Kino Lorber Studio Classics

[FrauBlucher]

Coming Soon on Blu-ray!
MAN-EATER OF KUMAON (1948) Starring Sabu, Wendell Corey, Joy Page & Morris Carnovsky – Shot by William C. Mellor (A Place in the Sun, Giant) – Music by Hans J. Salter (The Incredible Shrinking Man) – Directed by Byron Haskin (I Walk Alone, Too Late for Tears, The War of the Worlds, Robinson Crusoe in Mars).

[TechnicolorAcid]

The Last Laugh

Is the Kino superior to the MOC?

I believe they use the same transfer so Kino is probably the better option simply for including the International version but both do have differing extras. Kino has a commentary and a documentary and the Eureka set also has the same documentary and a video essay along with a 100 page book on it and the other films on the set which also have some extras that aren’t on the Kino versions so it depends on if you want it as a standalone release or with Murnau’s other films.

[senseabove]

The Long Goodbye, ditto McCabe and Mrs. Miller I think would be a disaster for UHD based on their very unusual visual technique. if Vilmos Zsigmond was still with us, then absolutely I think it could be done with his approval. but I don't see The Long Goodbye being a success, given how the more recent KLSC completely slaughtered the intended look of the film. but someone who is a little more tech savvy may have a better answer

I say all of this as a massive, massive fan of The Long Goodbye who would buy any edition of it loaded to the gills. the "flashing'" technique was totally nailed by Criterion with their McCabe disc, honestly one of their best achievements. I don't think we can trust Kino to pull that off unfortunately

I mean, agreed, technically—but popularity, not technicality, is why they said they wouldn't release TLG on UHD. If they now think a, popularity-wise, second-tier Lang is viable, they must be doing really well with UHD titles.

[domino harvey]

Second-tier Lang?!

[Finch]

Scarlet St is one of only three Lang films I own so for me it's not second tier either.

[yoloswegmaster]

I mean, agreed, technically—but popularity, not technicality, is why they said they wouldn't release TLG on UHD. If they now think a, popularity-wise, second-tier Lang is viable, they must be doing really well with UHD titles.

KL Insider must have changed their tune, as they said that TLG was a great seller but wouldn't release it on 4K as the OCN is in bad shape and a new restoration would cost too much.

I'm more confused as to how they can release stuff like Nobody's Fool and Indecent Proposal on 4K but will pass on releases for even more popular titles like Witness for the Prosecution.

[senseabove]

Second-tier Lang?!

I did say "a, popularity-wise, second-tier Lang" (even if I do, personally, think it's second-tier Lang—it didn't even crack my top ten on our director list!). It does not have the first-to-be-mentioned, "Fritz Lang, renowned director of" association that Metropolis, M, or The Big Heat have, or, for Altman, The Long Goodbye and Nashville.

KL Insider must have changed their tune, as they said that TLG was a great seller but wouldn't release it on 4K as the OCN is in bad shape and a new restoration would cost too much.

Except they already did a "Brand New Master – 4K Scan of the Inter-positive" for their release.

[FrauBlucher]

Second-tier!! Wow. For me it's his best American film

[therewillbeblus]

It might sneak onto the bottom of a Lang top ten for me, but I don't really care for The Woman in the Window either, so I'm in the minority opinion on Lang noirs

KL seems like the right label to resurrect his actual-best American-or-otherwise film The Blue Gardenia if WB isn't interested

[senseabove]

It's not even in my top five American Langs... My general lack of enthusiasm for Joan Bennett probably doesn't help. But I also think The Return of Frank James is an absolutely fascinating outsider's take on the willful blindness required for America to appoint itself the champion of moral rectitude, so what do I know.

And I assume The Blue Gardenia is in enough of a rights quagmire that nobody knows or cares or who owns it, unfortunately, given the PFA didn't even credit a rightsholder for their last screening. I've never been able to find a clear rundown of its production history, fwiw, but Warners was only the distributor.

[domino harvey]

Hey, I’m with you on loving the Return of Frank James, so what do we know

[therewillbeblus]

It's not even in my top five American Langs... My general lack of enthusiasm for Joan Bennett probably doesn't help. But I also think The Return of Frank James is an absolutely fascinating outsider's take on the willful blindness required for America to appoint itself the champion of moral rectitude, so what do I know.

Pretty much the same. Wouldn't be in my top five American Langs, but I also perversely prefer his American works, including The Return of Frank James. Though the Joan Bennett issues puzzle me - I don't remember her presence in Scarlet Street much, but I think she steals The Woman in the Window away from the two conspicuous male leads, unsuspectingly underplaying her hand as she lurks in the background like a prowling cat. This enigmatic tact renders her devoid of any clear intention we may diagnose easily in most femme fatales, and it's the strongest ingredient in that picture.

[Finch]

I vastly prefer Lang's American films to his German ones. Same actually with Murnau. But that might equally be my lack of enthusiasm for German cinema which I think is only represented by The Blue Angel and Ali Fear Eats Soul in my collection. But now I got to seek out Blue Gardenia and Frank James.

[captveg]

KL Insider must have changed their tune, as they said that TLG was a great seller but wouldn't release it on 4K as the OCN is in bad shape and a new restoration would cost too much.

I've learned that if a KLI statement is from ~2 years ago or longer that things may have changed significantly, and to not take their older statements as definitive. They've changed their minds many times before after a little time, which could be for a number of factors, such as changes in licensing costs or re-evaluation of the market for the formats.

I'm more confused as to how they can release stuff like Nobody's Fool and Indecent Proposal on 4K but will pass on releases for even more popular titles like Witness for the Prosecution.

They stated before that some of their UHD pickups were only because the licensing studio had already done the work for the 4K HDR mastering, otherwise they would have done BD only, with those two titles being called out specifically as being examples of that.

[captveg]

Added to the WSL sale:

Clouzot: The Early Works (1931-1933)

More OOP based on previously being in the "While Supplies Last" sale and now no longer appearing on the website:

The Annihilators (1985)
Billy Two Hats (1974)
The Black Sleep (1956)
La Prisonnière (1968)

[captveg]

More OOP based on previously being in the "While Supplies Last" sale and now no longer appearing on the website:

Transformations (1988)
Twice Told Tales (1963)
Woman Times Seven (1967)

[FrauBlucher]

Coming Soon on Blu-ray!

NO MAN OF HER OWN (1950) starring Barbara Stanwyck and John Lund, Shot by Daniel L. Fapp (The Great Escape) – Screenplay by Sally Benson (Shadow of a Doubt) and Catherine Turney (A Stolen Life) – Based on a Novel by Cornell Woolrich (Rear Window) – Directed by Mitchell Leisen (Midnight).

[therewillbeblus]

Sweet, the last title from the best Imprint Noir box to get its individual blu

[Finch]

I can wait longer still for an Indicator edition.

[therewillbeblus]

Seems to be the general roll of the dice picking up KL titles these days

[ryannichols7]

pretty sure Paramount holds this, no? they don't seem to be licensing much in the UK these days - Arrow hasn't brought over their Paramount licenses and BFI only seemed to have luck with Targets. Indicator have done Bullfighter and the Lady but usually don't get Paramount titles out. I'd love for them to put it out, but I don't see it....I'll grab the KLSC

if it was a Universal title I'd be right there with you.

EDIT: worth noting that the Insider confirmed that No Man of Her Own will be a new 2K/4K scan, which will be an upgrade over the older HD master that Imprint released (and Olive released on DVD prior to that). so definitely well worth a pickup!

[Finch]

I thought a lot of the old Paramount catalogue was owned by Universal but this may only be true for the US.

[dwk]

I thought a lot of the old Paramount catalogue was owned by Universal but this may only be true for the US.

It appears that is true for pre-1950 titles. So this one being a 1950 film, is still with Paramount.

[ryannichols7]

the Imprint Noir #3 box listed all* four films (three released by KLSC, one by Arrow) as Paramount titles. it's pre-1946 Paramount talkies that Universal holds - hence why the Josef Von Sternberg silents came from Paramount for Criterion and MoC as opposed to Universal. but otherwise, Universal owns most pre-46 titles, which Indicator and Kino have been mining in equal measure for release. any Paramount (via Universal) title that Kino puts out, absolutely fair game to wait. Paramount direct titles, I've been happy to be picking up the various ones Kino has put out, and they've done a great job mining the catalog and giving these films excellent transfers. from that same box, their Martha Ivers disc is awesome. while I'd much rather have an Indicator disc with a booklet and further extras besides a commentary, I'll take what I can get here.

*-The Desperate Hours doesn't clarify in the listing, but that received a US release from Arrow with a new scan via Paramount. I think any Paramount title is a pretty safe buy from KLSC instead of waiting for Arrow or Indicator to put out their own editions - Arrow absolutely would've brought over The Desperate Hours, Unman, Wittering and Zigo, The Assassination Bureau, etc to the UK if they'd been able to. in fact, the latter two make far more sense as UK titles than as US ones. I really wonder what's up with the UK branch of Paramount, as others have speculated on this board and others

[ryannichols7]

The Last Laugh

Is the Kino superior to the MOC?

I believe they use the same transfer so Kino is probably the better option simply for including the International version but both do have differing extras. Kino has a commentary and a documentary and the Eureka set also has the same documentary and a video essay along with a 100 page book on it and the other films on the set which also have some extras that aren’t on the Kino versions so it depends on if you want it as a standalone release or with Murnau’s other films.

correct. I have the MOC box which I'm very happy with, but the Kino including the international version and a commentary are both nice grabs. I'm a Murnau completionist, so it was a must for me, but may not be for others. Tartuffe is indisputably a better disc from Kino - 2K restoration and a commentary.

I mean, agreed, technically—but popularity, not technicality, is why they said they wouldn't release TLG on UHD. If they now think a, popularity-wise, second-tier Lang is viable, they must be doing really well with UHD titles.

while Scarlet Street isn't a favorite of mine amongst Lang's films (I actually prefer The Woman in the Window!), it's no question his second most popular American movie after The Big Heat. that said, excited to pick it up for the newer transfer, subtitles (!), and to see who else does a commentary. I did listen to Kalat's track here and it's pretty phenomenal as usual for him - not sure what else can be said!

I vastly prefer Lang's American films to his German ones. Same actually with Murnau. But that might equally be my lack of enthusiasm for German cinema which I think is only represented by The Blue Angel and Ali Fear Eats Soul in my collection. But now I got to seek out Blue Gardenia and Frank James.

this is a wilder take to me than the "second tier Lang" one! no Wings of Desire for you? what about Weimar era silents? surprised no other Fassbinder tickled your fancy!