Criterion Newsletter (Part 2)

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I posted a few weeks ago about the impending Zwigoff. This person mentioned nothing about "Ghost World", only "Louie Bluie" and "Crumb". This person only mentioned "Crumb" in passing and I didn't want to delve any further, but it looks like that one is actually coming out too (judging from the newsletter clue that is.)

I really hope "Fritz the Cat" isn't part of the clue, too. The Bakshi version isn't very good.

Wait a sec though, have we established whether at any point Fritz Lang ever owned a housecat?

Why do I imagine the cat wearing a monocle?

[domino harvey]

Probably because of the new cover art preview over at Skillman's blog:

[Cinephrenic]

Perhaps a Ralph Bakshi set with Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic and Coonskin. Great cult stuff.

[Oggilby]

I think it's alluding to Fritz Lang, not Fritz the Cat - Criterion doesn't seem the type to be that obvious in their newsletter drawings. "Comin' up strong" is apt since the new Metropolis restoration AND the new M BluRay were announced last week. Isn't Die Niebelungen having a new restoration premiere this year?

[zedz]

It's The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, you fools!

I'm not familiar with the existing disc, but Jeff's post makes me think that it would be easy for Criterion to come up with a no-holds-barred Crumb special edition that could blow it out of the water, especially if they manage to get Crumb himself seriously involved in the design and extras.

A Zwigoff / Crumb commentary would indeed be great, but what I'd really love to hear is a Kominsky / Crumb one, or Aline alone.

[mfunk9786]

Maybe it's Fritzcarraldo - but Criterion doesn't seem like the type to be that obvious.

[Tribe]

I'm not familiar with the existing disc, but Jeff's post makes me think that it would be easy for Criterion to come up with a no-holds-barred Crumb special edition that could blow it out of the water, especially if they manage to get Crumb himself seriously involved in the design and extras.

In addition to The Confessions of Robert Crumb I mentioned earlier, HVE also released Comic Book Confidential, a Ron Mann documentary with profiles of several other underground comix creators such as Art Spiegelman, Bill Griffith, Spain, Crumb and several other more contemporary comix creators. I have no clue what the rights situations are regarding Confessions or Confidential, much less whether it means anything for Criterion that those DVDs were originally released by HVE.

[Cinephrenic]

Why can't this be Fritz the Cat? Characters by Crumb.

[Jeff]

I have no clue what the rights situations are regarding Confessions or Confidential, much less whether it means anything for Criterion that those DVDs were originally released by HVE.

I would imagine that the old incarnation of Home Vision licensed Confessions directly from the BBC. There aren't any Janus logos or credits on the packaging. That would mean that the U.S. distribution either resides with Image now or is back with the BBC. Either situation would be fine, as Criterion has licensed many docs from BBC before.

[Tribe]

Why can't this be Fritz the Cat? Characters by Crumb.

I think Criterion releasing Fritz the Cat would mean zero cooperation from Crumb himself (who hates the movie...and with good reason) which would likewise mean little cooperation from Zwigoff who is very close with Crumb. I don't think Fritz the Cat is in the works.

[Alphonse Doinel]

Not to mention it would be a poor way at introducing animated films into the collection (or has there already been one?). I mean, it is a notable film, but not for the right reasons.

Crumb is one of my favorite docs, and he's an interesting guy, so I'm thrilled by this. They've got a great opportunity to put together a fantastic package too.

[NilbogSavant]

Why can't this be Fritz the Cat? Characters by Crumb.

I think Criterion releasing Fritz the Cat would mean zero cooperation from Crumb himself (who hates the movie...and with good reason) which would likewise mean little cooperation from Zwigoff who is very close with Crumb. I don't think Fritz the Cat is in the works.

You don't think Crumb would relish the opportunity to rip apart the film on a feature-length commentary?

[Adam]

I'm not familiar with the existing disc, but Jeff's post makes me think that it would be easy for Criterion to come up with a no-holds-barred Crumb special edition that could blow it out of the water, especially if they manage to get Crumb himself seriously involved in the design and extras.

In addition to The Confessions of Robert Crumb I mentioned earlier, HVE also released Comic Book Confidential, a Ron Mann documentary with profiles of several other underground comix creators such as Art Spiegelman, Bill Griffith, Spain, Crumb and several other more contemporary comix creators. I have no clue what the rights situations are regarding Confessions or Confidential, much less whether it means anything for Criterion that those DVDs were originally released by HVE.

Ron Mann still distributes Comic Book Confidential, and told me by email today actually that he is working on a Blu-Ray edition with lots of extras.

[beamish13]

Perhaps a Ralph Bakshi set with Fritz the Cat, Heavy Traffic and Coonskin. Great cult stuff.

I concur. I can't believe more people here wouldn't be excited about a "Fritz" CC. Bakshi's got so many short films and TV commercials that would make for excellent supplements as well.

[agnamaracs]

Zwigoff's Ghost World. It's an MGM property and needs a better release, but there is no Crumb connection that I know of.

His daughter Sophie illustrated Enid's notebook, but that's mostly tangential.

[MyNameCriterionForum]

Bakshi's an interesting - if very flawed - fellow, but Fritz is a piece of garbage, and among Crumb's own comics work, rests near the bottom.

That said, there's no denying the breadth and affluence (among other attributes) of the Furry market, and this may be Criterion's attempt at cashing in on Avatar.

Personally, I think the best film Zwigoff's made is Art School Confidential. Ghost World is so wrong-headed compared to the comic, I just don't understand the praise it recieves.

[Tommaso]

Also, that cat file is called "Wacky Fritz"--are there any cat-related Lang films?

Sure there are. "The Tiger of Eschnapur", better known in the US by the title of its sequel, "The Indian Tomb". And isn't the existing US set of these two films OOP?

[HarryLong]

Why do I imagine the cat wearing a monocle?

That's the first image that sprang into my mind, too.
Fritz Lang the Director Cat
"In ziss szene, you vill struggle as za room fluhds vit vater..."

[Tribe]

Fritz Lang the Director Cat
"In ziss szene, you vill struggle as za room fluhds vit vater..."

Do you realize this image and voice is going to prevent me having restful sleep? =P~

[TMDaines]

Also, that cat file is called "Wacky Fritz"--are there any cat-related Lang films?

Sure there are. "The Tiger of Eschnapur", better known in the US by the title of its sequel, "The Indian Tomb". And isn't the existing US set of these two films OOP?

I just spent good money importing these.

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

I have a feeling that Crumb wouldn't want to participate in the new DVD - if it is indeed forthcoming. For one thing, he's distanced himself from the film since it's release. On top of that is his general nature where he might just drag his feet and not cooperate. It's a pity as a Crumb-designed edition would be awesome. I also don't know if they could get a new Zwigoff-Ebert commentary anyway as Ebert hasn't been the same since the Sony DVD and Zwigoff may still be as shy of commentaries since that one, too. I recall that on the Sony DVD he mentioned to Ebert that most of the commentary would be silent were Ebert not there.

[kaujot]

And the fact that he can't speak anymore.

[mfunk9786]

Why is everyone ruling out the likelihood that they'll just use the existing commentary?

[HarryLong]

Fritz Lang the Director Cat
"In ziss szene, you vill struggle as za room fluhds vit vater..."

Do you realize this image and voice is going to prevent me having restful sleep? =P~

I suppose I'd better not elaborate on my James Bond Frog idea (which sprang from mis-hearing something a co-worked said)...
But the two could meet up at some point...
"I eggspecht you to echt, Mr. Frog!"

[Forrest Taft]

Also, that cat file is called "Wacky Fritz"--are there any cat-related Lang films?

Sure there are. "The Tiger of Eschnapur", better known in the US by the title of its sequel, "The Indian Tomb". And isn't the existing US set of these two films OOP?

I just spent good money importing these.

Yesterday I came across the OOP Fantoma set in a store here in Norway for about $35. Is this set worth picking up, or can we expect a (better) re-release in the near future?