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The bfi (UK) release THE BAD SLEEP WELL this month. The sleeve says:

"THE BAD SLEEP WELL was shot in glorious Tohoscope and had previously only been available in a shortened international version - bfi Video is proud to finally release the film in its uncut, original form."

We are likely to get another boxset before the year is out. Let's speculate on what the next one will be? I say Rohmer's Six Moral Tales Boxset or 5-disc Phantom India w/Calcutta and his other documentaries. Boxset. Maybe Ichikawa War set.

I doubt we will see Eisenstein: The Silent Years this year.

Jarmusch's "Night On Earth"?

Night on Earth seems like a "for sure" release since its part of the FineLine catalogue- of which Criterion has already released Hoop Dreams and the excellent My Own Private Idaho. Or, wait, was Hoop Dreams part of the catalogue or not?

Anyway, the FineLine situation was discussed earlier in a thread somewhere down the list, I believe. But, Night on Earth should be expected as a great release in mind of Criterion's superb Down By Law DVD.

Fine Line Features released:
Short Cuts
My Private Own Idaho
Hoop Dreams
Naked
An Angel at My Table

Possible:
Dancer in the Dark
Crash
The Player
Spanking the Monkey
Night on Earth

Speaking of the FineLine catalogue, I asked JM about Cronenberg's Crash. His response: "I'm afraid we do not hold the DVD rights to Crash at this time."

I made sure to specify that I was asking about the Cronenberg film and not Paul Haggis's new film. Bummer.

I doubt The Player and Dancer in the Dark will happen, they already have excellent dvds.

I would also add Spanking the Monkey to the list.

chaddoli wrote:I would also add Spanking the Monkey to the list.

Fuck yes!

I'm still hoping for a John Ford box set! Young Mr. Lincoln is most likely to be released, But I would love if that was a single release, and another collection of his films was released, perhaps a collection of silent Ford? I would love it if Criterion would license a new group of films from Fox, including Ford's Pilgrimage which is very hard to come by, yet highly rated by those fortunate enough to have seen it. Also, The Power and The Glory, Raoul Walsh's film The Bowery, and Valley of the Dolls would be great additions to the Collection. I would love if Criterion would release a few Westerns, the genre has really taken a beating over the years, so it would be great to see some great Westerns given the Criterion treatment.

Since February 2006 will be the 60th Anniversary of "Open City" debuting in America, does Criterion have any plans to release this or (even better) a box set also featuring "Paisan" and "Germany Year Zero?"

Lets see, the following are titles unreleased as of yet and planned for 2005:
Au Revoir Les Enfants
The 49th Parallel
A Canterbury Tale
Ran
The Wages of Fear (remaster)
Ugetsu
Playtime (remaster)

I too believe that one more box set is coming this year, yet I think it'll be bit of a surprise to us. A Hitchcock early years box would certainly do the trick, or possibly our top forum recommendation of a Luis Bunuel's Mexico years will see the light of day.

isnt there a distinction between "speculation" and "wishful thinking"?

godardslave wrote:isnt there a distinction between "speculation" and "wishful thinking"?

No

Well, if there isn't I'd like to wishfully think that somewhere along the line we will get a Bergman on TV boxset comprised of The Rite, Scenes from A Marriage, Face to Face, The Magic Flute, From the Life of the Marionettes, After the Rehearsal with both Faro documentaries as extras.

(sighs)

I would love to see some Greek films in the collection. Aside from the obvious Theo Angelopoulos, I'd like to see a boxed set of Michael Cacoyannis and Ellie Lambetti's films together...Windfall in Athens, A Girl in Black, A Matter of Dignity, and The Wastrel.

I've heard great things about Yorgas Javellas, as well.

EDIT: I want He Who Must Die more than anything, but its not exactly a Greek film.

Anybody knows if Criterion owns the rights or has any plans on releasing this Vittorio de Sica masterpiece. Umberto D and Indiscretion of an American Wife & Terminal Station are available by Criterion.

Would it be reading to much into Mulvaney's response to speculate that A boy and his dog might be coming?



Dear Chad,

No Hitchcock appears on our production schedule at this time.

Best,
JM

On 7/11/05 3:44 AM, "Chad McDonald" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> Any chance of seeing more Hitchcock soon? How about A Boy and His Dog

ianungstad wrote:Would it be reading to much into Mulvaney's response to speculate that A boy and his dog might be coming?

Dear Chad,

No Hitchcock appears on our production schedule at this time.

Best,
JM

On 7/11/05 3:44 AM, "Chad McDonald" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> Any chance of seeing more Hitchcock soon? How about A Boy and His Dog

They probably thought you were suggesting one of Hitchcock's most obscure films.

Since MGM (I think this was the company) pulled back their planned releases of David Lean's films last year, I've had the feeling that maybe Criterion acquired (and for some, renewed) the rights to those films. If my speculation is correct, we'll probably see a boxset of early Lean films from Criterion in the next few months.

Did I miss something or shouldn't there still be a Hitchcock on the schedule? We were promised another Hitchcock, So either JM is just doing his normal routine, saying they don't have one coming, or It was taken off the list?

Perhaps I have missed something as to why we wouldn't be getting another Hitch. Of course we also have a Ford coming too. So I dunno.

I think basically its pointless to ask JM anything anymore. He gives the same response. Occasionally you'll get a decent answer, but never confirming or denying.

I think it's amazing how I've never heard anybody mention this movie for possible Criterion release. I believe Criterion should do magic and incorporate this amazing movie in their catalog.

I recently emailed Mulvaney and his replied was:

"Dear Carlos:

At the present moment we have no future plans for De Sica's The Bicycle Thief, although we would love to have it in the future. "

It's really sad.

Any comments

Well it would definetley be an amazing addition to the collection. I've been hoping that they would be able to get hold of the rights.
I'm sure they have tried or are trying to get it. Wether or not they are ever going to get it remains unseen, but they should be fighting to get it.

foofighters7 wrote:Well it would definetley be an amazing addition to the collection. I've been hoping that they would be able to get hold of the rights.
I'm sure they have tried or are trying to get it. Wether or not they are ever going to get it remains unseen, but they should be fighting to get it.

I'd rather they release 'shoeshine' first. My Japanese DVD has a crappy transfer. At least the Image release of 'bicycle thief' is ok with picture quality even if Criterion can do much better.

Dear Michael,

We have no plans for any other Leigh films at this time.

Best,
JM

On 7/7/05 11:45 PM, "Michael" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Sender: Michael
> Email: [email protected]
> Question Type: Question
> Comment: Jon:
>
> Since you guys are now releasing Mike Leigh's "Naked", do you have
plans
> to release any other Leigh films?
>
> Thanks,
> Michael
>
>

Aww, cinnamon!

I asked about Despair, Wise Blood and Working Class Goes to Heaven and I got the response.


[Dear Al,

We have no plans for any of the films you mention.

Best,
JM]


Q:Any plans for Criterion to release Fassbinder's Despair, Huston's Wise Blood, and Petri's Working Class Goes to Heaven?