Criterion and Paramount

[ianungstad]

Well hopefully the recent Ben Button disc is an indicator that the relationship with Paramount is still going strong. I hope that several titles that have been nixed in this thread will eventually come out as part of ongoing licensing efforts.

Since Benjamin Button shows that contemporary films from Paramount are possible, I wonder if Noah Baumbach will convince Criterion to license Margot at the Wedding. I thought the film was pretty good but I have refused to buy the overpriced Paramount disc. The only feature on it is a 10 minute discussion between Baumbach and Jennifer Jason Lee.

While it's from the mid 90s and probably wouldn't be considered contemporary anymore, Brain Candy is another I would love to have as it's out of print and I've always wanted to see the director's cut/work print which I've always heard was much better than the version Paramount released in theaters (which was alright)

[domino harvey]

My offer of a Pizza Party for the entire Criterion staff in exchange for releasing Brain Candy still stands

[flyonthewall2983]

Any chance of them getting Albert Brooks' Real Life? Saw a bit of it on TCM tonight and thought it was hilarious.

[Cash Flagg]

My offer of a Pizza Party for the entire Criterion staff in exchange for releasing Brain Candy still stands

I'd wager Criterion's interest in Brain Candy is luke.

[Mr. Ned]

Anyone else have interest in a Criterion release of Peter Bagdanovich's Targets? The Paramount DVD from 2003 has been OOP for a while now, and I think it would be a great fit for the collection since CC needs more Karloff and Bogdanovich.

[AfterTheRain]

Anyone else have interest in a Criterion release of Peter Bogdanovich's Targets? The Paramount DVD from 2003 has been OOP for a while now, and I think it would be a great fit for the collection since CC needs more Karloff and Bagdanovich.

I would certainly like to see this; They could also have the complete version of The Terror as part of the set - after all, parts of the film were used in Targets.

[domino harvey]

The existing Targets, while OOP, already contains a fine commentary track and transfer. If Criterion is going to snatch a Bogdanovich, it needs to be the Fox-owned At Long Last Love.

[knives]

They could also have the complete version of The Terror

The Terror with Nicholson and Karloff?

[AfterTheRain]

They could also have the complete version of The Terror

The Terror with Nicholson and Karloff?

Absolutely. Footage from that film was used in Targets.

[Ashirg]

From the latest issue of Noir City Sentinel:

Speaking of Stanwyck, we’ve learned that another of her Paramount noirs, The File on Thelma Jordon (1950), directed by noir maestro Robert Siodmak and too-long neglected, has been licensed to Criterion Collection and will get top-shelf treatment. No word yet on a release date.

[Tribe]

Cool news regarding The File On Thelma Jordan...and that is a public domain title isn't it? If I'm not mistaken it seems I recall seeing this title often issued by bargain labels.

[HypnoHelioStaticStasis]

I think you're thinking of The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.

As for Thelma Jordon, I thought the whole film kind of stretched credulity to the near breaking point. Stanwyck is always watchable, but the film is nowhere near on par with Siodmak's best work. Not even in the same universe.

[Tribe]

I think you're thinking of The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.

As for Thelma Jordon, I thought the whole film kind of stretched credulity to the near breaking point. Stanwyck is always watchable, but the film is nowhere near on par with Siodmak's best work. Not even in the same universe.

Indeed I did confuse it with The Strange Love of Martha Ivers in terms of seeing repeated releases on budget labels. While you're right that Thelma Jordan isn't Siodmak's best, it's still a fairly entertaining film noir. Sure, the plot is a stretch...but plots stretching credulity are virtually a constant in many, many noir films.

[Napier]

Barbara Stanwyck gives me heart palpitations. =P~

[Cinephrenic]

What is the chance for Johnny Guitar? Why hasn't this been released yet, rights issues???

[zachhh]

anyone else think Frankenheimer's "Seconds" would be a great edition to CC? Apparently the Paramount DVD is now OOP and used copies are rather pricey

[fdm]

anyone else think Frankenheimer's "Seconds" would be a great edition to CC? Apparently the Paramount DVD is now OOP and used copies are rather pricey

Since you ask, most people here do, I don't.

(Edit: which probably means it's in the works... )

[flyonthewall2983]

Is there any chance any DreamWorks titles could be available for the CC to use? From what I understand, Paramount still has the Home Video rights to their titles up until the recent split.

[knives]

What Dreamworks titles are you looking at? I can't think of much that wouldn't bring a Ben Button sized shit storm.

[cdnchris]

And your problem with Mousehunt is...?

[knives]

I actually have nostalgic memories of that POS.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I'm a bit nostalgic about it too. I remember renting it on VHS and laughing like a maniac over it.

I caught it on TV a couple months back. I was still laughing and still thought it was a strange movie. I don't know if it's the nostalgia or if I was actually enjoying it.

[flyonthewall2983]

What Dreamworks titles are you looking at?

It would probably be frowned upon by many here, but I was thinking Road To Perdition would be a good choice, especially since DreamWorks was originally going to release it as a 2-disc special edition but suddenly it became a regular release with the now-mandatory features (commentary, EPK, etc, etc.).

[Antoine Doinel]

I'd definitely welcome Road To Perdition, particularly in BluRay.

[Andre Jurieu]

What Dreamworks titles are you looking at?

It would probably be frowned upon by many here, but I was thinking Road To Perdition would be a good choice, especially since DreamWorks was originally going to release it as a 2-disc special edition but suddenly it became a regular release with the now-mandatory features (commentary, EPK, etc, etc.).

Weren't the deciding factors on the DVD release the disappointing critical reaction to the film and the tepid box-office?