Masters of Cinema (MoC) Discussion Thread

[AnimeOnBlu]

Much like the Criterion thread, this thread is dedicated to the discussion of "The Masters of Cinema Series" by Eureka UK. Check this OP to see new updates.

MoC releases are Region-Free with NTSC extras.

#1 Sunrise by F.W. Murnau

* Restored high-definition transfers of two different versions: the American Movietone version, and the silent Czech version.
* Original English intertitles on the Movietone version, and optional English subtitles on the silent Czech version.
* Original Movietone score (mono) and alternate Olympic Chamber Orchestra score (stereo)
* Full-length audio commentary by ASC cinematographer John Bailey on the Movietone version
* Outtakes with either John Bailey commentary or intertitles
* Murnau’s 4 Devils: Traces of a Lost Film — Janet Bergstrom’s updated 40-minute documentary about the lost Murnau film
* Original theatrical trailer
* Original ‘photoplay’ script by Carl Mayer with Murnau’s handwritten annotations (150 pages in pdf format)
* 68-page illustrated booklet with numerous essays including a new reprint of a piece by Dudley Andrew

#2 Mad Detective by Johnnie To

* Carefully created new English subtitles
* Q&A with Johnnie To at the Cinémathèque Française Johnnie To retrospective (Paris, France, March 2008) – 35 minutes
* Exclusive cast interviews shot during the Far East Film Festival featuring Lau Ching Wan and Lam Suet (Udine, Italy, April 2008) – 14 minutes
* Interview with Johnnie To for the French theatrical release of Mad Detective (France, 4th March 2008) – 21 minutes
* Original UK Theatrical Trailer
* 16-page booklet containing specially commissioned essay by David Bordwell (Jacques Ledoux Professor of Film Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

#3 Tokyo Sonata by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

* HD transfer of the film in its original aspect ratio
* Newly translated optional English subtitles
* Making of Documentary (60 minutes)
* Japanese press junkets, cast and crew interviews, award ceremonies (39 minutes)
* Original UK theatrical trailer
* 28-page booklet containing a brand new essay by writer B. Kite

#4 Une Femme Mariee by Jean-Luc Godard

The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present the film in a new Gaumont restoration for the first time on Blu-ray Disc in the UK. Features on the disc include:
* New 1080p/24fps transfer of the film in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio
* New and improved English subtitle translations
* The original trailer for the film (presented in 1080p/24fps), created and edited by Jean-Luc Godard at the time of the film’s original French release
There is also an 80-page book.

#5 For All Mankind by Al Reinert**

* A new, restored high-definition transfer, supervised and approved by director Al Reinert
* Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, remastered from the original sound stems
* Audio commentary featuring Reinert and Apollo 17 commander Eugene A. Cernan, the last man to set foot on the moon
* An Accidental Gift: The Making of "For All Mankind," a new documentary featuring interviews with Reinert, Apollo 12 and Skylab astronaut Alan Bean, and NASA archive specialists
* A gallery of Bean's artwork, inspired by his life as an astronaut, with commentary and a filmed introduction
* NASA audio highlights and liftoff footage
* Optional on-screen identification of astronauts and mission control specialists
* New optional English subtitles (SDH) for the hearing impaired
* A luxurious booklet, featuring essays, credits, stills, a new interview with Brian Eno, and more.

**REGION B LOCKED

#6 Fantastic Planet by Rene Laloux

#7 Soul Power by Jeffrey Levy-Hinte


#8 City Girl by F.W. Murnau

Features include:
* Restored high-definition transfer of the silent version by 20th Century Fox
* A new score, composed and arranged in 2008 by Christopher Caliendo
* Full-length audio commentary by film scholar David Kalat
* 40-page illustrated booklet with new writing and reprints

#9 M by Fritz Lang

• Stunning, restored 1080p high-definition transfer in the correct 1.19:1 ratio, with restored sound
• Two audio commentaries: one by German film scholars Anton Kaes and Eric Rentschler; the other featuring film restoration expert Martin Koerber, filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, historian Torsten Kaiser and excerpts from Bogdanovich’s 1965 audio interviews with Lang
• The original 1932 British release version of M, presented in its entirety, recently rediscovered after 70 years, featuring different actors, alternate takes and Peter Lorre’s first performance in English
• Zum Beispiel Fritz Lang, a 1968 documentary with Fritz Lang discussing his career in German cinema
• 48-page illustrated booklet, including writing by Fritz Lang, historian Robert Fischer, details of a missing scene, behind-the-scenes stills and production drawings

___________________________________
Confirmed but No # or Date:
Metropolis by Fritz Lang

[Matt865]

Thanks, interesting thread. Just to satisfy my curiosity, why no #4 or #6?

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by Matt865

Thanks, interesting thread. Just to satisfy my curiosity, why no #4 or #6?

They probably just haven't been announced, yet, would be my guess. Disc #1 hasn't even been released, yet, either... only #2 and #3 so far.

I really wanted to get the whole series, but I just can't see buying "For All Mankind" now that Criterion's version is out. Except for MOC's booklet, I believe both discs are identical.

CC

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by Matt865

Thanks, interesting thread. Just to satisfy my curiosity, why no #4 or #6?

Not announced yet. #5 and #7 will be released in November which is 4 months away. "La tête contre les murs" should be one of those two.

[Hugh K. David]

ccfixx - you clearly have multi-region capability. For those of us in Region B, this edition is a BOON, since Criterion region-lock their Blus.

Roll on more Criterions duped by MoC I say!

[KENTA]

I cannot wait for Sunrise!
Since Kino owns the rights for this beautiful film in the US and we'll never get a Criterion treatement, the MoC release will be the most complete package for a long time.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Hugh K. David

Roll on more Criterions duped by MoC I say!

Pro-B

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

Not announced yet. #5 and #7 will be released in November which is 4 months away. "La tête contre les murs" should be one of those two.

I was wrong. DVD is coming in September but no BD release.

[Hugh K. David]

We don't have anyone from Eureka here on the forums do we? I was just thinking, we should be suggesting to them what we would like to see. I realise some licenses that Criterion do are held in the UK by the BFI, Arrow, Optimum and sometimes others, but you never know...

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by Hugh K. David

We don't have anyone from Eureka here on the forums do we?

I am in touch with their fantastic team

Pro-B

[AnimeOnBlu]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

I am in touch with their fantastic team

Pro-B

Pro-B
Has anyone at Eureka expressed an interest in acquiring the license for the Japanese film Okuribito (Departures)? Noone in the UK has the rights (which I find weird considering it won an Oscar), and they are the only ones who I think could do justice for this movie (with the exception of Criterion & since I don't know if Regency is going to release a US version). A BR version of this movie would be beautiful

/hopethisisn'tofftopic

[psicon]

Wish I had something more to add other than #2 and #3 are awesome transfers of awesome movies.

[Hugh K. David]

Pro-B - excellent news! Will give this some thought, post some ideas later in the week.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by AnimeOnBlu

Pro-B
Has anyone at Eureka expressed an interest in acquiring the license for the Japanese film Okuribito (Departures)? Noone in the UK has the rights (which I find weird considering it won an Oscar), and they are the only ones who I think could do justice for this movie (with the exception of Criterion & since I don't know if Regency is going to release a US version). A BR version of this movie would be beautiful

/hopethisisn'tofftopic

Hello,

I am sorry, I did not see your post earlier. To answer your question -- I am unaware of any such upcoming release.

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

This new 2009 reissue of Sunrise (for the first time anywhere in the world in 1080p HD on Blu-ray, in addition to a newly mastered 2 x DVD set) contains two versions of the film: the previously released Movietone version, and an alternate silent version of the film recently discovered in the Czech Republic. The Blu-ray edition includes both versions in 1080p HD.

The culmination of one of the greatest careers in film history, F. W. Murnau’s Sunrise blends a story of fable-like simplicity with unparalled visual imagination and technical ingenuity. Invited to Hollywood by William Fox and given total artistic freedom on any project he wished, Murnau’s tale of the idyllic marriage of a peasant couple (George O’Brien and Janet Gaynor) threatened by a Machiavellian seductress from the city (Margaret Livingston) created a milestone of film expressionism.

Made in the twilight of the silent era, it became both a swan song for a vanishing medium and one of the few films to instantly achieve legendary status. Winner of three Oscars for Best Actress (Gaynor), Cinematography, and a never-repeated award for “Unique and Artistic Picture”, its influence and stature has only grown with each passing year. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present a new 2xDVD and Blu-ray special edition of the film, including an all-new alternate version recently discovered in a Czech archive of a higher visual quality than any other known source.

Pro-B

[AnimeOnBlu]

I also would like to mention (since it is so small on the OP) that MoC said Fritz Lang's Metropolis will eventually be released on Blu-ray by them. They are just waiting for certain elements to be completed. I saw this on MoCs section of the Criterion Forum and thought I would pass that on.

[pro-bassoonist]

Thank you for the update.

Pro-B

[rezpekt]

The restoration of Metropolis won't be complete until January 2010 and they plan to screen it at Berlin Film Festival in February.

And the release date for Sunrise is September 21st.

Oh, and Nick from the Masters of Cinema has made some strong statements about the Blu-ray support at criterionforum.org:

Personally, I'd like to be releasing titles on Blu-ray only right now, but it's going to take a year or two before we can do that comfortably, I think.

Non-major labels are reporting upto a 50% split in sales between DVD and Blu-ray for titles released on both formats. This figure is quite amazing, really. The sooner this increases in favour of Blu-ray, the sooner we will solely focus on Blu-ray.

At the moment, huge amounts of our time and resources are being spent on releasing both DVD and Blu-ray editions of the same title. We could simply release more titles if we focused on one format.

I believe the main reason that Blu-ray sales are so initially strong is that DVD sales have been irretrievably hammered for years by copying and filesharing, something which is not affecting Blu-ray releases yet, and which will probably not affect Blu-ray releases for a number of years.

It's clear that Blu-ray sales are going to grow at a fair lick over the next few years, hardware prices will come down, region-free players too. On the other hand, DVD sales will stagnate further.

Releasing titles on Blu-ray only will quicken the hardware migration amongst our fanbase, whilst at the same time understandably annoy a whole bunch of people who have no intention of buying new equipment.

We're biting the bullet and pushing forward. It's a difficult transitionary period for everyone, but if we don't embrace Blu-ray, I don't think we'll be able to grow over the next 5 years.

http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/...hp?f=15&t=1582

[pro-bassoonist]

Eureka/Masters of Cinema are set to release Rudolph Maté's The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) on September 21. For a short period of time the disc will be exclusive to Moviemail, then it will be sold at Amazon.UK.

n one of his earliest and most dashing performances, a young Tony Curtis pursues his real-life bride Janet Leigh, while defending the British throne in this swashbuckling saga filled with jousts, jests and medieval super heroics

The time is England in the reign of King Henry IV, Miles (Curtis) is a headstrong, handsome peasant determined to learn the name of his slain father and discover his true heritage. His fiery ambition and swift sword lead him to the majestic MacWorth castle. There he must compete for both knighthood as well as the hand of the fair Lady Anne (Leigh), but her love is claimed by the evil, conniving Sir Walter Blount. All the while the English throne is being challenged to the death – from sinister forces within

Soon the fate of the realm, and his beloved Lady Anne, will depend upon his martial skill, but not before Miles must unlock the secret of his own shocking, mysterious identity. With its outstanding supporting cast and dazzling set design this is truly an epic tale of which legends are made!

Starring the ever charismatic, multi-award winning Tony Curtis (Some like It Hot, Smell of Sweet Success, The Defiant Ones), the OSCAR® nominated Janet Leigh (Psycho, The Manchurian Candidate) and directed by the OSCAR® nominated cinematographer Rudolph Mate.

French poster:



Pro-B

[Eureka Entertainment]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Eureka/Masters of Cinema are set to release Rudolph Maté's The Black Shield of Falworth (1954) on September 21. For a short period of time the disc will be exclusive to Moviemail, then it will be sold at Amazon.UK.

Hi from everyone here at Eureka HQ

To clarify a few points from the above post, THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH will be a normal Eureka Blu-ray it won't be part of the Masters of Cinema series.

The Blu-ray will NOT be a Moviemail exclusive, it will be available from all major retailers/etailer from release date, it should be live to pre-order on Amazon.co.uk in the next 24-48 hours.

Here's the cover art:



Thanks,

Kevin - Eureka