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Does anyone know how long the contracts last for the Paramount films? Also how about the few MGM films.

LightBulbFilm wrote:Does anyone know how long the contracts last for the Paramount films? Also how about the few MGM films.

how should we know... we'll probably just have to wait and see (when, and if, they go out of print)

Do we know the status of the Apu trilogy? They've been out of print for a while now and I know there's some copyright issues, but words can't describe how much I would love a Criterion set of this.

Cameron wrote:Do we know the status of the Apu trilogy? They've been out of print for a while now and I know there's some copyright issues, but words can't describe how much I would love a Criterion set of this.

last I heard, Sony owns the rights.

Satyajit Ray - According to a friend (of a member), in correspondence with staff at UCSC, "Criterion has been negotiating with UCSC to acquire several Satyajit Ray films". Email to member says, "things are moving slowly," but some some more title-specific announcements may be forthcoming later on in 2007.

I'm like 1 million percent sure this involves the Apu Trilogy (and I'd wager my wife and kids for The Music Room and Charulata, except I don't have any)

mikeohhh wrote:

Satyajit Ray - According to a friend (of a member), in correspondence with staff at UCSC, "Criterion has been negotiating with UCSC to acquire several Satyajit Ray films". Email to member says, "things are moving slowly," but some some more title-specific announcements may be forthcoming later on in 2007.

I'm like 1 million percent sure this involves the Apu Trilogy (and I'd wager my wife and kids for The Music Room and Charulata, except I don't have any)

Since this is the place for random speculation, I'll put in a bid for the Apu trilogy as a lavish Criterion box set, with that BBC documentary and lots of general extras, plus a five-film Eclipse set trailing in its wake, including the titles mentioned above.

(Both of which are such a success that a Calcutta Trilogy box follows hot on their heels. . .)

I would think that the Music Room would get its own spine number and probably also Charulata, although there are tons of Ray films that are much more obscure that deserve the Eclipse treatment.

Does anyone know the rights situation on Almodovar's short films and his first few feature length films? I haven't seen any of them, but he's definitely one of the most important spanish directors.

This just occurred to me...with films like Days of Heaven getting the Criterion treatment thanks to Paramount, might Criterion manage to snatch something as significant as, oh, Shane?

Does Image Entertainment = probable Criterion release? Because there are a lot of Image releases I'd love see get the Criterion treatment.

What A Disgrace wrote:This just occurred to me...with films like Days of Heaven getting the Criterion treatment thanks to Paramount, might Criterion manage to snatch something as significant as, oh, Shane?

Or Altman's Nashville - still in early Paramount DVD?...

ellipsis7 wrote:

What A Disgrace wrote:This just occurred to me...with films like Days of Heaven getting the Criterion treatment thanks to Paramount, might Criterion manage to snatch something as significant as, oh, Shane?

Or Altman's Nashville - still in early Paramount DVD?...

Anyone thinking Harold and Maude?

The Elegant Dandy Fop wrote:Anyone thinking Harold and Maude?

And Too Late Blues?

And It's a Wonderful Life?

And 1492?

Ooh, this is fun.

So -- wait -- the consensus around here is that Shane is more "significant" than Days of Heaven?

Also, I can't tell whether people are joking when they praise 1492. Is that actually something I should see?

My Man Godfrey wrote:So -- wait -- the consensus around here is that Shane is more "significant" than Days of Heaven?

I think they mean equally significant.

Shane is never going to appear on Criterion, it has way more name recognition that any other film in the Collection and is destined to be on a Target endcap if it ever gets a special edition release.

My Man Godfrey wrote:Also, I can't tell whether people are joking when they praise 1492. Is that actually something I should see?

They aren't joking, but they are equating chronic unavailability with quality. You could live a perfectly happy life without ever seeing a single frame of this film. In fact, your life may be the better for it.

Luke M wrote:Does Image Entertainment = probable Criterion release? Because there are a lot of Image releases I'd love see get the Criterion treatment.

No, Image Entertainment does not = probable Criterion release. That doesn't mean however that Criterion isn't able to obtain rights from Image where Image holds them....for example, Bicycle Thieves. I'd imagine that at some time we'll see some more of those Italian neo-realism films sooner rather than later.

Tribe

miless wrote:

Cameron wrote:Do we know the status of the Apu trilogy? They've been out of print for a while now and I know there's some copyright issues, but words can't describe how much I would love a Criterion set of this.

last I heard, Sony owns the rights.

they no longer have the rights to the Apu trilogy

Speaking of old IMAGE releases, I would LOVE to see Rocco and His Brothers join the collection.

Tribe wrote:

Luke M wrote:Does Image Entertainment = probable Criterion release? Because there are a lot of Image releases I'd love see get the Criterion treatment.

No, Image Entertainment does not = probable Criterion release. That doesn't mean however that Criterion isn't able to obtain rights from Image where Image holds them....for example, Bicycle Thieves. I'd imagine that at some time we'll see some more of those Italian neo-realism films sooner rather than later.

Ah good then. In particular, I was hoping for Rocco and His Brothers and La Terra Trema.

Bottle Rocket has gone out of print. Maybe the biggest urban legend/Criterion wish for many could come true.

dx23 wrote:Bottle Rocket has gone out of print. Maybe the biggest urban legend/Criterion wish for many could come true.

I'm the most cynical bastard around here, and I do believe it's really happening this time. The bigger question is whether this is a one-shot deal or the beginning of a beautiful friendship with SPE.

I agree -- I think this may actually be happening. This is certainly the most promising news.