Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the links, mon petits.

I also think Dario Argento films would make good Criterion releases, even though Anchor Bay seems to have the rights.

[Solaris]

I am a huge Argento fan and I hope to see at least one of his films released by Criterion.

I am pretty happy with Phenomena, Tenebrae and Profondo Rosso Anchor Bay releases, there really isn't much Criterion could add.

But Anchor Bay's Inferno and Opera leave much to be desired, they were made when Argento was at his peak and Criterion could release superb editions of both films.

Four Flies On Grey Velvet could also be nice.

[Gordon]

I am pretty happy with Phenomena, Tenebre and Profondo Rosso Anchor Bay releases, there really isn't much Criterion could add.

AB's Phenomena is non-anamorphic. The Italian DVD's transfer is much better. Of course, it's the Italian cut.

Profondo Rosso should be made available with both the 98-minute and 126-minute Anchor 'restoration' versions. The crossing between english and italian annoys a lot of the fans and a lot of the 'lighter' scenes really draw the film out. A fully uncut transfer of 98-minute version (not the original censored R-rated version) purely in english would be great. Also, AB froze the final scene of Hemmings reflected in the pool of blood, which original was in motion, with drops of blood falling into the pool and Hemmings' face changing expression.

But Anchor Bay's Inferno and Opera leave much to be desired...

Well, the transfer on Inferno is one of the best transfers I have ever seen for a 25-year-old movie - the colours are amazing. Opera's transfer is also superb. The documentary on Opera covers the film well, I feel - you get to see the great Ronnie Taylor! Inferno's interview with Dario is a bit short and it would be great to hear from other participants. also be nice.

Four Flies On Grey Velvet is tied up a really bad way. Claudio Argento tried to find out who exactly held the rights, but drew a blank. Personally, I think that they should just release a DVD and see what happens. Here's a spoof review of the Blue Underground DVD!

To be honest, I can't see Criterion releasing a Dario film, but I would like to see more Euro horror in the collection, but I'm not sure which titles would be best or most likely. Or, if Fox licensed The Other (1972) to Eureka, then they would probably license it to Criterion. The Eureka is 4:3 open-matte.

[otis]

Does the Anchor Bay Inferno have the Italian audio track? For some reason this is the only Argento (apart from Quattro mosche...) that hasn't been released on DVD in Italy. For me, all his films play much better in Italian, whatever the varied nationalities of the casts.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Does the Anchor Bay Inferno have the Italian audio track?

Nope, just English.

[Solaris]

Profondo Rosso should be made available with both the 98-minute and 126-minute Anchor 'restoration' versions. The crossing between english and italian annoys a lot of the fans and a lot of the 'lighter' scenes really draw the film out. A fully uncut transfer of 98-minute version (not the original censored R-rated version) purely in english would be great. Also, AB froze the final scene of Hemmings reflected in the pool of blood, which original was in motion, with drops of blood falling into the pool and Hemmings' face changing expression.

Oops, sorry I forgot about that.

Well, the transfer on Inferno is one of the best transfers I have ever seen for a 25-year-old movie - the colours are amazing. Opera's transfer is also superb. The documentary on Opera covers the film well, I feel - you get to see the great Ronnie Taylor! Inferno's interview with Dario is a bit short and it would be great to hear from other participants. also be nice.

Besides the interview with Dario, which is actually an introduction to the film, there is nothing really else on the disc. Criterion could reprint the original the text that the film was based upon, as well as many other extras. Opera's transfer is great, but there could be more extras. The American Cut "Terror at the Opera" and a docu on the curse of the oera Macbeth could be nice.

[djali999]

Even if I think the full version of Profundo Rosso is Argento's best overall film, a complete release would def. include the shorter "Hatchet Murders" cut, which does have the distinction of being much more sinister and frightening than the Anchor Bay "best approximation" version. To truly enjoy the AB version, I just watch it all in Italian with subs, which is much more effective.

Alan Jones and Kim Newman turned out an astonishingly good commentary on Blue Underground's "Bird.." disc of last year, and I think the reunion of the two journalists on Profundo Rosso, Suspiria and Inferno would be fantastic.

Bill Lustig seems to own the rights to the AB Argentos, so expect some of the earliest editions (Tenebrae and Phenomena first) to go out of print as he begins to move the Argento catalouge over to Blue Underground. So Criterion releasing any Argento of quality seems to be out of the question. Lustig has even apparently been investigating acquiring Four Flies for distribution, which means he has the potential to hold one hell of a trump card: all of Argento's output from 1970 - 1987, excluding Five Days of Milan!

If I had my choice of which Euro-Horror Criterion should release next, I'd go for a Bava, especially Black Sabbath or The Girl Who Knew Too Much, both of which stand up to the absolute best of Argento. But these, too, have been purchased by Anchor Bay from Image, so there goes that idea.

I suppose they could licence a few from the Bay for Eclipse...

[HerrSchreck]

These films are all horrible inside.

[Gordon]

Criterion could reprint the original the text that the film was based upon...

What, Thomas De Quincey's 1845 follow-up to Confessions of an English Opium-Eater - Suspiria de Profundis? It isn't a novel, but a piece of metaphysical biography, ie. the fevered dreams of De Quincey after taking opium, mainly his sisters' death, but in the section "Levana and Our Ladies of Sorrow" he talks about the 'Three Fates and Three Graces' and this is where Argento drew his influences. I am actually reading both Confessions (original text) and Suspiria de Profundis (Sighs from the Depths) at the moment. Incredible stuff, exquisite prose. Someone should make a biopic of De Quincey.

[otis]

Gordon, have you ever seen this? Sounds like fun:

A remarkable five-minute sequence shot entirely in slow motion

[Lino]

See, this is the kind of boxset Criterion should have been producing for the films of Ozu instead of feeding us 2 or so titles a year. Just look at the classy packaging!

http://www.ecranlarge.com/news-dvd-763.php

[Ashirg]

Yes, but how good those print are going to look?

[ellipsis7]

Interesting to see THERE WAS A FATHER on DVD, maybe it will turn up elsewhere with decent Eng subs...

[Michael Kerpan]

It is possible that the French "There Was a Father" DVD will supersede the Shochiku one. I believe this is based on a superior source that turned up after the Japanese DVD was made.

[godardslave]

michael upload a new avatar for yourself, please?

[backstreetsbackalright]

Am I mistaken in seeing that Where Now Are The Dreams OF Youth? is included in this set? That's one I've never had a chance to see.

But I must say that as much as I'd love to see Criterion drop a whole passle of Ozu titles all at once, I have little interest in seeing them assemble such a jumbled boxed set as this one.

[Grimfarrow]

We'll be experiencing Japanese hell soon, apparently.

[ftsoh]

We'll be experiencing Japanese hell soon, apparently.

Jigoku?

[Cinephrenic]

Speaking of Hell, I would love to see a release of Kinugasa's Gate of Hell in which Janus holds.

[pzman84]

They showed Gate of Hell on TCM recently. Anyone see it and how was the quality? Was their a Janus logo

[tryavna]

They showed Gate of Hell on TCM recently. Anyone see it and how was the quality? Was their a Janus logo

I did not see TCM's most recent showing, but this is film that they've shown several times over the past 3 years or so. (Somebody at TCM must like the movie, as do I.) Yes, when I saw it last, TCM's print did bear a Janus logo, but the quality was just OK.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if Criterion will try to pick up the MGM Bergman releases?

[Ashirg]

MGM is now Sony and Criterion doesn't have a relationship with them to pick those up.

[Anonymous]

I just suppose I'd like them to buy off the titles if possible. I'm sure it wouldn't be too terribly taxing.

[domino harvey]

all the MGM Bergmans in the set have commentaries/documentaries, there's no reason for Criterion to re-release them