Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 4

[ianungstad]

It doesn't mean anything. There's a big Kubrick exhibit about to open next week in L.A. and Tom Cruise and various collaborators have been doing press interviews prior. Criterion always tweets or make Facebook posts about a certain director if they have a big movie premiere or exhibit bowing somewhere on the globe or if it's their birthday.

[ryannichols7]

I'd rather see them do Barry Lyndon before Eyes Wide Shut, but I totally wouldn't rule that out. if Warner's offered it to them, I really couldn't see them say no to that. they could add plenty of supplements and improve the heck out of the transfer.

[mfunk9786]

Not only do we already have an adequate edition, but there are thousands of other films in more need of editions (not even new considering how many films have never been released to the home video market).

That old chestnut. Let's just stop perpetuating this myth that this has ever stopped Criterion from releasing a film that they want to release

[swo17]

Food for thought: Every single film Kubrick ever made except for his first two mediocre shorts is either already out on Blu-ray or about to be. Some of them three times over!

[knives]

Not only do we already have an adequate edition, but there are thousands of other films in more need of editions (not even new considering how many films have never been released to the home video market).

That old chestnut. Let's just stop perpetuating this myth that this has ever stopped Criterion from releasing a film that they want to release

That's not what I said and your editing of my post alters the meaning of what I said. I clearly was referring to arguments that you yourself were making and how they are faulty. You can't say, "...it needs a revisit from a scholarly perspective," and than call what I mentioned a faulty argument via being a myth.

[Noiradelic]

Criterion acquired other stuff from Warner that we don't know about.

Likely to be films by living directors, which unfortunately excludes Kubrick.

[captveg]

I'd rather Criterion spend time on films that need them. Warner's releases for all their Kubrick films are just fine, IMO.

[ryannichols7]

Criterion acquired other stuff from Warner that we don't know about.

Likely to be films by living directors, which unfortunately excludes Kubrick.

the "pre-code" title shames this post.

definitely hope Spirit of the Beehive comes on Blu-ray. been holding off on it for awhile.

[Peacock]

Somebody posted a list of the precode WB titles on FB a while ago... (this is really just random speculation) and the two that struck me as most likely choices were Lubitsch's Merry Widow and Browning's Freaks... but the latter may be too big for WB to license out as they put it out on disk relatively early on and it's pretty well known outside of the cinephile crowd.

[oh yeah]

As far as this Eyes Wide Shut talk goes: I doubt Warner would give up any Kubrick, but I sure wish it was true. I must disagree with some here: EWS is not at all done justice by the blu and/or DVD already out. Anyone who saw the film projected in 35mm can confirm that it's one of the most grainy and unique-looking films put out by a major studio in the past few decades. The DVD/blu rays of EWS aren't unwatchable by any means, but they clean up much of the grain that gives the film its fascinating visual texture, rendering it far less powerful and beautiful. Here's a picture of what the film ideally should look more like on home video, which it largely doesn't look like on the polished, very clean-looking Warners discs. (Also see toward the bottom of the page here for a very good discussion of this whole issue).

[Brian C]

Criterion acquired other stuff from Warner that we don't know about.

But let's be realistic here ... if we were making a list of extremely safe bets, "Warner will not give up a Kubrick title" would rank very very high on that list.

[Jeff]

Of course the Kubrick estate, Jan Harlan and Christiane Kubrick, are just as powerful as any living filmmaker and still have a lot of influence at Warner. They've worked with Criterion a couple of times recently, and if they were particularly pleased with the experience, it wouldn't be unheard of for them to request that something like Eyes Wide Shut or Barry Lyndon get farmed out to Criterion.

I don't think that tweet was necessarily alluding to any forthcoming release, but I also don't think that anything is outside of the realm of possibility anymore.

[CSM126]

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).

[TheBeast]

If criterion were doing any Kubrick film it would most likely be Barry Lyndon because all the home releases have been barebones. But it's probably not likely that criterion would release a kubrick film until like 2015 or something.

[Cinephrenic]

We haven't even got a Spartacus Blu-ray from Criterion and you guys talking about Warner. Dream on... bring on Hawks and Capra.

[ianungstad]

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.

[knives]

I really hope they don't go with that stupid American title when they do eventually release it, but it has been on their Hulu for a while.

[Oedipax]

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).

[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.