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swo17 wrote:I believe Make Way for Tomorrow was Universal and it had to be region locked.

:-$

Amazing amazing amazing news about Touch of Evil in Blu with the 1:37 AR - nobody else would do this, even Criterion if they had the chance (thinking of what they did with Magnificent Obsession). So thank you.

Also, so glad to see A Man Vanishes, even if this ends up barebones it'll be a contender for release of the year. Don't even care that much about the lack of blu, ATG titles on dvd are a lot better than nothing!

I will also be picking up Narayama.

Interesting that you guys aren't doing a Blu of Island of Lost Souls. I probably would have bought the MoC over the Criterion, just to support you guys; but i'll be getting the Criterion now. I'm sure it will sell very well though regardless of the lack of Blu.

I'm curious what the reasoning is behind going Blu-only again on two titles.

swo17 wrote:I'm curious what the reasoning is behind going Blu-only again on two titles.

MoC's troubles with Blu look like to enter a new phase

Perhaps they only have the Blu-Ray license? I know that Arrow only released Il Generale della Rovere on DVD because they weren't allowed to release it on Blu-Ray. Perhaps this is the same situation but opposite scenario. :-k

Well done MoC ... I step away for a meeting and come back to a very welcome announcement. I never bought the 3 disc Universal set, so I'm looking forward to this.

I just PM'd Nick about the region coding for 'Touch of Evil' and it'll be a B-locked title.

Island of Lost Souls getting a DVD-only release? Criterion gets the Blu but MoC gets SD only, huh?

eerik wrote:I wouldn't mind seeing more classic Hollywood from Fox and Universal archives.

peerpee wrote:We'll be announcing some Dual Format editions of further Universal titles, plus Dual Format Fox titles, and other Dual Format editions

I honestly don't know what to say. Thank you?

I'd quite like to see MoC release Huston's The Roots of Heaven

Given MoC's big partnership with Universal and their preexisting relationship with the director, I hope it's not out of the realms of hope for Joe Dante's Matinee to get the Blu treatment. I know it'd be more recent than most MoCs, but c'mon!!

Universal don't have the rights to MATINEE in the UK, apparently.

Dang. I guess it's some small comfort to know you guys at least looked into it! Well, MoC of the 'Burbs it is then!

Matinee has already been already released by Carlotta in France. \:D/

I have my fingers crossed for Ruggles of Red Gap and Wild River.

domino harvey wrote:Dang. I guess it's some small comfort to know you guys at least looked into it! Well, MoC of the 'Burbs it is then!

Forget that; MoC of The Wizard. \:D/

MoC just have edited one Keisuke Kinoshita "Twenty-Four Eyes". It's possible to acquire the right for :

- Children of Nagasaki aka Kono ko wo nokoshite (83)
- Immortal Love aka Eien no hito (61)
- The River Fuefuki aka Fuefukigawa (60)
- Ballad of Narayama aka Narayama bushiko (58)
- Carmen Comes Home aka Karumen kokyo ni kaeru (51)

Mk2 (France) had edited a boxset in 2008

Kinoshita's "Ballad of Narayama" was released on DVD by Tartan. The picture is too soft sometimes, but it's a solid release. Hopefully it will be released on BD sooner than later.

Pity the countries you're focussing on aren't my particular favourites but some interesting releases nonetheless! You've more than spoilt me over the last few years. If only other labels would go the distance like this on the upcoming Touch of Evil. Six different versions is quite an achievement, if not overkill, but if it was going to be appreciated for any film then surely this is it.

I think there are a lot more interesting and essential Japanese films of the 50s than these Kinoshita ones -- such as the major works of Uchida and Imai and even Gosho.

My jaw hit the floor when I saw that "Touch of Evil" was to be released - just brilliant, and thanks MOC for bringing this to us.

I'm also looking forward to the bluray of "Ballad of Narayama" - I saw that one theatrically when it was first released and it blew my mind. A truly astonishing, gruelling work of cinema.

TMDaines wrote:Pity the countries you're focussing on aren't my particular favourites but some interesting releases nonetheless!

Mine neither, but Nick said that "Our main focus though, over the next 12 months, is on two countries other than Japan." As so far we have only the USA and more from Japan, there is still hope for France and Germany. Or the Soviet Union: the world needs some Otsep and Kuleshev on dvd (but don't bother with yet another release of "Po zakonu").

Haven't mentioned the other country yet. One was USA.

Ich denke Deutschland mit Die Nibelungen und Der blaue Engel...

(My German is weak I would have preferred Italy )

Given the relationship blossoming between MOC and Universal, I think I'd have kittens if MOC were to bolster up and make definitive the Sternberg / Dietrich Universal collaborations on top of a Blue Angel release.

I'm also hoping Billy Wilder may also be in their sights, given that at least three of his Universal features many consider masterpieces: Double Indemnity, The Lost Weekend and Five Graves to Cairo (which is the most in need of a UK release, although the Madman R4 is excellent).