Criterion and Paramount

[domino harvey]

Lola and Bay of Angels have both gone out of print in the last year...

[Jeff]

Lola and Bay of Angels have both gone out of print in the last year...

Those two were my original thought as well. Though we should probably restrict our discussion of them to the Random Speculation thread.

[alandau]

What about Criterion doing DeMille's ultimate high camp classic Samson and Delilah. I have a feeling Paramount own the rights, since Universal acquired most films between 29-48.

It would make a nice companion piece to King of Kings.

As a toddler it was my favourite film. It was shown repeatedly on Channel 9 here in Melbourne. The finale, with Mature giving it to those Philistines, caused a mighty roar in my household.

[foggy eyes]

Do you really think there's a chance of that?

[Gigi M.]

One film that I would love to see release by Criterion or Paramount (if they care enough) is Peter Glenville's Summer and Smoke. Anybody?

[porquenegar]

What about Criterion doing DeMille's ultimate high camp classic Samson and Delilah. I have a feeling Paramount own the rights, since Universal acquired most films between 29-48.

It would make a nice companion piece to King of Kings.

As a toddler it was my favourite film. It was shown repeatedly on Channel 9 here in Melbourne. The finale, with Mature giving it to those Philistines, caused a mighty roar in my household.

I have this on LD and it looks great. Heddy Lamarr is beautiful in it.

[Jeff]

Hi Jeff,

We do hope to get to "White Dog" at some point, but there isn't a release
date scheduled at this time.

Sincerely,

Tamara

Translation: "We've got the rights, but haven't started working on it yet."

[Floyd]

That is amazing news Jeff I am glad you asked the question. I recently watched my it seems 5th generation VHS to DVD White Dog bootleg and this is a very important film in my estimation and others as well.

[Awesome Welles]

EXCELLENT! I cannot wait to see this I've been waiting ages to see it.

[jaredsap]

Underworld (Josef von Sternberg/1927)
The Docks of New York (Sternberg/1928)
The Last Command (Sternberg/1928)

Together, those could probably constitute an amazing silent film DVD box set (if done right). Let's hope the silent age isn't left out of any possible licensing.

UNDERWORLD is screening at the New York Film Festival, but -- unlike the other four titles in the retro section -- is apparently not restored. Doesn't bode well for an impending Criterion release (not that there was ever any reason to believe it was on the horizon).

[Tribe]

UNDERWORLD is screening at the New York Film Festival, but -- unlike the other four titles in the retro section -- is apparently not restored. Doesn't bode well for an impending Criterion release (not that there was ever any reason to believe it was on the horizon).

But it sounds ripe for an Eclipse release.

Tribe

[Person]

What about Haskell Wexler's, Medium Cool? The current Paramount edition has a nice anamorphic transfer and commentary by Wexler, but a 2-disc could be put together. There's a 1-hour doc from 2001 called, Look Out Haskell, It's Real! that sounds interesting. They could also include lots of original programmes on the political conventions, ie. the infamous William Buckley and Gore Vidal debate.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

What about Haskell Wexler's, Medium Cool? The current Paramount edition has a nice anamorphic transfer and commentary by Wexler, but a 2-disc could be put together. There's a 1-hour doc from 2001 called, Look Out Haskell, It's Real! that sounds interesting. They could also include lots of original programmes on the political conventions, ie. the infamous William Buckley and Gore Vidal debate.

Is that the one where Gore Vidal calls Buckley a neo-facist, and Buckley responds by saying he's "A goddamn queer". That would be a great extra feature!

[Derek Estes]

I've always wished that Criterion could release Medium Cool. It seems like a perfect choice, I doubt the original release was that big of a seller that Paramount would feel like holding it for themselves.

[denti alligator]

No, there was definitely an encounter between Vidal and Buckley on television in which Vidal calls Buckley a "crypto-fascist" and Buckley calls Vidal something like a "queer commie." I've seen the clip.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

So that's the one. Maybe I'm getting confused, but I remember a little bit more clearly, where Vidal called Buckely a Crypto-nazi, and Buckely says something to the effect that he'll break his face if he calls him that again.

[kinjitsu]

No, there was definitely an encounter between Vidal and Buckley on television in which Vidal calls Buckley a "crypto-fascist" and Buckley calls Vidal something like a "queer commie." I've seen the clip.

Sorry denti, you are correct. I needed to revive my ancient memory and I deleted my post so I could revise it to include the '68 Chicago Vidal/Buckley debate, but not in time for your response.

The Buckley/Vidal kerfuffle took place during the 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago with ABC's Howard K. Smith moderating. It ensued further in the press, in Esquire and The National Review, respectively.

Vidal called Buckley a "pro-crypto-Nazi," a modest slip of the tongue, he later said, because he was searching for the word "fascist" and it just didn't come out. Inflamed by the word "Nazi" and the whole tenor of the discussion, Buckley snapped back: "Now listen, you queer," he said, "stop calling me a crypto-Nazi or I'll sock you in you goddamn face and you'll stay plastered."

Buckley took another hit on Les Crane's Talk show, when Norman Mailer called Buckley a "fag" but Buckley did not respond verbally and only smiled. Les Crane quickly called for a break.

[ianungstad]

What is the status on The African Queen? Paramount has been cagey whenever questions have been asked for a few years now. I don't know how long these kinds of contracts, like the Criterion/Paramount deal take to come to fruitation...but with all the red tape and production time, it must have been initiated quite awhile ago....? Anyone think any chance that Criterion nabbed the rights? Like Ace in the Hole, it's a title that Paramount seemed content just to sit on and let slide into obscurity.

[kinjitsu]

FWIW, it's currently listed on IMDb as a 2008 Paramount release.

[Jeff]

So that's the one. Maybe I'm getting confused, but I remember a little bit more clearly, where Vidal called Buckely a Crypto-nazi, and Buckely says something to the effect that he'll break his face if he calls him that again.

You can see it on YouTube.

Vidal: "the only proto or crypto-Nazi here is yourself."

Buckley: "Now listen, you queer, you stop calling me a crypto-Nazi or I'll sock you in the goddamn face and you'll stay plastered."

[Faux Hulot]

I've always wished that Criterion could release Medium Cool.

I just wish someone would also release the 2001 documentary Look Out Haskell, It's Real: The Making of 'Medium Cool'. It aired once on Chicago's PBS affiliate WTTW, and I never saw it again.

[LionelHutz]

I second a Medium Cool Criterion release!
If only Paramount would be more interested in adding extra features..Then we'd have a great transfer and worthwile discs for an unbeatable price!
Once upon a time in West and the Conformist can be found extremely cheap..

[Antoine Doinel]

Once upon a time in West and the Conformist can be found extremely cheap..

Definitely. I picked up OUATITW, 2-disc brand new for $5.99 CDN a couple of weeks ago.

[Person]

It would be great to have Sidney Lumet in the CC:

Daniel (1983), screenplay by E.L. Doctorow (who is still living), based on his novel.

Along with Vu du pont (1961), The Sea Gull (1968) and Child's Play (1972, also owned by Paramount), Daniel is one of the few Lumet's I have not seen, but all four sound very interesting.

[a.khan]

Yes, I wish Child's Play makes it to Criterion at some point.