: Detective, First Name Carmen, Passion, Hail Mary, King Lear. that would be a killer set.

[godardslave]

Criterion should put out an 80s Godard boxed set: Detective, First Name Carmen, Passion, Hail Mary, King Lear. that would be a killer set.

=D>

[justeleblanc]

Criterion should put out an 80s Godard boxed set: Detective, First Name Carmen, Passion, Hail Mary, King Lear. that would be a killer set.

Don't forget Sauve qui peut (la vie) and Soft and Hard! But I think New Yorker is going to release Hail Mary, and because of that recent lawsuit against Godard for King Lear, I don't think Lear will ever be released onto DVD. Too bad too. It's one of my favorite Godard's. Up there with Contempt.

[domino harvey]

could you give me more info on the King Lear lawsuit? I borrowed my professor's VHS copy, it was interesting. too bad, Criterion could add that Meetin' WA short film (you can find it on YouTube if you search for "godard") on the extras if they released it.

[justeleblanc]

could you give me more info on the King Lear lawsuit? I borrowed my professor's VHS copy, it was interesting. too bad, Criterion could add that Meetin' WA short film (you can find it on YouTube if you search for "godard") on the extras if they released it.

Appearantly Godard used a text in the film without the author's permission. I'm guessing it was either an essay or a poem. Variety had an article on it that I think you can search google to find. I forget the specifics though. And right now I'm having difficulty finding a working link.

[ellipsis7]

The film was also paid for by the notorious Golan & Globus' Cannon Films... At that time trying to gain kudos prior to inevitable crash and burn... Contract written on a table napkin, passing glimpses of Woody Allen and opera director Peter Sellers... No wonder it's in a mess...