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Altair wrote:Michael Cimino's Year of the Dragon (1985) would be great; not only would it fit right into the Arrow catalogue, but it is also crying out for an extras-packed release.

I believe this is a WB title (at least in the US).

It is Warner, but they have licensed to UK labels before, so it's slightly more possible for MoC (but I can't imagine 'em going for it)

domino harvey wrote:It is Warner, but they have licensed to UK labels before, so it's slightly more possible for MoC (but I can't imagine 'em going for it)

Aside from the BFI's The Devils and Revolution (two films that Warner had clearly washed their hands of), what other examples are there?

MichaelB wrote:

domino harvey wrote:It is Warner, but they have licensed to UK labels before, so it's slightly more possible for MoC (but I can't imagine 'em going for it)

Aside from the BFI's The Devils and Revolution (two films that Warner had clearly washed their hands of), what other examples are there?

Warners licensed Petulia, Green Mansions, Listzomania, and Kaleidoscope to Digital Classics five years ago

But nothing to MoC? I'm curious as to why you think it's "slightly more possible" for them?

MichaelB wrote:

domino harvey wrote:It is Warner, but they have licensed to UK labels before, so it's slightly more possible for MoC (but I can't imagine 'em going for it)

Aside from the BFI's The Devils and Revolution (two films that Warner had clearly washed their hands of), what other examples are there?

Gaslight, but I suppose that belongs in the same group?

MichaelB wrote:But nothing to MoC? I'm curious as to why you think it's "slightly more possible" for them?

I just meant only one label that I know of, Criterion, has gotten anything out of Warners in the states, whereas two have in the UK, so they have better odds-- though with Shout Factory getting the release cut of Nightbreed I guess the two territories even now, actually. I don't legitimately believe MoC has any chance of releasing the film in question, I was just speculating on the probability of a UK label releasing any Warners title

Fwiw, I don't think the Cimino is a Warner title outside the US. It has gotten several cheap releases on DVD in Europe, including two in the UK, one from Sanctuary, the other from Scanbox.

Since they have a relationship with MGM, and since it doesn't have a UK Blu-ray release (and the US one isn't good), I asked if they considered 1989's "Road House" for a release. They said:

Arrow wrote:not one we have looked into so thanks for suggesting!

Since Arrow did such a fine job on The Long Goodbye, I wonder if there's the possibility of their getting California Split from Sony. Even with the slight changes made due to music rights problems this would make a great Blu-Ray, and would introduce the film to many people, especially in the UK, who don't know how wonderful this film is.

They might be able to get it from Sony in the US, but not likely in the UK. I wonder if Arrow's US wing would release titles that they couldn't release in the UK? But even then, that's Arrow Academy material...

Images and Thieves are more likely candidates for follow-up Altman titles.

I see, well Images and Thieves would be lovely too. California Split has never been released in the UK, so perhaps Sony would let Arrow have the rights here.

To the Stars by Hard Ways (1981) "Cherez ternii k zvyozdam" by Richard Viktorov (the original, please, not the atrocious re-edit made by the director’s son!)

The Eyes of Fire & The Invisible Kid & Cries of Silence by Avery Grounse

The Changeling & Romeo is bleeding by Peter Medak

Photographing Fairies by Nick Willing

Celestial Wives of the Meadow Mari & Ovsyanki (aka Silent Souls) & Angels and Revolution & First on the Moon by Aleksey Fedorchenko

Hard to be a god (2013) by Alexey German (a huge wealth of interviews and documentaries exists about making of this film).

The Tuner (2004) “Nastroyschik” by Kira Muratova.

Viy (1967 Russian film)

The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish (1991)

Spider (2002) by David Cronenberg

The Reflecting Skin (1990) by Philip Ridley

Stalker by Andrey Tarkovskiy (I include this for obvious reason – it is yet to be released on Blu-ray anywhere in the world, so why not you, Arrow?!:)

Yakushima wrote:Stalker by Andrey Tarkovskiy (I include this for obvious reason – it is yet to be released on Blu-ray anywhere in the world, so why not you, Arrow?!:)

Because Artificial Eye owns the UK rights and the restoration ball is firmly in Mosfilm's court. And I'm sure AE would do it like a shot if a master was available.

MichaelB, thank you for reply!
There were several reports (un-confirmed) on various Russian forums that restoration of Stalker for impending Russian Bluray release has been completed and it was "a thing of beauty". Too bad Russia is becoming more of a black box with every passing year.
Is there any chance Arrow might release any other titles I have listed? What about German or Fedorchenko?
Thanks!

No point asking me about unannounced plans - even if I knew, I wouldn't be able to tell you until the official confirmation.

I understand, Michael.
Speaking of restorations, thank you for your tremendous work on Borowczyk films!

Just a +1 for California Split - I absolutely refuse to take seriously anyone's opinion of Altman who hasn't seen that film!

Can't remember if it's been mentioned already, but Mill of the Stone Women would be a treat, I wonder if that's even a remote possibility for Arrow in either territory.

I would second "Mill of the Stone Women", a fabulous work!
Also, The Burrowers (2008), Mr. Stitch (1995), Anima persa (1977) and Slither (2006) would be excellent additions.

re: California Split - I wonder if music rights for the film would be easier to clear in another market or it all falls under the same rules.

Yakushima wrote:I would second "Mill of the Stone Women", a fabulous work!

Thirded.

I wish they would release the great looking version Artus has of BLOODY PIT OF HORROR but with English subs or dubs.

Was there bad blood between Robert Altman and Lou Adler, who produced both 'Brewster McCloud' and "Basketball Jones" (the music rights issue for 'California Split', if I'm not mistaken)? Might that be an issue, since the same content was cleared for 'Being There'? Or was WB more willing to pay up for a more celebrated movie? (Although corporate synergy might be at work for the Ashby movie since I think WB Pictures and WB Records had the same owner at the time the DVD was probably cleared.)

Presumably Adler can be seen courtside during the telecast of tonight's Lakers opener.

Ashirg wrote:re: California Split - I wonder if music rights for the film would be easier to clear in another market or it all falls under the same rules.

I'd assumed that the music rights (for things like 'Happy Birthday') weren't all that complex an issue to resolve, it was just that the US studio was too cheap to spring for them. I know the perpetual copyright on 'Happy Birthday' is something of a running joke, but I don't think the clearance charges for it are all that outrageous: companies pay them all the time.

Doing a quick bit of research reveals some interesting anomalies. Apparently the existing copyright will expire in 2016 in the EU, but not until 2030 in the US, so an uncut UK release of the film will be much easier very soon. However, there's also a current class action lawsuit against the copyright owners by a film crew who researched the song and found that it predated the claimed date of authorship and is thus now well out of copyright. So watch this space!

EDIT: The plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial, and if they get one I can't see how things wouldn't go in their favour, since most people probably consider the song communal property

One of the best explorations of the topic was on Sports Night when Dan gets in trouble for singing "Happy Birthday" on the air and decides to pick assorted public domain songs to sing on everyone's birthday instead. Late in the episode he gets mad at someone and goes, "You know what? 'Frère Jacques' for your birthday!"

Took two people to write that song?