First Japanese Mizoguchi DVD

It looks like the first Mizoguchi DVD from Japan is finally being
released -- and the pick is a rare one -- The Straits of Love and Hate.

Due out at the end of June. No English subs, I'm sure. I hope this is a harbinger of a wider release of Mizoguchi DVDs.

I hope too that's a sign of more on the way hopefully with english subs.

Went a little window-shopping and found two korean Mizoguchi boxsets with - you guessed it - korean subs only. 8 films in total. Guess I might go with the spanish boxes after all.

edit: found one more - Lady of Musashino, with english subs and considerably cheaper than the AE one:

I'm still debating whether to get the 3 Spanish DVDs of films not included in the French sets.

Keeping fingers crossed for more.

MEK

I want to at least pick up the spanish Story of the Last Chyrsanthemum (though I can probably assume it won't look too good). Very exciting news about the '37 Mizoguchi. I hope this is an indicator that more are on the way; Or, it might have more to do with author Matsutarou Kawaguchi (who, I assume, wrote the book/play? the film is based on) since this is the fourth DVD release this year that are based on his works, where previously there were none. I'm crossing my fingers it's the former reason and the latter is just a coincidence.

Another R2 Japan Mizoguchi DVD has appeared on cdjapan.co.jp, a "digitally remastered" version of Madame Yuki (Yuki fujin ezu, 1950). No subtitles listed.

Ugetsu Monogatari, R6 PAL

Here you go. English subtitles at $6. I probably have enough quarters in my car (under the seat or possibly in the ashtray) for a purchase. I guess Criterion is still working on this.

Best to wait for CC. It's coming...

I think this is a bootleg of the French DVD with added English subtitles. This is appearing on eBay along with likely-bootlegs of Miss Oyu, Sansho Dayu, etc. (other titles that are in the French box sets of Mizoguchi films).

Certainly the French subs seem to give it away. And I would add the print is nicer than the older (but good) one used for the CC laserdisc.

i wish someone could/would give us a date for it.

Really not long.

Hey. let's forget about asking Jon Mulvaney and just grill peerpee!

I have a cattle prod ready!

like grill on the barbie?? Isn't that a bit extreme?

DVD Beaver review here.

Bootleg plain as day. What bothers me is that if they could take the French PAL transfer and just add subs to it, why the hell can't Panorama do the same with the NTSC Ozus? Transfering to DVD5s instead of DVD9s, with a bitrate loss, I guess. Craziness.

I'll hold off on this one (I'd rather pay $40 instead of $46 for Ugetsu this year), but if this company starts putting more of his films out, I'll throw a couple bucks their way for the trouble.

May be plain as day but I assure you the French disc is very handsome (and the print is better quality than the Criterion Laserdisc.)

The fact that the French DVD maker could come up with such good transfers for a budget release really makes me wonder why Criterion is dragging its heels. I'm just glad that I studied French long ago....

MEK

The extras, man, the extras. It's Peter Becker's pet project, after all.

To tell the truth, I think Mizoguchi's best work can (and should) stand on its own. Extras are nice -- but ... just extras.

All the same, I can see why Criterion might want a deluxe package for _Ugetsu_ . Nevertheless, some of the other films (like Street of Shame) could be released with less ado...

I second that. Loads of special fetures cannot turn a bad movie into a decent one. The Boying release uses the French release as source material and the Chinese and English subtitles came from the previous Paranoma VCD release.


Maybe because Criterion is worried that Mizoguchi DVDs won't generate as much revenues as those from the likes of, say, Suzuki? Sex and violence rules and Criterion is not immune.

it could be taking longer if they are putting together as part of a Mizoguchi box set.

In your dream, baby. Criterion just announced that they are releasing a Mizoguchi box set in year 2046.

i'll start saving!

This 'no subtitles' business is very, very irritating

Are they stupid???

It looks like "Madam Yuki" is just one of a large batch of films that is being released by Kinokuniya. I haven;'t heard any quality reports about its first releases (which has included several boxes of Koji Wakamatsu stuff ("Shinjuku Mad," "Sex Jack," Angelic Orgasm", "Kyoso Joshi Ko", "Shojo Gebageba", "Hadaka no Judan").

If the quality is anything like Kinokuniya's Straub-Huillet discs, they should be very very nice indeed. I have four of the Straub discs and they're all gorgeous. Some of the nicest looking DVDs I own.