Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 4

[scoundrel]

Here's a hint: A film from 1950 will be getting a Blu-ray upgrade.

Come on, The Blob!

[Cinephrenic]

Another hint: A film from the 20th century will be getting a release.

[zedz]

Can't quite imagine A Brighter Summer Day relegated to Eclipse. You would think they would be prouder to have released this title.

:-k

*picks up nearby Eclipse package, turns over to mission statement on back*

"Eclipse is an ongoing series of films we are ashamed and embarrassed to find in our catalog. Released only to fulfill contractual obligation, we recommend that you never watch them."

Huh. Never noticed that before.

It's a lot simpler than that: major restoration = not Eclipse.

[SpiderBaby]

Here's a hint: A film from 1950 will be getting a Blu-ray upgrade.

Come on, The Blob!

1950 not 1950s. I made the same mistake.

[feihong]

Can't quite imagine A Brighter Summer Day relegated to Eclipse. You would think they would be prouder to have released this title.

:-k

*picks up nearby Eclipse package, turns over to mission statement on back*

"Eclipse is an ongoing series of films we are ashamed and embarrassed to find in our catalog. Released only to fulfill contractual obligation, we recommend that you never watch them."

Huh. Never noticed that before.

You don't think that the titles in the main line are Criterion's showpieces, as compared to the Eclipse titles? Maybe it's mostly an economic decision, but they spend a great deal of time and effort on the main Criterion titles and clearly a good deal less on the Eclipse ones. I'm not saying that they strut around the office, copies of Children of Paradise held high above their heads, while they grind extra copies of Louis Malle's India documentary under their heels, but in a sense they have treated one of those films with exceptional reverence and dignity and the other with a significantly more rational attitude. I just think it would be odd for them to release an extremely rare, epic-sized work of world cinema that has just received major restoration in a line where they release items they don't think they can feasibly distribute on their own.

[HistoryProf]

The Immigrants/New Land set
The Shooting/The Hired Hand
Bitter Rice
On the Waterfront

Upgrades:
Rashomon
Ikiru
Picnic At Hanging Rock
The Last Wave

[fdm]

Eclipse of films by Diane Kurys, which will include the long awaited Cocktail Molotov, but more importantly someday give us the one-two combination of her Peppermint Soda and Carlos Saura's Peppermint Frappé.

That was actually the one that first popped into my mind. Doubtful, but sure would be nice. Entres Nous is also still out of print.

[Noiradelic]

Can't quite imagine A Brighter Summer Day relegated to Eclipse. You would think they would be prouder to have released this title.

You don't think that the titles in the main line are Criterion's showpieces...?

Not doing your argument any favors using words like "proud" or "showpiece." They have 630 mainline titles at different price points -- they ain't gonna exactly be proud or desire to forever showcase every one -- but I agree that considering A Brighter Summer Day's rising stock and that Yi-Yi is one of the most highly-regarded films of the new millennium (and the resto thing), it's likely to get some kind of mainline release.

[Minkin]

Edited out, my mistake.

I really do hope that Rashomon turns out to be the 1950 film, I saw the restoration premier like four years ago (which was a funny ordeal, what with all the J-Pop stars around and the awkward conversation between Kurosawa's and Mifune's sons, but all of the Kagemusha artwork was excellent).

[matrixschmatrix]

Rashomon adds to my cart without difficulty.

[Minkin]

Rashomon adds to my cart without difficulty.

Perhaps Criterion just saw my post and quickly fixed it? 8-[

Edit:
nevermind, I'm an idiot, he was talking about the poster. Guess I can thank my stupid browser for it not working then.

Still though, I'll throw my hat into the ring and say it will probably be Rashomon anyway.

[feihong]

Can't quite imagine A Brighter Summer Day relegated to Eclipse. You would think they would be prouder to have released this title.

You don't think that the titles in the main line are Criterion's showpieces...?

Not doing your argument any favors using words like "proud" or "showpiece." They have 630 mainline titles at different price points -- they ain't gonna exactly be proud or desire to forever showcase every one -- but I agree that considering A Brighter Summer Day's rising stock and that Yi-Yi is one of the most highly-regarded films of the new millennium (and the resto thing), it's likely to get some kind of mainline release.

Certainly they have a lot of main line titles; more than they have Eclipse titles. But I'm only referring to the main titles as the favored titles in relationship to the titles on Eclipse. Having a lot to show doesn't preclude you from having a lot showpieces, and selecting something for special attention, even in a field already crowded with attention-getters doesn't mean that other titles might not get relegated to the background. The Eclipse titles have no individualized cover art. They aren't being represented separately, but rather as a group of related movies. They're given competent transfers, by and large, but not necessarily amazing transfers. They have no extras. Based on what Criterion does to individual titles in their line, it ought to be obvious that they are, for one reason or another, treating the Eclipse titles as "second-stringers."

To put it another way: if they got the rights to it, you wouldn't find Persona edging its way into a "Mature Bergman" Eclipse set, along with The Serpent's Egg and such. Why not? Because it's a showpiece. It's a title that can sell on its own, and one that a serious fandom will seek out hoping for the highest-quality product they can expect to find. As world film goes, Persona is a Testarossa. You don't bury the film in a set; you show it off. And between Criterion and its Eclipse line I think it's clear that there are some films they show off and some films they don't show off. It's not a judgement of the films on my part--I don't think it's a judgement of the films on Criterion's part, either. But clearly there are ones they are sure can stand on their own and ones they don't think will manage alone in the marketplace. And for the latter, there's Eclipse. I'm not sure why that argument should be at all controversial.

[ptatler]

Any chance that the long-awaited title referred to will be A MAN ESCAPED? Part of some Bresson house-cleaning Eclipse set?

[thelberg]

Any chance that the long-awaited title referred to will be A MAN ESCAPED? Part of some Bresson house-cleaning Eclipse set?

I could see it happening, but I would be extremely disappointed if they dumped A Man Escaped onto Eclipse. I'd love to see supplements for it. Plus, there is that French Blu-ray that proves there are worthy film elements available somewhere.

Edit: Typos

[Harmonov]

Any chance that the long-awaited title referred to will be A MAN ESCAPED? Part of some Bresson house-cleaning Eclipse set?

This I would support with all of my being.

[captveg]

That 1950 upgrade has got to be Rashomon. They've been overdue to re-issue that one for a looooooong time.

[Drucker]

Any chance that the long-awaited title referred to will be A MAN ESCAPED? Part of some Bresson house-cleaning Eclipse set?

This I would support with all of my being.

I would rue the thought of any of Bresson's films being relegated to Eclipse.

[What A Disgrace]

Yeah, a Bresson Eclipse set makes even less sense than a Jour de Fete Eclipse set. :-"

[knives]

Especially since they only have three Bresson's left with one being barely an hour.

[SpiderBaby]

If my intel is right, they're going to announce an Eclipse that contains some surprises but also delivers on a very long-delayed title.

Hopefully a Cinema Novo Eclipse including Macunaima.

[ptatler]

Especially since they only have three Bresson's left with one being barely an hour.

Three? I count at least seven that haven't been CC'd. Or is there no chance they're getting the color films?

[knives]

Especially since they only have three Bresson's left with one being barely an hour.

Three? I count at least seven that haven't been CC'd. Or is there no chance they're getting the color films?

The only have the rights for three of them (that we know of). Joan, L'Argent, and A Man Escapes. The two remaining Dostoyevsky adaptations are in rights hell, The Devil, Probably is coming out via Olive, Angels of the Streets is with Warners, and there's been no indication of them having the other films so I guess they may be a possibility.

[ptatler]

Especially since they only have three Bresson's left with one being barely an hour.

Three? I count at least seven that haven't been CC'd. Or is there no chance they're getting the color films?

The only have the rights for three of them (that we know of). Joan, L'Argent, and A Man Escapes. The two remaining Dostoyevsky adaptations are in rights hell, The Devil, Probably is coming out via Olive, Angels of the Streets is with Warners, and there's been no indication of them having the other films so I guess they may be a possibility.

Too bad about DEVIL being with Olive. I like the company but I find their discs uneven, quality-wise.

I guess my dreams of a five-disc box set (Bresson: The Color Films) are officially crushed.

[jwd5275]

To further crush your hopes, Une femme douce and Quatre nuits d'un rêveur are apparently still being held hostage by Bresson's widow, who is rumored to consider them un-Bressonian. The best way to see these was the complete Bresson retrospective that was touring the rep theaters recently. Quatre nuits d'un rêveur is completely worth it if you can catch it.

[ptatler]

To further crush your hopes, Une femme douce and Quatre nuits d'un rêveur are apparently still being held hostage by Bresson's widow, who is rumored to consider them un-Bressonian. The best way to see these was the complete Bresson retrospective that was touring the rep theaters recently. Quatre nuits d'un rêveur is completely worth it if you can catch it.

It came through Nashville, which is about a three hour drive for me, back in April. Missed it.

I'll just live it vicariously through the reprint of James Quandt's book.