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"any alternative guesses for the Saturn/planet" it looks to me like the old Universal Logo -- some deal for Universal films?

And the pot of honey so near the motorcycle -- Honey Ryder, as in DR. NO?

The Kid is carrying the motorcycle -- Motorcycle Boy -- RUMBLE FISH?

britcom68 wrote: Just rotate the image, it isn't a pelican, it is supposed to be the reverse Queen on the bottom of the playing card.

I see what you mean. I rotated it and the reverse Queen isn't perfectly drawn but it's likely not a pelican like you said.

JabbaTheSlut wrote:JFK (Stone) ?

Important to note that it is now with Fox, since all Regency titles are with them now. So it probably has a better chance for that reason.

What could CC add to Dr Strangelove? The Sony version is pretty in depth with supplements.

Three babies? Are they babies, but dolls? In which case, planet in distance is Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (which we know has a HD transfer, out from Arrow in UK this next month).

Minkin wrote: Of the things remaining, nobody has any solid guesses on the young lad

Looks quite cleary like Chaplin's The Kid no? (as I put in my previous post )

Why does one of the babies resemble Charlie Brown?

I feel obliged to mention the Here Comes Mr. Jordan clue would also apply to Heaven Can Wait and maintain hope for a dual release.

I wonder if the fact that all of these characters are walking in a procession or parade is a clue as well?

Three Kings could be Kings of the Road. Three of them could signify the Road Movie trilogy.

Minkin wrote:
What are the other JFK Robert Drew documentaries (aside from Primary)?

'Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0263238/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) would be the obvious companion. It's more Bobby Kennedy-focused, but does feature JFK heavily.

Though I'd also hope for some of the other Drew Associates shorts etc. might mke the cut, being far more difficult to get hold of. All rights-dependent, of course!

- The Kings of the Road/Road Trilogy thing probably makes the most sense since we know it's coming, but David O. Russell directed an anti-war documentary, A Soldier's Pay, for part of a planned deluxe DVD release of Three Kings. Warner chickened out and the doc was released independently. Wouldn't be surprised if that was the impetus for a Criterion release. Three Kings is far and away Russell's best film in my book, so no complaints if so.

- I like the idea of The Bling Ring for the Saturn clue, but I'm not convinced. It would mark the first license from A24, which would be the real news here.

- The Queen of Hearts might simply be a mistake by Polan and still point to The Manchurian Candidate. It wouldn't be the first time an announced title was included in the New Year's drawing.

- Those are definitely chrysanthemums. The question is, "Are they the last ones or late ones?" My money is on the Naruse since they're next to the Chimes at Midnight.

The cart is 100% Lone Wolf and Cub (It is a wolf in the cart and the cart looks exactly like the one in the movies)

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, and, if you want to go beyond the obvious for the JFK clue, maybe John Waters' Eat Your Makeup (which has a recreation of the assassination)?

Couldn't the Queen of Hearts be Svankmajer's Alice. It is a Channel Four film and was a former Image title.

I think the honey pot is definitely is A Taste of Honey. The rights are owned by Westchester Films, it has never had a US DVD release and Tony Richardson has a phantom page.

jwd5275 wrote:I think the honey pot is definitely is A Taste of Honey. The rights are owned by Westchester Films, it has never had a US DVD release and Tony Richardson has a phantom page.

Ah. I'm sure you're right. That leaves us with:

(Near) Certainties
McCabe & Mrs. Miller
Lone Wolf and Cub
Dr. Strangelove
Only Angels Have Wings
The New World
Phoenix
The Kid
Easy Rider
Bicycle Thieves
A Taste of Honey
Chimes at Midnight
Here Comes Mr. Jordon
The Squid and the Whale
The Naked Island

Uncertainties
Kings: Kings of the Road/Wenders' Road Trilogy seems most likely, but possibly David O. Russell's aborted Three Kings deluxe release with A Soldier's Pay

Sparkly Ringed Planet: The Bling Ring? Fantastic Planet?

Queen of Hearts: The Manchurian Candidate (with heart/diamond error)? Kings and Queen

JFK button: Robert Drew films?

Chrysanthemums: Late Chrysanthemums or The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums

Dolls/Babies: Valley of the Dolls? Beyond the Valley of the Dolls? Bubble?

Parade: The already-released The Big Parade seems unlikely, so what else?

Ah, Flight of the Phoenix. Will be nice to have that on bluray.

Jeff wrote:Sparkly Ringed Planet: The Bling Ring has been the only guess.

Someone on Home Theater Forum mentioned René Laloux' Fantastic Planet as a possibility.

I think I am showing my age but the first guess that came to me for the three babies was the Beatles butcher album cover- although that could be one helluva way to tease De Sicca's "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." Oddly enough I agree that it may well be a release for Dolls as has long been rumored, but only because if they were drawn more like female dolls or Barbies everyone would jump to guessing "Superstar: Karen Carpenter" which is highly unlikely due to the rights/estate problems.

Buttery Jeb wrote:

Jeff wrote:Sparkly Ringed Planet: The Bling Ring has been the only guess.

Someone on Home Theater Forum mentioned René Laloux' Fantastic Planet as a possibility.

Isn't the planet just there so there's something in the picture beyond the dolls in the Valley. In other words, it's Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, whereas if there wasn't something beyond it, it'd just be Valley of the Dolls.

The newsletter e-mail I received was addressed to: Paul Hackett. Does this mean After Hours is coming?

I'll admit that this is probably wrong, but just to throw it out there, could the planet be for 2001-A Space Odyssey? In the novel, they travel to Saturn instead of Jupiter and, as drawn, "it's full of stars."

Wait, is the baby with the doll not just the long rumored Baby Doll?

Minkin wrote: ...Of the things remaining, nobody has any solid guesses on the young lad (or is it Oliver Twist + what is he holding? Its like his hand is on the other side of the Easy Rider tire...)...

Well, the young lad is dressed like Jackie Coogan in Chaplin's The Kid, so I would say that's pretty solid. He's actually carrying the "Easy Rider" motorcycle which is why I suggested he's a bicycle thief (for the upgrade of Bicycle Thieves coming in March). I also don't see why the "Easy Rider" motorcycle can't represent Easy Rider itself.