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They're all Castle Rock, aren't they? I notice the new one is released by Sony, who handled the original one way back in the day before Warner took over their distribution. Does Warner still have the first two?

If I'm making sense of the company credits on IMDB then WB definitely owns Sunset but I'm not sure who controls Sunrise.

I do not know if this has been mentioned already, but Michael Cimino posted the following earlier this month, regarding Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.

It's coming from Criterion / I've approved the color temperature. / Announced already in UK.

I'm confused--who directed Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and why is Michael Cimino speaking about it like some kind of an authority? This is why film titles need to include the full names of the people that made them.

swo17 wrote:I'm confused--who directed Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and why is Michael Cimino speaking about it like some kind of an authority? This is why film titles need to include the full names of the people that made them.

What are you suggesting? As far as I know he directed the picture, and approving the color scheme was basically the extent of his involvement with the Heaven's Gate release.

If Criterion are indeed releasing Thunderbolt and Lightfoot; I wonder if they've picked up another batch of titles from MGM.

It's a parody account. It use to say it was on the top, but now they've removed it.

What's the word on Salt of the Earth? I believe Criterion once released it on laserdisc and Alpha released a DVD back in 2004. Something tells me the condition of available materials isn't good. Would like to see it on blu.

ShellOilJunior wrote:What's the word on Salt of the Earth? I believe Criterion once released it on laserdisc and Alpha released a DVD back in 2004. Something tells me the condition of available materials isn't good. Would like to see it on blu.

The film is in the public domain. It would probably depend upon Criterion getting access to first generation elements.

Following up on earlier comments - there is a Robert Altman symposium in Ann Arbor this weekend, and apparently Criterion reps are here, and I've heard 2nd hand that they said they are planning on releasing Nashville. But, of course, I have no idea when it would happen.

Good! This jives with their Facebook comment.

Max von Mayerling wrote:Following up on earlier comments - there is a Robert Altman symposium in Ann Arbor this weekend, and apparently Criterion reps are here, and I've heard 2nd hand that they said they are planning on releasing Nashville. But, of course, I have no idea when it would happen.

Maybe a Secret Honor BD upgrade announcement as well? After all, it was filmed quite literally across the street from where most of the symposium is being held.

Max von Mayerling wrote:Following up on earlier comments - there is a Robert Altman symposium in Ann Arbor this weekend, and apparently Criterion reps are here, and I've heard 2nd hand that they said they are planning on releasing Nashville. But, of course, I have no idea when it would happen.

There are several other possible Altman movies that Criterion could potentially be interested in licensing and releasing:

From MGM:
Images, The Long Goodbye, Thieves Like Us

From Sony:
California Split

From Universal:
Gosford Park

And as well as Secret Honor, what about a Blu upgrade for Short Cuts? That remains one of my "most wanted" titles on Blu.

I'd imagine WB would loan out Short Cuts. They never released it on video format before, wouldn't think they're in any rush to start now.

Bruce wrote: There are several other possible Altman movies that Criterion could potentially be interested in licensing and releasing:

I always thought the ongoing debate over which Altman next was between Nashville and Come Back To The Five And Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean.

Nashville certainly seems very likely at this point, but so does Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. I'm not sure if Paramount still owns it outright, or if they just own the elements and Altman's estate (Sandcastle 5) owns the rights now. It was restored by The UCLA Film and Television Archive with help from The Film Foundation a couple of years ago. All of the involved parties play nice with Criterion so maybe they can make it happen.

If Altman were still with us, I'm sure he'd push to get Warner to cough up McCabe & Mrs. Miller, which would be a dream come true on Blu-ray. Even a Blu of Warner's own fine release would be welcome.

flyonthewall2983 wrote:I'd imagine WB would loan out Short Cuts. They never released it on video format before, wouldn't think they're in any rush to start now.

Absolutely. It didn't break New Line (its original distributor), but it didn't come close to recouping its cost at the box office, and it didn't do much better as a catalog title before Criterion expressed interest, so I'm sure they'd rather license it out again then do anything else with it.

Predictions for September:

The Kid
Foreign Correspondent
The Uninvited
Bergman & Rossellini Box Set
Tess

Eclipse: Hideo Gosha

I'm guessing a slow month of Bluray upgrades and IFC titles. Summertime and Life Aquatic Blus, not sure what IFC film(s)

Seems like the turnaround from newsletter clue to announcement has been pretty quick lately, so Berg/Ross would be great. We know Janus has Scanners/The Brood and Jacques Demy. And Antonioni's 'trilogy' is an ongoing personal fantasy.

Is it going to be announced Monday?

Yes, unless it's announced on Friday.

Isn't it about time for another Warner title? Either something from the same period as Badlands (Petulia, Scarecrow, Zabriskie Point, Performance), or an older title with a similarly offbeat pedigree, seems likely. There are a ton of things from the Archives that they could rescue, but I'm thinking that something not in the archive (either already on DVD, or not at all) would get this treatment. The problem is that so many Warner classics on DVD are associated either with big name stars / directors or boxed sets (and often times both), and I'm not sure Warner would be as willing to 'part' with those, considering how tight-ass they've been in the past. Oft-maligned titles like Band of Angels or Sylvia Scarlet could be exceptions, of course. I also keep thinking back on the pre-code title mentioned before, of course...Freaks and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde both lack big name stars or in-print boxed set privileges, which make them rather ideal if Warner is going to be that way.

Of course, if Archive titles turn out to be in play, then that's amazing, and there are a ton of titles in the Archives that Criterion would surely love to get their hands on.

Anyway, I predict a Warner title in the next announcement.