The Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

I see the Mexican film Aventurera (The Adventurers) (1950) also lists Janus Films in their credits.

https://www.academymuseum.org/en/pro...7-05677e7430fd

Restoration World Premiere

Widely considered the greatest film in Mexico’s singular rumbera genre, Aventurera is a pitch-black film noir punctuated by Afro-Caribbean musical numbers. Cuban-born dancer-singer Ninón Sevilla stars as a proper young lady who, within ten minutes, witnesses a parent’s suicide, is sold into prostitution, and transformed into a nightclub sensation. Through these hairpin turns; the rules of female portrayal are rewritten. Elegantly rendered in inky black-and-white by legendary Golden Age of Mexican Cinema cinematographer Alex Phillips, Aventurera is a razor-sharp indictment of bourgeois society.

Note by Academy Museum Senior Director, Film Programs Bernardo Rondeau.
DIRECTED BY: Alberto Gout. WRITTEN BY: Alvaro Custodio, Carlos Sampelayo. CAST: Ninón Sevilla, Tito Junco, Andrea Palma, Rubén Rojo. 1950. 101 min. Mexico. B&W. Spanish. DCP. New restoration by Permanencia Voluntaria and Cinema Preservation Alliance from original camera negative, provided by Cineteca Nacional de Mexico, with the support of the Academy Film Archive and Janus Films.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.

edit: Also the film "Daily Rains with Drylongso" which says it was restored by Criterion

https://www.academymuseum.org/en/pro...with-drylongso

Using the language of structural filmmaking, Southern California-born multimedia artist, filmmaker, and educator Cauleen Smith (b. 1967) has created some of the most indelible explorations of the female Black experience in the American avant-garde. Drawing from science fiction and Third Cinema, and rooted in an inquisition of truth, her more than 30 short- and long-form works bring to light the vulnerabilities of Black women in America, which are often silenced or rendered invisible. Completed while studying for her Bachelor’s in Creative Arts at San Francisco State University, Daily Rains is a measured, poetic work that confronts head-on the micro- and macro-aggressions faced by young Black women. Shot in West Oakland, her early coming-of-age feature Drylongso follows teen artist Pica on her quest to take photos of young African American men, whom she fears are becoming an increasingly “endangered species.”

Note by Academy Museum Associate Director, Film Programs K.J. Relth-Miller.
Daily Rains | Restoration World Premiere
DIRECTED BY: Cauleen Smith. WITH: Bridget Goodman, Dorian Sylvain, Tracey Williams, Candance Renee Green. 1990. 13 min. USA. Color. English. 16mm. Restored by the Academy Film Archive.
Drylongso | Los Angeles Restoration Premiere
DIRECTED BY: Cauleen Smith. WRITTEN BY: Cauleen Smith, Salim Akil. WITH: Toby Smith, April Barnett, Will Power, Channel Schafer. 1998. 86 min. USA. Color. English. 4K DCP. Restored by the Criterion Collection, Janus Films, and the Academy Film Archive. Supervised by Cauleen Smith.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.

[Nori]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

What Japanese title did you suggest if you don't mind me asking?

Looking their old releases on DVD out of each 100 releases or so, ten were Japanese, so that output was pretty good. Obviously their horizons have expanded since then, but I do miss that 10% of Japanese output.

It was for Chuushingura (1962) by Hiroshi Inagaki.

I’m pretty sure they loved Japanese movies. New owners are more diversified in their tastes I think. As a fan of Japanese movies I find it unfortunate at times, but they do put out plenty of great titles anyway.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by Nori

It was for Chuushingura (1962) by Hiroshi Inagaki.

I’m pretty sure they loved Japanese movies. New owners are more diversified in their tastes I think. As a fan of Japanese movies I find it unfortunate at times, but they do put out plenty of great titles anyway.

Oh that would be a great one. Just finished watching The Fall of Ako Castle and had the urge to watch this one again. That would make for an excellent release.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Nori

It was for Chuushingura (1962) by Hiroshi Inagaki.

That's my favorite film ..I had put in a request for it via email several years back. It does seem to be underappreciated for some reason, despite being from a well known director, being one of the best adaptations of the 47 Ronin story, and having a stellar cast (including smaller roles from Mifune, and Takashi Shumura among others). I'm unaware of any restoration work that has been done for it, so I think even if Criterion did have interest in it, there might not be anything to put out on BD.

[tatterdemalion]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

That's my favorite film ..I had put in a request for it via email several years back. It does seems to be underappreciated for some reason, despite being from a well known director, being one of the best adaptations of the 47 Ronin story, and having a stellar cast (including smaller roles from Mifune, and Takashi Shumura among others). I'm unaware of any restoration work that has been done for it, so I think even if Criterion did have interest in it, there might not be anything to put out on BD.

I still have my old two VHS version of this. At least it was WS. A long time ago I did a download of Mizoguchi's 1940's version which I know Criterion owns. Both would be great in HD at some point. I expect it to be May, 29th, 2133., in Rollovision!

[alexrinse]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

You're right, that is strange. It's possible that it could be an error made by the person who uploaded the information to the website.

I think they must have meant Raquel, Raquel.

Newman isn't in that one.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by alexrinse

I think they must have meant Raquel, Raquel.

Newman isn't in that one.

Or Rochelle, Rochelle

[trobrianders]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Bob Stein, and his wife Aleen Stein were two of the founders of Voyager Company, and Criterion, but as far as I know they stopped having direct involvement in the 90's. Perhaps around the time Peter Becker took over. I believe Aleen (and maybe Bob) still retains her ownership stake in Criterion. If you can point me to a source that says she (and/or Bob) sold that off more recently, or anything related to there being new owners beyond the changes in the 90's I'd love to see it.

The fact remains that the people that almost certainly determine what Criterion releases, Becker, Turell, and Kline, have been there for 30+ years. Playing devil's advocate however, even if there were some new owners, it would be extremely unlikely that they would have much sway on what Criterion releases, and even more unlikely that such owner(s) would have stated that vocally.

So where did this come from? Ultimately it sounds like one big conspiracy theory by people trying to rationalize why Criterion hasn't released as many Japanese films as they have in the past. It's not that hard to understand why this is the case though, considering they've expanded their reach into world cinema beyond the major countries they featured during the DVD days. Films from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Iran, various countries in Africa, and many others. Plus they're addressing their blind-spots with female directors, and films from black directors. Plus, they're releasing more modern films, and indie films, and films from streaming services. Plus they're also releasing 4K films. Plus you have to factor whether a master is up to snuff for Blu-ray (which many Japanese films often cited are not). And these are just a few of the many factors that could go into choosing a film for one of the coveted slots during any given month. It's really not that hard to see why there isn't as big a focus on Japanese films, or even French, or Italian films for that matter.

I think top-heavy, media-propelled western culture is definitely turning on the notion of private property (the very thing that allowed free cinema to flourish). Hence the constant crowing about why are Criterion this or why aren't Criterion that? Everybody needs to get it straight; Criterion is not a public utility. It does as it pleases.

I sometimes wonder if there's some middle ground a self-proclaimed curator of "important classic and contemporary film" could tread. Think of how the cooperative that is Magnum Photos has managed Cartier-Bresson's legacy for example.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

That's my favorite film ..I had put in a request for it via email several years back. It does seem to be underappreciated for some reason, despite being from a well known director, being one of the best adaptations of the 47 Ronin story, and having a stellar cast (including smaller roles from Mifune, and Takashi Shumura among others). I'm unaware of any restoration work that has been done for it, so I think even if Criterion did have interest in it, there might not be anything to put out on BD.

My fave too!

[alexrinse]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Or Rochelle, Rochelle

Drat, a faulty memory completely tanked my joke!

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by alexrinse

Drat, a faulty memory completely tanked my joke!

I actually went and checked up on Raquel, Raquel. Made me look!

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Or Rochelle, Rochelle

I remember renting that on VHS, a young girl's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I remember renting that on VHS, a young girl's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

I saw the Broadway adaptation once. It was disappointing that Bette Midler's understudy was on that night.

[Bradsdadg]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I remember renting that on VHS, a young girl's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

I remember trying to see it in the theater, but the show was sold out that weekend. Had to settle for Prognosis Negative...

[JupiterMission]

Originally Posted by PacMan3000

And surely, the titles you enjoy were preventing good films by black filmmakers from getting into Criterion to begin with. So I'm happy with the change. It's overdue. If a company claims to love and respect film, you shouldn't have to be scolded by the NYT to know that Hollywood Shuffle is a great movie or Marlon Riggs made excellent, probing documentaries. But if you're not going to do the right thing on your own, sometimes you need to be called out for screwing up.

And thankfully, that's what happened.

Do the Right Thing came out in 2019 though. Well before the NYT piece.

[Show spoiler]I contemplated not posting this for more than a day and ultimately decided the thread deserved it.

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

I actually went and checked up on Raquel, Raquel. Made me look!

Ah, yes, the musical about a woman that doesn't move her arms when she tap dances. Starring Raquel Welch.

[regeyer]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

I remember renting that on VHS, a young girl's strange erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I saw the Broadway adaptation once. It was disappointing that Bette Midler's understudy was on that night.

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

I remember trying to see it in the theater, but the show was sold out that weekend. Had to settle for Prognosis Negative...

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Ah, yes, the musical about a woman that doesn't move her arms when she tap dances. Starring Raquel Welch.

[hoytereden]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I saw the Broadway adaptation once. It was disappointing that Bette Midler's understudy was on that night.

I went too. Sat behind a group of Korean women who complained (loudly) all through the performance.

Originally Posted by Bradsdadg

I remember trying to see it in the theater, but the show was sold out that weekend. Had to settle for Prognosis Negative...

Same here. My second choice Sack Lunch was also sold out. I got stuck with The English Patient.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by JupiterMission

Do the Right Thing came out in 2019 though. Well before the NYT piece.

[Show spoiler]I contemplated not posting this for more than a day and ultimately decided the thread deserved it.

Alas, that wasn't good enough. It never is and demonstrates why such holier-than-thou people should be ignored. The only genuine thing about all this is that Criterion is a very decent company run by good people who didn't deserve such a hit job article.

[JupiterMission]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

Alas, that wasn't good enough. It never is and demonstrates why such holier-than-thou people should be ignored. The only genuine thing about all this is that Criterion is a very decent company run by good people who didn't deserve such a hit job article.

I just meant it as a joke since Pacman had said, "if you're not going to do the right thing on your own," however I completely agree.