criterionforum.org

CSM126 wrote:Perhaps they're making way for a re-release with blu-ray upgrade?

Is there a precedent for this? I thought that typically when a DVD recieves an upgrade, it stays available for order on the site until it is actually announced.

jwd5275 wrote:

antnield wrote:Bryan Forbes.

I was going to predict Whistle Down the Wind in a week, even before this news...

They've been pushing Seance on a Wet Afternoon harder (in fact I didn't know they had the other film) so I suspect that would be their first Forbes.

It was mainly a wild hunch after discovering this added at the end of last month.

jindianajonz wrote:

CSM126 wrote:Perhaps they're making way for a re-release with blu-ray upgrade?

Is there a precedent for this? I thought that typically when a DVD recieves an upgrade, it stays available for order on the site until it is actually announced.

The upcoming re-releases of the Hulot films and the BDR Trilogy.

captveg wrote:The upcoming re-releases of the Hulot films and the BDR Trilogy.

I thought this was just wishful thinking on their part, especially for the Hulot bunch?

I think Criterion themselves have confirmed that the Tatis will be back.

I just noticed that Westchester films (where Criterion has licensed many titles - like Stagecoach, I Married a Witch, Cassavetes, etc, etc) has a Hulu Channel with a few titles that aren't on their website (that seems to have not been updated for several years).

I'm not familiar with most of the films, and I see that a few have been licensed elsewhere (I assume Criterion passed on them - Stunt Man, Circle of Iron, Dreamscape), but there might be some films of interest, such as (I'm sure others will immediately recognize more notable films from the Hulu page):

Death of a Salesman (1985, Volker Schlöndorff)
A Night in Casablanca (1946, Marx Bros)
Voyager (1991, Volker Schlöndorff)

---
What with I Married a Witch coming out soon, I hope Criterion's Westchester deal lets them expand to Flesh for Frankenstein/Blood for Dracula as well. Actually, the Image DVD is OOP, so it will probably show up soon.

I could see them releasing Fanny.

If they're feeling a little hungover some morning, they could release The Stunt Man, which I'm given to understand is a bit of a cult film, despite the fact that it's absolutely execrable.

Severin released The Stunt Man on Blu-ray two years ago.

I'd rather they leave that movie alone for now. The Severin release got good marks, and Cutter's Way needs a better release than the one MGM gave it a while back. I like both films a lot, but Stunt Man's gotten plenty of treatment thanks to its cult status—the other movie's wanting for a comeback.

Dual Schlöndorff tales, though, would be something Criterion could dig into.

Voyager is out on DVD from Scorpion Releasing (if I don´t misremember).

I was lucky enough to meet William Friedkin at a screening of Sorcerer/Cruising last night. After Sorcerer screened, he did a QA, and someone asked him if the rights for the film were under control. Of course we all knew that they were. But his reply was interesting. He said that Paramount had lost the rights and that the restoration/blu-ray was being put out by Universal and "another company", which he would not name by name.

So, I dunno, it could be nothing, but the secrecy seems strange. And we know Criterion does do business with Universal. I am aware that Friedkin refuted Criterion's involvement some time ago, but perhaps things have changed.

Friedkin himself said on twitter just over a week ago that "Warner Bros and Universal will share the release in all media."

Today Criterion changed their cover photo on facebook to a picture from one of the scenes from Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Possibly a hint for an upcoming blu ray upgrade? I can only hope.

Calvin wrote:Friedkin himself said on twitter just over a week ago that "Warner Bros and Universal will share the release in all media."

Then I stand corrected. I just found it strange the way he emphasized "other company" in such a secretive way.

sorrysomehow wrote:Possibly a hint for an upcoming blu ray upgrade?

It had better be. After dragging their feet for years on this release, they'd have to be real assholes to put up a still and not have it mean something.

Matt wrote:

sorrysomehow wrote:Possibly a hint for an upcoming blu ray upgrade?

It had better be. After dragging their feet for years on this release, they'd have to be real assholes to put up a still and not have it mean something.

at one time (2 years... 3 years ago maybe) Criterion made a poll via amazon.com asking us to choose between 3 release (I believe that one of the 3 was Howard's End, one other was Picnic At Hanging Rock; perhaps the third one was a Jim Jarmush movie (I'm not sure about that one).
Well; the blu-ray of Howard's End came out very quickly after the polls result.
I kept thinking about the fact that they had 3 blu-ray titles "ready" to go out; and that we missed - at that time - the chance to see "Picnic At Hanging Rock".

I'm quiet sure that if this blu-ray release is ready since 2 years, they are sure about the licence about this movie so that no StudioCanal "thing" happens with this title.


well, do you think that there are some chance that we could have both in HD the original sepia cut too ?
I tend to prefer the director's cut- I already own the UK Blu-Ray and the transfer is gorgeous to my eyes...
that would be great to have some particular bonus; perhaps not in 1080p24 but a HD 1080i transfer of the original theatrical release would be a nice addition, what do you think ?

If memory serves, the Jarmush film was Down By Law, which did see a release. It was a seemingly assorted mishmash of films, none of which were ever destined to be best sellers. I believe that I voted for Kwaidan, but it was an agonizing choice between that and Picnic at Hanging Rock, and now years later are they the last two from the list to go without upgrades?

Rublev was also rather cruelly given the option to vote. It was rather a kangaroo vote though as they probably knew Howard's End would win.

knives wrote:Rublev was also rather cruelly given the option to vote. It was rather a kangaroo vote though as they probably knew Howard's End would win.

I didn't remember that, and now I just feel sad.

knives wrote:Rublev was also rather cruelly given the option to vote.

No it wasn't. Just these.

It seems I remembered others' suggestion as part of the list.

Good, that jives with my memory. I feel like if Rublev had been in the poll, I would've spent all of my free time creating amazon accounts in order to spam the vote.

About 29 minutes intothis podcast, Eric Skillman mentions that they have "a film coming up that has a great Saul Bass poster" and the only clue he gives is that it is not a Hitchcock film.