'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.2

[captveg]

Do the Right Thing has wrong colour timing.

I'm not so sure. I suspect this may be a Bram Stoker's Dracula-like situation, wherein previous masters prepped for NTSC over compensated by boosting the orange/reds saturation to better reflect the theatrical presentation, but such a boost with modern tools and HD images goes too far, even for DtRT. Spike Lee recorded a new commentary for this release and I doubt he would have done so without having approval of the final look of the disc. Until someone comes forth with something like the answer print and states the new release is wrong it is, in my view, just as authorized as previous DVD releases from a decade earlier.

[zedz]

This is off-topic and has been addressed elsewhere, and bear in mind that I haven't seen the Do the Right Thing BluRay, but if the Beaver caps are accurate, that transfer looks nothing like the theatrical prints of the film on release (which I saw several times on different continents, all hot and red).

[domino harvey]

Yeah, this has been trod to death but Do the Right Thing just isn't Do the Right Thing without that sweaty color timing.

[movielocke]

I should think MoC's Sunrise and City Girl, CC's and MoC's M and Kino's The General and Battleship Potemkin should definitively answer whether it's worth it to produce older films in Blu-ray.

I agree with you 100% it's just whenever someone says that they should release There Was a Father, or Make Way for Tomorrow, or another DVD only title on bluray someone else pops in on how bluray isn't necessary, wanted or sound. I would be thrilled to get those titles on bluray warts and all. And I think initial speculation was that Stagecoach would be DVD only just because it was old, iirc Criterion's response on facebook was sort of vague surprise that people even wanted Stagecoach on blu.

Thank goodness we have those above mentioned silents to demonstrate how amazing blu ray can be for older titles.

[Jun-Dai]

And I think initial speculation was that Stagecoach would be DVD only just because it was old, iirc Criterion's response on facebook was sort of vague surprise that people even wanted Stagecoach on blu.

I have no problem with Criterion skipping Blu-ray because the conditions of the materials dictate that their resources are better spent elsewhere, but I certainly hope they never do it because they think people won't be interested in seeing an old movie in HD. It'd be even worse if they were right.

I dare say there are more films before 1960 that I'd want to see on Blu-ray than after.

[triodelover]

I dare say there are more films before 1960 that I'd want to see on Blu-ray than after.

Amen.

[Danny Boy]

Hi there. Long time lurker, first time poster. I just found out some bad news about those von Sternbergs we've all been looking forward to. Donald Sosin appeared at a screening of Underworld and The Docks of New York at the Harvard Film Archive on Saturday. There he said he was working on a score for Underworld, but he also admitted that the von Sternbergs (the two I saw, as well as The Last Command) would be released on the Eclipse line instead of the main line. On the bright side, the prints I saw were absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to get them, even in Eclipse form.

I don't believe this is correct. If you can wait long enough you might be extremely pleasantly surprised.

I would love to be pleasantly surprised. I'm just reporting what the composer of one of the scores said at a screening. He also talked a bit about how he wasn't able to sample any songs that weren't public domain because Criterion just didn't have the budget for it. I was under the impression that it would be on the main line after seeing this link on the Current, but I trust Sosin. Why do you think it will be on the main line?

[captveg]

Considering Criterion has already released more pre-60s films on Blu-ray in the US than any major studio outside of WB, I don't think they deserve the criticism in this regard.

The raw numbers of released/anounced with actual sales date:

Criterion - 11
Disney - 2
Fox - 5
Kino - 3
Lionsgate - 1
Paramount - 2
Sony - 4
Universal - 0
Warner - 12

Frankly speaking, European tastes and American tastes - and the subsequent sales - are a significant factor. One that has become less of one due to the high sales attach rate of Blu-ray for Criterion's releases, hence their major increase in Blu-ray releases this year. But it's still there. And many times in the UK or other European countries those releases are supplemented by government funds, which Criterion does not have the luxury of in the US.

[Cinephrenic]

I think we will see a major increase next year from all studios regarding their classics catalogs on Blu.

[HistoryProf]

Hi there. Long time lurker, first time poster. I just found out some bad news about those von Sternbergs we've all been looking forward to. Donald Sosin appeared at a screening of Underworld and The Docks of New York at the Harvard Film Archive on Saturday. There he said he was working on a score for Underworld, but he also admitted that the von Sternbergs (the two I saw, as well as The Last Command) would be released on the Eclipse line instead of the main line. On the bright side, the prints I saw were absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to get them, even in Eclipse form.

I don't believe this is correct. If you can wait long enough you might be extremely pleasantly surprised.

can you say why you don't believe it is correct? And what we can expect? Or to Danny, what the Eclipse set would look like? How many films are we talking about here? Perhaps you are both right and there will be 3 in an eclipse set and one or two in the main line?

[eerik]

Considering Criterion has already released more pre-60s films on Blu-ray in the US than any major studio outside of WB, I don't think they deserve the criticism in this regard.
The raw numbers of released/anounced with actual sales date:
Criterion - 11
Disney - 2
Fox - 5
Kino - 3
Lionsgate - 1
Paramount - 2
Sony - 4
Universal - 0
Warner - 12

I got a bit different numbers:

Disney (4):
Sleeping Beauty
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Dumbo
Pinocchio

Paramount (2):
The African Queen
It's a Wonderful Life

Warner (17):
The Wizard of Oz
Casablanca
Gone with the Wind
North by Northwest
The Adventures of Robin Hood
Quo Vadis
The Searchers
Gigi
A Star is Born
An American in Paris
Jailhouse Rock
Rio Bravo
Forbidden Planet
Mutiny on the Bounty
Ben-Hur
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Kino (3):
Battleship Potemkin
The General
Steamboat Bill, Jr

Fox (5):
The Day the Earth Stood Still
South Pacific
The Robe
The Diary of Anne Frank
Miracle on 34th Street

Criterion (10):
Stagecoach
M
The Seventh Seal
Bigger Than Life
Lola Montes
The 400 Blows
The Third Man
The Wages of Fear
The Red Shoes
Black Narcissus

Sony (4):
It Came From Beneath the Sea
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers
20 Million Miles to Earth
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad

[Ashirg]

Forbidden Planet
Mutiny on the Bounty
Ben-Hur
The Maltese Falcon
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

Not released yet or officially announced with a release date.

[captveg]

Dumbo won't be released in the US until 2011. I neglected Sleeping Beauty (which I own...)

Criterion is indeed 10. My list I was going from included Seven Samurai, which is only TBA 2010 without a date.

So....

Criterion - 10
Disney - 3
Fox - 5
Kino - 3
Lionsgate - 1
Paramount - 2
Sony - 4
Universal - 0
Warner - 12

The point is still the same.

[captveg]

I think we will see a major increase next year from all studios regarding their classics catalogs on Blu.

Well, Universal will release their first pre-80s film with Spartacus next month. That's a start for them, considering how far behind they are in the format.

Paramount has always been stingy with their early catalog.

Sony has slowed things down this year now that other studios have picked up the Blu-ray pace, and to be frank they really don't have a lot of pre-50s catalog that would be ready for release. Even the Capra's would need some serious work, and that's their most prominent content for the 30s.

Warner will continue to be Warner.

Disney has delayed Dumbo and Fantasia, which were both supposed to get released in the US in February/March, respectively. Hopefully the latter is only delayed for a (pathetic) tie-in to The Sorcerer's Apprentice, while Dumbo is gonna be 2011 for it's anniversary. But outside of their prestige Diamond line Disney is completely barren of deep catalog releases. The inevitable December release of Tron is "deep" for them.

Fox is up and down. They've done some quality releases, but I wonder how well they actually sold. They have an absolutely huge catalog, though, so maybe they'll boost deep catalog releases.

Lionsgate is only here due to the Studio Canal deal. Let's hope that continues with quality releases.

MGM is still trying to get sold. It's causing all kinds of headaches, but with the deadline for submissions having passed a slew of new catalog announcements came, mostly 60s westerns. I don't believe there are a lot of films in their catalog pre-50s.

As smaller distributors go, Kino is doing a great job so far, so hopefully sales are good enough to get more. Image could stand to release some of their older catalog holdings, perhaps taking a chance on something like The Phantom of the Opera (1925).

But, frankly, Warner aside, Criterion is killing the competition. I just don't see the reason to begrudge them when they've 1) released twice as many (or more) deep catalog titles than all major studios aside from WB, 2) doubled Blu capacity and production in a short period, and 3) have yet to release a blu-ray disc below a really high quality standard.

[AisleSeat]

Hi there. Long time lurker, first time poster. I just found out some bad news about those von Sternbergs we've all been looking forward to. Donald Sosin appeared at a screening of Underworld and The Docks of New York at the Harvard Film Archive on Saturday. There he said he was working on a score for Underworld, but he also admitted that the von Sternbergs (the two I saw, as well as The Last Command) would be released on the Eclipse line instead of the main line. On the bright side, the prints I saw were absolutely gorgeous, and I can't wait to get them, even in Eclipse form.

I don't believe this is correct. If you can wait long enough you might be extremely pleasantly surprised.

I would love to be pleasantly surprised. I'm just reporting what the composer of one of the scores said at a screening. He also talked a bit about how he wasn't able to sample any songs that weren't public domain because Criterion just didn't have the budget for it. I was under the impression that it would be on the main line after seeing this link on the Current, but I trust Sosin. Why do you think it will be on the main line?

After seeing the On Five posting about the Eastman House visit, I, too, was under the impression that the "three von Sternberg films that are coming up" would be issued under the mainline Criterion label. What struck me particularly was the photo of the original score used for Underworld. Why would Criterion researchers be digging up that stuff if the von Sternberg's were penned in for the Eclipse line? It's possible plans may have changed since the December posting, and, indeed, Sosin seems a credible source. Although this pertinent new info puts a dent into my thinking, I'm holding out a glimmer of hope these films will find their way to the mainline label.

[captveg]

I can see a release along the lines of the new Ozu double feature: main line but "bargain" price + limited extras.

[Arthur House]

Speaking of really old movies, whatever happened to People On Sunday?

[Jeff]

Speaking of really old movies, whatever happened to People On Sunday?

The last time I had contact with a Mulvaney, they were still planning on getting it out some time in 2010.

[captveg]

Here's an idea: Harold Lloyd

With Warner no longer renewing any distribution deals (see: MK2/Chaplin, Castle Hill, CBS/My Fair Lady, etc.), I suspect they won't renew the New Line distribution deal with the Lloyd Trust. I could see Criterion at the very least bidding on the catalog.

While the box that was released in 2005 by New Line is pretty complete/awesome, a few films on Blu-ray would be enticing.

Does anyone know how long the New Line distribution deal was for?

[What A Disgrace]

Spine #528 to #600 will be a boxed set entitled The Complete Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Martin and Lewis, Just Jerry Lewis, Will Hay and Hellzapoppin.

[broadwayrock]

...and how about some Max Linder too.

[What A Disgrace]

...and how about some Max Linder too.

You're right, and I will never forgive them for this oversight.

[Highway 61]

Here's an idea: Harold Lloyd

With Warner no longer renewing any distribution deals (see: MK2/Chaplin, Castle Hill, CBS/My Fair Lady, etc.), I suspect they won't renew the New Line distribution deal with the Lloyd Trust. I could see Criterion at the very least bidding on the catalog.

While the box that was released in 2005 by New Line is pretty complete/awesome, a few films on Blu-ray would be enticing.

Does anyone know how long the New Line distribution deal was for?

This might be more likely than we think. I can remember that when Criterion first started their blog, Jonathan Turell wrote about how he and his father would watch old prints of Harold Lloyd movies when he was a kid. He then wrote something to the effect that Lloyd was on the verge of being forgotten and was in desperate need of a new audience.

And regardless of the quality of the New Line box, Criterion has shown in recent years that if they can snatch up a high profile title, they will, even if it already received a good release.

[Minkin]

Now for some random speculation. Has anything ever been said about Rush's The Stunt Man. The Anchor Bay has been out of print for some time. Add to that, it will be on Netflix watch instantly on May 1st and I just noticed it will be part of the TCM festival. Could it be part of the Castle Hill deal? Somebody now has plans for it. I know there was a previous two disc set released but that hasn't stopped anything.

[ianungstad]

it's a 20th Century Fox title. Anchor Bay licensed a hanful of Fox titles that all seem to be out of print. (Cemetary Man, The Anniversary, etc)

Fox could release it themselves or license it out again but chances are it will just sit on the shelf collecting dust for at least a few years, imo.