criterionforum.org

And, most impressively, that list comprises 14 whole shorts that have not been released since the VHS era, one of which has never even been on home formats whatsoever.

FrauBlucher wrote:Jerry Beck posted more info on the upcoming Looney Tunes Collectors Choice Vol 1

Nelson Hughes wrote: If the set does well, then maybe you’ll see those I just mentioned on a possible second volume.

So, so tired of hearing this, even though I know subsequent volumes are based on a certain threshold of sales of previous volumes. Did we ever get a follow-up to Porky Pig 101 despite many people (including myself) buying it specifically because of this threat/promise? Or the later Popeye cartoons? Or the third Tex Avery set? Or a second Tom and Jerry Golden Collection?

Like, can you just let us know how many copies need to sell to meet this threshold? Can you do a direct-order only site with a countdown or ticker on it? Many other smaller labels manage to do this with limited editions. Maybe it’s not a nice reality to admit, but putting pressure on consumers to buy something because it might sell out or because you need them to reach a certain sales goal works a lot better than vague promises you may or may not follow up on even if the (undisclosed) sales goal is met. You’d think Warner Bros. Discovery would be better at cynically manipulating their customers than this.

I wish I could see sales figures - I actually wonder if they all truly appeal to the same consumers or if some are much less popular than others.

FWIW, I didn't even know about Porky Pig 101. Tex Avery I bought but I passed on Tom and Jerry and Popeye.

I bought all of the above immediately on release, only to discover that I actually don’t like Tom & Jerry much.

But I agree with Matt, it does seem like kind of a desperate and empty threat at this point, and Beck’s tone in that post— not for the first time — is a little unnecessarily adversarial. I am happy we got three volumes of Avery. I’ll gladly buy whatever comes out under the Looney Tunes umbrella (I really hope they reprint the Platinums though, which predated my upgrade to BD). But I’m far beyond thinking that the fan base has any real power over what happens. It’s even worse at Disney, I feel.

I was surprised that Tom & Jerry won quite a few Oscars when Bugs Bunny only got one (for a decent but middle-of-the-pack Bugs Bunny cartoon). Maybe it's because MGM had a stronger voting bloc in that category? I used to think Tom & Jerry was hilarious, and they were actually my introduction to Louis Jordan (a short that may still be my favorite Tom & Jerry cartoon if I ever revisit it). But they obviously have dated in ways that are well-documented elsewhere, and most of them kind of blend together in memory as endless jokes about one trying to maim the other.

It’s definitely an MGM thing though in that case I wish Avery got their love. Oh, well. The series evolution is interesting though. They started off as part of Harmon-Ising who were primarily dramatic directors with Hanna Barbera taking sole control from there. After they quit Chuck Jones took over because his parody of what he thought were insipid cartoons were so successfully seen as straight. Somehow in all of this Gene Dietch had a period with the characters that was pretty much their sole span of time as artistically worthwhile.

In Denmark, I would say Tom and Jerry were at least as "big" as Bugs and Daffy. But then Donald Duck was bigger than all of them.

Similarly, Laurel and Hardy were the level of Charlie Chaplin, much bigger than Buster Keaton.

Some of the "problematic" stuff in Tom and Jerry will have gone over people's heads btw. I was a adult before I realised Mammy Two Shoes is a maid and not the lady of the house.

Maltic wrote: Tue Apr 11, 2023 11:07 am In Denmark, I would say Tom and Jerry were at least as "big" as Bugs and Daffy. But then Donald Duck was bigger than all of them.

Similarly, Laurel and Hardy were the level of Charlie Chaplin, much bigger than Buster Keaton.

Some of the "problematic" stuff in Tom and Jerry will have gone over people's heads btw. I was a adult before I realised Mammy Two Shoes is a maid and not the lady of the house.

One of the reasons the Louis Jordan episode holds up so well in memory (at least for me) is that it taps into that common subtext of 20th century pop music - crossing or breaking racial boundaries, or as some put it, once culturally-isolated whites discovering black culture. Obviously that does lead into debates of cultural appropriation, but what I remember about the cartoon was hearing Tom talk and sing for the first time, and it was like a feeling of liberation - like all the rules were broken in terms of what defined a Tom and Jerry cartoon and they let in this great music I was never aware of until then.

The rest of May’s titles will drop this morning 8Am PST via The Extras podcast.

Edit: they seemed to have left a hint on their FB page.
Three words…
Royalty
Child
Animation

Please let the royalty clue be for Queen Christina!

My hopes...

Queen Christina (royalty)
The Champ, Treasure Island, Captains Courageous, or David Copperfield (child)
The Hobbit (animation)

Maybe a long shot, but my hope is that "royalty" = King Vidor and we're finally getting The Crowd.

“Royalty” could also be Ford’s Mary of Scotland, that seems like the kind of thing WAC would release.

For some reason the royal clue makes me think that it's a film with Grace Kelly. So maybe High Society?

Rest of May….
The Boy With Green Hair (1948)
The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963)
Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964)
King Solomon's Mines (1950)
Queen Christina (1933)

FrauBlucher wrote: Mon Apr 17, 2023 3:19 pm Queen Christina (1933)

Thank you WAC! Now hurry up with the outstanding Lewtons!

I did go: "Wasn't that Kent Jones documentary called The King of Darkness? Yeah no, The Man in the Shadows..." etc.

cover and specs for Queen Christina

Coming from the Warner Archive Collection this May!

NEW 2023 1080p HD Master from 4K Scan of best surviving Nitrate elements.

QUEEN CHRISTINA (1933)
Run Time: 99:00
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio Specs: DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 1.37:1 with side mattes
Product Color: B&W
Disc Configuration: BD 50
Special Features: Episode of “M-G-M Parade” Television series on the career of Greta Garbo at the studio; Original Theatrical Trailer

With Camille and now Queen Christina, hopefully we can get some silent Garbos in the near future. I would love a Flesh and the Devil restoration on blu ray!

I didn't write down the time(s), but there's two moments watching the blu-ray of Broadway Melody of 1940 where there are unintended"jump cuts", the second one during a dance sequence using stairs later in the film. I was wondering if this was because there were missing pieces of film in the print - but I'm thinking it's likely actual edits in the takes/performances. Was this a common thing during the era (it's not anything I've personally noticed often), or a rare failing on the director's part (Taurog)? Because it's quite easy to spot.

Rayon Vert wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 11:36 pm I didn't write down the time(s), but there's two moments watching the blu-ray of Broadway Melody of 1940 where there are unintended"jump cuts", the second one during a dance sequence using stairs later in the film. I was wondering if this was because there were missing pieces of film in the print - but I'm thinking it's likely actual edits in the takes/performances. Was this a common thing during the era (it's not anything I've personally noticed often), or a rare failing on the director's part (Taurog)? Because it's quite easy to spot.

I noticed this often while watching old Hollywood films, always assumed it was just common at the time.

Rayon Vert wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 11:36 pmthe second one during a dance sequence using stairs later in the film.

We're not allowed to link specifically to youtube videos, but if anyone interested does a search for something like "Astaire Powell concentrate on you", the cut is at 3:08 in the clip. I'm gathering there was a goof in the performance, or they stitched together the best parts of two takes.

Disappointingly, John Mueller’s book (Astaire Dancing) describes the scene (which he criticizes quite heavily!) without mentioning the jump cut, and he’s usually pretty attentive to editing matters. My guess is that you’re right and it’s just a clumsy fusion of two separate takes to cover a problem.

There's a rather noticeable jump cut during Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse's first dance (with her in the green dress) in Singin' in the Rain. I believe it's even noted in the DVD commentary, but no explanation is given. There is no jump in the music, so it's definitely just an editing choice and not the result of missing footage.