Studio Canal titles newly out of print

Message

souvenir · #1 Post by **souvenir** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:07 pm

Someone posted at the .com forum that Variety Lights, Port of Shadows, Le Corbeau, and Quai des orfevres are all now listed as Out of Print on Criterion's site. I noticed they're all licensed from Studio Canal. Perhaps it's a mistake, but, if not, these titles don't seem like upgrade candidates so it might be time to pick them up.

CSM126 · #2 Post by **CSM126** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:18 pm

Well, Variety Lights might be an upgrade candidate, but the rest sure aren't. Weird.

GringoTex · #3 Post by **GringoTex** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:23 pm

souvenir wrote:Someone posted at the .com forum that Variety Lights, Port of Shadows, Le Corbeau, and Quai des orfevres are all now listed as Out of Print on Criterion's site. I noticed they're all licensed from Studio Canal. Perhaps it's a mistake, but, if not, these titles don't seem like upgrade candidates so it might be time to pick them up.

Didn't Lion's Gate buy the entire Studio Canal catalogue?

criterionsnob · #4 Post by **criterionsnob** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:43 pm

Thanks for the tip. I picked these up at DVD Planet. They still seem to be in stock at a number of places.

#5 Post by **Jeff** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:22 pm

GringoTex wrote:Didn't Lion's Gate buy the entire Studio Canal catalogue?

No. The Studio Canal catalog is massive. Since they don't distribute in the U.S., they license to a number of other distributors including Lion's Gate, Image, Criterion, Anchor Bay, and MGM. You are correct that Lion's Gate did license a big chunk last year. Eventually all licenses expire if not renewed. I don't know what the deal is with these particular Criterion titles, but as far as I know, their relationship with SC is still in play and their are lots of SC-licensed Criterion titles still in print.

#6 Post by **Matt** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:37 pm

The Clouzots and Port of Shadows are some of the best, most underrated films in the collection. Anyone who hesitated on these in the past should pick them up pronto! You can always sell them for a fat profit a few months from now if you don't like them.

denti alligator · #7 Post by **denti alligator** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:16 pm

Anyone drop Criterion a note on this to find out what's up?

I guess it's time to pick up Variety Lights (so long as it's not going to be reissued).

Musashi219 · #8 Post by **Musashi219** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:48 pm

Thanks for posting this souvenir. I had been putting off Le Corbeau and Port of Shadows for awhile now (already have Variety Lights and Quai des orfevres) so it certainly would be the time to pick these up.

#9 Post by **cdnchris** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:58 pm

I'll vouch for the Clouzot's as well. Corbeau is good but Quais... is probably one of my favourites and is an easy recommendation if you like Columbo.

dx23 · #10 Post by **dx23** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:39 pm

Thanks for the tip. I picked up Variety Lights and Quai des Orfevres since I have the others and don't want to be overpaying later on.

rwaits · #11 Post by **rwaits** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:42 pm

Wow. What are the dvdplanet coupons this month?

dx23 · #12 Post by **dx23** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:45 pm

rwaits wrote:Wow. What are the dvdplanet coupons this month?

New Coupons
NOVEMBER2007 $5 Off $60
PRENOV2007 $10 Off $125
Expire 11/30/2007

eez28 · #13 Post by **eez28** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:46 pm

rwaits wrote:Wow. What are the dvdplanet coupons this month?

NOVEMBER2007 $5 Off $60
PRENOV2007 $10 Off $125
Expire 11/30/2007

and just because here is Dvdempire:
1376620 to save $5 on your next order of $35 or more. Expires 11/15

I used the empire one to order Port of Shadows and Corbeau

ZizouJuve · #14 Post by **ZizouJuve** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:53 pm

Just ordered most from DVD Planet in expectation of these going out of print. Port Of Shadows is listed as out of stock already!

videozor · #15 Post by **videozor** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:14 pm

Wouldn't mind if Port of Shadows will be upgraded: one of my favorite French movies and one of the few Criterion's titles close to what's called "bare bone edition"

eez28 · #16 Post by **eez28** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:40 pm

videozor wrote:Wouldn't mind if Port of Shadows will be upgraded: one of my favorite French movies and one of the few Criterion's titles close to what's called "bare bone edition"

How the heck can they work on Port if they still haven't released Le Jour Se Leve. What the heck is taking so long?

Cinephrenic · #17 Post by **Cinephrenic** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:50 pm

Isn't there other Studio Canal films in the collection like Le Cercle rouge or Casque d'or that is still in print?

miless · #18 Post by **miless** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:07 am

Cinephrenic wrote: Le Cercle rouge

wasn't this one a special deal with John Woo, or something?

#19 Post by **Jeff** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:29 am

miless wrote:wasn't [Le Cercle Rouge] a special deal with John Woo, or something?

No, the rights are owned by Studio Canal. The American theatrical distributor, Rialto, contracted Woo to "present" the title as a way to sell more tickets.

denti alligator · #20 Post by **denti alligator** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 1:43 am

This doesn't make any sense. Why these titles?

HerrSchreck · #21 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 3:22 am

PORT OF SHADOWS is one of the greatest films in the whole collection-- take Matt's advice on this. The film is absolutely positively completely and totally sublime.

And ORFEVRES is just noir shadowy-- and sleazeball-- heaven.

Theyre all great... great nasty vitriolic undercurrent (VERY Clouzot) going on in CORBEAU, not to mention an endlessly imitated shot of a swinging lamp which is the singlesource lighting for the shot. Also probably the most controversial French film in the collection (is that the reason the transfer is dodgy?)

colinr0380 · #22 Post by **colinr0380** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 6:51 am

Port of Shadows is hugely important, but if they are removing it to reissue later with an extra featue or two that would be fine by me!

I have Le Corbeau but have not yet watched it (saving it for a rainy day!), but I have watched Quai Des Orfevres and thought it was fantastic. suzy Delair - what can I say but "Tra-la-la to you too" in my best Leslie Phillips voice! What a beauty!

The actual film is brilliant too - it might be difficult to say that I consider it as a better film than Les Diaboliques or Wages of Fear, but it is certainly worth mentioning in the same sentence!

I did feel that Criterion's cover for this film was a bit strange and might have put people off buying the film blind - it does not really convey the beauty of the film within, while strangely Le Corbeau might have attracted many more blind buyers because of its own distinctive cover - but apart from that it was a great film to release, with a number of fascinating interviews also. I do hope this film at least does not go out of print for long, if they are really being withdrawn.

souvenir · #23 Post by **souvenir** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:23 pm

Hi there,

Unfortunately it is not a mistake that those titles are labeled "out
of print" on our website. They have indeed gone out of print, and to
the best of my knowledge we have no plans for rereleases of them at
this time. I hope this information helps, and thanks for your email!

Sincerely,

Tamara

denti alligator · #24 Post by **denti alligator** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:29 pm

That's totally insane! Why would these go out of print?

#25 Post by **domino harvey** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:30 pm

No one's warned the eBay vultures yet, so Quai des Orfèvres is still available from several sellers for ~$22 with shipping.