Radiance Films General Discussion & Wishlist

[rapta]

O.C. & Stiggs would be great! Also, Fran has said he generally doesn't intend to release films that have already been well served unless he can bring something substantial to a new release. I'm thinking he would consider the Criterion release of The Player to be good enough?

That's true, I suppose he's largely considering both the UK and US markets and many will have gone Region Free and imported the Criterion. Still think there's room for a decent UK disc but that's not necessarily his game.

The same logic that would probably mean he'd never even attempt get Nashville from Paramount, and instead consider Pret a Porter instead.

[beamish14]

That Cold Day in the Park is still Paramount, and has fantastic, restored deleted scenes in the UCLA Film & Television Archive that no Blu-Ray release has included

[rapta]

That Cold Day in the Park is still Paramount, and has fantastic, restored deleted scenes in the UCLA Film & Television Archive that no Blu-Ray release has included

Odd that Eureka skipped these...not available to them I suppose?

[beamish14]

That Cold Day in the Park is still Paramount, and has fantastic, restored deleted scenes in the UCLA Film & Television Archive that no Blu-Ray release has included

Odd that Eureka skipped these...not available to them I suppose?

No idea. They’re really fantastic and hilarious. Proof that the film really solidified Altman’s style

I’d kill to get nice copies of underseen TV work like Rattlesnake in a Cooler, too. Jazz ‘34 is too difficult with music rights challenges

[therewillbeblus]

"OCS" is surely O.C. & Stiggs! That would obviously mean "ALT" isn't for Altman after all?

OMG, OCS- If this is true, it’ll smash any skepticism that the discord recs will yield results since I plugged this one hard

[therewillbeblus]

That Cold Day in the Park is still Paramount, and has fantastic, restored deleted scenes in the UCLA Film & Television Archive that no Blu-Ray release has included

Odd that Eureka skipped these...not available to them I suppose?

No idea. They’re really fantastic and hilarious. Proof that the film really solidified Altman’s style

My poor 60s orphan- top tier Altman and nobody knows it! Where can I find these?

[beamish14]

Odd that Eureka skipped these...not available to them I suppose?

No idea. They’re really fantastic and hilarious. Proof that the film really solidified Altman’s style

My poor 60s orphan- top tier Altman and nobody knows it! Where can I find these?

Not in the wild, unfortunately. I saw them when the restoration debuted at their Festival of Preservation some years back. Danford Geeene, the film’s editor (and Altman’s high school classmate in St. Louis!) was on hand. One of the archivists noted that they appeared to have been cut at the very last minute.

The Archive’s restoration of Come Back to the Five and Dime looks spectacular, too. You would never know that it was shot on 16mm

[therewillbeblus]

Oh man, I'd be interested to hear what those scenes entailed - especially if they were "hilarious" (not that the film doesn't achieve this tone at times with its cringe-inducing antisocial humor, on the road to a cumulative sense of horror once this element reveals itself to have real consequences, but the overwhelming sense of dread overwhelms a lot of the comedy in the final product)

[therewillbeblus]

"OCS" is surely O.C. & Stiggs! That would obviously mean "ALT" isn't for Altman after all?

I believe this is cued from a teased list of title abbreviations but, while I recall seeing it at one point, it's not stickied anywhere on this thread that I can see and I'm having trouble finding it. What page is it on?

[yoloswegmaster]

[beamish14]

Oh man, I'd be interested to hear what those scenes entailed - especially if they were "hilarious" (not that the film doesn't achieve this tone at times with its cringe-inducing antisocial humor, on the road to a cumulative sense of horror once this element reveals itself to have real consequences, but the overwhelming sense of dread overwhelms a lot of the comedy in the final product)

There were two major scenes. They’re basically alternate versions of the dinner party at the start and Dennis’ visit to her doctor later on. The doctor visit in particular I remember being incredibly amusing because Altman let the camera wander more to women seated near her and linger on some hilariously banal and silly conversations while Dennis appears to passively soak in the environment.

An interesting fact about the movie that I’ve never heard mentioned elsewhere is that, per Altman’s widow, the late Kathryn Altman, he reached out to the film’s co-star Michael Burns about appearing in Ready to Wear 25 years later, but Burns never returned his calls.

[DeprongMori]

Has the TV mini-series version of Altman’s Vincent and Theo ever gotten a release to disc in any form? It’s currently streaming on Amazon’s FreeVee service with commercials — I believe it runs about an hour longer than the theatrical. (I don’t know the history behind the different releases, don’t know who holds the rights, and I’ve still not seen either cut. This provides some info.

[therewillbeblus]

Oh man, I'd be interested to hear what those scenes entailed - especially if they were "hilarious" (not that the film doesn't achieve this tone at times with its cringe-inducing antisocial humor, on the road to a cumulative sense of horror once this element reveals itself to have real consequences, but the overwhelming sense of dread overwhelms a lot of the comedy in the final product)

There were two major scenes. They’re basically alternate versions of the dinner party at the start and Dennis’ visit to her doctor later on. The doctor visit in particular I remember being incredibly amusing because Altman let the camera wander more to women seated near her and linger on some hilariously banal and silly conversations while Dennis appears to passively soak in the environment.

Thank you, I love the doctor visit scene and as disturbing as the undercurrent is, lingering on those conversations paired next to Dennis' social misfit would only heighten the versatile intended effects. I gotta see these

[Calvin]

Has the TV mini-series version of Altman’s Vincent and Theo ever gotten a release to disc in any form? It’s currently streaming on Amazon’s FreeVee service with commercials — I believe it runs about an hour longer than the theatrical. (I don’t know the history behind the different releases, don’t know who holds the rights, and I’ve still not seen either cut. This provides some info.

Yes. ITV own the rights and Network put it out on DVD

[rapta]

Has the TV mini-series version of Altman’s Vincent and Theo ever gotten a release to disc in any form? It’s currently streaming on Amazon’s FreeVee service with commercials — I believe it runs about an hour longer than the theatrical. (I don’t know the history behind the different releases, don’t know who holds the rights, and I’ve still not seen either cut. This provides some info.

Yes. ITV own the rights and Network put it out on DVD

This is correct, remembered I actually own this DVD somewhere (and Network are one of the very few labels that seem to be able to deal with ITV on a frequent basis, mostly due to licensing lots of TV from them). So I doubt that'll be coming to Blu-ray anytime soon, in the UK at least.

Again looking at the handwritten, and now wondering if some of the other titles are other MGM licenses (like Miami Blues, The Bride Wore Black, O.C. & Stiggs; potentially Mississippi Mermaid). I suppose 'HOT' could be for The Hot Spot (Dennis Hopper), and a bit more of a stretch but 'HAS' could maybe be Hal Ashby (e.g. The Landlord, Bound for Glory), each of which haven't got a UK disc and probably the kind of American auteurs Radiance would be looking at.

Also questioning whether 'TIP' is actually The Iron Prefect due to 'The' not really being counted as a capital in any of the other clues...could it be Lubitsch's Trouble in Paradise, for example? Then again no evidence of a Universal deal so far, and Lubitsch might not be the kind of director Radiance are looking into (feels like the kind of thing MoC would be upgrading, or Indicator might get at some point). You never know I suppose! Could be way off, obviously most of the titles so far have been more 60's/70's/80's, and more of a focus on Europe and Japan (with some HK stuff coming soon I think).

[ryannichols7]

O.C. & Stiggs would be great! Also, Fran has said he generally doesn't intend to release films that have already been well served unless he can bring something substantial to a new release. I'm thinking he would consider the Criterion release of The Player to be good enough?

He did once also say that he thought many would consider the Cohen Rivettes to be "good enough"

that said, I'd be shocked if he passed up on doing a UK release of The Player, especially considering Criterion didn't bring it over. that seems to me the rights situation may indeed be different. but either way, I'm game for O.C. and Stiggs, Secret Honor, or any other "lesser loved" Altman titles. hell, I'd even pick up Dr. T and the Women, which IS a Sony title!

I suppose 'HOT' could be for The Hot Spot (Dennis Hopper), and a bit more of a stretch but 'HAS' could maybe be Hal Ashby (e.g. The Landlord, Bound for Glory), each of which haven't got a UK disc and probably the kind of American auteurs Radiance would be looking at.

Dead Mountaineer's Hotel, which I finally actually watched and thought was awesome. this deserves a really good US/UK release, because while the German release from Camera Obscura is good (and English friendly), it doesn't quite give the film its due or a wider audience. I'm pretty confident no Anglo boutique label has released an Estonian film before, so this would be a great first if Radiance was able to do it, and I'd welcome more from the country too. Lithuania's Grazuole (The Beauty) also needs to be put out over here, but that one feels a little more Second Run to me. but anyway, I support your Ashby wishes! The Landlord and Bound for Glory both being MGM titles seem to fit the bill for Radiance pretty well. not gonna be shocked if Mississippi Mermaid happens as well. considering how quick the Fun City titles and Miami Blues have sold, there's definitely a market for more MGM

I was busy the last few days but Bunuel also got a similar tweet. "BUN" is on that paper above. Viridiana on BD (which has been discussed in this thread already) would be wonderful obviously but so would any of the Mexican titles. L'age d'Or is also out of print in both the US and the UK, so there's a lot of possibilities out there.

[therewillbeblus]

I wonder which abbreviations, if any, are the sci-fi box

[rapta]

O.C. & Stiggs would be great! Also, Fran has said he generally doesn't intend to release films that have already been well served unless he can bring something substantial to a new release. I'm thinking he would consider the Criterion release of The Player to be good enough?

He did once also say that he thought many would consider the Cohen Rivettes to be "good enough"

that said, I'd be shocked if he passed up on doing a UK release of The Player, especially considering Criterion didn't bring it over. that seems to me the rights situation may indeed be different. but either way, I'm game for O.C. and Stiggs, Secret Honor, or any other "lesser loved" Altman titles. hell, I'd even pick up Dr. T and the Women, which IS a Sony title!

I suppose 'HOT' could be for The Hot Spot (Dennis Hopper), and a bit more of a stretch but 'HAS' could maybe be Hal Ashby (e.g. The Landlord, Bound for Glory), each of which haven't got a UK disc and probably the kind of American auteurs Radiance would be looking at.

Dead Mountaineer's Hotel, which I finally actually watched and thought was awesome. this deserves a really good US/UK release, because while the German release from Camera Obscura is good (and English friendly), it doesn't quite give the film its due or a wider audience. I'm pretty confident no Anglo boutique label has released an Estonian film before, so this would be a great first if Radiance was able to do it, and I'd welcome more from the country too. Lithuania's Grazuole (The Beauty) also needs to be put out over here, but that one feels a little more Second Run to me. but anyway, I support your Ashby wishes! The Landlord and Bound for Glory both being MGM titles seem to fit the bill for Radiance pretty well. not gonna be shocked if Mississippi Mermaid happens as well. considering how quick the Fun City titles and Miami Blues have sold, there's definitely a market for more MGM

I was busy the last few days but Bunuel also got a similar tweet. "BUN" is on that paper above. Viridiana on BD (which has been discussed in this thread already) would be wonderful obviously but so would any of the Mexican titles. L'age d'Or is also out of print in both the US and the UK, so there's a lot of possibilities out there.

I would really love a UK disc for The Player, especially since it seems like Criterion aren't trying that hard with UK regards to rights with things like this. I dunno if it's as simple as requesting it from Blue Finch Films, or at least asking them where they got the streaming rights from, but it'd at least be worth enquiring about. Especially since a lot of Altman fans are still sore about Indicator losing California Split (which presumably Sony would now offer to Criterion if the music rights issues do get resolved eventually...though that's a big 'if', from what I've heard). But yes, O.C. and Stiggs and maybe Fool for Love seem most likely at this point as both are MGM, and hopefully someone has the courage to do Dr. T and the Women because I think it's an under-appreciated latter-day Altman (and honestly, I must just watch Richard Gere in purely only good movies because I quite like him as an actor).

Dead Mountaineer's Hotel sounds pretty good, might be the kind of thing Second Run look into but to be honest, Radiance and even MoC are tapping into these areas right now a little so it could come from anyone at this point (I also never thought I'd see BFI releasing Skolimowski films, but here we are)! Good shout.

As for MGM titles, there are obviously loads to choose from but I do think if they're already going for Truffaut and Altman, then it's not much of a stretch to suggest Ashby and Hopper too. I assume some more 'cult' titles too like Miami Blues, we'll have to see! I'm often surprised by the kind of titles never picked up before by UK boutiques considering MGM catalogue was the most available of all the studios (until recently, at least). There are still loads of great titles that haven't had a decent boutique release over here, and would definitely be appreciated!

Over on BR.com, I did bring up Buñuel after the recent tweet, and the 'BUN' clue obviously points towards that as well. I did suggest things like Viridiana, The Exterminating Angel and Simon of the Desert but was pointed in the direction of ones that had been restored more recently that might be more likely: Los Olvidados, The Brute, El, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz, Nazarin, and Fever Mounts at El Pao are apparently more likely than the aforementioned. Depends on rights and materials of course but those ones have been restored in the past 10 years and/or released on Blu-ray elsewhere.

I wonder which abbreviations, if any, are the sci-fi box

The box set abbreviations are the ones I can't get my head around yet, but I do wonder if they match up with the clues on the Members section (so basically 'Sci-Fi box set' and 'Japanese box set', as I assume 'Italian box set' is the Dino Risi one). My strongest guess for the latter was Eiichi Kudo's Samurai Revolution Trilogy, but that doesn't match up with any of the clues, so maybe I'm wrong.

I'm starting to think the sci-fi box set could be something European, and I don't know if it's Eureka's recent Zulawski announcements influencing my thinking or not but it could even be some Polish films (as there are lots of films of that ilk, and Polish licensors are finally starting to ease up). Failing that, Czech maybe but Second Run are often on the case with both Czech and Hungarian cinema. I doubt it's anything Russian or Ukrainian, given the recent climate, but that would be interesting too obviously.

[yoloswegmaster]

June releases:

The Hot Spot
Cosa Nostra Trilogy
Red Sun

Another partner label has been added, this time with Canadian International Pictures.

[Finch]

Specs for June releases:

Harry, a drifter (Don Johnson, Miami Vice) rolls into town and talks his way into a job at a car dealership where he becomes caught between two beautiful women, the boss’s conniving wife Dolly (Virginia Madsen, Candyman) and Gloria (Jennifer Connelly, Requiem for a Dream) a naive young accountant whose life is complicated by blackmail. When Harry plans to rob the local bank, he becomes enmeshed in a lethal web of lust, greed and extortion, whose only escape is murder. Adapted from Hell Hath No Fury by Charles Williams, The Hot Spot is a dusty, sweaty modern noir that updates the pulp formula of twists and turns with an intensity to match director Dennis Hopper’s earlier film roles. Directed by Hopper (Easy Rider, Out of the Blue) with verve, the stellar cast are supported by William Sadler (The Shawshank Redemption), Charles Martin Smith (The Untouchables) and Jack Nance (Eraserhead) accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack featuring Miles Davis, John Lee Hooker, Taj Mahal and original music by Jack Nitzsche.

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

2K restoration by Kino Lorber, overseen and approved by cinematographer Ueli Steiger
Uncompressed mono PCM audio
Archival interview with Dennis Hopper who discusses The Hot Spot and features footage of John Lee Hooker and images from the set (1991)
Interviews with stars Virginia Madsen (2021, 7 mins) and William Sadler (2021, 7 mins)
Nick Dawson on Dennis Hopper and The Hot Spot, an interview with the editor of Dennis Hopper: Interviews (2023)
Duane Swierczynski on Charles Williams’ source novel, the crime writer and expert looks at the adaptation and provides a background of the author (2023)
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Reversible sleeve featuring original and new artwork by Time Tomorrow
Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by critics Elena Lazic on the film; Leslie Byron Pitt on the erotic thriller genre and the film’s place within it; and an archival piece on the film featuring an interview with Hopper by RJ Smith
Limited edition of 3000 copies, presented in full-height Scanavo packaging with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

The most American of directors according to celebrated critic Paolo Mereghetti, Damiano Damiani (A Bullet for the General) nevertheless surveyed his own country’s mafia history unlike anyone before him, to critical and box office success. Three such classic films are collected in this Blu-ray box set, presented from new restorations.

The Day of the Owl stars Franco Nero as a police chief who, while investigating the death of a construction worker, goes up against corrupt officials and a ruthless mafia boss (Lee J. Cobb). Adapted from the celebrated novel by Leonardo Sciascia (Illustrious Corpses, Todo Modo), The Day of the Owl was the first book to openly deal with organised crime in Sicily. A prestigious production, it was in the running for best film at the Berlin Film Festival and found wins at home in the David di Donatello Awards for Claudia Cardinale, Nero, Damiani, and Best Production.

Nero portrays a simple man thrown in jail for a misdemeanour in The Case Is Closed: Forget It. Inside, he sees the grim reality of life behind bars, where the mafia controls everything. A powerful production with Nero on top form and supported by a strong cast including Riccardo Cucciolla (Rabid Dogs) and John Steiner (Tenebrae), the intensity of Damiani’s film places it among the finest prison dramas. Presented in Italian and for the first time with the original English dub.

In How to Kill a Judge, Nero plays filmmaker Giacomo Solaris, whose latest film features a judge corrupted by the mafia and who is later found murdered. The real judge the character is based on seizes the footage, but is later killed in the same way. Feeling a degree of responsibility, Solaris investigates, but as the assassinations increase around him, will he reach the source of the conspiracy? Full of twists and a fascinating meta-commentary on cinema, Damiani points the camera at himself and the genre as he investigates the social impact of mafia violence, a fitting end to this survey of Damiani’s Cosa Nostra.

Blu-ray Limited Edition Box Set Special Features:

The most American of directors according to celebrated critic Paolo Mereghetti, Damiano Damiani (A Bullet for the General) nevertheless surveyed his own country’s mafia history unlike anyone before him, to critical and box office success. Three such classic films are collected in this Blu-ray box set, presented from new restorations.

The Day of the Owl stars Franco Nero (Django) as a police chief who, while investigating the death of a construction worker, goes up against corrupt officials and a ruthless mafia boss (Lee J. Cobb, On the Waterfront). Adapted from the celebrated novel by Leonardo Sciascia (Illustrious Corpses, Todo Modo), The Day of the Owl was the first book to openly deal with organised crime in Sicily. Director Damiano Damiani followed in the civic-minded cinema of Francesco Rosi and Elio Petri while forging a new path for the action-orientated cinema of the poliziottesco that would follow, creating something uniquely his own. A prestigious production, it was in the running for best film at the Berlin Film Festival and at home won David di Donatello Awards for stars Nero and Claudia Cardinale, along with Damiani, and Best Film.

Franco Nero stars as an architect thrown in jail for a misdemeanour in The Case is Closed: Forget It. Inside, he sees the grim reality of life behind bars, faced with corrupt guards and a prison yard ruled by the mafia. Damiano Damiani continues his exploration of mafia stories with this gritty prison drama. Nero gives a sympathetic performance as the honest man, while support is given by noted character actors including Riccardo Cucciola (Rabid Dogs) as another innocent and John Steiner (Tenebrae) as a psychotic killer. With Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion and Damiani’s own Confessions of a Police Captain, this exploration of authority and corruption was as critical as the era’s finest work and ranks alongside the best Italian genre films of the 1970s.

In How to Kill a Judge, Franco Nero plays filmmaker Giacomo Solaris, whose latest film features a judge corrupted by the mafia and who is later killed. The real judge the character is based on seizes the film but is later found murdered. Feeling a degree of responsibility, Solaris investigates through his police and mafia advisors, but as the assassinations increase around him, will he reach the source of the conspiracy? Full of twists and a fascinating meta-commentary on cinema that derives from a highly personal approach to the subject matter inspired by real-life events, director Damiano Damiani points the camera at himself and the genre in this fascinating exploration of the social impact of mafia violence, a fitting end to this survey of Damiani’s Cosa Nostra.

Blu-ray Limited Edition Box Set Special Features:

2K restoration of The Day of the Owl from the original negative presented in the original Italian version (109 mins) and the shorter export cut with English audio (103 mins)
2K restoration of The Case is Closed: Forget It from the original negative presented with Italian and, for the first time, English audio options
2K restoration of How to Kill a Judge from the original negative presented in Italian and English audio options
Original uncompressed mono PCM audio
New interview with star Franco Nero, featuring archive footage of Damiano Damiani and Leonardo Sciascia discussing The Day of the Owl (2022, 17 mins)
Archival interview with Franco Nero, writer Ugo Pirro and production manager Lucio Trentini discussing the making of The Day of the Owl (2006, 27 mins)
Identity Crime-Sis: filmmaker and Italian crime cinema expert Mike Malloy discusses The Day of the Owl in the context of the formation of the Italian crime film genre (2022, 20 mins)
Casting Cobb: A Tale of Two Contents: A video essay by filmmaker Howard S. Berger looking at actor Lee J. Cobb's career transition from Hollywood to Italy and the archetypes he tended to play (2023, 33 mins)
Archival interview with Claudia Cardinale from Belgian TV in which she discusses her long and storied career (2017, 22 mins)
New interview with star Franco Nero discussing The Case is Closed: Forget It (2022, 14 mins)
Archival documentary on the making of The Case is Closed: Forget It featuring actor Corrado Solari, assistant director Enrique Bergier and editor Antonio Siciliano (2015, 28 mins)
Italy’s Cinematic Civil Conscience: An Examination of the Life and Works of Damiano Damiani: A visual essay on the career of Damiani Damiani by critic Rachael Nisbet (2023, 35 mins)
New interview with star Franco Nero discussing How to Kill a Judge (2022, 13 mins)
New interview with Alberto Pezzotta, author of Regia Damiano Damiani, who discusses Damiani’s contribution to the mafia and crime genres and the reception of his films in Italy (2022, 34 mins)
Lessons in Violence: A new video essay on How to Kill a Judge by filmmaker David Cairns (2023, 22 mins)
Original trailers for each film
New and improved optional English subtitles for Italian audio and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for English audio for each film
Reversible sleeve featuring designs based on original posters for each film
Limited edition 120-page book featuring new and archival writing on the films by experts on the genre including Andrew Nette on Leonardo Sciascia’s The Day of the Owl; Piero Garofalo on The Case is Closed: Forget It; Paul A. J. Lewis on depictions of the mafia in each of the films within this set; Shelley O’Brien on each of the scores; a newly translated archival interview with Damiani; Nathaniel Thompson on Franco Nero; Marco Natoli on Damiani’s place within the cinema politico movement in Italian cinema; a critical overview for each the films by Cullen Gallagher and credits for each film
Limited edition of 3000 copies (each for the UK and US), presented in a rigid box with removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings

[therewillbeblus]

Fran had been talking about Red Sun's delay being due to needing more time to finish their most ambitious extra yet, which he seems to have confirmed as:

From Oberhausen to the Fall of the Wall: A visual essay by academic and programmer Margaret Deriaz tracing the development of the New German Cinema from the Oberhausen Manifesto to the fall of the Berlin wall (2023, 50 mins)

[fdm]

So is Red Sun part of the Jun-Dec 2023 Bundle or not? The other two have 'This item is included in the Bundle Package "Jun-Dec 2023 Bundle", you will receive this release by ordering this bundle.' in their descriptions, but Red Sun's does not...

[rapta]

I think perhaps it's not because it was one of the initial 10 launch titles? Might want to clarify by contacting Radiance on social media though, seems a bit fluid at the moment (obviously Cosa Nostra was already announced too, and I'd already pre-ordered it, otherwise I would've considered one of the June bundles).

[fdm]

This is about as social media as I get. 8*P

But I'll try an email.

[Glowingwabbit]

So is Red Sun part of the Jun-Dec 2023 Bundle or not? The other two have 'This item is included in the Bundle Package "Jun-Dec 2023 Bundle", you will receive this release by ordering this bundle.' in their descriptions, but Red Sun's does not...

Yes it is: https://www.radiancefilms.co.uk/pages/members