Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2

Message

What A Disgrace · Tue May 23, 2006 2:33 pm

If only Criterion could wrench L'Atalante away from New Yorker...or, if the Artificial Eye sale would extend to their Vigo set. Either way would work just fine.

As for that list, I would buy Criterion DVDs of every single one of those. Several of them fit perfectly into categories that Criterion has been ignoring over the years (Spanish cinema, Mizoguchi, Ichikawa, Monicelli, Ophuls, silent cinema). I would be especially happy to see more Monicelli in the collection...Big Deal on Madonna Street is a real gem.

justeleblanc · #1052 Post by **justeleblanc** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:08 pm

tryavna wrote:I think both of these suggestions are very interesting. I'm particularly curious how, if at all, Criterion is planning on handling some of their "medium" films (i.e., running 40-69 minutes). I'm quite eager to see them release Zero, Day in the Country, Simon of the Desert, and Immortal Story. But I also understand why they might be reluctant. At any rate, it's high time that they come up with a feasible (and financially sensible) plan.

They handled Letter to Jane perfectly in my opinion, and I would think Simon of the Desert would make a nice DVD companion to Exterminating Angel and Day in the Country could work well with another Renoir release (maybe Picnic in the Grass, if they own that.) I thought Immortal Story was feature length when I saw it, but I could be wrong.

I would think pairing up works by the same director makes more sense than putting all their short films in one package.

tryavna · #1053 Post by **tryavna** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:19 pm

Immortal Story runs a lean 65 minutes, I believe. (Give or take a couple of minutes.)

ellipsis7 · #1054 Post by **ellipsis7** » Tue May 23, 2006 4:23 pm

I wouldn't put DAY IN THE COUNTRY (1936) with PICNIC IN THE GRASS (1959) - too far apart in his career for my taste - I'd prefer LA CHIENNE (1931) paired with it... Mind it makes a great single film/disc with commentary and extras on the bfi disc, which would be hard to better...

Cinephrenic · #1055 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Tue May 23, 2006 5:01 pm

I wouldn't put DAY IN THE COUNTRY (1936) with PICNIC IN THE GRASS (1959) - too far apart in his career for my taste - I'd prefer LA CHIENNE (1931) paired with it... Mind it makes a great single film/disc with commentary and extras on the bfi disc, which would be hard to better...

I agree.

backstreetsbackalright · Tue May 23, 2006 5:38 pm

ellipsis7 wrote:...I'd prefer LA CHIENNE (1931) paired with it...

That's what they did on VHS, no?

pzman84 · #1057 Post by **pzman84** » Tue May 23, 2006 6:56 pm

I was hoping for Renoir's La Chienne to be pared with Lang's Scarlet Street (a remake) but considering Kino already released the Lang film, I doubt that would happen.

justeleblanc · #1058 Post by **justeleblanc** » Tue May 23, 2006 7:53 pm

pzman84 wrote:I was hoping for Renoir's La Chienne to be pared with Lang's Scarlet Street (a remake) but considering Kino already released the Lang film, I doubt that would happen.

You're probably right. Kino & Criterion tend not to step on each other's toes.

I was also hoping for Human Desire to be paired with La Bete Humaine.

#1059 Post by **domino harvey** » Wed May 24, 2006 8:08 am

there's still a lot of Lubitsch movies missing from DVD, anyone heard anything about Criterion putting more out?

Derek Estes · #1060 Post by **Derek Estes** » Wed May 24, 2006 8:42 am

One Hour With You, and The Smiling Luitenant have been speculated, but I don't know what caused this speculation. Though, I have seen both of these films along with The Love Parade, recently in pretty decent looking prints at the NW Film Center. But, I don't know if that means anything.

justeleblanc · #1061 Post by **justeleblanc** » Wed May 24, 2006 2:09 pm

domino harvey wrote:there's still a lot of Lubitsch movies missing from DVD, anyone heard anything about Criterion putting more out?

Kino has confirmed with me they will be releasing a bunch of German Lubitsch silents (which someone else on this board confirmed).

Warner has the rights to a bunch of his American silents and to The Merry Widow, something we ned to make sure we ask Warner at their next HTF chat (this last chat was hijacked by Superman fans)

Cluny Brown is a Fox property and I haven't heard anything about either Criterion or Fox releasin git.

As for the rest of his now Universal output.... I still think it's quite possible we can see more Lubitsch... maybe in the style of a 3 film set (something they like to do) especially if Love Parade, One Hour, and Smiling have been restored recently. I can't see them releasing Monte Carlo (a real shame) since it's the tanker of the four, but only because of the casting.

rwaits · #1062 Post by **rwaits** » Wed May 31, 2006 2:28 am

Not randon speculation, but didn't know where else to put it:

Criterion is planning to release improved versions of the following
titles this fall:

AKIRA KUROSAWA: FOUR SAMURAI CLASSICS

SEVEN SAMURAI

YOJIMBO

SANJURO

AMARCORD

THIRD MAN

The old releases will still be available for sale while supply lasts!

Of course we've know about most of these, and this confirms the all but certain Amarcord. Glad to see a firm announcement of Thirt Man.

What is Four Samurai Classics, though??

denti alligator · Wed May 31, 2006 2:37 am

What's your source on this?
You sure Third Man will be a new edition?

rwaits · #1064 Post by **rwaits** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:03 am

Oh sorry...it was an email I received from CriterionDVD.com

Kind of strange...I've never received an email from them before.

rwaits · #1065 Post by **rwaits** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:04 am

And yeah Third Man should be new---I copied it directly from the email.

toiletduck! · #1066 Post by **toiletduck!** » Wed May 31, 2006 3:53 am

rwaits wrote:What is Four Samurai Classics, though??

This was just the gift set including Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and Hidden Fortress.

Good to see that they're planning on updating this with the new releases. Hopefully the price will stay the same or at least in the same range.

-Toilet Dcuk

justeleblanc · #1067 Post by **justeleblanc** » Wed May 31, 2006 4:40 am

Maybe FOUR becomes SEVEN with 3 more releases.... Eh???????

denti alligator · Wed May 31, 2006 6:07 am

rwaits wrote:And yeah Third Man should be new---I copied it directly from the email.

So I should sell my current copy asap ... ?

richast2 · #1069 Post by **richast2** » Wed May 31, 2006 4:12 pm

thank GOD. Amarcord is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I've been hoping for a reissue for years. this is one DVD I will GLADLY double-dip.

justeleblanc · #1070 Post by **justeleblanc** » Wed May 31, 2006 4:50 pm

denti alligator wrote:
rwaits wrote:And yeah Third Man should be new---I copied it directly from the email.
So I should sell my current copy asap ... ?

Maybe wait till it goes out of print. I made bundles on my Double Indemnity and Baby Jane discs.

rwaits · #1071 Post by **rwaits** » Wed May 31, 2006 5:06 pm

richast2 wrote:thank GOD. Amarcord is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I've been hoping for a reissue for years. this is one DVD I will GLADLY double-dip.

Same here. In fact, I'll probably be double dipping on all of these. Concerning Third Man, anyone know what they could be adding as far as special features are concerned--its been a while since I've viewed the disc, but I was always pretty happy with the transfer.

What A Disgrace · Wed May 31, 2006 5:29 pm

Shadowing the Third Man would be a no brainer. In fact, I would say that its existence probably prompted the reissue, as it was made five years after the Criterion disc.

justeleblanc · #1073 Post by **justeleblanc** » Wed May 31, 2006 5:54 pm

Maybe Immortal Story? Probably not. Just throwing it out there...

Derek Estes · #1074 Post by **Derek Estes** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:06 pm

I wonder if Criterion might be releasing a Carol Reed set with The Third Man, The Fallen Idol, and possibly Odd Man Out.

redbill · #1075 Post by **redbill** » Wed May 31, 2006 6:20 pm

wonder what happened to Grey Gardens reissue...

Internal Resources

External Sites

Specialty Labels

Site Menu

Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2