Eclipse Discussion and Random Speculation

[Michael Kerpan]

I was not aware of any commitment to release subtitled versions of all of Ozu's films. That would be great, if it happens. Was this a Criterion commitment, or was this something Shochiku had planned?

I think this was something mentioned by Donald Richie back in 2003 or so. Not sure if this was ever expressly confirmed by Criterion -- but it certainly was never contradicted. With the disappearance of HVE,, the ground has shifted radically. So who knows what will happen.

[sidehacker]

Just for reference, here's that something mentioned by Richie.

However, the rights to all the Ozu titles were bought by Criterion, so they have already issued a splendid new edition of Tokyo Story. They are coming over here to talk to me about The Story of Floating Weeds, the 1934 silent film which they are releasing repackaged with the 1959 remake. They're going to release all the Ozu pictures one by one, so they will all be made available at some point.

[zedz]

Just for reference, here's that something mentioned by Richie.

However, the rights to all the Ozu titles were bought by Criterion, so they have already issued a splendid new edition of Tokyo Story. They are coming over here to talk to me about The Story of Floating Weeds, the 1934 silent film which they are releasing repackaged with the 1959 remake. They're going to release all the Ozu pictures one by one, so they will all be made available at some point.

I'm still optimistic that they'll all trickle out eventually, since they've got the rights to them, and Eclipse provides the logical vehicle for issuing the titles that are more problematic in terms of elements. I'd expect a handful of further Criterion titles (e.g. An Autumn Afternoon and The Only Son - I'd love to see Dragnet Girl get the treatment as well) and some further Eclipse boxes, cut various ways (e.g. more Silents, Early Sound, 1940s).

[Adam]

According to the programmer at the Silent movie Theatre, Janus has prints for distribution of 17 or 18 Ozu films (from which he drew 9 for his Ozu series in March/April). Those include those already out on Criterion & Eclipse. So I think 18 or 19 Ozu titles total is a reasonable guess for what might come total. There could be more - they might have rights to more for which they aren't making distribution prints.

[ellipsis7]

Well 13 titles are already spoken for (Criterion - 5 Eclipse - 8), AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON is probably destined for a full Criterion release, and clearly there will be further 'Silent Ozu' Eclipse sets, as well as maybe an 'Early Sound' set... THERE WAS A FATHER and THE ONLY SON were suggested as Criterion releases but might not be up that level because of the quality of source material available... With that, there would still be a few post-war movies to be mopped up such as FLAVOUR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE, RECORD OF A TENEMENT GENTLEMAN & THE MUNEKATA SISTERS...

[mattkc]

Good God let's have some Naruse already. MoC isn't releasing any soon. Criterion, please...

[sidehacker]

That be nice, but I've got a terrible feeling that if Criterion did release a Naruse Eclipse set, it would only contain films that have already been released in the UK. Thus, being useless for someone like me.

[What A Disgrace]

Well 13 titles are already spoken for (Criterion - 5 Eclipse - 8), AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON is probably destined for a full Criterion release, and clearly there will be further 'Silent Ozu' Eclipse sets, as well as maybe an 'Early Sound' set... THERE WAS A FATHER and THE ONLY SON were suggested as Criterion releases but might not be up that level because of the quality of source material available... With that, there would still be a few post-war movies to be mopped up such as FLAVOUR OF GREEN TEA OVER RICE, RECORD OF A TENEMENT GENTLEMAN & THE MUNEKATA SISTERS...

I think Richie already mentioned that he had recorded a commentary track for The Only Son...I can only imagine Criterion would find some way to put it out through their main line.

Here is how I see the future Ozu releases going down.

Silent Catalogue - I imagine these are all Eclipse bound...seeing how his most high profile silents are coming out in an Eclipse box. I'm guessing three more boxes would take care of it; two if they really cram them.

The Only Son - Special edition, with Richie commentary, and his short film Kagamijishi. Perhaps coupled with What Did The Lady Forget?, which doesn't really fit in with an Ozu box otherwise.

Ozu and World War II - An Eclipse set, dealing with Japan during, and as a result of, the war, including The Brothers and Sisters of the Toda Family, There Was a Father, The Record of a Tenement Gentleman, and A Hen In The Wind. Its also possible that Ozu's wartime films could be boxed into an Eclipse set dealing with wartime Japanese cinema, since Criterion has said Eclipse will not necessarily focus on directors.

The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice and The Munekata Sisters - I'm not sure how these two will be handled...The Munekata Sisters is a rather minor Ozu it seems; its a possibility that it could get shoved into an Eclipse series box of "mid period Ozu films" with the war oriented films. Or perhaps a Kinuyo Tanaka box. I have a feeling that Green Tea might get the full Criterion treatment; though lower tier in price. Perhaps with an interview or video essay or two, instead of the usual commentary.

Good Morning - I see it being re-issued, in an upper tier special edition, for its 50th anniversary next year. I see Criterion interviewing the child stars of the film, and perhaps with an interview or two with a critic, as well as a commentary. I'd be dissapointed if there was no way to interview the young stars.

An Autumn Afternoon - Obviously going to get its own Criterion edition...as it is his last film, it will probably merit a commentary and rather extensive special features.

[mattkc]

That be nice, but I've got a terrible feeling that if Criterion did release a Naruse Eclipse set, it would only contain films that have already been released in the UK.

I worried about that too. Hopefully they'd have more sense than that though.

[Sanjuro]

It'd be annoying and of course fully 'justified' by the 'we produce for the American market' line. Because Joe Public (who happens to be an avid Criterion collector but ignorant on all other matters) doesn't know what 'multi-region' means.

In the same way a Mizoguchi box of Naniwa Elegy, Zangiku Monogatari and Sisters of Gion would be awsome too. Whereas a "Late Mizoguchi Modern Japan" box of Akasen Chitai, Gion Bayashi and Uwasa no Onna would be extremely frustrating.

Well, I'm sure they have more sense than that.

[Tribe]

It'd be annoying and of course fully 'justified' by the 'we produce for the American market' line. Because Joe Public (who happens to be an avid Criterion collector but ignorant on all other matters) doesn't know what 'multi-region' means.

Thanks goodness we have you to set the American market straight. Don't know what we'd do without you.

Tribe

[MuzikJunky]

Mani Ratnam, please, please, please! Ray is too safe for the white folks! Bring on the social commentary with the singing and dancing!!!! Peace.

[Andre Jurieu]

ECLIPSE SERIES 11: LONG-LOST FILMS OF YASUJIRO OZU
Somewhat Early Midsummer
Fashionably Late Autumn
Summer or Possibly Spring Equinox
Didn't I Make This Film Like Twice Already?
Really Late Winter, Let's Just Say Early Spring

Thud.

I don't think even the .com forum would laugh at that.

I laughed a little (maybe it was more of a smirk), especially at that 4th title.

[criterionaficionado]

will there be an eclipse announcement coming up in about 7-10 days? we have not had any news now on eclipse releases since february (most unacceptable).
I am hoping for either mizoguchi early pics or naruse box. personally, i wouldn't even mind imamura...
anyone have any opinion on this issue?

[criterionaficionado]

i have a bad feeling you are right about mizo box. grem also would have been a sweet addition. all this waiting and blind speculation sucks.

[a.khan]

Mani Ratnam, please, please, please! Ray is too safe for the white folks! Bring on the social commentary with the singing and dancing!!!! Peace.

I'm not white, but I find your comment a little racist and absurd. You've been posting all over the board about Ratnam, whose films are your above-average Bollywood drivel, with a social conscience. I've seen all his films and I do not find them anywhere near Ray's output. And singing and dancing has nothing to do with it. Now, that's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it. Peace.

[MuzikJunky]

I like most average Bollywood drivel, and the fact that a film (or a song, for that matter) has to conform to a Western standard in order for it to get noticed by the Western masses is why I say safe for the white folks. I am white, and I want my non-Western art to be as pure as it can be.

For example. I’d rather hear a non-Western pop song (modern Ethiopian music comes to mind) that has no Western song structure (ie, three notes or less, a pounding drum machine, a cheap synthesizer, no choruses, no bridges) than a song that has been diluted in order to appease a Western audience.

So how about a tribute to the Ramsay brothers or a Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, or Manmohan Desai release? Peace.

[criterionaficionado]

ray's films are superior films...white or non-white for that matter. ratnam is ok, but you are making a comparison that is of apples and oranges. it would be like me saying films by nanni moretti are more deserving than say rossellini, fellini, de sica, etc. i like moretti, but his movies (as good as they are) PALE IN COMPARISON TO THE LIKES OF FELLINI, DE SICA, ROSSELLINI.

it just makes no sense to say ratnam is superior to ray when ray put indian/bengali film on the map globally, just from a social impact alone. ratnam has nothing in his repertoire of the same emotional power found in the apu trilogy ( for the record i am white) as well as ray's other great films. before comparing a master filmmaker to a second rate one, try to really think before putting your foot in your mouth.

[MuzikJunky]

I never said that Ratnam was better than Ray--I only said that I would be more interested in a set from the former rather than the latter because commercial south Asian films are nearly impossible to find in the US, you dig? Peace.

[criterionaficionado]

that is why for people who have a knack for niche market movies (such as south asian movies) there is this thing/invention called the internet. better yet, let me spoon feed you a major importer of S/N/W/E asian films for that matter... start with yesasia.com and work your way down from there... there are also plenty of bollywood sites to get niche movies like the ones you are talking about. why would CC release movies of ratnam/kapoor/manmohan/ramsay brothers and so forth, when only a few (hence really niche market) would purchase those totally unknown films? no disrespect to bollywood, but most contemporary romantic/comedy/musical type bollywood fare are pretty much recycled plot lines. if you've seen one of these modern bollywood romantic musical pics, you have seen them all. in other words, they mirror the mass market contemporary american crap aimed at the majority to numb the senses with shit so that we don't have to think, just enjoy the convoluted/moronic/simplistic storylines most are made to watch. now that's my opinion and i'm 'crazy-glue' sticking to it!!! PEACE!!!!!!!!

[MuzikJunky]

Have you ever seen a DVD from Eros International, for example? They’re horrible. And their story lines may be simplistic to you, but the entire narrative structure is different. Besides, there are many scholarly articles (particularly in Britain) that explain why many of these films and auteurs are great and stand on par with the classics of world cinema. I mean, would the British Film Institute do a major revival of Mother India, complete with a brand-new Technicolor print, if it wasn’t an important film? So, yes, I really do think CC would be wise to release many south Asian movies because they definitely adhere to the company’s mission statement. And as for unknown, Amitabh Bachchan is the world’s most popular actor after Jackie Chan.

Who cares if many plot lines are recycled in the lesser-quality films? The chicks are hot and the music rocks! Peace.

[JHunter]

Criterion should release a few Bollywood films in the US just for purely economic reasons. Apparently, Bollywood films make millions in US theaters from the immigrant crowd. A few releases of the greatest hits in a quality format (unlike most of their native DVDs) might have a similar effect. Sony is already taking advantage of this with the release of "Saawariya", which is even getting a Blu-ray release in the US.

[Alphonso]

Pardon the ignorance, but did the Eclipse line drop off or what?

[HelenLawson]

Pardon the ignorance, but did the Eclipse line drop off or what?

I'm assuming they've held off on announcing a new release due to the delay of the Klein set - what was to be their official March release now has become the official one for May. I assume a new set for June will be announced around the time Ozu releases.

[domino harvey]

Perhaps they should change the name of the line to Ellipse