Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[fiendishthingy]

Since the Eustache films are in theaters at the moment (and into September according to this website ), I’d like to think that they might release the disc by the end of the year to capitalize on that momentum, but I know the turnaround isn’t always that fast. They still haven’t gotten around to Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons, for example.

[ryannichols7]

not sure where else to put this, but seeing Trevor Murray's name under "technical director" on Pasolini 101 was a huge surprise. maybe I haven't been paying attention enough lately, but I'm genuinely shocked to not see Kline credited, he's one of the more consistent credits on every Criterion release!

[onedimension]

Any obvious candidates for another Varda, Pasolini-esque comprehensive box set? Think they have most of Rossellini's films.. all the major Antonionis.. Ozu.. they had a Truffaut spree for awhile years ago.

OH! Bresson would be perfect

[beamish14]

Any obvious candidates for another Varda, Pasolini-esque comprehensive box set? Think they have most of Rossellini's films.. all the major Antonionis.. Ozu.. they had a Truffaut spree for awhile years ago.

OH! Bresson would be perfect

Nagisa Oshima would be the big one, and Janus has the majority of his catalog

[Mr. Deltoid]

Any obvious candidates for another Varda, Pasolini-esque comprehensive box set? Think they have most of Rossellini's films.. all the major Antonionis.. Ozu.. they had a Truffaut spree for awhile years ago.

OH! Bresson would be perfect

I'd love to see a Bumper Box of Bertolucci, but I doubt Nu-Woke Criterion would touch him with a bargepole. Presumably they still have Grim Reaper and Last Emperor, but I'd love to see Spider's Stratagem, Partner, etc.

[A Tempted Christ]

Bresson would be perfect

Box set or not, they need to get Une femme douce out as soon as possible. The restoration has been sitting around for so long they might as well do a new 4K restoration.

[What A Disgrace]

Chaplin and Lloyd are the most likely candidates, I feel. Lloyd more than Chaplin, since they already have most of the Chaplins already released (there's really only A King in New York, A Woman In Paris, the First National shorts and the Keystone films unavailable on Blu-ray in the states), whereas with Lloyd they have released "the big four" on their own but there's a bunch of films unreleased.

[beamish14]

Bresson would be perfect

Box set or not, they need to get Une femme douce out as soon as possible. The restoration has been sitting around for so long they might as well do a new 4K restoration.

Paramount still owns it in the States, correct? They released it on VHS 30 years ago, and they supplied a 35mm print I saw once

[domino harvey]

It’s Paramount, that’s why they’re watching fellow French Paramount title Benjamin in the theatre

[Matt]

I had a New Yorker Films VHS of it ages ago. Who knows what the rights situation is for it these days.

[Calvin]

I'd say Ozu has the shortest odds - this year is the 120th anniversary of his birth (and 60th of his death), with Shochiku sponsoring events to mark it worldwide - including complete retrospectives. Criterion have upgraded relatively few of his films and some have already had more recent restorations.

[eerik]

Any obvious candidates for another Varda, Pasolini-esque comprehensive box set? Think they have most of Rossellini's films.. all the major Antonionis.. Ozu.. they had a Truffaut spree for awhile years ago.

OH! Bresson would be perfect

I am waiting for a Buñuel in Mexico set.

[isakorg2]

Bunuel in Mexico - yes! yes! yes! At the very least, that would contain Los Olvidados, which I've awaited for month after month after month. And a box set would also contain Subida al Cielo aka Mexican Bus Ride, a made on a shoestring film I saw many decades ago on public television and thought a masterpiece of sorts.

[yoloswegmaster]

Didn't GDT say that he was working with Criterion on publishing the Mexican Buñuel films alongside some other classic Mexican films? I know that Kino Lorber has the theatrical rights to Los Olvidados, so I wonder if that's the reason for the holdup.

[ryannichols7]

I'd say Ozu has the shortest odds - this year is the 120th anniversary of his birth (and 60th of his death), with Shochiku sponsoring events to mark it worldwide - including complete retrospectives. Criterion have upgraded relatively few of his films and some have already had more recent restorations.

not to mention his 120th birth/day falls on a Tuesday, 12 December. obviously they'd probably be more likely to release it in November since it's a sale month, but I agree...Shochiku is pushing this big time (as one can see on their social media), the BFI have confirmed they're doing releases. I just can't see a way Criterion sits this one out

[FrauBlucher]

I am waiting for a Buñuel in Mexico set.

:-k Folks, pay attention to this the next few months.

[therewillbeblus]

Any obvious candidates for another Varda, Pasolini-esque comprehensive box set?

There’s actually six pages of speculation on candidates here

[ellipsis7]

Not a box set, but this 2023 restoration of Antonioni's IL GRIDO is ripe for CC BR release...

Restaurato da The Film Foundation e Cineteca di Bologna presso il laboratorio L’Immagine Ritrovata, in collaborazione con Compass Film e con il sostegno di Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation

Just screened at Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna...

[FrauBlucher]

With announcements either Friday or the following Monday (the 15th falls on a Saturday), perhaps we see Criterion announce a boxset earlier in the week which they've been prone to do

[therewillbeblus]

I imagine we’re going to get a box in Nov or Dec instead, hopefully Eustache

[FrauBlucher]

Well, this could be mind blowing... this from the bluray.com forum...

According to the CHFB, film historian David J. Skal has teased that a "major" Tod Browning related announcement is coming tomorrow (apparently Mr. Skal initially said the announcement was coming Saturday the 15th, then corrected it to this upcoming Monday. Given the rumors that Criterion has Freaks, this may or may be what is being referred to there by Mr. Skal.

Original post quoted below:
Quote:
The Tod Browning project I’ve been hinting at (and working on) since the spring will be officially announced tomorrow. All I can say is that whatever you thought it was, it’s MUCH more. Like three times more. A grand slam trifecta, in fact!

Apparently The Unknown was just restored

[yoloswegmaster]

Sounds like we're getting a Browning trilogy boxset. I would wager the titles in the set being Freaks, The Unknown and The Devil-Doll, with a secret extra disc containing London After Midnight.

[Feego]

If they are going for a kind of trilogy, I think it would make more sense to release The Unholy Three with The Unknown and Freaks, as they all have circus settings, though I have no idea if Unholy Three has been restored.

[bottlesofsmoke]

The Show also has a sideshow setting and is very similar to The Unknown, except with a heads instead of arms. Also don’t know if it is restored, though, and may not be high profile enough, even if it is a lot of weird fun.

[spectre]

With announcements either Friday or the following Monday (the 15th falls on a Saturday), perhaps we see Criterion announce a boxset earlier in the week which they've been prone to do

Going to annoy God by praying extra hard for a Jean Eustache set announcement.