Criterion and MGM

[Bruce]

While I strongly believe we will see Taking Off, it is a Universal title and not MGM.

'Taking Off' is one of my favourite films of the '70s. I've always assumed the reason it's never appeared on DVD is because of the expense of clearing the necessary music rights. Presumably Criterion will face the same hurdle if they want to release it, so I hope they will be able to resolve this issue and give us a great transfer with the original music intact.

[ianungstad]

Was it ever confirmed that there is an issue with the music rights or is that just an internet rumor?

Milos Forman is presenting this film at the Film Forum on Jan. 5th. Maybe we'll get some news about a Criterion edition as soon as next Tuesday. Depends if anyone asks about an eventual dvd during the Q+A.

[Perkins Cobb]

I heard the music rights thing from a journalist who knows Forman fairly well, so I believe reflects Milos's understanding of the reasons behind Taking Off's rarity.

I was told that the problem is that many of the performers can't be found, which in a way is encouraging (more so than if, say, a major artist were asking a fortune for song rights). It's possible that Criterion is willing to put it out without clearing everything, whereas Universal was more risk-averse. (There's a pattern along those lines in other recent DVD releases; for instance, several indie labels have released TV shows containing the same Capital music cues that CBS/Paramount controversially replaced in their The Fugitive and My Three Sons DVDs.)

Just speculating, though.

[Antoine Doinel]

Generally, with music rights, particularly with songs that are older, it makes no difference whether or not the performers are alive or available as they are very rarely the sole owners of the song's copyright. Criterion isn't an obscure company by any stretch so I highly doubt that they would even attempt releasing a title without having their clearances in order. Just from a business perspective, it would be extremely unprofessional and would hurt their reputation. Entering new clearance negotiations are time consuming and costly and I would guess just getting all the copyright holders to agree on a price that is reasonable for a title that will have limited appeal probably isn't very enticing for Criterion.

[Bruce]

Was it ever confirmed that there is an issue with the music rights or is that just an internet rumor?

Milos Forman is presenting this film at the Film Forum on Jan. 5th. Maybe we'll get some news about a Criterion edition as soon as next Tuesday. Depends if anyone asks about an eventual dvd during the Q+A.

So did Milos Forman's appearance at the Film Forum establish any further information regarding the prospects for a DVD release of 'Taking Off'?

[Arthur House]

Caught Malle's The Thief of Paris on This the other night. Am I mistaken or wasn't it at one time considered to be one of the umpteen Malle films Criterion was sitting on? Seems like a natural fit--All-Star Nouvelle Vague cast, Jean-Claude Carrière co-write, superb film...

[ianungstad]

It's too bad that Criterion isn't able to third party license some of the Disney titles distributed by MGM. A lot of these films have pretty poor transfers. It's also a wonder to me why MGM hasn't released Sleuth, Heartbreak Kid, Gone to Earth, A Star is Born from the Disney library. I've been waiting for a new R1 Sleuth for years.

I secretly hope that because of MGM's financial problems they won't resign with Disney and Criterion is able to license a bunch of these titles, incl. OOPs.

[jaredsap]

It's too bad that Criterion isn't able to third party license some of the Disney titles distributed by MGM. A lot of these films have pretty poor transfers. It's also a wonder to me why MGM hasn't released Sleuth, Heartbreak Kid, Gone to Earth, A Star is Born from the Disney library. I've been waiting for a new R1 Sleuth for years.

Are you referring to Wellman's A STAR IS BORN? WB is (amazingly) releasing it on Blu-ray along with their new restoration of Cukor's version.

Criterion should license THE HEARTBREAK KID. They wanted A NEW LEAF from Paramount so I can't imagine they wouldn't want HEARTBREAK KID.

[Jeff]

It's too bad that Criterion isn't able to third party license some of the Disney titles distributed by MGM. A lot of these films have pretty poor transfers. It's also a wonder to me why MGM hasn't released Sleuth, Heartbreak Kid

I don't believe that Disney/MGM actually have the rights to Sleuth or The Heartbreak Kid. I posted this a couple of years ago. Some of it is speculation on my part.

[ianungstad]

Yes, Wellman's. The film is actually one of the Selznick titles in the public domain but I've always heard that Disney have the original elements.

[ianungstad]

It's too bad that Criterion isn't able to third party license some of the Disney titles distributed by MGM. A lot of these films have pretty poor transfers. It's also a wonder to me why MGM hasn't released Sleuth, Heartbreak Kid

I don't believe that Disney/MGM actually have the rights to Sleuth or The Heartbreak Kid. I posted this a couple of years ago. Some of it is speculation on my part.

Anchor Bay had licensed all the early Palomar Pictures/ABC Films stuff years ago including They Shoot Horses Don't They, The Grissom Gang, Too Late The Hero, The Killing of Sister George, Straw Dogs, the Hitchcocks etc. Anchoy Bay had released both Sleuth and Heartbreak Kid, so I don't see why they wouldnt be part of the Disney titles in MGM's control?!

EDIT: Just read your old posting. Hmm...I've asked Sony about Sleuth and they said that they don't have the rights to the original film, just the remake.

[zachhh]

does MGM still own Robert Altman's Images? i noticed it was OOP

[Jeff]

Anchor Bay had licensed all the early Palomar Pictures/ABC Films stuff years ago including They Shoot Horses Don't They, The Grissom Gang, Too Late The Hero, The Killing of Sister George, Straw Dogs, the Hitchcocks etc. Anchoy Bay had released both Sleuth and Heartbreak Kid, so I don't see why they wouldnt be part of the Disney titles in MGM's control?!

Some of those are films produced by the Palomar/ABC partnership (They Shoot Horses), some by ABC films alone (Straw Dogs), and there were three films produced by Palomar pictures alone (Sleuth, The Heartbreak Kid, The Stepford Wives) after Edgar Scherick ended the partnership with ABC. Mark Edward Heuck speculates that the copyright to those three titles is still held by Bristol-Myers Squibb and licensed to Paramount. Those three were first released by Anchor Bay more than a year before they got the ABC Films/Disney license.

[ianungstad]

Well, it makes for a great question for Criterion whenever they start those Facebook Q+A sessions. If they are with Paramount, it could be possible for Criterion to license the titles, if they haven't already. It is very strange that they've been OOP for so many years. Releasing them on home video alongside the remakes would have been the smart thing to do. I can't recall Criterion commenting on either title on Facebook yet. (if they were even asked about) Would be interesting if they had anything to say

[captveg]

With the release of The Fugitive Kind in April, that seems to get the ball rolling on these MGM licensed films.

[domino harvey]

The Fugitive Kind was a good old fashioned shocker

[Cronenfly]

Of all the MGM Brando titles Criterion could have rescued, I was sure Burn! would be the first. Could still be in the pipeline, I guess; it would certainly be nice to be able to see the full 132 minute cut in a decent anamorphic transfer/to get another mainline Pontecorvo.

[Cinephrenic]

I asked them about it on Facebook, they ignored a response. So maybe...

[ianungstad]

Of all the MGM Brando titles Criterion could have rescued, I was sure Burn! would be the first. Could still be in the pipeline, I guess; it would certainly be nice to be able to see the full 132 minute cut in a decent anamorphic transfer/to get another mainline Pontecorvo.

I asked Criterion about Burn twice on Facebook. Their first answer was a little vague but from their second reply, it seems they've licensed it from MGM but indicated that it will be quite awhile before that disc is in production (I would guess years. )

Burn is already on the list Jeff has been compiling in the first post in this thread.

Jameson - Have you any indications about how many titles we are looking at here? I've heard it's around 20.

I hope they've licensed at least one of the Hal Ashby titles and Fosse's Lenny. Would be great if it was actually more like Universal/Paramount and an ongoing thing...

[HistoryProf]

I just noticed the MGM disc of In Which We Serve (1942) - Noel Coward's contribution to the war effort featuring an uncredited debut from Sir Richard Attenborough. It was on TCM recently and I just watched it tonight - absolutely fantastic WWII film that benefits tremendously from use of the actual Royal Navy and Army as the extras...a truly big budget extravaganza, and as the amazon blurb states, it is "A landmark in the careers of many of the most important names in British film, this moving and occasionally harrowing classic has a vital place in the development of British cinema."

no idea how long it's been out of print, but it sounds like a grand idea for a 2 discer given the immense production and its ties to the war effort. All of which is a very roundabout way of asking if anyone knows more about the status of this gem? any chance it could be in the pipeline?

[domino harvey]

There are like three hundred OOP MGM DVDs

[HistoryProf]

well I know...but there aren't 300 oop mgm dvds that are landmarks in WWII British cinema!

[Jeff]

Interestingly, the only logo credit on the sell sheets for The Fugitive Kind is for Fox (who is MGM's distributor). This is a change from previously licensed MGM titles, which had the MGM logo. I wonder if that means that Fox now has the rights to sub-license MGM product?

[captveg]

I guess it could also mean that Fox is about to purchase the MGM film catalog outright. Fox would be the most logical buyer.

[knives]

Better them than Warners. I hope Criterion gets a nice bulk too though.