Criterion and Paramount

[warren oates]

I too hope they go after Seconds, which would look amazing on Blu-ray and was thinking about the film when I saw the Rosemary's Baby clue. And speaking of Seconds + The Face of Another, I was actually planning to watch that double feature tonight.

[bainbridgezu]

Someone on the blu-ray.com forum asked about Marathon Man through the Paramount Film Club's Facebook page (sometime this past February): Paramount's representative replied that the studio had struck a new deal with Criterion (obviously), but that if Marathon Man were to be released on blu-ray, it would be through Paramount directly.

This could be bullshit though, it seems like Rosemary's Baby would be just as popular/prestigious, if not more so.

[captveg]

So, what we know now:

Confirmed: Rosemary's Baby, Harold & Maude

Highly likely: The Conformist, The Miracle of Morgan's Creek, more Blu upgrades of previously released DVD-only titles

Random Possibilities & Fun Speculation: The Tenant, Nashville, La Dolve Vita, Seconds, Medium Cool, Deep End, Serpico, Hud, Bringing Out the Dead, Paper Moon, The Elephant Man, Seconds

Out: Republic titles (licensed to Olive - includes Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Quiet Man, Johnny Guitar), Paramount released 100th Anniversary titles (Chinatown, Barbarella, Wings, Love Story, To Catch a Thief, Clue, Clueless, Hondo) - there should be 4 more for Sep-Dec, and one should be Samson & Delilah.

Very Unlikely: Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, Shane, Roman Holiday, Marathon Man (via Paramount Facebook), John Wayne titles, Jerry Lewis titles (most seem to be going to Olive)

[knives]

Hoffman > Cassavetes is probably the thought going on here. Despite Rosemary's Baby being the more well known title I'm sure the thought process is that putting a more famous person on the cover will encourage more blind buys.

[swo17]

I wonder if its possible that Criterion licensed some of the OOP Jerry Lewis titles from Paramount

Doesn't Lewis own his films outright, and only licensed them to Paramount for their release on DVD?

[TMDaines]

What makes Il conformista "highly likely"?

[captveg]

I wonder if its possible that Criterion licensed some of the OOP Jerry Lewis titles from Paramount

Doesn't Lewis own his films outright, and only licensed them to Paramount for their release on DVD?

Possible. And would Paramount really give up The Nutty Professor, anyway?

I'm pretty sure that's the situation with the John Wayne films, so I wouldn't expect The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance from anyone but Paramount proper. Even if they owned the Wayne films outright he sells too well on home video to give him up to another distributor.

[bainbridgezu]

Someone asked them about Seconds and they said to the effect of they weren't interested

Was this somewhat recently? The information (roughly a year old) in the "Criterion and Paramount" thread indicates that they would like to release the film, but didn't have the rights (this was before the current deal).

[captveg]

What makes Il conformista "highly likely"?

There's been persistent rumors about that title for a good while now. Same with Morgan's Creek. These are the same rumors that surrounded Harold & Maude and Rosemary's Baby. Those four titles seemed to be the "clear/obvious" titles licensed in this latest dozen or so. The real mystery is: what are the other 8-10 titles?

[bainbridgezu]

What makes Il conformista "highly likely"?

Criterion's most recent response was "Keep your fingers crossed," shortly after which Olive Films snagged 1900, but not The Conformist.

[Calvin]

Beggars of Life would be nice to have.

[captveg]

Someone asked them about Seconds and they said to the effect of they weren't interested

Was this somewhat recently? The information (roughly a year old) in the "Criterion and Paramount" thread indicates that they would like to release the film, but didn't have the rights (this was before the current deal).

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that statement is 4-5 years old at this point. I wouldn't put Seconds out of the running anymore.

[souvenir]

Atlantic City seems like a decent possibility. Maybe even Pretty Baby.

There's also The Parallax View.

[swo17]

Here is a list of OOP Paramount DVDs (though some of these titles are obviously not up for grabs). Speculate away!

[bainbridgezu]

Atlantic City seems like a decent possibility. Maybe even Pretty Baby.

Whoa, where's this coming from? The way you're talking, I'd think Criterion had an unwieldy hard-on for Louis Malle.

Joking aside, these do seem like probable candidates.

[movielocke]

Other Possibilities, maybe?

Awful Truth
Ruggles of Red Gap
The Wedding March
Midnight
Five Graves to Cairo
The Emperor Waltz
The Heiress

[Calvin]

They could have a themed month with Pretty Baby and a David Hamilton eclipse.

[eerik]

Other Possibilities, maybe?

Awful Truth
Ruggles of Red Gap
The Wedding March
Midnight
Five Graves to Cairo
The Emperor Waltz
The Heiress

Does Paramount even own any of these titles? The Awful Truth is Sony/Columbia and the rest are with Universal, as they own most of the pre-50s Paramount titles (as far as I know)

[TMDaines]

What makes Il conformista "highly likely"?

Criterion's most recent response was "Keep your fingers crossed," shortly after which Olive Films snagged 1900, but not The Conformist.

I must have missed that. As one of my favourite films I guess I'll take a loss on the Arrow if Criterion stack their release.

[beamish13]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for JOHNNY GUITAR (did Olive get first dibs on all the Republic titles?) and DAY OF THE LOCUST.

Gordon Parks' LEADBELLY would be a terrific addition.

[captveg]

Other Possibilities, maybe?

Awful Truth
Ruggles of Red Gap
The Wedding March
Midnight
Five Graves to Cairo
The Emperor Waltz
The Heiress

Does Paramount even own any of these titles? The Awful Truth is Sony/Columbia and the rest are with Universal, as they own most of the pre-50s Paramount titles (as far as I know)

That's essentially correct. Paramount retained their silents and a handful of titles, but most of their 30s/40s titles are with Universal.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for JOHNNY GUITAR (did Olive get first dibs on all the Republic titles?)

Olive got the entire Republic library that Paramount owns. They specifically mentioned that Johnny Guitar was scheduled for this year.

[Peacock]

Criterion have had the rights to The Wedding March for quite a while now.

[knives]

Atlantic City seems like a decent possibility. Maybe even Pretty Baby.

There's also The Parallax View.

Pretty Baby is still very much in print so I doubt that one is a potential

[domino harvey]

No it isn't

[colinr0380]

I too hope they go after Seconds, which would look amazing on Blu-ray and was thinking about the film when I saw the Rosemary's Baby clue. And speaking of Seconds + The Face of Another, I was actually planning to watch that double feature tonight.

I'd also love to see Seconds get a release, though if we are talking double bills, in a perfect world I'd like to see Criterion release Suture at the same time (though I think it got a DVD release through MGM in the US)