The Criterion Collection

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I don't know if I'm more horrified, or befuddled that somebody green lit a film starring Vanilla Ice. At first I thought it was a spoof, but when I went to imdb, I couldn't believe that this thing actually exists. Funnier, still, is under the review section, some guy starts off his review with, "Right, I've seen this movie 10 times in one week." Some people are into self abuse, I guess.

I did laugh, though. A little levity is always appreciated.

If you were around at the time, it really isn't that surprising.

What's more surprising to me is that the director of that POS actually worked again in Hollywood, and on a much bigger project too.

[thebratpackwrangler]

I want Lynch’s entire catalog, even a special collection of his music videos.

[theater dreamer]

There's something about the 15th of every month that feels like Christmas morning when I was a kid (before we switched to opening presents on Christmas Eve, anyway). Does that make me a Criterion homer, or do any of you feel a tinge of euphoria in advance of the announcement for the month?

I've been watching a lot of older films of late. There are so many wonderful movies that have not received a release befitting of the incredible talent involved, and many of these already have high definition masters. We all understand Criterion's business model requires the occasional issuance of big movies that have already come out on blu-ray. The Criterion treatment guarantees they will be great revenue streams; these movies help fund their other projects. However, I would hope that they'll focus a bit more on movies that have never had a domestic high definition release for the time being, as well as upgrading their own catalog. I think it's time.

For instance, what would it take to get Bette Davis into the collection? Her Academy Award-winning performance in Jezebel was pitch perfect.


Miss Davis humbly requests a profile page on the Criterion site.

I'm not familiar with the process involved to attain distribution rights, but you can't tell me that Bette doesn't have plenty of fans that would absolutely jump at the opportunity to own a box set. Look at some of the options that haven't had a blu-ray release:

Jezebel (1938)
Now, Voyager (1942)
The Little Foxes (1941)
Marked Woman (1937)
The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)
Kid Galahad (1937)

Plenty of choices there to make a fine "Early Davis" collection.

Kid Galahad is a pretty straightforward movie from a script standpoint, but I found it quite entertaining. Fantastic cast with Edward G. Robinson and an early appearance from Humphrey Bogart, when Hollywood was still casting him as the heavy. Michael Curtiz' direction is taut, as always, and the stars shine. Jezebel was Warner Bros' answer to MGM's Gone With the Wind. Davis was given the part of Julie Marsden when she didn't get Scarlett O'Hara, and she plays the entitled Southern belle beautifully.

I also think it's time for some more Barbara Stanwyck on blu-ray, and Criterion is the obvious choice to make this happen. First off, The Lady Eve upgrade is long overdue. And then there's a wide selection of Stanwyck films that have never had the treatment they deserve.


Barbara Stanwyck gives an Oscar-worthy performance in Stella Dallas.

Few actresses possessed the range that Missy had; she shined in screwball comedies, historical dramas, Westerns, film-noir, melodrama, and she was one of the greats to emerge from the pre-code era. Her work is woefully underrepresented on blu-ray.

The Lady Eve
Stella Dallas
Baby Face
The Bitter Tea of General Yen (Sony's BD-R release really needs an upgrade!)
Ball of Fire
Night Nurse
East Side, West Side
Sorry, Wrong Number
The Miracle Woman
All I Desire

Just a small selection of her work that deserves to be appreciated by new generations of film goers. These performances showcase Barbara's work with some of the Studio System's top directors: Frank Capra, King Vidor, Douglas Sirk, Howard Hawks, and William Wellman.

Barbara Stanwyck's nearly six decade-long career in film and on television was owed to her monumental talent, and sheer adaptability. She had her first staring role on the Silver Screen in 1929. In 1983/'84, she received a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in The Thorn Birds.

It is time that these two superlative talents receive the attention they deserve.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

If you were around at the time, it really isn't that surprising.

Touche. No, it really isn't. I guess I've tried my hardest to forget a lot of the schlock that came out around then.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

There's something about the 15th of every month that feels like Christmas morning when I was a kid (before we switched to opening presents on Christmas Eve, anyway). Does that make me a Criterion homer, or do any of you feel a tinge of euphoria in advance of the announcement for the month?

I've been watching a lot of older films of late. There are so many wonderful movies that have not received a release befitting of the incredible talent involved, and many of these already have high definition masters. We all understand Criterion's business model requires the occasional issuance of big movies that have already come out on blu-ray. The Criterion treatment guarantees they will be great revenue streams; these movies help fund their other projects. However, I would hope that they'll focus a bit more on movies that have never had a domestic high definition release for the time being, as well as upgrading their own catalog. I think it's time.

For instance, what would it take to get Bette Davis into the collection? Her Academy Award-winning performance in Jezebel was pitch perfect.


Miss Davis humbly requests a profile page on the Criterion site.

I'm not familiar with the process involved to attain distribution rights, but you can't tell me that Bette doesn't have plenty of fans that would absolutely jump at the opportunity to own a box set. Look at some of the options that haven't had a blu-ray release:

Jezebel (1938)
Now, Voyager (1942)
The Little Foxes (1941)
Marked Woman (1937)
The Cabin in the Cotton (1932)
Kid Galahad (1937)

Plenty of choices there to make a fine "Early Davis" collection.

Kid Galahad is a pretty straightforward movie from a script standpoint, but I found it quite entertaining. Fantastic cast with Edward G. Robinson and an early appearance from Humphrey Bogart, when Hollywood was still casting him as the heavy. Michael Curtiz' direction is taut, as always, and the stars shine. Jezebel was Warner Bros' answer to MGM's Gone With the Wind. Davis was given the part of Julie Marsden when she didn't get Scarlett O'Hara, and she plays the entitled Southern belle beautifully.

I also think it's time for some more Barbara Stanwyck on blu-ray, and Criterion is the obvious choice to make this happen. First off, The Lady Eve upgrade is long overdue. And then there's a wide selection of Stanwyck films that have never had the treatment they deserve.


Barbara Stanwyck gives an Oscar-worthy performance in Stella Dallas.

Few actresses possessed the range that Missy had; she shined in screwball comedies, historical dramas, Westerns, film-noir, melodrama, and she was one of the greats to emerge from the pre-code era. Her work is woefully underrepresented on blu-ray.

The Lady Eve
Stella Dallas
Baby Face
The Bitter Tea of General Yen (Sony's BD-R release really needs an upgrade!)
Ball of Fire
Night Nurse
East Side, West Side
Sorry, Wrong Number
The Miracle Woman
All I Desire

Just a small selection of her work that deserves to be appreciated by new generations of film goers. These performances showcase Barbara's work with some of the Studio System's top directors: Frank Capra, King Vidor, Douglas Sirk, Howard Hawks, and William Wellman.

Barbara Stanwyck's nearly six decade-long career in film and on television was owed to her monumental talent, and sheer adaptability. She had her first staring role on the Silver Screen in 1929. In 1983/'84, she received a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in The Thorn Birds.

It is time that these two superlative talents receive the attention they deserve.

Couldn’t agree more, 2 of my 3 favorite actresses (Moreau being the other). I do hope we get the 3 Wyler/Davis collaborations (you left off the best IMHO, The Letter) through either Warner Archive or Criterion soon (plus Now Voyager too).

Re Stanwyck, I am hoping Indicator do a Capra/Stanwyck boxset given their deal with Sony.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by thebratpackwrangler

I want Lynch’s entire catalog, even a special collection of his music videos.

The Elephant Man is an absolute must! I know Eraserhead has a large following, but it was The Elephant Man that made audiences stand up and notice one of the modern cinema's most fascinating directors for the first time. How can this not be available stateside? When I think of the glaring omissions to the blu-ray catalog for the past half century, this is right up there with Paper Moon.

Look at the freaking cast: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller. I have to believe it's not a matter of "if", but "when", and Criterion, given their relationship with Lynch, almost certainly has to be the one to distribute it.

[BwayJ]

If they ever do more animation, I'd love The Adventures of Prince Achmed.

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by Alex82

Predictions:

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Fingers crossed!

I would like any of these:

[Show spoiler]

[cropduster]

This year is the 65th anniversary of Roman Holiday. Criterion, please don't make us wait till the 70th anniversary for a blu-ray release.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

The Lady Eve
Stella Dallas
Baby Face
The Bitter Tea of General Yen (Sony's BD-R release really needs an upgrade!)
Ball of Fire
Night Nurse
East Side, West Side
Sorry, Wrong Number
The Miracle Woman
All I Desire

Meet John Doe (Capra! streaming on Amazon, I believe) and Forty Guns deserve to be in that list. I'd place them close to the top, actually. I own the MOC Forty Guns Blu-ray, which is excellent, but I wouldn't mind a CC release just so more people can be exposed to one of Fuller's very finest films. It also has one of the best, if not the best Stanwyk performance. She had starred as a strong, independent woman in a western before (California, for example), but never quite like this. She OWNS IT.


Speaking of Strong, independent Women in westerns, how hasn't a US Distributor picked up Destry Rides Again ? I have the Koch media German bluray, but I'm so scared to pop it in due to their poor quality blu-rays presentations of other westerns.

It would look mighty fine on the same shelf as The Dietrich/von Sternberg set.

[Dragon Ranger]

What about....

[Show spoiler]

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by BwayJ

If they ever do more animation, I'd love The Adventures of Prince Achmed.

Milestone has it on DVD, though the BFI UK Blu-ray is region free.

[SammyJankis]

Any of you Von Trier fans been following the response to his latest, The House that Jack Built? Hysterical as par for the course with Cannes, but I don't know what they were expecting. It's a serial killer movie from the guy that brought you Antichrist.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

It's a serial killer movie from the guy that brought you Antichrist.

That could be one of the greatest movie taglines of all time.

[PBateman87]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Any of you Von Trier fans been following the response to his latest, The House that Jack Built? Hysterical as par for the course with Cannes, but I don't know what they were expecting. It's a serial killer movie from the guy that brought you Antichrist.

Hehe, yeah...a divisive Von Trier movie, what else is new. It would be disappointing if we DIDN'T hear reports of people booing or walking out on the screening, lol. Anyways, I'm really looking forward to seeing that film, myself.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

First off, The Lady Eve upgrade is long overdue.

That's #1 on my list of upgrade wants - I even bought the DVD two years ago to push it.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by PBateman87

Hehe, yeah...a divisive Von Trier movie, what else is new. It would be disappointing if we DIDN'T hear reports of people booing or walking out on the screening, lol. Anyways, I'm really looking forward to seeing that film, myself.

I've never understood walking out on a movie. Even if it's bad it's worth staying to be able to pass judgment on it after the credits roll. Bad films can be entertaining, too. I paid to see The Happening in theatres just to see how ridiculous it would be.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by Dragon Ranger

Macross Do you Remember Love

Still with the legalities surrounding this title I don't think it will ever happen.

With Harmony Gold, it isn’t gonna happen.

More likely anime candidates are the works of Satoshi Kon, hopefully Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress would work.

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by professorwho

With Harmony Gold, it isn’t gonna happen.

More likely anime candidates are the works of Satoshi Kon, hopefully Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress would work.

I read all about the legal tie ups with Harmony Gold in this excellent feature; really wish they could get it all sorted out. I have seen Macross (both the series and movie) in HD but a proper western release on disc would be a dream. I love Robotech too so would happily take that. Ah well; I can dream.

https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the...-04-17/.101177

[Dragon Ranger]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

I've never understood walking out on a movie. Even if it's bad it's worth staying to be able to pass judgment on it after the credits roll. Bad films can be entertaining, too. I paid to see The Happening in theatres just to see how ridiculous it would be.

I sat through that too; for the first half I even found it to be pretty atmospheric but then it just nosedived in quality....