Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 4

[Jeff]

It would be worth it to me just to get both the widescreen and full frame versions of the film in HD (I still cling to the old FF DVD).

I was thinking the same thing. MoC did it with Touch of Evil, maybe Criterion can it with EWS (and The Shining and Full Metal Jacket, some day).

And Criterion's doing On the Waterfront in 1.33, 1.66, and 1.85.

[AfterTheRain]

TCM recently screened the french horror film Carnival of Sinners aka The Hand of the Devil directed by Maurice Tourneur courtesy of Janus films. The print seems to be in very good condition. The director has one of those phantom pages on the Criterion website. The film was pretty good, it would make a good pairing with a blu upgrade of The Devil and Daniel Webster.

Even better would be to pair it up with Night of the Demon directed by his son Jacques Tourneur.

If Criterion ever does release Night of the Demon (along with the shorter Curse of the Demon version as an extra), that would likely be a day one purchase for me.

[Matt]

If Criterion ever does release Night of the Demon (along with the shorter Curse of the Demon version as an extra), that would likely be a day one purchase for me.

It's DVD only, but the Sony US disc that's been out for years does exactly that.

[Cinephrenic]

Anyone else think William Friedkin's Sorcerer is coming? Criterion showing his top 10 on their site suggests a work in progress.

[rspaight]

Yeah, and I noticed they called him a "cinematic sorcerer" when hyping the list on Twitter, and included Sorcerer in the short list of his films in the intro on the site. So they've got that one on their minds...

[matrixschmatrix]

They referenced a couple of Friedkin movies in there- they planted the word 'exorcism' in the blurb, too, and I really doubt they're going to get The Exorcist.

[ianungstad]

Possibly. William Friedkin filled a lawsuit against Paramount and Universal earlier this year to take back the rights to the film and for a percentage of the profits that the film has generated over the years. In spite of the fact that Universal released the film on dvd both studios are claiming they don't own the film or have any rights to it. It's a complex problem involving tax shelters and a bankrupt company called Cinema International Corporation. Browsing the wiki page for Sorcerer, apparently if they don't settle out of court it's scheduled to go to trial in the spring of 2013. It may very well be that Paramount and Universal came to an agreement with Friedkin and the film may be released by Criterion but it's equally as possible the film gets tied up in court for years. (like La Dolce Vita)

I do agree that the way Criterion has been promoting his top 10 list with an emphasis on Sorcerer could be considered a positive sign. It's certainly been one of the more requested titles over the years.

[ryannichols7]

hopefully if they do Sorcerer, they'll put it out alongside Thief.

[Matt]

hopefully if they do Sorcerer, they'll put it out alongside Thief.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but do the two films have something in common?

[knives]

In terms of ownership, nope.

[Cold Bishop]

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but do the two films have something in common?

*Cold Bishop walks into thread, wearing a pair of black sunglasses*

*blaring synth riff*

I have no idea...

[Matt]

Oh, I see. Tangerine Dream score.

[Cinephrenic]

I love Tangerine Dream's score on the film. Hopefully, if they release the film they have some kind of extra in relation to the score.

[ianungstad]

Scream Factory announced on their Facebook page that they will be releasing Scanners 2 and 3 next year. They noted that they were not able to get to rights to the original. Cliff mentioned on the dvdtalk forum that MGM did not have the rights to Scanners and The Brood anymore. It seems like Scanners, The Brood, Rabid, Shivers are all out of print. I wonder what the chances are that they might have been picked up by Janus? They posted a pic of Cronenberg at the Criterion offices in August (with a bag full of Criterion goodies!) He was in town at the time doing press for Cosmopolis. Just speculation. Hopefully whoever grabs these films will give them a decent release and not dump them on low quality discs destined for the bargain bin.

[ryannichols7]

I love Tangerine Dream's score on the film. Hopefully, if they release the film they have some kind of extra in relation to the score.

yep. Criterion usually do a pretty cool interview with their big name composers (save for Brian Eno) so I'd love to see them do one (or two) with Tangerine Dream. usually the composer interviews are fantastic, and I know very little about making music.

[ianungstad]

Cliff from shout factory on the bluray.com forums:

Somerville house owns Rabid and Lionsgate has Shivers. Scanners and The Brood are owned by the producer and were licensed out to a label.

Still think there's a reasonable chance it might be Janus.

[onedimension]

As long as it's someone other than MGM - I could see Twilight Time getting them, too-

[HistoryProf]

a Criterion blu of The Brood would be a dream come true. one of my favorite films...it truly unsettled me as a kid and gave me nightmares for weeks.

[dwk]

Criterion posted the following hint on facebook

Sure, a film with Kyoko Kagawa is getting a Blu-ray upgrade.

[Finch]

This could mean one of the following: Red Beard, Sansho the Bailiff, The Bad Sleep Well, Tokyo Story. Got to be either Sansho or Tokyo Story.

[Gregory]

Or The Lower Depths.
I was also thinking it'll be Tokyo Story or Sansho (two of my all-time favorite films though of course both are already available on Blu). It seems a little too soon to announce another Kurosawa upgrade, though I wouldn't be too surprised if we finally see an announcement for Ikiru in the next few months. It would be exciting to see Red Beard announced sometime for 2013.

[EddieLarkin]

There is also Madadayo. Not a spine number (yet) but technically an upgrade, and one many of us have wanted in the main line as the AK:100 box set is not a justifiable purchase for most. It has a Blu-ray in Japan already.

[HistoryProf]

Here goes nothing...

Emigrants/New Land Set
On the Waterfront
Bitter Rice
Rossellini Eclipse

Upgrades:
Tokyo Story
Oliver Twist/Great Expectations
An Angel At My Table

[AfterTheRain]

February predictions:

On the Waterfront
Monsieur Verdoux
Ministry of Fear
Badlands

Upgrades:
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Spartacus
Richard III

[TheBeast]

February predictions:

On the Waterfront
Monsieur Verdoux
Ministry of Fear
Badlands

Upgrades:
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Spartacus
Richard III

That's a very bold prediction. But i do think that On the Waterfront and The life and death of colonel blimp are definatly going to be announced for Feb