Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Lowry_Sam]

I could see them pairing Lolita and Eyes Wide Shut as two sensually-themed Kubricks in the same month, but as individual releases

I would think that Lolita is closer to being ready for an individual release than Eyes Wide Shut, but maybe they've been working on the restored version for a while and we'll get more than the theatrical release restored. But I also doubt that there's much impetus to release a box after you've released all the individual titles. Kino's The Killing & Paths Of Glory are now oop, so I wouldn't be surprised if Criterion is waiting on a box for the upgrades. Spartacus & 2001 for a complete box & can it all be ready for this Xmas? That seems like a Herculean task.

[crimlaw]

Very disappointed to see that the long-rumored Catch 22 4K will be released by Shout in October rather than Criterion. Not many Paramount titles are left from the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s that are Criterion worthy, except for Hud and, possibly Little Big Man; 1900; and Atlantic City.

[andyli]

A New Leaf is the bigger disappointment. Criterion is surely compensating us with a super-duper edition of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and another very necessary edition of My Fair Lady, though.

[Matt]

Visit our newly revived Eclipse Discussion and Random Speculation thread, dormant since 2008!

[dwk]

Kino Insider pretty much confirmed that Criterion has the both the original and remake of Cape Fear

Some label picked up both Cape Fear movies, we tried. Since it's been 5 years or so, you can probably guess who.

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

Kino Insider pretty much confirmed that Criterion has the both the original and remake of Cape Fear

Some label picked up both Cape Fear movies, we tried. Since it's been 5 years or so, you can probably guess who.

Dope! I’m in the weird group of people who like Scorsese’s better than the original, so great news!

[bainbridgezu]

Kino Insider pretty much confirmed that Criterion has the both the original and remake of Cape Fear

Some label picked up both Cape Fear movies, we tried. Since it's been 5 years or so, you can probably guess who.

Dope! I’m in the weird group of people who like Scorsese’s better than the original, so great news!

There are dozens of us. Dozens!

[domino harvey]

He does what Hollywood should do more often: if they must remake something, remake a film that wasn’t that great to begin with. And it gave us one of the best Simpsons episodes

[jt938]

Count me in as someone who prefers the remake as well. I've always thought that it was the majority opinion though.

[therewillbeblus]

Yeah neither are that highly regarded anyways, not sure how "weird" any opinion on this is

[domino harvey]

Shame Shout won’t be releasing it with a commemorative Ring Pop

[jt938]

Shame Shout won’t be releasing it with a commemorative Ring Pop

I need my Max Cady enamel pins.

[FrauBlucher]

Perhaps this gets released as a two in one as The Killers was

[DeprongMori]

He does what Hollywood should do more often: if they must remake something, remake a film that wasn’t that great to begin with. And it gave us one of the best Simpsons episodes

And the Simpsons episode inspired Mr. Burns - A Post-Electric Play, a theatrical adaptation set after an unspecified apocalypse

[Zot!]

Count me in as someone who prefers the remake as well. I've always thought that it was the majority opinion though.

Ditto, Scorsese got the mix of kitsch and horror right on this one, and everybody is pretty good at hamming it all the way up. It’s a great bit of proto-Tarantino nuttiness. The original is dull in comparison, even with a great effort from Mitchum.
This always made me crack up

[yoloswegmaster]

Kino Insider pretty much confirmed that Criterion has the both the original and remake of Cape Fear

Some label picked up both Cape Fear movies, we tried. Since it's been 5 years or so, you can probably guess who.

It's funny cause the Insider confirmed this back in 2021. Thank god for the Eclipse line coming back since it hopefully means that the backlog for titles like these shortens much faster.

[dwk]

It's funny cause the Insider confirmed this back in 2021. Thank god for the Eclipse line coming back since it hopefully means that the backlog for titles like these shortens much faster.

I remember them saying someone else had licensed them and both Arrow and Shout said they didn't have them.

I suspect that the holdup on these is getting Scorsese involved in the special features/transfer approval.

[crimlaw]

I can’t see an Eclipse set that includes the original Cape Fear, unless a J. Lee Thompson box set is in the making: Taras Bulba; Kings of the Sun; Mackenna’s Gold.

All guilty pleasures.

[ryannichols7]

A New Leaf is the bigger disappointment. Criterion is surely compensating us with a super-duper edition of Breakfast at Tiffany’s and another very necessary edition of My Fair Lady, though.

A New Leaf was the most disappointed I'd been in awhile to hear that Criterion hadn't gotten a title. easily my favorite of May's films and given their focus on female directed films, I figured it was a former Olive title that they'd actually really pursue. cause I'm still broadly assuming they're gonna put out (yet another edition of) Johnny Guitar and Letter From an Unknown Woman from the former Olive batch

The Criterion Saul Bass cover for Spartacus is still the best. You can’t find an original silk screen version of that poster anywhere. I know. I’ve looked since I collect original Saul Bass posters.

yep. the Bass cover + the commentary (one of the all time best) is why I would like a Criterion upgrade of Spartacus, even if Universal's edition is totally fine

just like they did Amadeus

(nah, I do think they'll actually do Eyes Wide Shut)

TBF, things often change pretty dramatically. It seems pretty clear at some point that Criterion had both Sixteen Candles and Ferris Bueller - there was a shot at Criterion HQ where a grade of Sixteen Candles was visible on a monitor, and I John Kapelos talked about Criterion reaching out to him regarding his deleted scene in FB - so it's certainly possible they had Amadeus for awhile and WB decided to go its own way.

that is true (and fitting you used that example cause I just went through the excellent disc of The Breakfast Club last week), and Forman definitely has his place at Criterion. I definitely also believed we'd see Amadeus at Criterion....but I just still really question Bill Hunt. at least he's not as bad as Dawn of the Discs

[crimlaw]

A New Leaf ranks as one of the biggest missteps ever for Criterion. It’s unclear whether they tried and were not able to secure the rights or just passed on it, which would be totally nonsensical given May’s ranking as one of the great female directors ever and her first film’s achievement in landing on the National Film Registry. I guess we’ll never know.

[CSM126]

They’re just waiting for Warren Beatty to slip the mortal coil so they can license Ishtar…and sit on it for twelve years before releasing it with one 15 minute interview they culled from an episode of Dick Cavett.

[crimlaw]

Meanwhile, Elaine May’s The Heartbreak Kid languishes in Bristol Myer Squibb purgatory, along with Sleuth, never to be seen or heard from again.

[ryannichols7]

A New Leaf ranks as one of the biggest missteps ever for Criterion. It’s unclear whether they tried and were not able to secure the rights or just passed on it, which would be totally nonsensical given May’s ranking as one of the great female directors ever and her first film’s achievement in landing on the National Film Registry. I guess we’ll never know.

I find it incredibly hard to believe they wouldn't be able to secure the rights, or were outbid. this really feels like them letting it by. some equal blame should go to Kino - Frank Tarzi headed both Olive editions of A New Leaf, he should've known it'd be one to keep in print

scalding hot take: I didn't care for The Heartbreak Kid, but that also doesn't mean it shouldn't have a nice edition

[Peacock]

I’m not sure why you would rather Kino released this over Cinématographe. The latter are doing great work with all their editions so far in my opinion. The film couldn’t have gone to a better home on the US market anyway.

[Lowry_Sam]

I initially posted this in the Kino OOP thread because I hadn't noticed the original post was actually from 2022 (it had very few subsequent posts until one for today & just didn't notice the time gap):

I don't see Microcosmos as part of that sale. Are we sure it's going OOP?

I didn't realize this finally got a US release. I gave up over a decade ago and bought the French bluray. You might want to hold off though, maybe Criterion will release a UHD as the version that plays on the Criterion Channel (English narration by Kirstin Scott Thomas) opens with a crazy C & Pathe ID but no Kino Lorber credit.

Addendum: If we get a box of Microcosmos, Genesis, & The Field Of Enchantment, hopefully it's not relegated to Eclipse.

It's funny cause the Insider confirmed this back in 2021. Thank god for the Eclipse line coming back since it hopefully means that the backlog for titles like these shortens much faster.

I was actually going to guess for November that Criterion was going to bring back dual editions for the month after getting out my October/Halloween guesses:

The Killers upgrade
The Lower Depths upgrade
Imitation Of Life
Solaris
Gaslight
Lolita
Black Lizard (Kurotage)
Ripley box: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1956), Plein Soleil, The American Friend, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley's Game, Ripley (2024 TV series) + Patricia Highsmith docs
Les Miserables box (1925, 1934, 1935, 1952, 1958, 1978, 1982 & 1998)

I guess I'll have to add Cape Fear to my list as it wasn't on my radar (and I wasn't such a fan of the original).