Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 5

[domino harvey]

Let's be honest: the reason they said an Eclipse to mainline release might happen is to shield themselves from customer bitching at some point in the future if they go deluxe for one of the titles. I think it's insurance rather than policy

[Lowry_Sam]

I remember there being some talk initially about why Criterion was starting Eclipse & one of the reasons was that its intent was to get out films that ordinarily wouldn't get released, either because their audience was small or because the condition of the film was poor. So there always has been the possibilty that better elements for a film could be found, thus generating a proper release for a higher profile title. The problem is that now most of the people who by such titles & buy movies on disc are also more likely to hold out for things on blu-ray. That is why Hulu has taken over Eclipse as the venue to get such films out, and it also gives Criterion an idea of what might sell well.

It'll be interesting to see if Eclipse becomes dual-format too....in which case it will probably be the same as the cheaper single release/bare bones titles, just more discs.

I expect they won't upgrade an Eclipse title until there is a restoration of the title. The Flamenco Trilogy might have been the first title, but I'm assuming they no longer have the rights. I wouldn't be surprised if the Les Miserables restoration becomes the first Eclipse to get a mainline release.

Speaking of which, I came across a French article on a 2012 restoration film festival. It's interesting to see which of these titles has been released so far. Here's the (rather long) Google translation:

From October 15 to 21, the Institute Lumière in Lyon holds its festival and many restored films will be presented. Many of these films are or will soon be available on Blu-Ray (Jaws, Tess, The Magnificent) but most are presented for the first time in France (The Assassin live in 21). The festival will also pay tribute to the Criterion editor and Wildside, a few weeks before the release of the Bu-Ray, HD will present in The Night of the Hunter and the excellent documentary Charles Laughton Directs The Night Of The Hunter: The Epic That Was , long novel in France.
Several documentaries will be presented for the first time, devoted to Lalo Schifrin or Jean Renoir.
Here is a selection of restored films will be shown during the festival. The complete list is available here.

The Glory of Vittorio De Sica
In some great films (Shoeshine, Bicycle Thieves, Miracle in Milan, Umberto D, etc..) Vittorio De Sica (1901-1974) embodied the essence of cinema long traditional copyright, capable of moving the crowds as much as of be debated film clubs and magazines. But for three decades, nothing or almost. Overtaken by Rossellini, Fellini-dominant Antonioni, Pasolini, Visconti quintet, De Sica has disappeared from the screens: the time is welcome to return to a work that counted. An animated by Gianluca Farinelli, director of Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna (Italy) and Jean Gili, historian, artistic director of the Festival d'Annecy Italian cinema retrospective.
Shoeshine (Shoeshine, 1946, 1:33), restored by the Associazione Amici di Vittorio De Sica / Cinecitta Istituto Luce copy
The Bicycle Thief (Ladri di biciclette, 1948, 1:33), restored copy (Artédis)

The pleasure of Max Ophuls
When the film combines digital cameras and small, by visiting the most elegant of directors is required: Max Ophuls or the heart of European classicism forward and after the war. The exploration of this work both unique and sumptuous will be in rare 35mm prints or restored prints (among others offered by Gaumont: Pleasure, Lady and The Rabbia: Letter from an Unknown), here is a retrospective whose One of the sponsors is film historian Raymond Shirat.
Comedy money (Komedie om geld, 1936, 1:21), restored by the EYE Film Institute (Amsterdam) copy
Reaching the enemy (1936, 1:10), single copy 35mm Gaumont
No future (1940, 1:22), single copy 35mm Gaumont
Caught (1949, 1:28), restored by La Rabbia copy
The Forsaken (The Reckless Moment, 1949, 1:19)
La Ronde (1950, 1:35)
Pleasure (1952, 1:33), restored copy Gaumont
Madame de ... (1953, 1:40), restored copy Gaumont
Lola Montes (1955, 1:55), restored by the French Cinematheque through the Thomson Foundation for Heritage Cinema and Television and with the support of the Franco-American Cultural Fund copy.

Large projections
Movies monsters, stone works-of-touch, here are the major restoration of 2012 presented to the most exclusive.
Once upon a time in America Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in America, 1984, 4:13), long version and restored by the Cinematheque of Bologna / L'Immagine Ritrovata Foundation and the New York Film and presented by Carlotta.
The Jaws Steven Spielberg (Jaws, 1975, 2:04), copy restored by Universal and Steven Spielberg as part of the celebration of 100 years of the Studio.
Tess Roman Polanski (1979, 2:51), copy restored by Pathé

The artists at the festival Light
This is the principle festival light: artists (directors, actors, musicians, writers, etc..) Are here to pay tribute to the work of others, showing how the presence of creators was precious to revive the idea of ​​a Love shared with the public in six days and 200 film screenings. Thus, the 2012 edition of Light will be characterized, as every year, by the presence of a large delegation of filmmakers, actors and professionals. Most will be present to participate in the festival as spectators, to see movies, to present. Others will be there to receive the explicit hometown Lumière Cinematograph tribute. Among them, several extraordinary figures in the history of world cinema.

- Jacqueline Bisset
Bullitt Peter Yates (1968, 1:53)
The American Night François Truffaut (1973, 1:55)
The Magnificent Philippe de Broca (1973, 1:30), copy restored by StudioCanal

- Max von Sydow (it will give a lesson actor, will present films and receive the Legion of Honor)
The Seventh Seal by Ingmar Bergman (Det Sjunde inseglet 1957, 1:36) projection in which Studio Canal announce Bergman Project for 2013
Death Live Bertrand Tavernier (Death Watch, 1980, 2:08) - restored presented a preview copy.

- Agnes Varda
Cleo from 5 to 7 Agnès Varda (1962, 1:30), restored by the Film Archive copy of CNC
Documenteur Agnes Varda (1981, 1:03), copy restored by Ciné-Tamaris

- Andrei Konchalovsky
Andrei Konchalovsky's Runaway Train (1985, 1:51), restored copy

History Moments

Genesis of a masterpiece: The Night of the Hunter Charles Laughton
Unique film by the English actor Charles Laughton, The Night of the Hunter is an unclassifiable work in the history of cinema and unclassified by scholars and critics. Wild Side, great DVD & Blu-ray editor which the light festival paid tribute in 2010, released in the fall, led by Manuel Chiche, a box-around event Night of the Hunter. With several documentary of high quality (rarities, outtakes, etc..), A book by the historian Philippe Garnier, and a copy of the restored digital HD and available on DVD as blu-ray movie, mark this box n 'no doubt the year of moviegoers.
-The Night of the Hunter Charles Laughton (The Night of the Hunter, 1955, 1:33), a copy restored by Criterion Collection - New York
Charles Laughton directs The Night of the Hunter: The Story of an epic by Robert Gitt (Charles Laughton Directs The Night Of The Hunter: The Epic That Was, 2002, 2:41), unique in France.

To return to Renoir
In October, the biography of Jean Renoir critic and writer Pascal Mérigeau (Flammarion) be found in bookstores. His research had been encouraged by the Shirat Raymond Price (and a scholarship from even) in the second edition of the festival Light. Since moviegoers expect this magnum opus Mérigeau (Nouvel Observateur journalist, author of several biographies, including those of Maurice Pialat and Joseph Mankiewicz) the most famous of French filmmakers.
Late 2012 - early 2013, will be released in theaters on film by Gilles Bourdos, Renoir, presented at the last Cannes Film Festival. Renoir evokes the summer of 1915 when Auguste Renoir, in the twilight of his life, welcomes his son John, wounded returning from war. Between the two is a young model, whose wild and radiant beauty gives the old painter's past emotions. Despite the opposition of the latter grumbles, Andrée seduce son and became his wife, and when he became a filmmaker, his first as the actress Catherine Hessling.
In the presence of Gilles Bourdos for the film Renoir and Pascal Mérigeau (Price Raymond Shirat 2010) for the book Jean Renoir (Flammarion), and three films Renoir restored.
Renoir Bourdos Gilles (2012, 1:51) preview
On an air of Charleston Jean Renoir (1927, 17min), copy saved French Cinematheque
Rules of the Game by Jean Renoir (1939, 1:46), restored copy Great Classic Movies
The Golden Coach by Jean Renoir (1952, 1:43), copy restored by TF1 DA, presented by Les Acacias

Time Regained: splendors restorations 2012
-Raymond Bernard's Les Misérables (1934, 4:46, Part 1: Storm in a skull, 1:55, Part 2: The Thenardier, 1:23, Part 3: Liberty, cherished liberty, 1:28), Pathé restoration (see article)
-The Assassin lives in 21 Henri-Georges Clouzot (1942, 1:24), Gaumont restoration

-Travel in Italy by Roberto Rossellini (Viaggio in Italia, 1954, 1:37), restoration Cinematheque of Bologna / L'Immagine Ritrovata, under Rossellini Project
-The Ride of banned André De Toth (Day of the Outlaw, 1959, 1:30), restoration and distribution Splendor Park Circus Films (unpublished indoors since its release)
-The Adventurer Rio Grande Robert Parrish (The Wonderful Country, 1959, 1:38)
-The Tenth Victim by Elio Petri (La decima vittima, 1965, 1:33), restoration National Cinema Museum of Turin
-The Bride of the Year II of John Paul Rappeneau (1971, 1:39), Gaumont restoration
-The Last Picture Show by Peter Bogdanovich (1971, 2:06)
- I hate actors Gérard Krawczyk (1986, 1:30)

New forms of cinephilia: Tribute to Criterion
This famous American publisher of DVD and Blu-Ray, created in 1984 and recognized worldwide, leads an outstanding job and noticed on film heritage. IMDB after the light festival dedicated last year World website will be honored at The Criterion Collection (New York), the pleiad DVD / Blu-ray. With Peter Becker, one of its founders.

[onedimension]

Interesting to see Renoir's 'The Golden Coach' has been restored. I might be the only one, but I'd love to see an upgrade of that Stage & Spectacle box set..

[chatterjees]

I don't who is behind it, WCF or Criterion, they just replaced the original first 4 minutes of the title sequence with newly constructed title cards for A River Named Titas in their print uploaded on Hulu+ channel! That is really weird, why should they do that? The original segment was so beautiful. I don't have the BFI DVD, can anybody check the title sequence there?

[Not to mention, Titash is now Titas (I know its Titas on the BFI DVD cover too, but everybody in India and Bangladesh knows the name of that river as Titash) and Ritwik Ghatak is Ritwik Kumar Ghatak (I have all the Indian DVDs of his films, and I don't remember seeing the middle name Kumar. I have to double check though. ]

Here is the YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SiHKOsHwUY

[Lowry_Sam]

Once upon a time in America Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in America, 1984, 4:13), long version and restored by the Cinematheque of Bologna

I doubt Warners is going to release this any time soon, as the Blu-ray came out in 2011, but I also don't see them handing it over to anyone else.

Cleo from 5 to 7 Agnès Varda (1962, 1:30), restored by the Film Archive copy of CNC

With individual titles out of print, but the box still available, I wonder if Criterion is just going to switch to individual releases for this or wait for all of the titles in the box to be restored before upgrading.

Plaisir (1952, 1:33), restored copy Gaumont
Madame de ... (1953, 1:40), restored copy Gaumont

Interesting that Criterion only decided to upgrade Madame de ...

Day For Night François Truffaut (1973, 1:55)

I can see Warner passing this on to Criterion.

The Assassin lives in 21 Henri-Georges Clouzot (1942, 1:24), Gaumont restoration

If Criterion does this, I hope they do it soon. I've been thinking about picking up the MOC.

[Moe Dickstein]

I believe they have 21 on Hulu

[knives]

Under the French title though.

[BillWatkins]

Once upon a time in America Sergio Leone (Once Upon a Time in America, 1984, 4:13), long version and restored by the Cinematheque of Bologna

I doubt Warners is going to release this any time soon, as the Blu-ray came out in 2011, but I also don't see them handing it over to anyone else.

Next year is the 30th anniversary though, and we all know how much WB likes to double dip for those.

[Drucker]

Interesting to see Renoir's 'The Golden Coach' has been restored. I might be the only one, but I'd love to see an upgrade of that Stage & Spectacle box set..

Gaumont has released region free blu rays of Elena et her Holmes and French Can Can already which look superb.

[zedz]

Corrected:

Plaisir (1952, 1:33), restored copy Gaumont
Madame de ... (1953, 1:40), restored copy Gaumont

Interesting that Criterion only decided to "upgrade" Madame de ...

[JHunter]

Does Criterion still have a relationship with Rialto Pictures? They are going to be releasing the final cut of the original Wicker Man into theaters this fall.

[Matt]

No. Rialto is now the US theatrical distributor of Studio Canal catalog titles, Lionsgate is the home video distributor.

[Moe Dickstein]

Rialto and Criterion still work together for non SC titles though, yes?

[Jeff]

Rialto and Criterion still work together for non SC titles though, yes?

Not really. Rialto doesn't handle titles where the theatrical rights are held by anyone other than StudioCanal. Since Janus reactivated their theatrical division a decade or so ago, they haven't needed that kind of partner.

[Moe Dickstein]

There are some non SC Rialto titles though, I have to go look to see which. If I remember it was some European titles that they had which CC still has in print. I would imagine those Rialto titles which aren't SC and also arent Janus would be the ones they would still do together.

[dwk]

Non-StudioCanal titles that are on Rialto's website that Criterion has released on DVD (and Blu-ray):
AU HASARD BALTHAZAR
BAND OF OUTSIDERS
BATTLE OF ALGIERS
CLASSE TOUS RISQUES
ELEVATOR TO THE GALLOWS
EYES WITHOUT A FACE
FANFAN LA TULIPE
GODZILLA
JULIET OF THE SPIRITS
LOLA MONTÈS
MADE IN U.S.A.
MASCULINE FEMININE
PEPE LE MOKO
RIFIFI
THE TWO OF US
TWO OR THREE THINGS I KNOW ABOUT HER
UMBERTO D.
Z

Of course, I don't know how many of these are still being handled by Rialto.

[Matt]

There are certainly remnants of their previous relationship, Au Hasard Balthazar being just one example, but JHunter was asking about the present and the future, not the past. Criterion has their own theatrical/non-theatrical distribution in Janus, they no longer work with Rialto.

[EBZ]

Criterion has posted Persona on iTunes for pre-order.

[lacritfan]

Via Criterion Cast:
Criterion to restore 18 films from Satyajit Ray

American Cinematheque is screening Satyajit Ray films restored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences including Charulata, The Music Room and The Big City so maybe the other ones listed -
The Expedition
The Goddess
The Hero
The Coward
The Holy Man
The Chess Players
The Philosopher's Stone
The Adventures of Goopy and Bagha
The Elephant God
- are part of the 18?
(Not to mention "...with more films scheduled for October.")

[chatterjees]

I was under the impression that The Chess Players belongs to KINO, which had made me think that the future of this film (BD I mean) is doomed!!! I hope you are right. Did any title ever get imported to Criterion from Kino before?

[chatterjees]

I just can't figure out how could they have restored Joi Baba Felunath (The Elephant God) before Sonar Kella (The Fortress)? I mean The Elephant God is kind of a sequel to The Fortress! Moreover, Hirak Rajar Deshe (Kingdom of Diamonds) is the 2nd part after Adventures of Goopy and Bagha! So, I honestly hope that these two are also part of the 18 films list! The films in these pairs can't be separated!
Also, I am getting scared now that there are no words on Days and Nights in the Forest and Kanchenjungha...

[zedz]

I just can't figure out how could they have restored Joi Baba Felunath (The Elephant God) before Sonar Kella (The Fortress)?

It could be something as simple as the availability of usable elements, or the scope / cost of the restoration project.

Moreover, Hirak Rajar Deshe (Kingdom of Diamonds) is the 2nd part after Adventures of Goopy and Bagha!

Goopy and Bagha has already been restored.

[chatterjees]

I just can't figure out how could they have restored Joi Baba Felunath (The Elephant God) before Sonar Kella (The Fortress)?

It could be something as simple as the availability of usable elements, or the scope / cost of the restoration project.

Moreover, Hirak Rajar Deshe (Kingdom of Diamonds) is the 2nd part after Adventures of Goopy and Bagha!

Goopy and Bagha has already been restored.

I understand your point about the availability of prints, I guess it was kind of a spontaneous overflow of powerful (wishful) feeling

Regarding the 2nd pair, I meant Hirak Rajar Deshe, not Goopy and Bagha! Sorry for being not very clear! Thanks for the information though, I just hope that we don't have to wait two more years again for the next batch of Ray films (not talking about Apu Trilogy though, I am sure its coming soon)...

[kekid]

Any conjectures on when we might see Short Cuts in Blu? It would be wonderful if that was released the same month as Nashville.

[Lowry_Sam]

Well the Fall Pacific Film Archive schedule is out & there's Friedkin, Pasolini & Fassbinder retrospectives and a tribute to Wendell Cory.

Of note:

Saturday, September 14, 2013
8:30 p.m. The French Connection
• Written by Ernest Tidyman, based on the book by Robin Moore. Photographed by Owen Roizman. With Gene Hackman, Roy Scheider, Fernando Rey, Tony Lo Bianco. (104 mins, Color, 35mm, From Criterion/20th Century Fox)

Thursday, September 19, 2013
7:00 p.m. Sorcerer
In Conversation/William Friedkin & Michael Guillen
U.S. Premiere of Remastered Version!
• Written by Walon Green, based on the novel The Wages of Fear by Georges Arnaud. Photographed by Dick Bush, John M. Stephens. With Roy Scheider, Bruno Cremer, Francisco Rabal, Amidou. (121 mins, Color, DCP, From Paramount Pictures)

For the Fassbinder, looks like everything is being presented in existing 35mm prints & there's no mention of any restorations. Janus/Criterion credits for: Love Is Colder Than Death, Ali: Fear Eats the Sou, Effi Briest, Katzelmacher, Gods of the Plague, The Marriage of Maria Braun, The American Soldier, Beware of a Holy Whore, The Merchant of Four Seasons, Fear of Fear, The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant, Chinese Roulette, World On A Wire, Satan’s Brew, Fox and His Friends, Lola, Veronika Voss, Mother Küsters Goes to Heaven, Querelle
Olive credits for I Only Want You to Love Me, Despair
Studiocanal credits for Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?, Martha, In a Year of 13 Moons

All of the Pasolini are "New 35mm Print!", only mention of a restoration is for for Medea

(110 mins, In Italian with English subtitles, Color, 35mm, From Luce Cinecittà, permission Swank Motion Pictures. Digitally restored by SNC, France. 35mm copy made possible by Gucci.)

Otherwise all are from Luce Cinecittà:Notes for a Film about India, Appunti per un’Orestiade africana, The Walls of Sana’a, What Are the Clouds?, The Paper Flower Sequence
w/ permission Compass Film:Accattone, The Gospel According to St. Matthew, La ricotta, Love Meetings, Oedipus Rex, Hawks and Sparrows
w/ permission Minerva: La rabbia di Pasolini
w/ permission Movietime: Pigsty
w/ permission Janus/Criterion Collection: Mamma Roma
w/ permission Park Circus: The Earth as Seen from the Moon, The Decameron, The Canterbury Tales, The Arabian Knights, Salo
w/ permission Ripley's Film: Sopralluoghi in Palestina per il film Il Vangelo secondo Matteo
w/ permission Mondo TV: Teorama