Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 5

[zedz]

Fantastic news about all those Rays. I'm assuming we'll be seeing at least two box sets dealing with the Apu and Calcutta trilogies, and possibly a third one dedicated to Tagore (Charulata, Three Daughters, Home and the World and the Tagore documentary). Beyond that, a handful of standalone releases (fingers double-crossed for Days and Nights in the Forest) and an Eclipse or two?

I'm assuming Criterion won't be bothering with his depressing post-heart attack films, and would be surprised if they picked up any of the children's movies, since that's not really their thing. If the count of eighteen (plus The Music Room) doesn't include documentaries and shorts, almost all of his features should be accounted for at the end of this.

[knives]

The have An Enemy of the People and The Home and the World up on Hulu so the heart attack thing doesn't seem under consideration. Also I assume Kino still has the rights to The Chess Players so that leaves about 15 films left out.

[zedz]

The Home and the World is the last of the pre-debilitation films, and it's excellent. An Enemy of the People is probably the worst film I've ever seen by a major filmmaker, so it's not good news if this is one of the features included in Criterion's count. I can't imagine they'd ever bother to release this on BluRay.

[Brian C]

...would be surprised if they picked up any of the children's movies, since that's not really their thing.

Changing gears but still on the subject of kids films, didn't we get a clue of some sort hinting at The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T some time back?

[johnnysnatchclub7]

...would be surprised if they picked up any of the children's movies, since that's not really their thing.

Changing gears but still on the subject of kids films, didn't we get a clue of some sort hinting at The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T some time back?

It was thought that 'SEUSS' could be made out on the Facebook desktop photo. That's really as far as the "hint" went.

[rrenault]

Whatever happened to Truffaut's La Peau Douce?

[duck duck]

Time Bandits is very much a children's film, so if they do a bunch by a pet director I don't think children's films would be excluded. Also, there could be an arguments made for the Sabu films being made for children.

Was anyone else really disappointed that there was no April Fool's title?

[mteller]

I would buy an Eclipse set with Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne/Kingdom of Diamonds/Sonar Kella/The Elephant God. Well, I'd buy anything by Ray (even *ugh* Chiriyakana) but I love Sonar Kella especially.

[hearthesilence]

Whatever happened to Truffaut's La Peau Douce?

FWIW, BAMCinématek in Brooklyn is showing this in May in 35mm, but yeah, what gives? It's on their Hulu channel, looks fine there - what's the hold-up with the Blu-Ray?

[mfunk9786]

Most likely features, that's the hold-up with most releases.

[captveg]

Was anyone else really disappointed that there was no April Fool's title?

Yes. The last two were quite enjoyable.

[chatterjees]

I would buy an Eclipse set with I would buy an Eclipse set with Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne/Kingdom of Diamonds/Sonar Kella/The Elephant God. Well, I'd buy anything by Ray (even *ugh* Chiriyakana) but I love Sonar Kella especially. Well, I'd buy anything by Ray (even *ugh* Chiriyakana) but I love Sonar Kella especially.

Hi All,

Although I am a new member to this forum, I have been following you guys for almost last five years! I am a big fan of International Art House and from Satyajit Ray's hometown Kolkata! So, this is a nice start by replying to this comment.

Considering the fact that they got all 4 films (Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne/Kingdom of Diamonds/Sonar Kella/The Elephant God), it will not be proper to put them in one set, they could do two separate, one for Goopy films and one for Feluda films (like they did for Shepitko). Yeah, like you, I don't see them getting solo releases! It looks like you are a big fan of Ray films like I am. I agree with you that I will probably not by a CC Chiriyakana (will be happy to keep my Indian DVD)! I am just preying that they will bring me my top two Ray films - Nayak and Days and Nights in the Forest!

BTW, I just want to say something regarding that original Times of India article about Ray: That reporter didn't have a clue what restoration means and what's releasing HD format on blu-ray! For last years we are hearing about restoring Apu Trilogy at Wexner! My hunch is the restorations are done (probably by Marty's foundation), they got all the prints and they are doing their usual touches (Phoenix software etc.)! They already sent team to India to shoot extras! We are definitely getting one or two boxes this year!
I just hope that when they are in India, they can also shoot some extras for Ghatak's Titas and Uday Shankar's KALPANA (if they got it, its this years WCF's restoration and they do release films on dance)!!!

Sorry for the big reply, will try to be short next time :)

[Michael Kerpan]

Sorry for the big reply, will try to be short next time

As long as you are saying interesting things (which you are), don't worry about needing to make shorter posts.

Welcome.

[mteller]

I am just preying that they will bring me my top two Ray films - Nayak and Days and Nights in the Forest!

The article indicates that Nayak is one of them. Days and Nights in the Forest seems very likely.

[chatterjees]

I am just preying that they will bring me my top two Ray films - Nayak and Days and Nights in the Forest!

The article indicates that Nayak is one of them. Days and Nights in the Forest seems very likely.

Yes, I know the article mentioned Nayak! I have expressed my doubts regarding the knowledge of the writer. it is for sure that whoever from CC, he/she was interviewing, definitely mentioned the title! I wonder if the list includes Kanchenjungha (1962), although that would be a miracle, because I think the original prints were all lost in a fire, somewhere! Days and Nights in the Forest is listed as restored at Film Foundation website (Scorsese)! And The Chess Players is with Kino, so that's doomed!

[MichaelB]

The Home and the World is the last of the pre-debilitation films, and it's excellent. An Enemy of the People is probably the worst film I've ever seen by a major filmmaker, so it's not good news if this is one of the features included in Criterion's count. I can't imagine they'd ever bother to release this on BluRay.

Seconded, on both counts. I watched the relevant Artificial Eye box in chronological order, and it was a decidedly depressing experience moving from the ferociously concentrated Deliverance to the tediously flaccid An Enemy of the People. But The Home and the World, thankfully, had more in common with the former than the latter - it's Ray's last important film.

[ptatler]

TCM Classic Film Fest just announced their lineup for this year. There are a lot of Janus/Criterion holdings among the bunch. Thinking aloud (because I know this doesn't necessarily follow logic), is there a chance that any of the other films at the festival are possible Criterion releases? I'm especially wondering about THEY LIVE BY NIGHT, LA TRAVERSEE DE PARIS, RUGGLES, THE SWIMMER, and VOYAGE TO ITALY.

[jwd5275]

All of those are strong possibilities except They Live By Night which is Warners. Voyage to Italy is also a Janus holding and is up on Hulu and I would be suprised if La Traversee de Paris isn't already owned by Janus too. The Swimmer has long been rumored and Ruggles would perfectly fit with Criterion's plan to release films after I have already bought the MOC...

[matrixschmatrix]

If they've cracked open the Warner vault, They Live by Night seems like something that would certainly be on their list- a major auteur, a movie that's absolutely killer with name stars that isn't super well known, Warner apparently thought little enough of it that it never got a standalone release, etc- but the Warner release is actually pretty good, with solid picture quality and a pretty great commentary. I'd imagine Criterion would set their sights on something really badly neglected or really high profile, like Greed or Magnificent Ambersons.

[chatterjees]

...The Swimmer[/b] has long been rumored ...

If I remember correctly, Twilight Time had replied on their page a couple of months back that The Swimmer is a big possibility!

For the rest of the titles, exactly what jwd5275 already said! Its been too long that Bergman/Rossellini box set is being rumored...

I can smell something in the air regarding a Bogie title, possibly being released by CC! Not long ago, The Bogart Estate replied to my query saying some big titles are getting BD treatments this year! I don't think they meant Enforcer or Petrified Forest. Then after few day Criterion Cast made that usual criterion consideration post on Dark Passage, which is also a WB title! Although at the last Wexner meeting, CC made it clear that they don't have In A Lonely Place, I just got a hunch that CC probably got a Bogart film! I could be wrong though

[Calvin]

When I asked Warner Archive on Facebook a couple of months ago regarding The Lusty Men, they replied in the negative but said that "WHV has more of Mr. Ray's work in the works for Blu" which implies more than Rebel Without a Cause. They Live By Night would be the most likely.

Frank Perry has a phantom page on the Criterion site.

[jwd5275]

For what it's worth They Live By Night is streaming on Warner Archive Instant...

[Cinephrenic]

David and Lisa was released by Home Vision Entertainment, so it could be this one.

[BillWatkins]

I assumed it would be DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE via Universal.

[zedz]

For the rest of the titles, exactly what jwd5275 already said! Its been too long that Bergman/Rossellini box set is being rumored...

Has there ever actually been a 'rumour' about this? I (and plenty of others) have speculated about such a set on the grounds of Criterion's access to Rossellini + common sense, but I don't recall anything from the horse's mouth about such a collection. So there would be no hypothetical clock running if it were just idle speculation from us.