Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[RSTooley]

Has anyone heard anything about SCARECROW in light of Jerry Schatzberg's Criterion Closet video last year? Last thing I want to do is buy the Warner Archive BD only for Criterion to announce a release sourced from a new remaster shortly after.

I haven't heard anything. I did notice that it played at the Wexner Center for the Arts two days ago, alongside Emperor of the North, and it was not advertised as a new restoration. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, but you'd think you would see news of a restoration prior to a Criterion home video release.

On the other hand, Emperor of the North was advertised as a new restoration.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

On the other hand, Emperor of the North was advertised as a new restoration.

A shame that Criterion has little interest in classic Hollywood directors outside of their major, popular works as Disney only licenses to them. Aldrich is a personal favorite and Emperor of the North is great at subverting themes of class conflict and distilling them to a fight between two titans: Ernest Bourgnine and Lee Marvin. A marvelous film where I’m sure the new restoration will remain in a vault.

[Finch]

Criterion did release Flight of the Phoenix so I wouldn't rule out Emperor of the North.

[Walter Kurtz]

Are boutiques replicating the current Yankee system of states leap-frogging each other in the primary calendar schedule to get first in line for attention... in this case... to get the jump on Criterion's 14 - 15 - 16 slot in the calendar? Is this a thing? Or just random noise?

[RSTooley]

Criterion did release Flight of the Phoenix so I wouldn't rule out Emperor of the North.

Considering Guillermo del Toro, Wes Anderson, and Andrew Haigh are the only directors to crack open the Disney vault since 2022, I'm not hopeful.

However, I'd be thrilled with any classic Hollywood films getting a Criterion release.

[MovieBuff647]

Has anyone heard anything about SCARECROW in light of Jerry Schatzberg's Criterion Closet video last year? Last thing I want to do is buy the Warner Archive BD only for Criterion to announce a release sourced from a new remaster shortly after.

I haven't heard anything. I did notice that it played at the Wexner Center for the Arts two days ago, alongside Emperor of the North, and it was not advertised as a new restoration. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, but you'd think you would see news of a restoration prior to a Criterion home video release.

On the other hand, Emperor of the North was advertised as a new restoration.

I know NETWORK (already announced) and DOG DAY AFTERNOON (strongly speculated) have had 4K DCPs advertised by Park Circus a while back but that isn't always the case for whatever is in the pipeline.

For example, Park Circus recently promoted a DCP of RYAN'S DAUGHTER, but there was no mention of it being 4K, so I assumed a Warner Archive announcement was imminent but only as a Blu-Ray. And then they announced a 4K yesterday!

[FrauBlucher]

What a month! Barnes and Noble lookout


On a side note, I hope all those people that say Criterion NEVER announces on a Friday if the 15th falls on a Saturday to just stop. Especially on that other forum.

[therewillbeblus]

Lots of titles to upgrade this month from other releases!

[James Stock]

Absolutely stacked month.

[Finch]

I'm in for the Parajanov and maybe the Truffaut. I'd like to watch Marie Antoinette first because Sofia Coppola's films have done little for me, except The Virgin Suicides. Also irritated that Wild at Heart gets Dolby Vision but FWWM did not.

[therewillbeblus]

I'll probably upgrade my Shout! Wild at Heart blu, Marie Antoinette blu(/combo pack with Little Women), and maybe Harold and Maude..

Shoot the Piano Player is the highlight of the month for me. I revisited it earlier this year, after finding it mediocre about ten years back, and absolutely loved it. I wish Truffaut made more films this unhinged

[Lowry_Sam]

BAMPFA just screened Shoot The Piano Player with Laura Truffaut, but on 35mm not a 4k restoration a few weeks ago, so I'm surprised this came so soon. I also didn't notice any Harold and Maude 4k restoration screeninngs, so a bit surprised that's getting upgraded (not that it wasn't due). Missed another opportunity to cash in, but the Wong Kar Wai upgrades have me holding on rather than jumping the gun to make a few $$. Otherwise I guess I'll be saving money this month to spend on Radiance titles.

[James Stock]

It's hilarious seeing all these people online say they're not going to buy Wild at Heart until the Lynch set comes out when there is a decent chance it won't be a film set.

[Finch]

Pity they don't have a filter for licensors on their website. Was curious what else from Paramount might be up for grabs again now that Harold and Maude got back in print.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

I also didn't notice any Harold and Maude 4k restoration screeninngs, so a bit surprised that's getting upgraded (not that it wasn't due).

The 4K restoration was done in 2021 (it was the basis for the Paramount Presents Blu) and has been available for theatrical bookings through Park Circus. It's screened at venues like MoMA and the American Cinematheque and I suspect it's been used for other screenings without being explicitly noted, like the IFC Center's "Modern Romance" series in May.

Pity they don't have a filter for licensors on their website. Was curious what else from Paramount might be up for grabs again now that Harold and Maude got back in print.

There's a list on this site. Days of Heaven and Don't Look Now have already been reissued and upgraded, AFAICT the still-OOP BD releases are Rosemary's Baby (which I wouldn't count on), La dolce vita (much more likely, and actually already reissued in the Fellini box), Nashville (ditto, though Paramount did their own BD-only reissue just a few months ago), and Benjamin Button (no idea, but problematic for a UHD upgrade since it was a 2K DI). Maybe White Dog could finally get an upgrade.

[Finch]

Thank you, TFN, I forgot that Chris had put these together. I hope Paramount would be flexible about Rosemary's Baby if Criterion asked for it. Their own UHD has been out for a while and the film deserves the best possible presentation.

[ryannichols7]

Thank you, TFN, I forgot that Chris had put these together. I hope Paramount would be flexible about Rosemary's Baby if Criterion asked for it. Their own UHD has been out for a while and the film deserves the best possible presentation.

the problem is that Criterion hasn't touched anything of Polanski's in ages, I'm still holding out for a Knife in the Water upgrade. I wish they'd just go for these already...

La Dolce Vita and Nashville I do hope we see soon, even if Paramount did that release of the latter already