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FrauBlucher wrote:I wonder if the Keaton's are going to be the Cohen 4k masters.

Isn't that a certainty? I can't imagine MoC would have sat on the titles for this long if that wasn't the case, and they do license directly from Cohen.

Great news! I hope they include the Joe Hisaishi score that's on Kino's upcoming re-release of The General, as I'm very curious to hear it. But not curious enough to buy multiple releases of it.

Ribs wrote:

FrauBlucher wrote:I wonder if the Keaton's are going to be the Cohen 4k masters.

Isn't that a certainty? I can't imagine MoC would have sat on the titles for this long if that wasn't the case, and they do license directly from Cohen.

I'm sure you're right Ribs. Lobster has that 2k restoration that Kino is using have given me slight pause to this announcement.

Are these three the only Keatons that Cohen has the rights to?

No, it's complicated, but they technically have the rights to all pre-Camerman films. These are probably the only ones they're restored though.

Kino announced four titles yesterday so I'm not sure why MOC only has three of them?

Cohen's releasing their own 4K masters next year when rights revert to them, and that's what MoC will use, not the Kino/Lobster 2K remasters.

Ribs wrote:Cohen's releasing their own 4K masters next year when rights revert to them, and that's what MoC will use, not the Kino/Lobster 2K remasters.

Can you give me your source for this assertion?

Ribs can answer too of course but - although I wouldn't dream of asserting it as known fact - my educated guesswork is that the MoC transfers will come via Cohen because we do know that they've completed restorations of these particular three Keaton features (see posts by Tim Lanza and Cecilia Cenciarelli in this Nitrateville thread) and my understanding is that Cohen own copyright on Sherlock Jr. where as The General and Steamboat Bill Jr, the only titles common with the Kino/Lobster set, are PD (at least in the US).

Eureka has confirmed this to be an October release, and that the sources will be the Cohen restorations.

Did they confirm a box? Because it didn't say that on their tweet.

The box was confirmed on Facebook.

Yes, full details in just under 3 weeks (27th July). I assume these will be spine numbers #172-174. Very happy they opted for the newer Cohen masters!

Is the Joe Hisashi score part of the Cohen resto for THE GENERAL? Either way, I'm all over this.

From Facebook
BUSTER KEATON: 3 FILMS, a collection of essential films from one of the greats of cinema operating at the height of his powers, will be released as part of The Masters of Cinema Series on Blu-ray from stunning new 4K restorations in a lavish limited edition (3000 copies) 3-disc hardbound boxed set on 16 October 2017.

Between 1920 and 1929, Buster Keaton created a peerless run of feature films that established him as “arguably the greatest actor-director in the history of the movies”. Collected here are three key films from that era; SHERLOCK JR., THE GENERAL and STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. Together they represent a true master at his peak, and The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present all three films from stunning new 4K restorations available for the first time on Blu-ray anywhere in the world.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
* 3 x Blu-ray discs plus 60-page book all housed in a hardbound slipcase
* 1080p presentations of all three films from stunning new 4K restorations
* Audio commentary on SHERLOCK JR. by film historian David Kalat
* Three new video interviews with film scholar Peter Kramer discussing SHERLOCK JR., THE GENERAL and STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.
* Buster Keaton: The Genius Destroyed by Hollywood (52 mins) - A new documentary on Keaton and his struggles working within the Hollywood studio system
* Buster Keaton on Wagon Train (58 mins) – an audio recording of a then 63 year old Buster Keaton in conversation with television writer Bill Cox
* SHERLOCK JR – Original music by Timothy Brock
* SHERLOCK JR. – Tour of Filming Locations featurette
* SHERLOCK JR. – Movie Magic & Mysteries featurette
* THE GENERAL – Tour of Filming Locations featurette
* THE GENERAL - Original score composed and conducted by Carl Davis
* THE GENERAL – Video Tour featurette
* THE GENERAL – Home Movie Footage
* THE GENERAL – Introduction by Orson Welles
* THE GENERAL – Introduction by Gloria Swanson
* STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. - Original score composed and conducted by Carl Davis
* STEAMBOAT BILL, JR.– A video essay on the making of the film
* PLUS: A 60-PAGE BOOK featuring a new essay by Philip Kemp; notes on each film; archival writings; Keaton Family Scrapbook, a selection of Keaton family photographs generously supplied by friends of the Keaton family; and a stunning array of archival imagery

Except for the lack of the Hisashi score on The General and the alternate version for Steamboat Jr , it seems quite an exhaustive package that will fit right next to the Short Films set !

No Hisashi score - no sale, alas

Would the Hisaishi score even be compatible with this particular restoration?

The MK2 DVD runs 75 mins, the Cohen restoration 79. Obviously, PAL speedup accounts for some of that difference, but by no means all of it.

Comments dismissing releases from lacking alternative dubs, scores, television versions of films not being available on otherwise stacked discs reminds me of the kids who used to get 20 things for Christmas and then get upset because they didn't get a pony.

Is there a release from another company that does have the Hisashi score? I've frankly never paid attention to the scores available for this film.

The MK2 DVD has it. They may well have exclusive distribution rights, of course - see also MoC's Nosferatu not having the James Bernard score, which is exclusive to the Photoplay restoration and licensed to the BFI.

The most recent Kino Blu-Ray release also has it

The lack of the Hisashi score is particularly disappointing since it's been teased multiple times on this very forum for the MOC upcoming edition. Hisaishi did an absolutely incredible work for "General" and to me the film and the Hisaishi's music now are unseparable. I think Keaton would approve it wholeheartedly if he lived to hear it. To those of you who have not experienced it, please search for MK2 DVD edition, watch the film with Hisaishi score and if it does not change your mind I will rest my defence

Teased or hoped for?