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This will probably not be of much help but I was at La Boite Noir in Montreal last night and came across brand new DVDs of Rififi, Gabin films and others by a Quebec based distributor which I cannot remember the name of, and I'm wondering if anybody has any more info on these titles?

They looked pretty impressive, original theatrical poster art work for the covers and seemingly of high quality, but I suspect they may be subtitle-less and catering to French viewers only. Does anybody have a clue what I'm talking about or know anything at all about these releases at all?

Thanks!

Just figured it out - Maple Pictures in Canada!



» Release Date: 2009-08-04
» Format: DVD
» UPC Code: 0-57373-20623-2
» Catalogue No: 20623
» Retail Price: $19.95
© 1938 STUDIOCANAL




» Release Date: 2009-06-02
» Format: DVD
» UPC Code: 0-57373-20551-8
» Catalogue No: 20551
» Retail Price: $19.95
© 1936 STUDIOCANAL



La Bête Humaine - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=31240" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Quai Des Orfevres - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=32952" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

La Grande Illusion - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=30284" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

L'armée des ombres - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=31238" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Le Corbeau - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=32218" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jeux Interdits - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=33278" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Casque D'or - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=32220" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dirty Money - http://www.maplepictures.com/home_video ... x?id=25410" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Does anyone know what the quality of these releases are or can vouch for them?

I'm especially interested in Pepe Le Moko and would like to know more about the source transfer. It seems to be some kind of licensing/distribution deal with Studio Canal.

Does anyone know if the films have been remastered or are existing transfers, and how they compare to the older Criterion editions?

Any thoughts on Maple Pictures in general??

Thanks!

Maple Pictures is the new name for Lionsgate in Canada (they changed the name in Canada despite the fact Lionsgate started in Canada.) Their quality is the same as Lionsgate (unless they've changed drastically since I left Canada.)

Interesting... I just came across this thread on the Criterionforums.com which supposedly has screen caps but I cannot remember my registration details as I haven't visited the forum in years and therefore cannot view the attached images: http://www.criterionforums.com/forums/i ... ic=650&hl=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;\maple+pictures\

If anyone could post the caps here, it would be very much appreciated. Someone claims that the image might be the existing Criterion transfers...

The cover art and packaging is terrific, but I don't think any of these are subbed which would be a shame...

They're not subbed. If they start releasing more Gabin that were never released in R1 this may get interesting (at least to me).
I saw their "Dirty Money" release in store, it use the same cover art as the american release but with the french title. That I prefer.
They also release the Louis de Funès comedies (along with some other company), stuff that isn't on R1 otherwise, they released a few 60s Gérard Oury films with Funès and Bourvil lastly.

Quebec get a lot of R1 unsubbed french films, mostly comedies, such as Julien Duvivier's Don Camilio series with Fernandel, though I have no idea who release them. I also saw a "white haired Gabin" boxset with films I never heard of. Most recent french film get a quick guaranted release too. But it's always bare-bone.
I remember Crystal Films' release of Z with a 30 seconds long warning that their copy of the film suck, I don't know if that's on the old american release...

I think we should start writing to Maple Films demanding English subtitles on their releases... I'm also seeing lots of interesting stuff on store shelves. I wonder if that's part of their licensing agreement for regional distribution though; Perhaps they have to agree to cater only to the French Canadian market exclusive of English speaking consumers so as to elliminate competition with the other studios and North American rights holders?? It's really too bad...

I'm the guy from the other forum.
There is no subs for right issues, we all know that criterion have the rights for all these titles...

Pepe
http://www.criterionforums.com/forums/i ... post&id=84" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

La Bête humaine
http://www.criterionforums.com/forums/i ... post&id=85" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.criterionforums.com/forums/i ... post&id=86" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They seems to release that kind of titles only in summers... So Jeux interdits is the last of the year...

P.S. I hope you do speak French if you live in Québec!!!!

Merci!

naturellement je parle français, bien que pas aussi bien probablement que je devriez; et en tant qu'anglo je préfère des soustitres pour apprécier mieux les films que j'observe et pour comprendre les voix basses et les nuances du dialogue et de l'action... it's too bad because these transfers look excellent from the screen caps that you posted!

On a side, it's funny (or not) that a company like Criterion couldn't produce as attractive packages using existing art work than these discs from Maple Pictures..

I know some old french classics have been released in Korea with english subs (they're around 3$ now), but I don't know about their picture quality. Publisher is Sky Productions.