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teddyleevin wrote:I'm big in the NYC G&S community and I heard it from the man himself that Ralph MacPhail just recorded a commentary for a Criterion release of the 1939 Mikado film. Also due out is the 1950s film "The Story of Gilbert & Sullivan." Anyone else hear anything to these effects?

I haven't heard anything, but Topsy-Turvy has long been near the top of my list of Criterion's likely Focus acquisitions, and I could see both of these films being used as supplements. What a loaded set that would be! Criterion almost certainly owns North American rights to the Gilliat film through their acquisition of the London Films library, and I can't really see them releasing it on its own. The 1939 Mikado is a Janus property.

But how will they ever top that cover art!

W. S. Gilbert drama works set?

Topsy-Turvy on Blu with those kinds of extras that only Criterion would seem to take enough care (or have the ability) to licence would be absolutely fantastic! Maybe they could be working on a big America: Lost and Found-esque boxset, as Cinephrenic suggests.

Cold Bishop wrote:But how will they ever top that cover art!

Agreed, though I am concerned that it will be a cut in half picture of Jim Broadbent demonstrating his samurai scream with some out of focus actors in Japanese dress occupying the empty space behind his shoulder!

Topsy-Turvy would be a great choice, and surely one of the best licensed titles from Focus. Even the old UK DVD is rather expensive!

To add to the possibility of Topsy-Turvy, months ago, my Criterion connect said that Criterion finished transferring a film with cinematographer Dick Pope. Maybe it's this?

kaujot wrote:Again, though, Robinson Crusoe on Mars is one of Peter Becker's favorites, so it's not really too much of a surprise.

It surprised me because Criterion didn't have the Blu-Ray rights to the Paramount titles.

I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't buy a blu-ray of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

I'm waiting until the Monday announcement to buy anything that isn't a BD or an Eclipse set from the B&N sale. I'd hate to pick a desired catalogue title like "Double Life of Veronique" and/or "If..." and finding out it's coming on BD after I've gotten it super-duper cheap on SD DVD. Got "Thin Red Line" and pre-ordered "Night of the Hunter" BD's today though (actually my folks did at some Phoenix B&N) so it's all good. :)

Well, I bought The Furies so you can thank me for the inevitable blu announcement (but at least I'll have the novel!)

Murdoch wrote:Well, I bought The Furies so you can thank me for the inevitable blu announcement (but at least I'll have the novel!)

Has anyone actually read the novel? Judging from the parts I've skimmed, I doubt whether I'd be able to make it to the end.

For a light read it was decent, certainly nothing special. I had issues with the ending of the film but the original ending in the novel was just as bad. I wish Criterion would include more novels with their releases. The Man Who Fell to Earth in particular was a fantastic read.

ianungstad wrote:For a light read it was decent, certainly nothing special. I had issues with the ending of the film but the original ending in the novel was just as bad. I wish Criterion would include more novels with their releases. The Man Who Fell to Earth in particular was a fantastic read.

It is too bad they stopped doing that- I was disappointed to get a copy of Short Cuts that didn't include the book. I'm assuming they had very limited publishing rights even when they were including books frequently, though, because otherwise including the novelization of Mr Arkadin (interesting thematic connection about it being credited falsely as Welles' work aside) and not the source novel for say Berlin Alexanderplatz is difficult to explain.

Criterion Cast has uploaded the trailers for Amarcord and Tokyo Story. So Blu-Rays for those two are probably going to be announced on Monday.

Jeff wrote:

teddyleevin wrote:I'm big in the NYC G&S community and I heard it from the man himself that Ralph MacPhail just recorded a commentary for a Criterion release of the 1939 Mikado film. Also due out is the 1950s film "The Story of Gilbert & Sullivan." Anyone else hear anything to these effects?

I haven't heard anything, but Topsy-Turvy has long been near the top of my list of Criterion's likely Focus acquisitions, and I could see both of these films being used as supplements. What a loaded set that would be! Criterion almost certainly owns North American rights to the Gilliat film through their acquisition of the London Films library, and I can't really see them releasing it on its own. The 1939 Mikado is a Janus property.

That would be fantastic; they'd likely record their own, but Mike Leigh's commentary track is excellent.

Exciting upgrades. Hope they manage to keep the gorgeous digi for Amarcord.

I don't see the trailer for Amarcord.

It's here. Posted, as I type, 21 hours ago.

Pathe will be releasing a French Blu-Ray of Le Samourai in early 2011 and Criterion's shouldn't be far behind, perhaps as part of their May or June line-up.

Have they ever done a blu-ray upgrade of a $30 price point disc? I can't recall any off the top of my head.

They've mostly been full on redos, but yes price is not a worry.

matrixschmatrix wrote:Have they ever done a blu-ray upgrade of a $30 price point disc? I can't recall any off the top of my head.

The 400 Blows comes to mind.

Seems the Amarcord and Tokyo Story trailers have been taken down. Either they aren't going to be announced tomorrow or Criterion Cast was asked (or forced) to remove them.

I was going to guess Amarcord but went w/ F&A thinking they were trying to get it out for xmas and had their usual delays...seems a pretty obvious choice for the upgrade, as does Tokyo Story. I think its great that they'll continue to hit the big guns in the collection for blu ray along with new stuff. Exterminating Angel, Rules of the Game, Ikiru, Naked, F&A, Lady Vanishes, etc all seem likely in 2011/12. Le Samourai is the only Melville I haven't bought for this reason...it would seem the most likely candidate after Army of Shadows.

Need L'avventura or L'eclisse on Blu.