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
restoration becomes the first Eclipse to get a mainline release.
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.