The Criterion Collection

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Does anyone know why there are no Werner Herzog films in the collection? They have Burden of Dreams, but that's a Les Blank film. It seems like a no-brainer to give his films the Criterion treatment. Has Criterion just not been able to or not wanted to acquire the rights to any of his films? Is it Herzog himself who's opposed to being part of the collection? What's the story here?

They've just about all been released by Shout and BFI, so why would Criterion need to release any?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

Does anyone know why there are no Werner Herzog films in the collection? They have Burden of Dreams, but that's a Les Blank film. It seems like a no-brainer to give his films the Criterion treatment. Has Criterion just not been able to or not wanted to acquire the rights to any of his films? Is it Herzog himself who's opposed to being part of the collection? What's the story here?

Shout! Factory has released most, if not all of his films across two sets.

[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Shout! Factory had released 28 of his films, including pretty much every major film of his, across two sets.

I have that first set and will be getting the second one, but there are still many films that aren't in those sets and it's odd that Criterion hasn't released any. Especially when they've released so many Fassbinder and Wenders films.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

I have that first set and will be getting the second one, but there are still many films that aren't in those sets and it's odd that Criterion hasn't released any. Especially when they've released so many Fassbinder and Wenders films.

Many? Can you provide a list of his feature length films that haven't been released on Blu-ray. By my count there are only three, Scream of Stone (1991), Queen of the Desert (2015) and Family Romance, LLC (2019). Not really counting his documentaries, though SF has including some of his more notable ones I can't imagine Criterion having a huge interest in just releasing his documentary films.. I'm sure if SF didn't get the rights to most of his feature-film filmography, Criterion likely would have picked it up, and put out a set of their own.

[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Many? Can you provide a list of his feature length films that haven't been released on Blu-ray. By my count there are only three, Scream of Stone (1991), Queen of the Desert (2015) and Family Romance, LLC (2019)

I never said there are many that haven't gotten a BD release, I said that there are many not in those sets. Nor did I ask why so many haven't been released on BD in general. My question was why Criterion never released any.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

I never said there are many that haven't gotten a BD release, I said that there are many not in those sets. Nor did I ask why so many haven't been released on BD in general. My question was why Criterion never released any.

The vast majority of his feature-film filmography has been released by SF. You either need to check his list of feature films, or check the sets. I just did, and I can tell you, outside of some his more modern stuff like Rescue Dawn, or Port of Call, Shout Factory has tackled mostly every non-documentary feature-film he's done.

[CinemaBlu]

So the reason Criterion never released any is that Shout just beat them to it?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CinemaBlu

So the reason Criterion never released any is that Shout just beat them to it?

In essence yes, Shout Factory made a deal to acquire the Herzog Collection in 2013. Criterion couldn't get the rights prior to that as they were held by another studio that they didn't do business with.

SHOUT! FACTORY ACQUIRES THE WERNER HERZOG COLLECTION

Over the past year, the two Werner Herzog DVD box sets that Starz / Anchor Bay released went out of print, and speculation began as to where the rights might land. Many hoped that Criterion would pick up the rights to the discs, and Janus might get the theatrical rights. The BFI is currently touring new restorations in the UK, and I cannot wait to see these films on the big screen for the first time.

Our dear friends at Shout! Factory just sent out a press release revealing that they picked up the rights to Herzog’s films, and are planning “an aggressive rollout of these cinema classics through physical home entertainment releases and a variety of digital entertainment distribution platforms” which will surely make all of his fans happy. Shout! Factory has been doing an incredible job with all of the catalog titles that they’ve picked up over the past few years, and their Scream Factory line of horror films now has an army of die hard fans.

From the press release:

"Shout! Factory and Werner Herzog Film GMBH announced an exclusive, multi-picture alliance to bring a coveted library of classic films by legendary writer/director/producer Werner Herzog, currently being re-mastered in high-definition for new edition releases in North America. The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory’s founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos, and filmmaker Werner Herzog.

This multi-year alliance provides Shout! Factory extensive rights to 16 highly sought-after Werner Herzog films and documentaries, including digital distribution, home video and broadcast for cross-platform releases. Award-winning and critically acclaimed features include FITZCARRALDO, AGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD, NOSFERATU THE VAMPYRE, THE ENIGMA OF KASPAR HAUSER, WOYZECK, HEART OF GLASS, COBRA VERDE, STROSZEK, FATA MORGANA, LITTLE DIETER NEEDS TO FLY, LESSONS OF DARKNESS, BALLAD OF THE LITTLE SOLDIER, LAND OF SILENCE AND DARKNESS, as well as several other acclaimed titles.

“Werner Herzog is a filmmaking icon and a celebrated master storyteller. He holds an incredibly rich legacy in cinematic history worldwide. Many of his memorable classics have been long-out-of print in the North American home entertainment marketplace. We are honored with this opportunity to bring these iconic films to movie collectors and legions of fans on digital entertainment platforms and at retail,” stated Shout! Factory’s founders in a joint statement.

“I am very proud to start this new collaboration with Shout! Factory and, given the outstanding reputation of Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos, I am confident that our joint efforts to bring my films to the North American public again in brand new HD quality will be hugely satisfying and rewarding.” Werner Herzog

[CinemaBlu]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

In essence yes, Shout Factory made a deal to acquire the Herzog Collection in 2013. Criterion couldn't get the rights prior to that as they were held by another studio that they didn't do business with.

Thank you. That answers my question.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Many? Can you provide a list of his feature length films that haven't been released on Blu-ray. By my count there are only three, Scream of Stone (1991), Queen of the Desert (2015) and Family Romance, LLC (2019). Not really counting his documentaries, though SF has including some of his more notable ones I can't imagine Criterion having a huge interest in just releasing his documentary films.. I'm sure if SF didn't get the rights to most of his feature-film filmography, Criterion likely would have picked it up, and put out a set of their own.

Shout actually released "Queen of the Desert" as a stand alone blu ray. I have it.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

Shout actually released "Queen of the Desert" as a stand alone blu ray. I have it.

Oh, okay, thanks. I was cross-checking with the sets, so I missed that one.

[Yami]

If we even presume that Criterion were interested in Herzog's catalog when it was on the market, it seems unlikely that they would have offered an "aggressive rollout" and relatively quick release of 16 films considering how long we know they tend to sit on rights after they acquire them. Which is probably why Shout would have seemed like a more attractive partner to Herzog, if there was even a bidding process.

[cupboy]

Anyone ever heard of a Criterion Blu-ray going bad with some sort of bronzing? I sold a Walkabout Criterion on eBay and some guy wants to return it claiming that. Seems like obvious fraud to me. Should be interesting to see what I get back. Obviously it won't be the disc I sent out.

It's been awhile since I played it because I upgraded to the Second Sight back when that one first came out. I'll be sure to check discs in the future. Who knows, maybe it really did go bad but I have never had a Blu-ray go bad ever and I've bought several hundred of them ever since the format was first introduced.

[CRASHLANDING]

Originally Posted by cupboy

Anyone ever heard of a Criterion Blu-ray going bad with some sort of bronzing? I sold a Walkabout Criterion on eBay and some guy wants to return it claiming that. Seems like obvious fraud to me. Should be interesting to see what I get back. Obviously it won't be the disc I sent out.

It's been awhile since I played it because I upgraded to the Second Sight back when that one first came out. I'll be sure to check discs in the future. Who knows, maybe it really did go bad but I have never had a Blu-ray go bad ever and I've bought several hundred of them ever since the format was first introduced.

Yeah, this was a pretty widely publicized problem a few years back, which Criterion acknowledged and was offering replacements. Walkabout was on the list:

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...e-discshttp://

[cupboy]

Originally Posted by CRASHLANDING

Yeah, this was a pretty widely publicized problem a few years back, which Criterion acknowledged and was offering replacements. Walkabout was on the list:

https://www.criterion.com/current/po...e-discshttp://

Very interesting. Thank you!

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by cupboy

Anyone ever heard of a Criterion Blu-ray going bad with some sort of bronzing? I sold a Walkabout Criterion on eBay and some guy wants to return it claiming that. Seems like obvious fraud to me. Should be interesting to see what I get back. Obviously it won't be the disc I sent out.

Did you just sell it recently? (I'm imagining some guy you sold the disc to three years ago getting back to you now expecting you to solve his problem years later!)

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by Yami

If we even presume that Criterion were interested in Herzog's catalog when it was on the market, it seems unlikely that they would have offered an "aggressive rollout" and relatively quick release of 16 films considering how long we know they tend to sit on rights after they acquire them. Which is probably why Shout would have seemed like a more attractive partner to Herzog, if there was even a bidding process.

Actually, a closer variation of this was rumored from many years ago.

In the early DVD era, late 90s, it is said that Criterion were then interested in certain Herzog titles, and that they'd made this public knowledge. They had apparently made an offer for a few select titles. Anchor Bay was then thriving in the early DVD era, as one of the earliest boutique labels to start releasing restored versions of long lost art house and grindhouse types of films. Anchor Bay beat Criterion to the punch, and offered a substantial sum for a large library of Herzog titles, all at once. Herzog found their offer more attractive. This apparently made Criterion a bit miffed, and was one of the reasons that, early on, they started stating all the time that they would never reveal titles they were interested in or planning until they were basically a done deal and ready to release. They started their now-famous three month announcement window. I don't think Criterion have been particularly interested in dealing with Herzog since then.

Later, when the titles were ready for blu ray, apparently (again, rumored) Herzog offered Criterion first dibs on them. Criterion apparently passed, saying the transfers were no good. LOL

This is all just legendary internet mumbo jumbo, so I don't have any evidence. Though it is weird that they've never released any Herzog....

[jshaide]

Been going through these Herzog sets (and Herzog's catalogue) during the last month, and I do wish those sets had the three earlier shorts (and Handicapped Futures) that are on the BFI set. I hold out hopes for a third volume, though to fill in some gaps!

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by jshaide

Been going through these Herzog sets (and Herzog's catalogue) during the last month, and I do wish those sets had the three earlier shorts (and Handicapped Futures) that are on the BFI set. I hold out hopes for a third volume, though to fill in some gaps!

I got the BFI set, also. Plus both Shout sets.

Of course, there's one short Herzog says we'll never see. I've seen one still from it (not sure how it got online). But he claims we will never see it.

I'd love to get "Scream of Stone", though, that's one big glaring missing one.

[mazzyhope815]

Originally Posted by drush9999

Contact Criterion, I've had replacement discs shipped from New York to my UK address directly. So hopefully they can sort something.

They did end up sending me a replacement disc to my UK address. Good of them to make it right.