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

Cripes, what an address!

Alain3000 wrote: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?

The Elio Petri film seems like a possibility for a new company like NoShame. Petri's films were screened a couple of years ago on the museum circuit, so there may have been new prints/remasters readied. I'm curious to see WORKING CLASS as well as INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION.

Isn't Wise Blood a Warner title? There seems to be considerable confusion over the rights to this film. It never had a Laserdisc release and I haven't seen it on UK television since 1991.

I just saw Milou in May at the Walter Reade -- and it had a Janus logo!!! Huge news for me -- I thought that it was lost in MGM/Sony's infernal clutches for ever.

The print was in great shape, and man what a movie -- even better than I remembered it. It captures the moment so well and knows it's characters inside and out -- more true to life than any documentary. Funny, well written, great soundtrack, great cast... Did I mention that I love Milou in May?

May Fools shown at Lincoln Center had a Janus credit, but not a Criterion.

rlendog wrote:May Fools shown at Lincoln Center had a Janus credit, but not a Criterion.

The Criterion Collection credit is only for DVD. The Janus credit is for theatrical release.

Regarding the hopes of a Six Moral Tales set, I emailed Mulvaney about Chloe in the Afternoon (the last of the six). I got a response today saying the film does not appear on Criterion's current production schedule. So sad....

Where are some more Universal titles on Criterion? The last one they licenced out to Criterion was Videodrome at 248. The reason why I ask is because Universal has been horrible at releasing their older films on DVD. I was hoping for some more von Sternberg, Lubitsch, Sturges, and maybe getting some Wilder (especially "Double Indemntiy") in the collection. However, Universial has not been putting out. What is happening?

Last week I send him a email for Suzanne's Career and said they have no plans.

Gordon McMurphy wrote:Isn't Wise Blood a Warner title? There seems to be considerable confusion over the rights to this film. It never had a Laserdisc release and I haven't seen it on UK television since 1991.

According to my records it was shown on 14th October 1995 as part of BBC2s BBC100 season of film to celebrate the centenary of cinema, was shown on 9th January 1998 on BBC1 and then on 23rd September 2000 on BBC2, so it has been shown a few times sine 1991 although its not been broadcast for a while now.

Gosh that is nerdy even for me! #-o

Andrew Wickliffe wrote:Great news, actually. Odd to think I just discovered criterionforum and this news is the first or second I find.[/i]

Welcome! It's like Christmas every time I come to this forum, at least when it comes to DVD news. Huzzah!

Fletch F. Fletch wrote: Yeah! This is sweet news if in fact true. The Steel Helmet is definitely one of Fuller's best. Now, if Criterion could only get their hands on Park Row.

Park Row is the Fuller film I am the most concerned about. Due to the fact that this film does not fit into any particular genre that would give it a built in audience, outside of an interest in Fuller. As far as I've been able to find, the rights to this film are held by U/A now a property of Sony. Sony does hold the rights to a couple other Fuller classics such as Underworld U.S.A., The Crimson Kimono, and Verboten. These films would make a great set, though Sony has not released their films this way in the past. Sony is very unlikely to lease any of their films to a third party, due to their strong feelings on the subject.

As for the Lippert films, that Criterion are rumored to have leased. I think they are truly gems in the Fuller canon. The Baron of Arizona, may be the weaker of the three films, but it is not totally without interest either, and considering the historical importance of these films, I think it make sense for The Criterion Collection to have leased them. I Shot Jesse James, is a brilliant debut, and I very fascinating Western. Unless something soon suprises us this will be the first Western to join the Collection, a major oversite in my opinion. I would love to see what kind of supplements Criterion could dig up in these films. Martin Scorsese is a big fan of these films, and I find his comments very insightful. As for The Steel Helmet, it's reputation speaks for it's self. Definitely the most famous of these films, it is still a fascinating War film, and it's impact on Fuller's career was incredible.

Considering the the years of obscurity these films have existed in, and the important place they have in the history of American Independent film I feel this will be a monumentious release for The Criterion Collection.

Do us all a favor and tell your friend that a Mexican Bunuel box is also out of the question.

How can you have a Bunuel Mexican Boxset without Los Olvidados?

cinephrenic wrote:How can you have a Bunuel Mexican Boxset without Los Olvidados?

Like this:

El
The Criminal Life of Archibaldo Cruz
Nazarin
The Exterminating Angel
Simon of the Desert

All five are masterpieces. Lets not scuttle the Bunuel Box Set!

El
The Criminal Life of Archibaldo Cruz
Nazarin
The Exterminating Angel
Simon of the Desert

Ho-ho-ho! I'd buy that for a dollar!

Batty, Batty, Batty! Feet don't fail me now!

You forgot Viridiana.

Viridiana was made in Spain. So are you saying there's no difference between Mexicans and SPanish folk. Huh, huh?

It was made in Mexico too. I don't know, even though any Bunuel boxset would please any fan, I still think the set wouldn't be representative of Bunuel's Mexican years without Los Olvidados. I'm not saying it wouldn't happen, since they released Burden of Dreams as a stand alone release.

Does anyone have any clue what the October titles will be? No leaks this month I guess. Wasn't the rumored cult line suppose to launch also in October?

I'm going to guess some heavy titles:

Confidential Report
The 49th Parallel
A Canterbury Tale
Pierrot le Fou
Ugetsu
Ran
The Magician
The Virgin Spring
Late Spring
The Exterminating Angel
An Autumn Afternoon
Jour de Fete
The Milky Way

How about some of those Malle titles? They did say that at least Au Revoir...was still due this year. Maybe we'll get a set or a couplet.

Other than that...I'm one of the folks still holding out hope for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Didn't Ebert like insist this was coming? I seem to remember that.

Il Bidone seems very likely at some point, given the BFI's upcoming release of a new longer version, and the previous collaboration with Image on I Vitelloni.

CSM126 wrote:Other than that...I'm one of the folks still holding out hope for Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Didn't Ebert like insist this was coming? I seem to remember that.

Maybe Meyer's death has something to do with it. Or maybe Criterion decided they didn't want to release it. As much as Criterion has released a lot of off-beat titles.... I was always surprised that Criterion would release a Russ Meyer film. For what it is, it's a good film.... but that preface is what's makes me think that it really isn't Criterion worthy.

JusteLeblanc wrote:I was always surprised that Criterion would release a Russ Meyer film. For what it is, it's a good film.... but that preface is what's makes me think that it really isn't Criterion worthy.

Rapiers at dawn, sir.