The Criterion Collection

[Zen_Amako]

You can get the MGM Hitchcock 3-pack with Notorious, Rebecca and Spellbound at Best Buy right now for $29.99. Not bad. I paid $39.99 just for the Criterion Notorious DVD ten years ago when I saw that it was out of print.

[jw007]

I just watched The Kid with a Bike a couple of nights ago and then the 75 minute Criterion interview last night, and wow, this was one of the longest interviews I've ever seen on a Criterion release. The movie is good but I need to watch it a few more times to really appreciate it. The Dardenne brothers are definitely a good fit in the Criterion Collection.

[Egbert Souse]

Originally Posted by JJJ225

The MGM Notorious Blu Ray is DEFINITELY an improvement over the Criterion DVD, even if it could be better. It's still very good I think.

The only reason to keep Criterion's DVD is for Rudy Behlmer's commentary. Some of the archival extras are on both versions and Fox added a few new video pieces.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Zen_Amako

You can get the MGM Hitchcock 3-pack with Notorious, Rebecca and Spellbound at Best Buy right now for $29.99. Not bad. I paid $39.99 just for the Criterion Notorious DVD ten years ago when I saw that it was out of print.

At the beginning of the year, I bought the stand-alone Blu-rays of Rebecca, Spellbound, and Notorious for $10 apiece when there was a big sale on Amazon.

Spellbound is an underrated Hitchcock film, but one scene in the movie always inspires horribly inappropriate laughter from me. There's a flashback scene involving two children and a hand rail that is supposed to sobering and tragic in the context of the story, but the way that the sequence was filmed always cracks me up.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

What is the word on the potential release of a blu-ray Criterion edition for Hitchcock’s “Notorious”? I don’t really know how the licensing rights work. There was an inferior DVD prior to the Criterion release for “Notorious.” And now we’ve got the MGM release that some are not too crazy about. Do 2 companies own the rights at the same time? Can they? I know Great Owl probably has some insight on this… or anyone else??

No, two companies don't own the rights at the same time. Usually. Company A might have the rights, and then lose them after they expire. Company B then picks up the rights, then loses them after they expire. Then Company A has a chance to get them back, or a third company gets them.

In the case of Notorious, the film was originally produced by a company called Vanguard Films and released by RKO. Vanguard also produced two other Hitchcock films, Spellbound and The Paradine Case, and all of these were later acquired by the Selznick Releasing Company. Selznick had previously produced Rebecca, so all four of these films were owned by Selznick.

Criterion got the laserdisc rights to Notorious, but when it came to DVD, Anchor Bay acquired the rights to the various films owned by Selznick, so the four Hitchcock films (as well as several other films) were released by them. They went OOP fairly quickly, and Criterion was able to acquire the rights to Rebecca, Spellbound, and Notorious (why they didn't also acquire The Paradine Case, I don't know). Within a couple of years, Criterion lost the rights when the Selznick library was acquired by MGM/UA.

Generally speaking, Criterion isn't likely to release a BD of any of the films in the Selznick library unless they can work out a license deal with MGM/UA.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by jw007

I just watched The Kid with a Bike a couple of nights ago and then the 75 minute Criterion interview last night, and wow, this was one of the longest interviews I've ever seen on a Criterion release. The movie is good but I need to watch it a few more times to really appreciate it. The Dardenne brothers are definitely a good fit in the Criterion Collection.

The Dardennes are two of the best contemporary directors. Criterion, or another label, needs to put out Le fils on blu-ray.

[SammyJankis]

I echo the praise for the Dardennes. Love 'em. Le Fils and Le Promesse are the only two I haven't seen. The former isn't at my library and the latter is just waiting to be watched.

On a side note, I found Short Term 12 to be in a somewhat similar vein of the Dardennes. Only it possesses more optimism.

[jdw89]

Still no shipping confirmation. Who do I contact?

EDIT: Never mind, just shipped... where do they ship from?

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I echo the praise for the Dardennes. Love 'em. Le Fils and Le Promesse are the only two I haven't seen. The former isn't at my library and the latter is just waiting to be watched.

On a side note, I found Short Term 12 to be in a somewhat similar vein of the Dardennes. Only it possesses more optimism.

Along with The Kid With A Bike, those are their two best.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Thanks, Owl. Interesting article. Still undecided what I'll do. I guess I'll see how much I can get for my Criterion DVD. If I can get a few bucks for it, then I suppose it'd be worth replacing. As much as all of the bonus features are fun, I don't get into them as much as some do. I find that sites like this or the internet in general are (usually) a good enough supplement to my viewing experience. With that being said, I want the best picture resolution and audio available.

As coincidence would have it, I bought the triple pack with Notorious, Rebecca and Spellbound just last night for $24.99 (Canadian). I'm sure you could at least that much selling your OOP Criterion DVD.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

Along with The Kid With A Bike, those are their two best.

Really? Damn. Might watch it tomorrow, then. The Son remains my favorite.

Their next one with Marion Cotillard is set for the next Cannes.

[Scottie]

Just finished The Ballad of Narayama.

When it started off, I was sure to hate it. It's set up like a play, especially with the staging, but as the film progressed, I really got hooked on it.

It was a very good story and the vibrant colors really helped establish the mood throughout the film.

[mrjohnnyb]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Ahhh.... Burke Dennings. Sadly, I've never seen Cul de Sac, but I shall remedy that one of these days.

Regarding Cul de Sac:

Macgowran, in a supporting role, nearly steals the film. In the supplements, Polanski says that he was an absolute joy to work with.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by brandon_260

The Dardennes are two of the best contemporary directors. Criterion, or another label, needs to put out Le fils on blu-ray.

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

I echo the praise for the Dardennes. Love 'em. Le Fils and Le Promesse are the only two I haven't seen. The former isn't at my library and the latter is just waiting to be watched.

On a side note, I found Short Term 12 to be in a somewhat similar vein of the Dardennes. Only it possesses more optimism.

Now I need to check out Rosetta and La Promesse, the other 2 releases they have on Criterion. I'm happy to say I'm a brand new fan of the Dardennes and The Kid with a Bike was officialy the first movie I ever saw from them (a few nights ago).

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

Regarding Cul de Sac:

Macgowran, in a supporting role, nearly steals the film. In the supplements, Polanski says that he was an absolute joy to work with.

I agree.

I was a little letdown by Cul-de-sac, however, despite being engrained throughout it. There's no denying that it was very humorous.

Originally Posted by jw007

Now I need to check out Rosetta and La Promesse, the other 2 releases they have on Criterion. I'm happy to say I'm a brand new fan of the Dardennes and The Kid with a Bike was officialy the first movie I ever saw from them (a few nights ago).

I really hated Rosetta, but I absolutely adored La Promesse.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by jdw89

Still no shipping confirmation. Who do I contact?

EDIT: Never mind, just shipped... where do they ship from?

Kentucky

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by baheidstu

As coincidence would have it, I bought the triple pack with Notorious, Rebecca and Spellbound just last night for $24.99 (Canadian). I'm sure you could at least that much selling your OOP Criterion DVD.

Thanks, everyone, for your input. This site might be the place to sell it, although, as you can see, I am a "junior member" (ha! )so I'm still figuring some things out. Amazon would give me $7 in trade in and I see that they have the 3 pack you mention for $29.99. It would seem to be a no-brainer for a self professed Hitchcock enthusiast. For the time being, though, I'll put it on the list behind a few Criterion titles I'd like to own. Might just be the lousy packaging that has kept me away up until this point.

[brandon_260]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Really? Damn. Might watch it tomorrow, then. The Son remains my favorite.

Their next one with Marion Cotillard is set for the next Cannes.

Le fils is their masterpiece. I'll be shocked (and elated) if they ever top it.

I got giddy when it was announced they were working with Cotillard. I've got no doubts it will be be fantastic.

[TJS_Blu]

Rec'd my 1st order from the flash sale today.

[skylog]

got my confirmation this morning...can not come soon enough.

LA HAINE
ON THE WATERFRONT
PALE FLOWER

and

CRITERION COLLECTION COFFEE MUG