criterionforum.org

Essentially, yes, but this appears to be the first instance of a DVD release going out-of-print while the Blu release remains in print. I suppose Teshigahara is the closest comparison, although I do hope the entire box does eventually come back in print on both formats, with Pitfall and The Face of Another making their Blu debut.

Costa-Gavras' Z is now listed as OOP on criterion.com.

Is now a time to be concerned that State of Siege may go OOP?

I would say yes. Also Missing.

Z has long been expected to be upgraded, I wouldn't panic yet

Guys, Z is a Janus title still streaming on Filmstruck. Film Forum has a playdate booked through Janus in October. It’s not going anywhere, its licensing is basically totally different than The Confession’s (and the same is true of Missing). Panicing won’t achieve anything. It was restored in 4K over 3 years ago; it’s a title that probably sells pretty well for what it is, all things being equal, so a Blu-ray’s always been a when rather than an if.

This is terrific news about Z. Pretty much guarantees a forthcoming upgrade, no? Same thing that happened to Andrei Rublev before its upgrade announcement.

danieltiger wrote: Fri Aug 24, 2018 1:44 am I would say yes. Also Missing.

Missing is with Universal, so there's a 0% chance it would be affected by any of this.

I'm still incredibly wary about any of these Costa-Gavras OOP titles - and I suspect a Z upgrade is the most likely outcome (sounds like the sort of random upgrade that would be destined for a Dec release anyway).

The Carl Th. Dreyer box is now officially out of print. So is the DVD edition of the Rossellini War Trilogy box.

Is Criterion trying to phase out DVD box-sets? First America Lost and Found, and now the War Trilogy?

Boosmahn wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 1:53 am Is Criterion trying to phase out DVD box-sets? First America Lost and Found, and now the War Trilogy?

Perhaps the cost to reset the machines that manufacture the boxes is too prohibitive, without any guarantee of a return. Some of these DVDs must be gathering dust in the warehouse, and once the inventory is depleted, they determine it's not worth the cost to print another run. That may be why the Eisenstein, Antoine Doinel, BRD Trilogy, and now Dreyer boxes are OOP. They still have the rights to all of those films. And they never even published a DVD edition of the new version of THE COMPLETE MONTEREY POP, the Zatoichi box, the combined Brakhage anthologies, and the forthcoming Bergman box.

So to answer your question, I think they are phasing out DVD box sets.

Boosmahn wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 1:53 am Is Criterion trying to phase out DVD box-sets? First America Lost and Found, and now the War Trilogy?

As I've posted before, I strongly suspect that Criterion's DVD sales have been steadily decreasing since they dropped the dual-format releases, and I would think that by now, the majority of Criterion's remaining DVD sales are library/institutional, and that those buyers prefer individual titles in individual packaging for obvious reasons.

Burden of Dreams DVD is listed as OOP on the Criterion website.

It must be getting reissued in some form considering that Criterion seems to have licensed the entire Flower Films library. I'll forever hang onto my copy as it's signed by the late Les Blank himself.

Certainly has seemed a no-brainer for a blu-ray upgrade both in content and popularity.

If Harrod Blank is to be believed, it is indeed being reissued on Blu at some point.

I'm a bit confused about editions with 'books'. I have Short Cuts, Two Lane Blacktop, Man Who Fell To Earth, and maybe a few more with books. And from what I'm garnering here is that if Criterion continues and/or reissues them, the books will always be omitted? Is there a list here or elsewhere of Criterion releases with books at one point, but have been sacrificed due to OOP or reissue?

It's case by case--for instance, Red River and Vampyr got reissued with their books intact

I can't really find any North american retailers with 49th Parallel in stock. Between printings, perhaps?

Actually, Criterion, itself, seems to have it, so scratch that.

swo17 wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 3:43 pm It's case by case--for instance, Red River and Vampyr got reissued with their books intact

Wasn't there an in-between phase when Vampyr was reissued sans book before it was reintroduced?

StevenWest wrote: Thu Nov 08, 2018 3:33 pm I'm a bit confused about editions with 'books'. I have Short Cuts, Two Lane Blacktop, Man Who Fell To Earth, and maybe a few more with books. And from what I'm garnering here is that if Criterion continues and/or reissues them, the books will always be omitted? Is there a list here or elsewhere of Criterion releases with books at one point, but have been sacrificed due to OOP or reissue?

It needs some updating for 2018 and such, but I maintain this list.

In regards to the above about Vampyr - the DVD was reissued without the book, but then the blu-ray came out with the book. So the Blu has it, but the DVD does not (anymore).

As posted Here

Putney Swope appears to be coming to AGFA next year for the film's 50th anniversary. The Janus site still lists all of the other Downey Sr films, except Putney Swope.

I'm inclined to believe they probably don't have the rights anymore; and the Eclipse set may be going OOP in the near future. The only other possibility I can think of is whether AGFA only have theatrical or Blu rights; not DVD rights. Either way, if you want these films, I'd highly recommend picking up Eclipse Series 33: Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr at the next sale; and to keep an eye out on its availability. You can still purchase it at Criterion.com - but that may change in the future.

Minkin wrote: Sat Dec 29, 2018 11:47 am Putney Swope appears to be coming to AGFA next year for the film's 50th anniversary. The Janus site still lists all of the other Downey Sr films, except Putney Swope.

I'm inclined to believe they probably don't have the rights anymore; and the Eclipse set may be going OOP in the near future. The only other possibility I can think of is whether AGFA only have theatrical or Blu rights; not DVD rights.

I sent AGFA an email after reading this post about whether or not they had the home video rights. Here's what they responded:

Bret Berg wrote:[T]hanks for reaching out. [...]

Currently AGFA does not have home video rights to the film. To our knowledge, our upcoming theatrical release does not affect Criterion's home video rights.


cheers
bret

So it looks as if Putney Swope is safe.

Thanks for checking on that! Glad to know.

Although I'm sure most of us would prefer the Eclipse set go OOP if it meant we got a Blu in the process. Maybe one day Criterion will give this film an upgrade.