Criterion and Paramount

[Jeff]

Republic Pictures also released Robert Altman's That Cold Day in the Park on VHS. Maybe they still have the rights?

They do.

[ianungstad]

Made a list of some of the unreleased Republic Pictures titles that still need to be released. Hopefully Criterion will be able to bring out a good chunk of them.

Light of Day (Paul Schrader)
Farewell my Lovely (Dick Roberts)
The Sun Shines Bright (John Ford)
Johnny Guitar (Nicholas Ray)
Letter From an Unknown Woman (Max Ophuls)
Caught (Max Ophuls)
China Gate (Sam Fuller)
Macbeth (Orson Welles)
The Devil and Miss Jones (Sam Wood)
Penny Serenade (George Stevens)
Long Day in the Park (Robert Altman)
The Dark Mirror (Robert Siodmack)
The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (Rober Siodmack)
Secret Beyond the Door (Fritz Lang)
Diary of a Chambermaid (Jean Renoir)
Lady of Burlesque (William Wellman)
The Big Night (Joseph Losey)
The Prowler (Joseph Losey)
The First Legion (Douglas Sirk)
Sleep, My Love (Douglas Sirk)
The Great Flamarion (Anthony Mann)
My Best Gal (Anthony Mann)
Nobody's Darling (Anthony Mann)
Strangers in the Night (Anthony Mann)
The Macomber Affair (Zoltan Korda)
Good Sam (Leo McCarey)
Moonrise (Frank Borzage)
I've Always Loved You (Frank Borzage)
Three Secrets (Robert Wise)
Riot in Cell Block 11 (Don Siegel)
Bullfighter and the Lady (Budd Boetticher)

[jaredsap]

The Devil and Miss Jones (Sam Wood)

I watched this today. It has the RKO logo and no title card related to Republic. Did some RKO titles somehow wind up in the Republic library?

BLOWING WILD (Hugo Fregonese) should perhaps be added to your list, although it could actually be with WB.

[ianungstad]

I'm pretty sure it's not owned by RKO. It was one of two films independently produced by Frank Ross-Norma Krasna, the other being A Lady Takes a Chance. They were both released theatrically by RKO. RKO even released a VHS of Devil and Miss Jones but at some point it appears that Republic must have bought the rights to the films from the estate, as they were both released on VHS by Republic Pictures in Canada, South America and Europe.

On DVD they released A Lady Takes a Chance (most likely just because it's an early John Wayne picture.) There has been no release of Devil and Miss Jones.

Some of the pickups by Republic are kind of strange, like George Steven's Penny Serenade, which according to IMDB was produced by Columbia. I don't know how it winded up with Republic Pictures but I did check with Michael Schlesinger who confirmed that it was no longer a Columbia title but with Paramount/Republic.

http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/13492/T ... es/details" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[cdnchris]

I just found this interesting (as it's the first time I've come across this on a Criterion title) but the Blu-ray for Days of Heaven states that the license is "non-exclusive" from Paramount as opposed to "exclusive" like the DVD version and just about every other film in the collection. I assume that allows them to similarly license the film to anyone else if they choose to?

[Brian C]

I just found this interesting (as it's the first time I've come across this on a Criterion title) but the Blu-ray for Days of Heaven states that the license is "non-exclusive" from Paramount as opposed to "exclusive" like the DVD version and just about every other film in the collection. I assume that allows them to similarly license the film to anyone else if they choose to?

The Button Blu simply says "under license." Maybe it's a Paramount thing.

[captveg]

"non-exclusive" probably means that Paramount reserves the right to license it to another distributor during the same period of time of the Criterion license.

[Matt]

or to release it themselves on Blu-ray if they wish.

[ianungstad]

Taking a look at Amazon.com, it's rather depressing to see titles like Nashville, Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Don't Look Now, Harold and Maude, A Place in the Sun discontinued and the prices rising on used copies. I hope that Criterion is able to license some of these titles if Paramount has nothing planned for them. (Which seems to be the case?)

Anyone think Paramount would let titles like these go or are they too high profile? I've probably emailed Criterion requesting Harold and Maude well over a dozen times since they've started licensing from Paramount.

[AisleSeat]

Taking a look at Amazon.com, it's rather depressing to see titles like Nashville, Miracle of Morgan's Creek, Don't Look Now, Harold and Maude, A Place in the Sun discontinued and the prices rising on used copies.

Wow. That these important, classic films are OOP is more than troubling.

According to Amazon, the most recent Paramount DVD reissue of Harold and Maude was March 2009. Wouldn't a few copies (or a few hundred) still be on Paramount' shelves after only 15 months? You'd think so. Other than licensing the title out, what other reasons could there be for such a quick discontinuation?

[Arthur House]

According to Amazon, the most recent Paramount DVD reissue of Harold and Maude was March 2009. Wouldn't a few copies (or a few hundred) still be on Paramount' shelves after only 15 months? You'd think so. Other than licensing the title out, what other reasons could there be for such a quick discontinuation?

I'm thinking this was a one-off printing. Paramount re-did a bunch of catalog titles as budget editions printed in Mexico. They were basically the same as the old ones but they didn't come w/any inserts. A lot of these ended up in promo bins at places like Wal-Mart (I scored Rosemary's Baby & The Conversation in a Halloween sale for $3.99 each). I think list price on these editions was $9.99. They probably dumped the run on the deleted titles already.

BTW, somewhere earlier on this thread, someone linked to a story about Paramount doing a new H & M disc. The project was slow going because the negative was/is in terrible shape, and ultimately they would have to create a new one for the release.

[HistoryProf]

I keep hoping Don't Look Now is going to get a spine # - that's the main reason I never bothered with the bargain title. A friend has it and I wasn't terribly impressed with it. It's a perfect candidate for rescue though, and fits with the other Roeg titles nicely. And it's creepy as hell

[foofighters7]

I wouldn't be surprised if 'Paper Moon' got picked up at some point (if possible) by Criterion.

Yet another that is OOP and IMO certainly deserves to be In print. Would fit nicely.

[Jeff]

You know that as soon as we all snatch up the out of print Paramount titles, we're going to find out that Criterion has licensed a new block of 25 or something from them. I don't really expect that many, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if third parties don't swoop in and grab some of these. The ones I'm most anxious to pick up from Paramount right now are the ones that already have full special editions, which would discourage a third party from licensing them.

Ones that I could realistically see Criterion getting are:

Margot at the Wedding
Baumbach is a "friend of the company." Margot was criminally overlooked and underrated. The DVD was nothing special either.

Three Days of the Condor and The Parallax View
Release these with sequential spine numbers for a 70s paranoia double feature. The image on both the Paramount and Studio Canal Blu-rays of Condor reportedly sucks, but Studio Canal has some great supplements, and they still play ball with Criterion.

Pretty Baby and Atlantic City
Another paired release. Criterion loves Malle, and while they've still got three of his French films waiting in the wings, these might be bigger sellers.

Miracle at Morgan's Creek
We know they've got a Sturges in the works. Bet on it.

Nashville
Surely one of their most requested titles. Criterion could use Paramount's Altman commentary, and use the huge cast and some Altman scholars to fill out a definitive Blu-ray set. It didn't seem likely to me at one time, but if Paramount isn't going to bother keeping it in print...

Harold and Maude
Another high request title. It's a crime that there's no Ashby in the collection. I hear that the film elements need a makeover.

The Tenant
The other Paramount Polanskis already have decent editions, but of course this was overlooked. Criterion wouldn't have a problem sending a team to Polanski's chalet to record supplements. He's got full post-production facilities in that place.

Prime Cut
Because I love it, and maybe Criterion kinda likes Ritchie. So there.

[mfunk9786]

I don't think a much-needed new print of Election would be out of the question either. It's one of the best reviewed movies of its time, and the DVD and Blu are featureless aside from a commentary.

[ianungstad]

I'm sure both Hud and Don't Look Now are on Criterion's wishlist. They both seem to be frequently requested and the Paramount discs are barebones. I asked about Don't Look Now last winter on Facebook and Criterion replied "Sorry, don't mean to be vague Ian but we don't have any news to report on this title at this time."

Maybe they were looking into licensing some of these Paramount titles then? Dunno.

[Jeff]

Thanks Ian and mfunk. I knew that I was forgetting some. I think that Don't Look Now is probably particularly likely. I hadn't read that Facebook response regarding it, but it's good news. A year before, we were getting the "no plans" response. I feel somewhat confident that Criterion has signed a new deal with Paramount. There is only one title (The Wedding March) still left from the earlier deal. At the beginning of this year, Paramount licensed 27 of their films to a distributor that nobody had ever heard of before, so it makes sense that they would license some more to Criterion at the same time. They may have decided that this is they most profitable way to handle their catalog titles. That Don't Look Now response, their admission that they have another Sturges, and some evasive responses regarding Republic titles make me think that they may have signed something early this year.

[CSM126]

Well, if Republic titles are in play, Hal Hartley's masterful Trust had better be on the fucking list.

[MoonlitKnight]

Margot at the Wedding
Baumbach is a "friend of the company." Margot was criminally overlooked and underrated. The DVD was nothing special either.

Eh, it's Baumbach's least impressive film to date, but I guess I wouldn't turn it down.

[Jeff]

Thanks, David. I thought I remembered both transfers getting bad reviews, but that doesn't appear to be the case. I also thought the SC editions were region-locked, but that doesn't appear to be the case either. Are the supplements HD or NTSC by any chance? I'll try to track down the Aussie disc.

[Murdoch]

Margot at the Wedding
Baumbach is a "friend of the company." Margot was criminally overlooked and underrated. The DVD was nothing special either.

Eh, it's Baumbach's least impressive film to date, but I guess I wouldn't turn it down.

It's his best, not to drag this off-topic :-"

[HistoryProf]

I think The Tin Star is a prime candidate for a spine #. Anthony Mann, Henry Fonda, and another western? what's not to like? Or maybe something like Last Train to Gun Hill (Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn) or Gunfight at the OK Corral or Will Penny. There are some excellent westerns that have gone bye bye...but Tin Star is clearly the choice imo. It's practically begging to be rescued and treated right.

[ianungstad]

If Criterion did pick up more Paramount titles, hopefully they grabbed some of the still MIA titles. Paramount has had Looking for Mr.Goodbar for sale for awhile on itunes..a real dvd/blu would be nice.

Maybe they could work on a disc of Handle with Care while they are prepping Something Wild?

Still waiting on Love With the Proper Stranger. While Medium Cool was released on dvd, it's been OOP forever any you can never find it for less than $50 and would make an excellent Criterion.

Maybe I'm wrong but hasn't Michael Mann made a director's cut of The Keep? If it's any good it might be worth licensing. (That's if Criterion has any interest in early Mann.)

[ianungstad]

At the beginning of this year, Paramount licensed 27 of their films to a distributor that nobody had ever heard of before, so it makes sense that they would license some more to Criterion at the same time. They may have decided that this is they most profitable way to handle their catalog titles.

They also licensed a bunch of films to Lionsgate at the start of the year. Lionsgate released blu editions of Hard Rain, Drop Zone, The Phantom and My Bloody Valentine (MBV in 2009). All junk titles but Paramount's definitely embraced licensing to third parties. Wouldn't be surprised if your guess of "25" wasn't far off.

[justeleblanc]

Worth taking a look at this list: http://www.paramount.com/studio/library ... te-library" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My Guesses:
THE QUIET MAN
TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME, JUNIE MOON
COME BACK TO THE FIVE AND DIME, JIMMY DEAN JIMMY DEAN
HEARTBREAK KID (Elaine May)

And finally, they'll license PRETTY BABY to feature in a three-film Louis Malle set with BLACK MOON and ZAZIE DANS LE METRO titled "A YOUNG GIRL'S BOX."