The Criterion Collection

[RBBrittain]

Originally Posted by tama

I didn't see a reason for All About Eve being re-released either haha. Sometimes CC is just funny that way. I do have a hard time believing WB would license that title out. Just my gut feeling is all.

Hope you weren't trying to pin All About Eve on WB. It was Fox then and is Disney now; Disney is likely to keep it there in the near future mainly to keep it with Rebecca (long owned by Disney via ABC but never released by BVHE/WDSHE, its multiple Criterion stints make Criterion its only viable home unless Disney revives a form of Fox Studio Classics under TCSHE which is highly unlikely).

[RBBrittain]

If Citizen Kane does indeed have a 4K master at WB despite lack of an OCN (I basically assumed the same with IHON earlier), and if as posted now WB has indeed licensed Kane to Criterion, that does dramatically increase the odds that Kane will be one of Criterion's first UHDBDs even if it doesn't get Spine #1 (they reset the spine numbers for DVD but not BD, don't expect it for UHDBD either). There may be complications with the UK however; Universal used to own Kane there (though its latest UK release was by WB), UHDBD isn't supposed to have region coding, and I doubt the unauthorized region locks on Weathering With You U.S., etc. will fly with the BDA on Criterion UHDBDs, meaning Criterion may want to be assured of clear rights to Kane in both countries (not an issue with IHON).

Edit: US/UK rights aren't an issue with Lambs either in the long run; Criterion currently has it only in the U.S. but could still license it from MGM in the UK. (Not all ex-Orion films are that simple; Dances With Wolves belongs to WB in the UK.)

[tama]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

Hope you weren't trying to pin All About Eve on WB. It was Fox then and is Disney now; Disney is likely to keep it there in the near future mainly to keep it with Rebecca (long owned by Disney via ABC but never released by BVHE/WDSHE, its multiple Criterion stints make Criterion its only viable home unless Disney revives a form of Fox Studio Classics under TCSHE which is highly unlikely).

You misunderstood. The question was why would Criterion release a title with an existing master that the studio themselves released years ago. My answer was Criterion has done it before with the example being all about eve. Had nothing to do with specific studio.

I have more faith in an Orsen Welles BD box set then a Citizen Kane UHD considering its been reported WB is not licensing out UHD rights at the moment. Cannes is showing a new 4K DCP for F is Fake and I've heard rumors Chimes at Midnight also has a new 4K master. Mr. Arkadin is rumored to be with Criterion. One just seems more plausible and likely then the other.

[bergman864]

We're a few days away from new announcements already. I'm wondering if, because of all the recent UHD chatter, we'll get one announced this week.

Isn't spine #1100 part of this announcement?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

If Citizen Kane does indeed have a 4K master at WB despite lack of an OCN

Wouldn't the BD sourced from a 4K restoration imply it has a 4K master? I've been seeing a lot of people questioning this about Citizen Kane, and I'm a bit confused, as it seems to me like there shouldn't be a problem releasing this on UHD given the previous release was from a 4K source. It probably will never look as good as a film scanned from a proper OCN, but given how good the BD looks, a 4K release should still look pretty great.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Wouldn't the BD sourced from a 4K restoration imply it has a 4K master? I've been seeing a lot of people questioning this about Citizen Kane, and I'm a bit confused, as it seems to me like there shouldn't be a problem releasing this on UHD given the previous release was from a 4K source. It probably will never look as good as a film scanned from a proper OCN, but given how good the BD looks, a 4K release should still look pretty great.

Plus, WAC did plenty of 4K scans and restorations from "the best preservation elements". Like you said, the OCN would be ideal but I've seen plenty of great discs from other sources. They Won't Believe Me is a recent one that springs to mind.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Gunsnroses092789

Plus, WAC did plenty of 4K scans and restorations from "the best preservation elements". Like you said, the OCN would be ideal but I've seen plenty of great discs from other sources. They Won't Believe Me is a recent one that springs to mind.

How about Criterion's own edition of DETOUR? Talk about working miracles from less than ideal sources.

[Cremildo]

Went back for my second and final B&N order. I had actually bought this previously, here in Brazil, on DVD, but the subtitles were awful so I got rid of it.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

How about Criterion's own edition of DETOUR? Talk about working miracles from less than ideal sources.

Right! And I believe they did so without Wade William's help— the owner of the best elements.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by Gunsnroses092789

Right! And I believe they did so without Wade William's help— the owner of the best elements.

If only other labels could follow Criterion's lead and be able to achieve decent Blus of films allegedly owned and held for ransom by scary old Wade, completely bypassing the man in the house on haunted hill.

[omgitsgodzilla]

It's too bad those films can't be liberated from his basement while he's still around. A Wade Raid, if you will

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

If only other labels could follow Criterion's lead and be able to achieve decent Blus of films allegedly owned and held for ransom by scary old Wade, completely bypassing the man in the house on haunted hill.

Haha. Yup... I'm sure you've seen his posts at HTF. Delusional...

Though it seems The Film Detective has struck a deal with him and is doing restorations/Blu-ray releases from his elements. A Life At Stake, The Amazing Mr. X/The Spiritualist and The Fabulous Dorseys are among the first. I guess we will see how they look

[GG88]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

There may be complications with the UK however; Universal used to own Kane there (though its latest UK release was by WB), UHDBD isn't supposed to have region coding, and I doubt the unauthorized region locks on Weathering With You U.S., etc. will fly with the BDA on Criterion UHDBDs, meaning Criterion may want to be assured of clear rights to Kane in both countries (not an issue with IHON).

UK rights are not an issue. I have the UK warner release, it has no mention of Universal. Copyright is RKO, Turner and Warner.

Other RKO titles like Suspicion, Out of the Past, King Kong and The Thing from another world have also had Warner releases in recent years. I think the upcoming Bringing up Baby will be licensed from Warner too.

Universal’s RKO catalogue UK rights either expired, reverting to RKO, or were sold to Warner.

[Hazel Motes]

Just here for my monthly wish list of Terrence Malicks Voyage of Time with multiple cuts.

And what the hell...how about in 4K?

[Egbert Souse]

I always find it amusing when Citizen Kane is called overrated since it's pretty much the perfect art film in that it's both stunning in execution, but also phenomenally entertaining from start to finish. Especially when you see it in the context how Welles was practically doing his own John Ford film. Not just coincidence that Gregg Toland worked on the film just after doing two in a row for Ford (The Grapes of Wrath and The Long Voyage Home).

While I'm absolutely happy with the 2011 Warner release (I have the deluxe one with RKO 281 on DVD), a Criterion edition would be justified entirely by new supplements and the UHD format. Yes, Warner could release it themselves, but why?

Criterion would make this worthwhile just by including the usual sort of supplements they'd include on other Welles releases or other films. New interviews with Joseph McBride and Simon Callow, a piece on the special effects with Craig Barron, stuff on the Mercury Theatre, Bernard Herrmann's score, or even the physical history on home video since it's played an important part (first Criterion laserdisc, first 2-disc special edition on DVD, one of the first Lowry Digital remasters).

Even with no OCN, I think the 2011 restoration used an original nitrate fine-grain held in England, which would be absolutely fine for UHD. Dr. Strangelove was substantially from an original fine-grain (with some bits from a print and a duplicate negative) and even The Beastmaster looked great from an interpositive. HDR would do wonders for those inky black levels.

[Vigojean]

Originally Posted by Egbert Souse

I always find it amusing when Citizen Kane is called overrated since it's pretty much the perfect art film in that it's both stunning in execution, but also phenomenally entertaining from start to finish. Especially when you see it in the context how Welles was practically doing his own John Ford film.

Calling something “overrated” is usually a cheap cop-out, unless supported by evidence. I think the problem some people have with Kane is that, despite the immaculate execution and entertainment value, does it stir you emotionally? Do you care about its themes? If the answer is no, people will snub the movie. The only reason Eternal Sunshine is so highly beloved is because everyone has been a poor sap who got his heart broken, so people can relate. But not everyone relates to a rich businessman, etc. Basically, most people judge movies based on emotions and themes. Vertigo stirs my emotions; Kane does not. Both masterpieces, though.

[Spoony Bard]

Originally Posted by Hazel Motes

Just here for my monthly wish list of Terrence Malicks Voyage of Time with multiple cuts.

And what the hell...how about in 4K?

I'm also here for my monthly wish list of Murmur of the Heart...don't think that's high on their list of requested bluray transfers, though. But until Criterion say they're done with blurays entirely I won't give up hope.

[jshaide]

Hopefully something spoooooky is announced tomorrow

[Mike0284]

YouTube

[Apple2Forever]

Originally Posted by RBBrittain

If Citizen Kane does indeed have a 4K master at WB despite lack of an OCN (I basically assumed the same with IHON earlier), and if as posted now WB has indeed licensed Kane to Criterion, that does dramatically increase the odds that Kane will be one of Criterion's first UHDBDs even if it doesn't get Spine #1 (they reset the spine numbers for DVD but not BD, don't expect it for UHDBD either). There may be complications with the UK however; Universal used to own Kane there (though its latest UK release was by WB), UHDBD isn't supposed to have region coding, and I doubt the unauthorized region locks on Weathering With You U.S., etc. will fly with the BDA on Criterion UHDBDs, meaning Criterion may want to be assured of clear rights to Kane in both countries (not an issue with IHON).

I imagine this has been discussed before, but is the lack of region coding for the UHD format possibly a reason they haven't made the jump to the format? Aren't most of their blu-rays region locked (unlike some other companies like Vinegar Syndrome which tend to release region free discs)?