Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films

[ianungstad]

I had asked Mulvaney the same question when The Last Holiday was announced and he replied that it may appear as a Criterion title in the future. So they could be possible double dips. Then again, they said the same thing about Eclipse and years later none of the Eclipse titles have been upgraded to a CC special edition.

Not a huge fan of this idea anyways. I woudl rather see these bundled in Eclipse sets. Even if they are only 2-3 titles like the Bernard or Fuller sets. The last thing Criterion needs is another line to dump unwanted/problematic titles. The Carne belongs in the mainline. Dissapointed.

[Finch]

Le Jour se leve

Think that settles it for me as to whether to finally buy the Optimum (cheap price & great cover).

[domino harvey]

Does anybody recommend Mayerling?

I haven't seen it but Litvak is an underrated director who could really benefit from the popularity push the Criterion treatment could have provided. Sigh

[so lightly here]

It seems that a new section needs to be added so that CC lesser labels can be discussed like "The Red Balloon" and now all of the EAH titles like "Mayerling". At the time they were announced it seemed to be assumed they would appear as regular CC titles. This seems unlikely now.

[zedz]

It seems that a new section needs to be added so that CC lesser labels can be discussed like "The Red Balloon" and now all of the EAH titles like "Mayerling". At the time they were announced it seemed to be assumed they would appear as regular CC titles. This seems unlikely now.

Rather than adding a whole new section for the sake of a few, probably rarely discussed films, why not just change the Eclipse subforum to Eclipse / Essential Arthouse and routinely add threads for newly announced unique titles. Discussion of previously Criterioned titles should obviously remain in the parent thread, and should Essential Arthouse titles eventually get the Criterion treatment their threads can just be ported over.

[domino harvey]

Seconded

[George Kaplan]

All in favor say "aye!"

[Jeff]

Rather than adding a whole new section for the sake of a few, probably rarely discussed films, why not just change the Eclipse subforum to Eclipse / Essential Arthouse and routinely add threads for newly announced unique titles. Discussion of previously Criterioned titles should obviously remain in the parent thread, and should Essential Arthouse titles eventually get the Criterion treatment their threads can just be ported over.

A suggestion so fine that I went ahead and created the new threads. I also moved over the three children's films that were released under the "Janus Films" imprint.

[Chull]

Can anyone tell me how the boxes are packaged? That is - are the discs in individual cases, or is it some kind of fold-out job?

[hammock]

Can anyone tell me how the boxes are packaged? That is - are the discs in individual cases, or is it some kind of fold-out job?

No boxes. They are clip-on's in cut-out holes in cardboard. They house 4 DVD's on each page.

[Jeff]

Can anyone tell me how the boxes are packaged? That is - are the discs in individual cases, or is it some kind of fold-out job?

No boxes. They are clip-on's in cut-out holes in cardboard. They house 4 DVD's on each page.

Like so:

[img]http://criterion_production.s3.amazonaws.com/product_images/123/Janusboxsetstill.png[/img]

[Tommaso]

This looks very worryingly like 'Murnau-Borzage-Fox'. I assume they are not scratched, though?

[Chull]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I was wondering how the 6-disc sets were packaged.

[Zazou dans le Metro]

Seeing that I got Mulvaneyed a couple of months back with 'we have no plans...etc etc' re 'Le Jour se leve' I'm wondering if we now have to be extra pedantic in our enquiries and ask what particular livery our favourites might be sporting.

In fairness there aren't many specific extras that relate to Jour, even the Studio Canal is hard pressed with an interview with Gabin where he doesn't mention the film,but is it mere fetishism that would like to see a spine number on this?

At least it's out in R1 land and maybe the Essential line now paves the way for a less cultish Eclipse option for more classic titles that would otherwise not fit any particular bill/price structure.

[Tommaso]

maybe the Essential line now paves the way for a less cultish Eclipse option for more classic titles that would otherwise not fit any particular bill/price structure.

I hope so, too. But then I wonder why they didn't simply create another line; I never really bothered to look at the Essential line before, seeing that these were all stripped-down releases of films available in the CC line. I always regarded the extras and the booklets as essential features of the original releases, and wouldn't even want to think of a barebones "Tales of Hoffmann" without "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and audiocommentary, for instance. In other words: the four new films being dumped into Essential might even get less attention than if they were Eclipse releases. In any case, CC should decide whether they want Essential to be a cheapo re-release line or a line of exclusive, though barebones releases from now on. The situation as it is now is simply rather confusing.

And yes, I too want spine numbers for these films, considering "Button", "Che", "Monsoon Wedding" -or whatever else they deem to be more important than these films so that they give them the full treatment - will also get their numbers. It's not fetishism, but showing some respect to Carné or Litvak.
(Note: I never really cared before about CC releasing "Button" et al or not, but seeing that apparently almost ALL pre-50s films - with rare exceptions- now no longer seem to get the full treatment really makes me worry about the future of the collection. Even though I'm glad to see them out at least in this form).

[Tribe]

maybe the Essential line now paves the way for a less cultish Eclipse option for more classic titles that would otherwise not fit any particular bill/price structure.

I hope so, too. But then I wonder why they didn't simply create another line; I never really bothered to look at the Essential line before, seeing that these were all stripped-down releases of films available in the CC line. I always regarded the extras and the booklets as essential features of the original releases, and wouldn't even want to think of a barebones "Tales of Hoffmann" without "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and audiocommentary, for instance. In other words: the four new films being dumped into Essential might even get less attention than if they were Eclipse releases. In any case, CC should decide whether they want Essential to be a cheapo re-release line or a line of exclusive, though barebones releases from now on. The situation as it is now is simply rather confusing.

My uninformed spin on this is that I think the recession is catching up with Criterion...with production costs going up, customers reluctant to buy...Criterion isn't immune from the vagaries of the economy. As a result, for the near future I am surmising we are going to see main line Criterion releases in twos rather than announcements of four or five at a time.

Undoubtedly, Criterion likely has a huge library of films that either don't justify the economics of a full-fledged release or the elements aren't available for a pristine transfer. Many of those releases aren't appropriate for whatever reason for an Eclipse box. I anticipate seeing some of these coming out on an irregular basis under the Essential Art House line. I'm sure that sometime in the future things might change to warrant a regular Criterion release for some of these titles.

After all, Criterion has done some profitable business re-issuing titles from the regular line...clearly they see some future in continuing that. In the interim, however, we'll continue seeing these odd titles pop up on occasion under EAH.

[Jeff]

Let's not forget that when Criterion first started releasing DVDs, it was very common for them to issue titles with no supplements whatsoever (and frequently with mediocre, non-anamorphic transfers). The early releases of Amarcord, High and Low, Alphaville, and others were basically "Essential Art House" releases with a $30-$40 MSRP. They regularly released similar product on laserdisc for $50 or more. They made a decision several years ago to include supplemental content on all new releases, but their massive (and growing) library doesn't really allow for that. While it would be great if they had supplements, I'll be happy to pick up Le jour se lève and maybe a couple of others for around $15.

[swo17]

I can see the point for EAH and Eclipse, and have no problem with this business strategy. I just wish the budget lines had more imaginative cover art.

[Tom Hagen]

I am skeptical that this line will be morphing into Eclipse: Single Servings. I may be mistaken, but haven't all of the films that have been released so far (both in the 50 year book set, or as new individual releases) been titles that were intially distributed in the States by Janus during its heyday? That would seem to substantially limit the universe of potential titles . . .

[The Genius]

Just speculation, but it may be that Made in U.S.A. and 2 or 3 Things will be the last new spine #'s with the lower price point. If the current release trend continues, it's pointing toward less main-line releases per month, which may not be a terrible thing if it means we'll still get solid releases without having to pay the extra $10 for a trailer and a ten-minute interview, and possibly that much more due diligence in the main-line titles. Personally, I hope it's moving to the point that every spine number will have a simultaneous blu release. This opinion hinges on assuming that they put acceptable effort into the transfers for the EAH releases.

[movielocke]

I was pondering some films that are pretty high profile and may wind up going the route of Le Jour se Leve due to lack of good enough elements (that would seem to be the main reason, I think) or because they may not sell as well.

Phantom Carraige
Story of the Last Chrysanthemums
There was a Father
Westfront 1918
Leibelie
zero de conduite
Things to Come
Make Way for Tomorrow

damn, there were some others I thought of, but I can't remember them now. :/ (those last two seem more likely for the main line, though, for some reason).

Still, I would be happy if it meant these films becoming available with new transfers. Something is better than nothing in a lot of these cases. or at the very least something would be better than those horrendous VHS of Chrysanthemums I've seen.

[FerdinandGriffon]

If Zero de conduite went straight to Essential Art House it would be a crime, even if the elements are not in great condition this film needs contextualizing, and supplemental materials couldn't possibly be that hard to come by, considering the huge importance and influence of the film. I'm hoping, personally, that Criterion offers a beefed up version of AE's Complete Vigo set, with more supplements, commentaries, etc. This would also make it more likely that Vigo's two documentary shorts would be released than if this came out on EA and L'Atalante on the main label.

[Tribe]

If Zero de conduite went straight to Essential Art House it would be a crime, even if the elements are not in great condition this film needs contextualizing, and supplemental materials couldn't possibly be that hard to come by, considering the huge importance and influence of the film. I'm hoping, personally, that Criterion offers a beefed up version of AE's Complete Vigo set, with more supplements, commentaries, etc. This would also make it more likely that Vigo's two documentary shorts would be released than if this came out on EA and L'Atalante on the main label.

Much agreed here. There must be tons of relevant goodies that can be added to a Vigo release, even if it doesn't include L'Atalante. I'd be very surprised if Zero was not a Criterion release.

[Saturnome]

Of these I doubt that There was a Father would turn up being Essential Art House only. Even minor titles by the biggest names of Criterion are surely going in the main line or Eclipse. I dunno why, coherence maybe.
I can see Phantom Carriage being EAH, but I'm mostly looking after a release with a good score, so a release with a few different scores would be nice...

[Perkins Cobb]

They made a decision several years ago to include supplemental content on all new releases, but their massive (and growing) library doesn't really allow for that. While it would be great if they had supplements, I'll be happy to pick up Le jour se lève and maybe a couple of others for around $15.

So basically, Essential Arthouse is now the Warner Archive of Criterion? Only cheaper.