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I might vote for it. Even when ignoring the titles I suspect Crit will pick up that's nearly $80 worth of stuff I haven't picked up yet though. These OOPs are becoming rather annoying.

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is one of my favorites. Seems like a few of those have got to be heading to blu-ray, one way or another. Hope it's one of them. If some of them end up as Criterions, all the better. It and Darling would be my top two from that list to see blu releases, though several others would be nice too.

Interesting that the AnimEigo Zatoichi titles are now going out of print too. Maybe this means something.

Looking at that MGM list is bringing back memories of flipping through the $5 bins @ Barnes & Noble circa 2009-10.

I was also ready to point out that MGM/Fox had recently been bundling titles (including some then-OOP ones) in star-themed budget boxes easily found at Sam's Club and online retailers, and that perhaps some of these titles may pop up in a future wave of those collections.

However, I just checked Amazon and it looks like the sets I'm thinking of (which were released for Christmas last year) are now either in small supply, like this Burt Lancaster set, or already OOP, like this Jeff Bridges collection.

Bus Stop
Empire Records
Flower of Evil (Chabrol)
Gangsters Vol 2 (AKA Tough Guys)
Second Civil War (Joe Dante)
Seinfeld-- All Seasons
Tammy X 3 (and the Bachelor, &c)
Treasures from the American Film Archives (Encore Edition)

I have a feeling the More American Treasures set won't be around that much longer so I just ordered a copy from DD for $43, might as well jump when its cheap given the astronomical prices these go for when they hit OOP status.

Kino's Avant-Garde Vols. 1 and 2 and their Tom Verlaine and Jimmy Rip: Music for Experimental Film DVD are all listed as discontinued on their site, though they can still be purchased from Amazon. The Avant-Garde sets are essential if you're into that sort of thing.

Also, while we're on the subject of the first Treasures set, I should note that I emailed someone at the NFPF a few weeks ago and here's the response I got: "Though we are trying to raise funds to reprint the first Treasures set, it remains out of print and there is no definite date for when it might become commercially available again."

Jean-Luc Garbo wrote: I'd hope that they try to get Darling if they can.

I have been begging for this one for a few years now... Whoever releases it on blu will hopefully release the original uncensored UK version with nudity intact (unlike what Criterion did to If.... & Salo which were censored versions even in their upgrades to blu).

Lowry_Sam wrote:

Jean-Luc Garbo wrote: I'd hope that they try to get Darling if they can.

I have been begging for this one for a few years now... Whoever releases it on blu will hopefully release the original uncensored UK version with nudity intact (unlike what Criterion did to If.... & Salo which were censored versions even in their upgrades to blu).

I would bet that IF Criterion re-releases it (Criterion had it on Laserdisc) they will pair it the same month as Sunday Bloody Sunday (or should we say "Sundae" since that was the newsletter clue). I would guess if it is NOT released the same month as the other Schlesinger already hinted at, then either Darling is not on their radar anymore, or else it really is still tangled up in rights/library issues.

Has anyone figured out if Criterion's Laserdisc of "Darling" was the uncensored version or the original US release with edits?

I'm sure if Criterion were able to release Darling, it would be the uncensored cut. The region 1 MGM disc has Julie Christie's nude scene intact, but it is edited elsewhere, notably in the scene in which Christie, Laurence Harvey, and other spectators watch a couple make love. From what I've heard, MGM recovered a completely uncensored print after releasing their DVD and never bothered to re-issue it. I believe the print frequently shown on TCM is completely uncut, albeit in Academy ratio.

Has anyone figured out if Criterion's Laserdisc of "Darling" was the uncensored version or the original US release with edits?

I own the LD, but its currently in storage at my parent's house. I have watched it though, and if memory serves, the nude scene was intact.

bamwc2 wrote:

Has anyone figured out if Criterion's Laserdisc of "Darling" was the uncensored version or the original US release with edits?

I own the LD, but its currently in storage at my parent's house. I have watched it though, and if memory serves, the nude scene was intact.

But I believe there was more than one scene w/ nudity, but off hand I can't recall. At least we can be assured that the aspect ratio will be correct....and I think the US dvd was letterboxed too. I was thinking that Far From The Madding Crowd would have been the likely 2nd feature as it also features Julie Christie, but Sunday Bloody Sunday would be welcome too...lest they decide to do their 1st triple feature (non-box set).

According to MMM, Sony just discontinued the single disc release of Punch Drunk Love. They discontinued the two disc set earlier this year. According to MMM, all releases of this film are currently out of print. (Amazon still has the 1 and 2 disc releases in stock.) There's been some speculation that Criterion may have licensed this from Sony. The film going totally out of print certainly adds some fuel to that fire, no?

Maybe, maybe not since Anderson has a new movie coming out this year. Sony may just want to launch a new edition to coincide with that. Could end up being identical to the previous edition.

Stop spoiling my probably-unreasonable hopes!

Sorry, I work in higher ed. Crushing hopes is what I do.

Lowry_Sam wrote:I was thinking that Far From The Madding Crowd would have been the likely 2nd feature as it also features Julie Christie, but Sunday Bloody Sunday would be welcome too...lest they decide to do their 1st triple feature (non-box set).

Far From the Madding Crowd is now controlled by Warner in the U.S. I don't think Darling is coming either unless they picked it up recently after they acquired Sunday Bloody Sunday (which is definitely coming).

Criterion has released unboxed triple features with sequential spine numbers at least two previous times that I can recall. The first was Rebecca, Notorious, and Spellbound. Those three were only much later packed in a Hitchcock gift set with Criterion's other two Hitch titles. The other time was the Ophuls trifecta of La ronde, La plaisir, and The Earrings of Madame de....

Jeff wrote:Far From the Madding Crowd is now controlled by Warner in the U.S. I don't think Darling is coming either unless they picked it up recently after they acquired Sunday Bloody Sunday (which is definitely coming).

Not to crush more hopes (for I too once worked in higher ed.), but Darling isn't actually a MGM title. They licensed it from Studio Canal, who control most of the Avco Embassy library, which is where the film comes from (along w/The Graduate, The Producers, This Is Spinal Tap, Carnal Knowledge and several other titles MGM has released on DVD.)

Given the current situation between Canal & Criterion, I would say to put your money on Lionsgate for a stateside Darling reissue--If it happens at all! ](*,)

I'm surprised Rialto hasn't pounced on the uncensored cut for theatrical re-release. It seems right up their alley. :-k

Arthur House wrote:

Jeff wrote:Far From the Madding Crowd is now controlled by Warner in the U.S. I don't think Darling is coming either unless they picked it up recently after they acquired Sunday Bloody Sunday (which is definitely coming).

Not to crush more hopes (for I too once worked in higher ed.), but Darling isn't actually a MGM title. They licensed it from Studio Canal, who control most of the Avco Embassy library, which is where the film comes from (along w/The Graduate, The Producers, This Is Spinal Tap, Carnal Knowledge and several other titles MGM has released on DVD.)

Right you are, although the rights to those titles will never revert to to StudioCanal or be available from Lionsgate. Polygram had purchased the U.S. distribution rights to the Epic Productions library (which includes the Avco, Embassy, and Nelson libraries, several De Laurentiis titles, Gladden, others) for $225 million from Credit Lyonnaise. MGM acquired them when they got bought the pre-1997 Polygram library. MGM has to get film elements from StudioCanal, but I think the U.S. video and television rights are 100% MGM's outright now. StudioCanal still has theatrical rights. I may be wrong about that. Jameson?

Murdoch wrote:I have a feeling the More American Treasures set won't be around that much longer so I just ordered a copy from DD for $43, might as well jump when its cheap given the astronomical prices these go for when they hit OOP status.

Holy crap, you weren't kidding!

2 new from $897.86

what the hell? I have the 3rd Social Issues volume....not a lot of interest in the encore edition but man. do they actually sell at those prices?

Jeff wrote:

Arthur House wrote:Not to crush more hopes (for I too once worked in higher ed.), but Darling isn't actually a MGM title. They licensed it from Studio Canal, who control most of the Avco Embassy library, which is where the film comes from (along w/The Graduate, The Producers, This Is Spinal Tap, Carnal Knowledge and several other titles MGM has released on DVD.)

Right you are, although the rights to those titles will never revert to to StudioCanal or be available from Lionsgate. Polygram had purchased the U.S. distribution rights to the Epic Productions library (which includes the Avco, Embassy, and Nelson libraries, several De Laurentiis titles, Gladden, others) for $225 million from Credit Lyonnaise. MGM acquired them when they got bought the pre-1997 Polygram library. MGM has to get film elements from StudioCanal, but I think the U.S. video and television rights are 100% MGM's outright now. StudioCanal still has theatrical rights. I may be wrong about that. Jameson?

Thanks for the clarification! It sounds like a real pain to license then, if you have to broker the film through MGM, who in turn have to acquire elements from Canal, and to put the cherry on top, having to negotiate their archives to look for a very specific cut of the film, which when (or if) found may or may not be in the best condition.

HistoryProf wrote:

Murdoch wrote:I have a feeling the More American Treasures set won't be around that much longer so I just ordered a copy from DD for $43, might as well jump when its cheap given the astronomical prices these go for when they hit OOP status.

Holy crap, you weren't kidding!

2 new from $897.86

what the hell? I have the 3rd Social Issues volume....not a lot of interest in the encore edition but man. do they actually sell at those prices?

I wouldn't think so. I've actually owned the entire run before and been able to find them at reasonable prices with a little leg work.
Someone on ebay was selling an ex library edition complete with the booklet for 50 bucks shipped about a month ago.
IMO the first Treasures isn't as good as the others. It's a bit of a mish mash with Battle of San Pietro being arguably the best and most interesting film in the set. There's no audio commentaries on the first set as well.

Although I really liked Hell's Hinges from the first set! And The Land Beyond The Sunset!

MGM is slowly but surely putting all their films OOP. Newest wave includes:

THE BAXTER (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)
Casanova Brown
Children's Hour
Guys and Dolls
He Walked by Night (MGM)
High Spirits
Hour of the Gun
Killing of Sister George
Lord of Illusions
On the Beach
Pride of the Yankees
Return of a Man Called Horse
Ruby Gentry
Support Your Local Sheriff

domino harvey wrote:MGM is slowly but surely putting all their films OOP.

I would put odds that On the Beach and the Killing of Sister George will be the ones most wanted by Criterion fans. I would only want Children's Hour included if it had supplements addressing the history of Hellman and censorship and that wouldn't be hard to include.

I had a thought about On the Beach. It's a Stanley Kramer title and thus far, there is no Kramer in the Criterion Collection. The 2012 initial picture hinted at the 5000 fingers of Dr. T. Would Criterion be so bold as to offer a Kramer box or at least an eclipse?