The Criterion Collection

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Expiring from The Criterion Channel - Dames (1934)

[Show spoiler]

I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU! To be honest, I generally can't stand musicals (with a few notable exceptions - including Annie, which is one of my childhood favorites). But Dames is so much damn fun to watch, so joyous and infectious, that I cannot imagine anyone disliking it.

Even though Joan Blondell is given top billing, she's definitely not the star here - there are 3, 4, maybe even 5 other actors ahead of her in the cast with more prominent roles. Still, she shines whenever she's onscreen. With most (all?) of Blondell's movies expiring from the Channel at the end of the month, I'll definitely be diving into more her work...

I really loved the structure of Dames. A little over half of it is dedicated to telling the story - a millionaire offers his brother-in-law ten million if he's a "moral" man, as various comedic misunderstandings pose a "threat" to that "morality" - with the final 35-40 minutes literally turning into the stage play that had been referenced throughout the rest of the film. I've never seen another movie adopt that format. I thought it was very cool, clever, and inventive.

As for the stage play itself...oh boy! Such a sheer visual spectacle. The kaleidoscopic imagery, the incredible choreography, and of course the memorable songs (especially "I Only Have Eyes For You"). It is unbelievable to me that this movie is from 1934, because it looks decades ahead of its time.

DaBargainHunta's Decree: An absolute treat to watch! I am shocked how much I really loved it. (Subtitles/Captions: Yes!)

More Joan Blondell Pre-Code Movies - Expiring from The Criterion Channel

The good thing about these Blondell flicks is that the majority of them are only a little over an hour long, so it's very easy to knock out the ones you're interested in.

Night Nurse: Barbara Stanwyck plays a nurse who eventually has to care for two very sick children. On the job, she has to deal with shifty characters, including a menacing limo driver played by Clark Gable a few years before Gone With the Wind. Joan Blondell co-stars as another nurse and Stanwyck's roommate. This is a lot of fun, and it begins with a very striking camera sequence of an ambulance racing through the street, filmed from the perspective of being behind the wheel. I actually watched this a year ago before it expired, and now it's back and about to expire again.

Blondie Johnson: At only 67 minutes long, this doesn't waste any time. It's a novel gender-swapped spin on the gangster genre, with a woman (Joan Blondell) being the one to rise through the ranks. Chester Morris does a nice job here playing her partner-in-crime in this Depression-era picture. What's notable, especially for the time period, is that two women are part of her eventual entourage - including an Asian woman (Lulu, played by Toshia Mori). Not a bad little movie. I watched it late last night before bed, and it was easy to fit in because it was so short.

Lawyer Man: Out of the expiring Joan Blondell movies I've seen, Dames and Night Nurse are genuinely good, Blondie Johnson is fairly decent, and Lawyer Man is enjoyable enough but definitely a bit middling and forgettable. William Powell stars as a corrupt lawyer, whose secretary (Joan Blondell) clearly pines for him. I am not sure why Powell's character is coveted by all the ladies in his life, as he has all the sex appeal of a taller, thinner "Mean" Gene Okerlund. Nevertheless, he is effective enough in the role of a lawyer man. Blondell is strictly a supporting character here. Worth watching if you're determined to see all of the Blondells before they expire, but if you're picking and choosing (like I am), you can probably give this one a pass. It's fun but not essential.

As a few of you have pointed out, there are several Blondell musicals also expiring. Even if they're "better" than Dames, I don't know if I'll be watching them, because that's still not my preferred genre and one is probably enough for me this month, lol.

[sabdo]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

[Show spoiler]More Joan Blondell Pre-Code Movies - Expiring from The Criterion Channel

The good thing about these Blondell flicks is that the majority of them are only a little over an hour long, so it's very easy to knock out the ones you're interested in.

Night Nurse: Barbara Stanwyck plays a nurse who eventually has to care for two very sick children. On the job, she has to deal with shifty characters, including a menacing limo driver played by Clark Gable a few years before Gone With the Wind. Joan Blondell co-stars as another nurse and Stanwyck's roommate. This is a lot of fun, and it begins with a very striking camera sequence of an ambulance racing through the street, filmed from the perspective of being behind the wheel. I actually watched this a year ago before it expired, and now it's back and about to expire again.

Blondie Johnson: At only 67 minutes long, this doesn't waste any time. It's a novel gender-swapped spin on the gangster genre, with a woman (Joan Blondell) being the one to rise through the ranks. Chester Morris does a nice job here playing her partner-in-crime in this Depression-era picture. What's notable, especially for the time period, is that two women are part of her eventual entourage - including an Asian woman (Lulu, played by Toshia Mori). Not a bad little movie. I watched it late last night before bed, and it was easy to fit in because it was so short.

Lawyer Man: Out of the expiring Joan Blondell movies I've seen, Dames and Night Nurse are genuinely good, Blondie Johnson is fairly decent, and Lawyer Man is enjoyable enough but definitely a bit middling and forgettable. William Powell stars as a corrupt lawyer, whose secretary (Joan Blondell) clearly pines for him. I am not sure why Powell's character is coveted by all the ladies in his life, as he has all the sex appeal of a taller, thinner "Mean" Gene Okerlund. Nevertheless, he is effective enough in the role of a lawyer man. Blondell is strictly a supporting character here. Worth watching if you're determined to see all of the Blondells before they expire, but if you're picking and choosing (like I am), you can probably give this one a pass. It's fun but not essential.

As a few of you have pointed out, there are several Blondell musicals also expiring. Even if they're "better" than Dames, I don't know if I'll be watching them, because that's still not my preferred genre and one is probably enough for me this month, lol.

Blonde Crazy is not to be missed, if you haven't seen it. The Crowd Roars as well.

[Hellspawn28]

Originally Posted by javy

Now that Criterion is releasing films that are owned by Lionsgate, does that mean we could possibly see Dogville in the future? That would be really swell.

I would love if Criteron releases Dogville and Dancer in the Dark because those are long overdue for a HD release. You also have other movies from Lionsgate that would be perfect for Criteron like God and Monsters, and Drugstore Cowboy. I would love it if we got both Terminator movies from Criteron, but that will never happen (Only in my dreams sadly).

[bergman864]

Originally Posted by Hellspawn28

I would love if Criteron releases Dogville and Dancer in the Dark because those are long overdue for a HD release. You also have other movies from Lionsgate that would be perfect for Criteron like God and Monsters, and Drugstore Cowboy. I would love it if we got both Terminator movies from Criteron, but that will never happen (Only in my dreams sadly).

Arrow would be the more likely choice for the Terminator movies.

[randian]

Originally Posted by bergman864

Arrow would be the more likely choice for the Terminator movies.

Arrow did Robocop, so I'd have to agree.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by Hellspawn28

I would love it if we got both Terminator movies from Criteron, but that will never happen (Only in my dreams sadly).

Originally Posted by bergman864

Arrow would be the more likely choice for the Terminator movies.

Supposedly, a label did have "The Terminator" but dropped it because they didn't want to wait for Cameron's approval on a new master.

[traths]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Supposedly, a label did have "The Terminator" but dropped it because they didn't want to wait for Cameron's approval on a new master.

I don't blame them.

[BluProofie]

Which Lionsgate film is Criterion releasing?

[randian]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

Supposedly, a label did have "The Terminator" but dropped it because they didn't want to wait for Cameron's approval on a new master.

Why would you pay good money for the right to be held up by Cameron's whim?

[javy]

Originally Posted by BluProofie

Which Lionsgate film is Criterion releasing?

Amores Perros

[BluProofie]

I hope it’s not a one-off.

[Snicket]

What I really hope we see in 2021:

Pi
I’m thinking of ending things
Mank
Ratcatcher
Spirit of the Beehive
Voyage of Time
Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Memories of Murder

And just to be an eternal optimist, the Wong kar-Wai set is Criterion’s first 4K.

[Mr.F]

My Fellini set came with a loose disc and it is scratched. And the inside is kind of messed up, as if droplets of water made their way inside before it was sealed

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Mr.F

My Fellini set came with a loose disc and it is scratched. And the inside is kind of messed up, as if droplets of water made their way inside before it was sealed

Just write to Criterion - mulvaney@criterion.com - and they should be happy to send you a replacement disc.

[joy-division]

So what with last Friday being the 25th anniversary ofsinger Jewel's debut album, Pieces of You, me getting the Deluxe edition album & watching the Livestream concert, I decided to watch my Criterion of Ride with the Devil that I putchased a few months ago

I was pretty shocked at how vanilla this disc is. There isn't even a "supplements" section as the only extra there is apart from the commentary is a Jeffrey Wright interview. Even my R1 DVD has more

There is plenty they could have included such as specialists talking about the horrendous Lawrence Massacre(great informative booklet included though especially for those abroad that knew nothing about the massacre), cast/crew interviews, even Jewel's promo video. Hell, there aren't any trailers!

What are some of the other Criterion titles that have the least extras, & if any reason, why?

[bergman864]

So I watched The White Sheik last night. It's a decent to good outing. A rather simple comedic story. A newly married couple on their honeymoon is about to meet his family. The wife runs off to meet a crush and he has to cover for her and keep his family from figuring out she's missing.

There are some nice comedic moments, bits and pieces here and there really. Leopoldo Trieste does a good job with his facial expressions and occasional physical comedy. I enjoyed he bit where he goes to report her disappearance.

The appearance of Giulietta Masina as Cabiria perked me up. It's one of the better scenes in the movie. Her appearance and the fact that this is the first collaboration between Fellini and Nino Rota are two of the biggest positives.

An enjoyable but lesser effort from him.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by joy-division

What are some of the other Criterion titles that have the least extras, & if any reason, why?

Jubal comes to mind. It doesn't have any extras. I don't know the reason for that.

[Sifox211]

Jubal is one of those "mid price" ($30) blu-rays that they don't seem to do anymore. Most of those had almost no features.

[albabe]

Amazon's criterion seem to be half off. I just got Moonstruck for $19.99.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

Jubal is one of those "mid price" ($30) blu-rays that they don't seem to do anymore. Most of those had almost no features.

Probably because their "mid-price" is still more expensive than most other labels' fully-stacked releases.