Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Drucker]

The first two seem plausible, though the latter is already out on Blu-ray, so I wouldn't hold your breath.

[knives]

Well two are with one of those two already having a Blu. At best this just further confirms that Touch of Zen is coming sooner rather than later.

[Roscoe]

DOH! as I believe the kids used to say.

[Minkin]

So, Janus has updated their website and included a list of some of the films that they have available in their catalog. This clearly is not a complete list of all of their acquisitions, as there are numerous films missing from this list that they do indeed own the rights (Hitchcock films for example, La Chienne, all of the Lloyd films, etc, etc) - some explanation might be that Janus might not own the theatrical rights (which this is a list of) to a film, but will own the streaming (Hulu + Amazon + Itunes) or DVD rights. They probably also don't want to give away everything that they have in their catalog (Riefenstahl, etc) or prints might not be so readily available. So, long winded aside mentioned; basically - don't freak out about what isn't listed here and instead:

Might someone be of assistance in finding what's on this list that they don't have on Hulu? I'll be updating the forthcoming list soon, but this will be a lot of work, so any glaring anomalies will be of great help.

The Handmade Films are now back to Janus ownership, so expect those OOP titles (see the Criterion OOP thread for my post) to come back into print soon.

Dragon Inn + Touch of Zen are both listed as Janus Films

[Minkin]

Well, I did my own work on this one and looked through the list. Thankfully they've listed the DVD/Blu formats as well -meaning I didn't have to look up as much!

It turns out this isn't as huge of a scoop as I had initially thought. Everything on that Janus list either already has a DVD release or was part of a recent Janus tour (Wenders, Chaplin, Demy, etc). Thus the hundreds of films that Janus owns the rights to are not listed. Hulu is currently a far greater representative of the Janus catalog than the list Janus provided on their website! I know they don't have theatrical rights to everything they have streaming, but I think its rather clear when so many obvious choices are otherwise absent. If you want some sort of absolute proof - the Saul J. Turell films aren't listed (other than Robeson) - and that's about as Janus owned as you can get. I can only assume that Janus did this in order to deter our speculation (or they don't have prints readily available; or they are saving them for future tours; etc) - as even a majority of the Janus catalog isn't listed at all! So, don't have any fears about whats absent from that list -as it is intentionally missing a lot.

All that said, I did make some discoveries while checking through the list:

angel at my table - some fears over possible loss rights, but is listed as Janus owned
BRD Trilogy - All three of the films are listed as Janus, so the box should come back into print at some point

How to Get Ahead in Advertising (Handmade Films, what else of their library might be of interest?)
The Long Good Friday
Mona Lisa
Withnail & I

Lightning Over Water - Wenders
The Story of the Last Chrysanthemum
Touch of Zen


The following unannounced films were listed as Blu-ray (a mistake, I know, but highly indicates an imminent release):
Alice in the Cities
Chimes at Midnight
Dragon Inn
The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick
Kings of the Road

[bradass]

The following unannounced films were listed as Blu-ray (a mistake, I know, but highly indicates an imminent release):

I think in this case, it means that they have replicated a Blu-ray disc for exhibitors to hire. The formats are those that are made available to exhibitors.

[CSM126]

Listing those last few as blu ray available may not be a mistake - they may have non-retail discs available for rental. I saw House during its Janus tour before the Criterion release was even announced, and the theater specifically mentioned they were projecting the film from a blu ray.

That said, of course these films are gonna get released on blu Ray soon enough anyway.

[DeprongMori]

Of the Janus films listed as Blu-Ray that do not currently have a Criterion Blu-Ray release, you should also include Jim Jarmusch's
Night on Earth.

Strangely, only two of the three Wim Wenders "Road Trilogy" films currently show as "Blu-Ray". Wrong Move is listed only as "DCP".

[Raymond Marble]

The following unannounced films were listed as Blu-ray (a mistake, I know, but highly indicates an imminent release):
Alice in the Cities
Chimes at Midnight
Dragon Inn
The Goalie’s Anxiety at the Penalty Kick
Kings of the Road

Wait, so wouldn't that make the kings on the road in the New Year's clue for Kings of the Road? (Why am I not remembering anyone suggesting that...?)

[FrauBlucher]

Is Feet First a possible Harold Lloyd release for Criterion? I guess it's his first talky. I've never seen it. Any thoughts about it.

[mteller]

Wait, so wouldn't that make the kings on the road in the New Year's clue for Kings of the Road? (Why am I not remembering anyone suggesting that...?)

It was suggested in the New Year's drawing thread. Several times.

[Askew]

Samantha Fuller just sent this message to Kickstart backers for A Fuller Life:

To all backers still waiting for their rewards:

It's been a while since I've checked the Kickstarter page and I apologize for the long delay in posting an update. Please be aware that it's been quite challenging to manage this project on my own and I've been overwhelmed with so much to follow up with. The DVD of A FULLER LIFE will be sent out this year for sure. I truly appreciate everyone's patience! I'll be in touch soon to confirm your shipping information.

All the best,

Samantha

P.S. Here are the following distributors for the film:

CRITERION in the U.S.

CARLOTTA Films in France

CONTEMPORARY Films in the U.K.

[Jeff]

Samantha Fuller just sent this message to Kickstart backers for A Fuller Life:

CRITERION in the U.S.

Yes, she confirmed via Twitter a few months back. The question is will it be part of a release of Park Row, Forty Guns, or a Pickup on South Street upgrade. I think my vote would be for a rescue of Warner's botched Blu-ray release of The Big Red One (perhaps with Fuller's companion novel included), but that doesn't seem very likely. I don't really see this getting a stand-alone release either.

[Cinephrenic]

Maybe they will release a set of his films from Sony.

[chrisandy]

The "death" (or perhaps I should add an r and say dearth?) of the bluray upgrade in 2016 so far is a serious bummer, I'd happily trade a few new releases for more upgrades. :-/

Thank god you're not in charge of these decisions

[jwd5275]

The question is will it be part of a release of Park Row, Forty Guns, or a Pickup on South Street upgrade. I think my vote would be for a rescue of Warner's botched Blu-ray release of The Big Red One (perhaps with Fuller's companion novel included), but that doesn't seem very likely.

Other out of left-field are Verboten! and Run of the Arrow which are both with Warners...

[movielocke]

The "death" (or perhaps I should add an r and say dearth?) of the bluray upgrade in 2016 so far is a serious bummer, I'd happily trade a few new releases for more upgrades. :-/

Thank god you're not in charge of these decisions

I laid out a lot of reasons why I think upgrades have stopped in a later post. It is a bummer.

In the 86 months from November 2008 to December 2015 criterion had two months without an upgrade issued. During the 84 months they did issue upgrades they released a total of 150 upgrades. For the four months of 2016 they have issued one upgrade. Something has changed, or a very unlikely coincidence has occured, given the rarity of non upgrade months in the past.

[Drucker]

But wouldn't it just make sense that the pace would slow down? There are less DVDs to upgrade than their used to be. They also have lost some of the catalog they had at the beginning of the blu-ray era. And there's only so many pre-existing HD masters they can pull off the shelf, which comprised their earliest blu rays. And again, I know I'd rather wait for the upgrade to come out with a new 2k or 4k restoration then a lesser release.

Rather than release the old master Arrow used for Bicycle Thieves, for example, we get what should be a major upgrade. And we all remember what happened with The Leopard...

[tenia]

Here's some titles where we know new (and at least decent) HD masters are available and for which I believe Criterion still have the rights :
The Long Good Friday / Mona Lisa
Withnail & I / How to get Ahead in Advertising
Closely Watched Trains / The Firemen's Ball
Red Beard (and most of the Kurosawa)
Pickup on South Street / Thieves' Highway
Onibaba
Salvatore Giuliano / Hands Over The City
Scenes from a Marriage / The Virgin Spring
Knife in the Water
Youth of the Beast
Boudu
La bête humaine / Casque d'or
And The Ship Sails On
Lucien Lacombe / Elevator to the Gallows / The Fire Within / The Lovers / Young Törless / A nos amours / Le plaisir
the Rohmer Moral Tales
Classe tous risques
Hobson's Choice
Empire of Passion
the War Trilogy

At a pace of 2 upgrades per month, there are enough titles for Criterion to fill a bit more than a whole year of technically worthy upgrades.
Instead, they did Sword of Doom, Hoop Dreams, Sullivan's Travels, Eddie Coyle, Make Way for Tomorrow and Downhill Racer, all using either obsolete masters or a brand-new... upscaled one.

So there does not seem to be any rationale there that can be grasped looking either at what is left to upgrade or what is available to pick as a technically viable new master.

I'm more appealed by the possibility movielocke suggested of having leftover DVD stocks or expecting a bunch of even better brand new masters (though that still does not rule out not upgrading things already restored in 4K, these won't be beaten before a decade).

[movielocke]

Right? It's been almost two years since we heard the bluray of Mishima was ready to go as soon as the DVD print run sold out. Still waiting, decelerating SD sales could be a very large factor.

[beamish13]

Here's some titles where we know new (and at least decent) HD masters are available and for which I believe Criterion still have the rights :

And The Ship Sails On

Perhaps the single worst offender. May very well be the most awful DVD in terms of visual presentation and total lack
of extras that Criterion has ever released.

[FrauBlucher]

For me Boudu Saved from Drowning is a surprise that it hasn't been upgraded. Park Circus released their blu in 2011, which is from a restoration and looks wonderful. I've been holding off all this time hoping that Criterion will release it.

[Drucker]

But more than half of those are already out in Europe, likely hurting their sales potential by not being first to market. Anybody here looking to double dip on The War Trilogy blu ray again?

[FrauBlucher]

I am one to almost never double dip. So, I patiently wait. As in the case of the Park Circus Boudu, the extras are minimal and not very interesting. So I wait. And that may be Criterions advantage of assuring sales when they do release their versions.

[danieltiger]

Not to mention that, I presume, the vast majority of Criterion's customers aren't region-free, negating the sales disadvantage.