The Criterion Collection

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

Actually, I'd say there is a very subtle but firm and recurrent anti-fascist streak across the collection that "endorsing" Olympia by releasing it would conflict with.

Stupid question here: How would releasing a couple documentaries about the the olympics be endorsing fascism?

It would be great to see Oympia pts. 1 and 2 get spines, along with Tokyo Olympiad coming back to the collection. I do see that Olympia is readily available on DVD, generally coupled with Triumph of the will. After reading a bit about these films, I can see how they would easily fit into the collection.

It seems that Tokyo Olympiad was only released on DVD by Criterion (there is also a Criterion laser disc), and it is now OOP, so I am sure that many people would give it a warm "welcome back" to the collection...and finally be able to fill slot #155.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

Stupid question here: How would releasing a couple documentaries about the the olympics be endorsing fascism?

Uh, that would depend on the Olympics, who was hosting them, and who was hiring the director.
"Tokyo Olympiad" didn't have Jesse Owens in it.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Uh, that would depend on the Olympics, who was hosting them, and who was hiring the director.
"Tokyo Olympiad" didn't have Jesse Owens in it.

Jesse Owens is a black American who won four gold medals in the 1936 summer olympics. How does his inclusion in Olympia make that a fascist film? Sure, the olympics were held in Germany, but that doesn't change the facts of what happened there. I do not understand why Criterion would shy away from that? I have not seen Olympia, is it a propaganda film?

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

Jesse Owens is a black American who won four gold medals in the 1936 summer olympics. How does his inclusion in Olympia make that a fascist film? Sure, the olympics were held in Germany, but that doesn't change the facts of what happened there. I do not understand why Criterion would shy away from that? I have not seen Olympia, is it a propaganda film?

Olympia was directed by Leni Riefenstahl, a female German director who held a strong relationship with most of the top Nazi leaders such as Himmler and Hitler himself. In fact, Olympia was ordered by Hitler to portray the "magnificence" of the German Olympics. In all honestly, the film was made BEFORE WWII but featured a lot of Nazi oriented stuff (How it couldn't?). Riefenstahl reputation shattered after the war so most of her films, while considered highly innovative and ambitious, are looked down by some people.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by Darkcritic

Olympia was directed by Leni Riefenstahl, a female German director who held a strong relationship with most of the top Nazi leaders such as Himmler and Hitler himself. In fact, Olympia was ordered by Hitler to portray the "magnificence" of the German Olympics. In all honestly, the film was made BEFORE WWII but featured a lot of Nazi oriented stuff (How it couldn't?). Riefenstahl reputation shattered after the war so most of her films, while considered highly innovative and ambitious, are looked down by some people.

Thank you for that well done explanation.

It's almost funny that Hitler wanted to portray the magnificence of German olympics, and ended up getting his mustache handed to him by a black American...in his own documentary. A bit ironic, in a way.

Thanks again for the information and clarification.

[ParticleDan]

Thought I'd share this email from "Jon Mulvaney" in regards to the replacement program for Three Colors: White


Hello and Happy New Year,

Good news! We are glad to report we've received the corrected WHITE
disc. We will be exchanging the Blu-ray discs directly from our New
York office. Please send your WHITE disc, disc only please, to my
attention at the address below. With the disc, please include your
email address and postal address. Please do not include any
packaging with your disc. When we receive your disc, we will send you
the corrected copy and a $10 gift certificate to Criterion.com! Thank
you for your patience while we were sorting out this audio
issue! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and thank
you for supporting Criterion!

Best,

Jon

[Brad1963]

What is the issue with WHITE?

[OldPangYau]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

What is the issue with WHITE?

^^^This? I've only watched Red so far, so I'm also out of the loop of there being an issue with White

[Jester217300]

Originally Posted by OldPangYau

^^^This? I've only watched Red so far, so I'm also out of the loop of there being an issue with White

The audio is mono not stereo as it should be.

[ParticleDan]

Originally Posted by Brad1963

What is the issue with WHITE?

Lots of info about the problem in this thread:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/blu-ray-mo...15-review.html

Here's a summary:

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist
White -- The "glitch" here is far more complicated than what has been said thus far. The problem is definitely with the manner the audio track is encoded/decoded. If you bitstream, and I do, the two-channel split is as it should be. The problem is with the Pro-Logic encoding which can only be identified if you do not bitstream. In other words, you do have to go into your set-up and do the necessary adjustments. The fact remains that it would have been a lot easier to have the surround track made to work with bitstraming (or compromise somehow). As it is, anyone that bitstreams and gets a perfect two-channel split would assume that the presentation is fine. And White is the most problematic of the three films because there is hardly any surround activity there.

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

Thought I'd share this email from "Jon Mulvaney" in regards to the replacement program for Three Colors: White


Hello and Happy New Year,

Good news! We are glad to report we've received the corrected WHITE
disc. We will be exchanging the Blu-ray discs directly from our New
York office. Please send your WHITE disc, disc only please, to my
attention at the address below. With the disc, please include your
email address and postal address. Please do not include any
packaging with your disc. When we receive your disc, we will send you
the corrected copy and a $10 gift certificate to Criterion.com! Thank
you for your patience while we were sorting out this audio
issue! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and thank
you for supporting Criterion!

Best,

Jon

Thanks for posting this. May I ask---what did you include in your original email to them?

[Darkcritic]

Originally Posted by Joe Dalek

You mean like Tokyo Olympiad?

Olympia was made by the Nazis. I used the term "endorsing" because people tend to view Criterion releases as canonical works of film. Releasing a film made by the Nazis could be seen by some as legitimizing that film as something other than Nazi propaganda (I would say it's definitely more than Nazi propaganda, but even if it's just partly Nazi propaganda -- eww ).

To me, it doesn't fit in to the Collection like other controversial films do (Salo, I Am Curious..., Sweet Movie, etc.). No doubt Criterion could put forth an edition that addresses the film's origins and artistic merits, but would they be comfortable featuring it alongside Night and Fog, Le Corbeau, Au Revoir Les Enfants, Salo, Rome Open City, etc.?

Well, you are absolutely right in the fact that Nazi Propaganda is something not welcomed or appreciated in any possible way but the film is still much more than that (Again, just like you said). The film would be a hard sell because of its origin and background but the same thing can be said of The Birth of a Nation. That film is widely considered racist but it is still a remarkable piece of cinema history. The horrible acts committed in WW2 will remain injustificable but the films are still innovative and important in the way of history. You are probably right about Criterion, though. It is a pretty risky move that will surely be followed by controversy.

[jacobsever]

While I have no audio set up and use the tv's built in speakers, I highly doubt I will be able to tell any sort of difference with White. So would I be a bad person if I were to trade it in so I were able to get the $10 gift card?!

[retablo]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

But Criterion's site you get $50 for every $500 you spend.

LOL I don't need to spend $500. Rather just spend $80 and take the free disc.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by ParticleDan

Thought I'd share this email from "Jon Mulvaney" in regards to the replacement program for Three Colors: White


Hello and Happy New Year,

Good news! We are glad to report we've received the corrected WHITE
disc. We will be exchanging the Blu-ray discs directly from our New
York office. Please send your WHITE disc, disc only please, to my
attention at the address below. With the disc, please include your
email address and postal address. Please do not include any
packaging with your disc. When we receive your disc, we will send you
the corrected copy and a $10 gift certificate to Criterion.com! Thank
you for your patience while we were sorting out this audio
issue! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and thank
you for supporting Criterion!

Best,

Jon

Where's the address?

[Hawkguy]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

While I have no audio set up and use the tv's built in speakers, I highly doubt I will be able to tell any sort of difference with White. So would I be a bad person if I were to trade it in so I were able to get the $10 gift card?!

I also currently don't have an audio set-up, but am wanting a correct disc. My problem is that I never receive responses to their emails!

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by Yami

What's everyone's most hoped for upgrade/new title in 2012?

Fiend Without a Face. I think I've already said this on the forum, but it's not a great film. However, it has brain monsters that float through the air and strangle people with their spinal column tail. That's an idea so awesome I just got my ass kicked by typing it. It also has potential for a great remake. Maybe Cronenberg would be willing to pull off another The Fly.

Haxan is one I haven't seen, but am really interested in.

As far as new titles, there's one I think has a chance that I've yet to see mentioned. The Devil's Backbone. Criterion likes to focus on particular directors and they already have Cronos. Since this doesn't have an American Blu release I think it has a possibility. Personally, I found it as powerful as, if not more than, Pan's Labyrinth, which I also love.

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

The dream situation would be fully restored, and complete prints, of the original NOTLD (1968) and the 1990 remake by Savini.

Night of the Living Dead released by Criterion would be a dream. I hate, hate the remake, but it wouldn't hurt to include it for fans. Plus it would be interesting to have for comparison.

Originally Posted by ccfixx

For the record, we're not.

For the record, this is the Criterion discussion thread. Therefore wishlists of upgrades and new acquisitions will always be acceptable and normal parts of the conversation. Especially expect them whenever new titles are announced or hinted at.

[TylerDurden]

Originally Posted by Criterion Collector

Thank you for that well done explanation.

It's almost funny that Hitler wanted to portray the magnificence of German olympics, and ended up getting his mustache handed to him by a black American...in his own documentary. A bit ironic, in a way.

Thanks again for the information and clarification.

It's more than that. Jesse Owens said himself that Hitler waved to him in his autobiography and that "he was the man of the hour." Also Germany did win more gold medals than any other nation. A feat only duplicated by a hosting nation twice with USA and Russia later on. Olympia is intriguing enough to be viewed as a quality piece of cinema from the 1930's. Frank Capra the Director of many films including It's a Wonderful Life got his inspiration from Riefenstahl & Triumph of the Will. However I do not believe TOFTW deserves a CC release. It's a rather boring political film that Nazi leaders had to give away free tickets for the German audience to view it. I've seen it once and won't be seeing it again anytime soon. Even with historical commentary the film is just dull and fake.

[Criterion Collector]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden

It's more than that. Jesse Owens said himself that Hitler waved to him in his autobiography and that "he was the man of the hour." Also Germany did win more gold medals than any other nation. A feat only duplicated by a hosting nation twice with USA and Russia later on. Olympia is intriguing enough to be viewed as a quality piece of cinema from the 1930's. Frank Capra the Director of many films including It's a Wonderful Life got his inspiration from Riefenstahl & Triumph of the Will. However I do not believe TOFTW deserves a CC release. It's a rather boring political film that Nazi leaders had to give away free tickets for the German audience to view it. I've seen it once and won't be seeing it again anytime soon. Even with historical commentary the film is just dull and fake.

Thanks for filling in the rest of the story for me.

The more these films get discussed (and I learn about them), the more I become intrigued by them. I think they certainly could be considered fascinating films from a historical perspective at the very minimum.

If Kino can release Birth of a Nation without stirring up too much controversy, I don't see how Criterion could get any real "bad press" from releasing these films. I could be very wrong, though, as the Nazi's are looked at in a completely different perspective as the KKK. Deservedly so, don't get me wrong here, I have no sympathy for the Nazi's, the KKK, or anyone/organization who supports hate or bias. I am merely saying that Olympia certainly is interesting from a historical perspective. Criterion could include an essay/booklet that covers the films history, and the stories surrounding it.

[SpiderBaby]

For anyone that wants to help:

A guy name Patrick started this and has been posting it on Criterion's Facebook (and others). It's a petition for ANY company to try to get the Hopper Estate to hand over the rights to release The Last Movie. The reason I am posting it here (besides obvious reasons of me and my love for the movie) is he is actually making some progress. Supposedly he has had Sam Fuller's (who is in the film) wife Christa Fuller, and Tom Farrell, one of Nicholas Ray's assistants sign this petition.

So anybody that wants to help, you can sign it too. I figure I will help him out by posting it here, since I want it released as well.

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-...the-last-movie