The Criterion Collection

[Rzzzz]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

What are the chances of Criterion releasing any Jerry Lewis films like The Bellboy?

I think they will release The Day the Clown Cried (1972) when the time is right.....

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I can get lost in dark city.

Just make sure to avoid hitchhikers and femme fatales. I've yet to have any luck though.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by mrjohnnyb

I consider The Night of the Hunter a thriller, with film noir elements. I do not consider it a true noir. Just my opinion.

I feel the same way about Mildred Pierce, though I'd classify it as a melodrama first and foremost.

[GeoffOliver]

There's also They Live By Night, which I enjoy a lot because it's almost like a more innocent version of Bonnie and Clyde. A can't think of another noir that had as much heart and emotion as that film, and the ending was truly sad on many levels. It also has a fantastic performance from the criminally underrated Farley Granger. It may not be as iconic or well-made as something like Double Indemnity, but for me it left a more lasting impact because it took the characters and their deep, passionate romance and added the noirish sense of fate, which gave the story a deep (almost ironic) sense of tragedy.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Ohhhh... We're discussing favorite Criterion films noir now.

In a Lonely Place, which is pretty much the darkest noir of them all, is my absolute favorite film noir title available from Criterion.

The Sweet Smell of Success is probably second place. “I love this dirty town.”

Detour... One of my favs in the genre, and I haven't even seen a decent picture quality presentation of it yet. Oh yeah...I cannot wait.

They Live by Night is wondrous, and it's a perfect lovers on the run movie.

Kiss Me Deadly has what is perhaps my favorite opening credits sequence of all time, and it's a terrific “WTF did I just watch?” selection.

The Night of the Hunter... Is it true noir or is it not? There are persuasive arguments in either direction, but it has a place here nonetheless as one of the most splendid Criterion titles of any genre.

Ministry of Fear does not get a lot of love here, and this is a problem that needs to be remedied now. Fritz Lang's visuals are on point here.

The Breaking Point is one of the best discoveries bestowed upon me by Criterion in all my years as a collector. The heartbreaking closing shot...wow.

The Asphalt Jungle... I love it when a plan comes together. When it comes to noir, I love it even more when a plan doesn't.

Ace in the Hole is sunlit noir cynicism at its best. Jan Sterling was a force of nature. Oh yeah, and that Kirk Douglas guy is good, too.

The Third Man, obviously, although the Studiocanal region free 4K release is my viewing medium of choice for this fine film. (...and the Criterion disc is close to perfect in its own right.)

The Killers... “Don't ask a dying man to lie his soul into Hell.” This is a beautiful, beautiful noir.

The Killing/Killer's Kiss... Come for Sterling Hayden, Marie Windsor, and Coleen Gray in The Killing. Stay for the showdown scene in the room full of mannequins in Killer's Kiss.

Gilda is the sexiest, most sultry, and most urgently smoldering movie ever made. Even more so than Lifeforce, in fact.

Night and the City is criminally criminally underrated, and it is one of the darkest trips into dark city to date.

Odd Man Out this British noir is one of the great “It sucks to be you.” movies in the genre.

Elevator to the Gallows is the best French noir, it's the best Malle, it's the best Jeanne Moreau, and it's the best Miles Davis.

Rififi... Wait. Did I just say that another movie is the best French film noir? Yeah, maybe so, but this one as well.

Moonrise... Certain narrative developments steer this one somewhat astray of noir by strict definition, but a film noir it is, and a wonderful-looking one in Criterion high definition at that.

Pale Flower is a Japanese noir that was a bit out of the timeline parameters for the classic era of the genre, but who cares. It's a noir, and it's a darn fine one.

I know that I've missed a few. I can get lost in dark city.

Mildred Pierce and The Naked Kiss (out of all the ones on blu).

[Richard--W]

I'm excited for the restoration of DETOUR but also keen to see the restoration of Barbara
Loden's WANDA (1971), a micro-budget independent crime drama with distinctly noir
aspects. Loden knew what she was doing behind the camera as well as in front of it. She
fought hard to get financing to make more movies but could never secure the money.
WANDA was a stellar directing debut and it's a pity she never directed another.

[Reddington]

After saying nothing for me this month, all this noir talk means I just have to pick up Detour now.

[CinemaBlu]

Is the Spielberg interview on the I Wanna Hold Your Hand release the first time he has actively contributed to Criterion Collection? If so, I wonder if this opens up the possibility of Criterion releasing one of his own films some day.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Is the Spielberg interview on the I Wanna Hold Your Hand release the first time he has actively contributed to Criterion Collection? If so, I wonder if this opens up the possibility of Criterion releasing one of his own films some day.

Maybe a more definitive release of Sugarland Express. Someone might say the full-frame version of Duel, but I understand Spielberg himself did not prefer it, since in some shots it revealed elements not supposed to be visible to the viewer.

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Is the Spielberg interview on the I Wanna Hold Your Hand release the first time he has actively contributed to Criterion Collection? If so, I wonder if this opens up the possibility of Criterion releasing one of his own films some day.

Spielberg did contribute to the Criterion release of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND on laserdisc back in the day.

This one is tricky, as I can't imagine Spielberg's best films being licensed to Criterion as they're also so highly profitable for their respective distributors (and honestly, already have great transfers and extras and would appear redundant). As ravenus observed, THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS would appear to be the likeliest candidate and I'd personally love to see it happen, but I've read that Spielberg doesn't think highly of it; the fact that it's as bare-bones as ALWAYS and HOOK would seem to reinforce that.

[Cremildo]

Other than The Sugarland Express and maybe Duel, I don't see how any Spielberg film fits the Criterion Collection, or why it'd need to be re-released by them.

[Gacivory]

I could also see 1941 or Munich.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Someone might say the full-frame version of Duel, but I understand Spielberg himself did not prefer it, since in some shots it revealed elements not supposed to be visible to the viewer.

Is that the same as the television edit? I really think Duel should be available on home video in the same version as it was initially shown. I like the European theatrical cut, bit would like to see the original version again.

[Robinh]

Wow, so many good titles to choose from. I have to say, one of my first film noir pick-ups was Blast of Silence and still one of my favorites.

[King Crimson]

I need a 1941 Criterion release with Spielberg's assistance.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by nitin

Mildred Pierce and The Naked Kiss (out of all the ones on blu).

I knew that I was forgetting something (Mildred Pierce).

The Naked Kiss is a great “transitional noir” that bridged the classic era and the 1960s.

[SeanJoyce]

The Naked Kiss is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen and I have reservations about calling it a noir as well.

[Ruemorgue10]

A Criterion edition of DUEL is a no-brainer.

It's historically important for being Spielberg's first feature-length film and artistically significant for elevating the standards of the "made for television" medium by being a well-crafted thriller worthy of recognition.

They could also include AMBLIN' as a bonus feature since it's the short that got him studio work in the first place.

[RockyIII]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

The Naked Kiss is one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen and I have reservations about calling it a noir as well.

Please, discuss...

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by RockyIII

Please, discuss...

Not with you.