The Criterion Collection

[joie]

From a NY Times article, "John Cassavetes, Laughing Last," by Manohla Dargis and published September 26, 2004:

... Inspired by a workshop improvisation about race, Cassavetes began shooting his first feature in February, 1957, two years before the French New Wave became an international phenomenon. Bankrolled by family, friends and strangers, using borrowed equipment, including some on loan from the pioneering independent filmmaker Shirley Clarke, and with the aid of a documentary cameraman, Cassavetes hit the New York streets running.

Four years later "Shadows" opened in New York for its regular domestic run. By then, Cassavetes had radically reworked the movie after a few free screenings that, as the filmmaker put it, emptied the theaters of everyone but the critic Jonas Mekas. Mr. Mekas wrote that he had seen the future of American cinema in the film's immediacy and freedom; he stated with equal passion that Cassavetes essentially sold out with the second version, which he reviled as a "bastardized, hybrid movie." It was this version that was screened to acclaim at the Venice film festival, that was embraced by the British critics and that at last opened in the United States. (The writer and Boston University professor Ray Carney claims to have rediscovered the first version, which isn't included in the DVD box.) ...

The "DVD box" the article refers to is Criterion's box of several years ago. Does the Blu-ray set have the original "Shadows" or both?

[Mansinthe]

Originally Posted by CriterionJunkie

Are you from Germany, Mansinthe? Or an american in Germany? Because I live part of my time there and here in the states. I've had the same problem with ordering some specific items like Criterion! So, I'd pick up most of my stuff here and bring it back with me later!

im from Germany
lot of "newer" criterions went down in price@ amazon, at least a little bit

[MifuneFan]

It's too bad the French digibook edition for Le Samourai sucks so much. I think the cover art is awesome, and it just dropped to its lowest price to date

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's too bad the French digibook edition for Le Samourai sucks so much. I think the cover art is awesome, and it just dropped to its lowest price to date

Hopefully Criterion aren't under some awful contractual agreement to release the same transfer for their release. It had to be the issue with the BLUs for Children of Paradise and Earrings of Madame De... Honestly I bet they do not like having those transfers released. It must suck to have your hands tied to inferior product.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

It's too bad the French digibook edition for Le Samourai sucks so much. I think the cover art is awesome, and it just dropped to its lowest price to date

If you're going to go with one of those, go with the 2012 French Pathe Blu-ray in the Amaray case, since where were mild improvements made to the picture quality (but not nearly enough improvements).

I'm glad that I satiated my curiosity by purchasing the 2012 French Blu-ray of Le Samouraï, but the Criterion DVD is the better viewing experience.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

If you're going to go with one of those, go with the 2012 French Pathe Blu-ray in the Amaray case, since where were mild improvements made to the picture quality (but not nearly enough improvements).

I never knew this info... that is still too bad they didn't have someone who could show them the light and let them release something that looked like film.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I never knew this info... that is still too bad they didn't have someone who could show them the light and let them release something that looked like film.

Here's a screencap comparison of the 2011 French Blu-Ray of Le Samouraï and the 2012 re-release.

Still a long way to go, picture quality-wise. I did not see any grain whatsoever. Some scenes look pretty good, but Alain Delon's face looks like a wax museum face. The blonde hat check girl in the club is robbed of detail, and that's not good, because I like her the best.

[SammyJankis]

Sheesh, you guys weren't kidding with the accents in Kes. I would read the subtitles and just be baffled that that's what was coming out of their mouths.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Sheesh, you guys weren't kidding with the accents in Kes. I would read the subtitles and just be baffled that that's what was coming out of their mouths.

At least you watched it with subtitles. I seriously did not know how to turn them on when I watched it.

I still cried like my little cousin at the Bieber concert. Only a soulless grunt wouldn't be moved by that movie

[bluesilo]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Sheesh, you guys weren't kidding with the accents in Kes. I would read the subtitles and just be baffled that that's what was coming out of their mouths.

I couldn't watch the movie. The accents threw me too far. I wish the subtitles weren't so literal since they distracted me as well. I ended up selling it and I'm not sure I'll ever see it.

[joie]

Originally Posted by joie

From a NY Times article, "John Cassavetes, Laughing Last," by Manohla Dargis and published September 26, 2004:

... Inspired by a workshop improvisation about race, Cassavetes began shooting his first feature in February, 1957, two years before the French New Wave became an international phenomenon. Bankrolled by family, friends and strangers, using borrowed equipment, including some on loan from the pioneering independent filmmaker Shirley Clarke, and with the aid of a documentary cameraman, Cassavetes hit the New York streets running.

Four years later "Shadows" opened in New York for its regular domestic run. By then, Cassavetes had radically reworked the movie after a few free screenings that, as the filmmaker put it, emptied the theaters of everyone but the critic Jonas Mekas. Mr. Mekas wrote that he had seen the future of American cinema in the film's immediacy and freedom; he stated with equal passion that Cassavetes essentially sold out with the second version, which he reviled as a "bastardized, hybrid movie." It was this version that was screened to acclaim at the Venice film festival, that was embraced by the British critics and that at last opened in the United States. (The writer and Boston University professor Ray Carney claims to have rediscovered the first version, which isn't included in the DVD box.) ...

The "DVD box" the article refers to is Criterion's box of several years ago. Does the Blu-ray set have the original "Shadows" or both?

Wikepedia's entry has a runtime of 78 minutes for the first version (1957) and 87 minutes for the second version (1959). Wikipedia does mention the "alternative version," presumably the 1957 release, discovered in 2004. BFI and Criterion releases (on this site) show a 1959 release date and runtime of 82 minutes. Is anything on the internet reliable?

Edit: Here is The quest for the first version of Shadows and Ray Carney's discovery.

Edit: My impression is that BFI and Criterion are offering the second version of Shadows.

[Scottie]

I just finished watching "And Everything Is Going Fine" and I was really surprised by it. I went in expecting to hate it because not only is Soderbergh very hit or miss for me, but seeing a bunch of monologues sounded rather uninteresting. However, I was really interested in it throughout and thought it was handled nicely.

[jrsl76]

Originally Posted by joie

Wikepedia's entry has a runtime of 78 minutes for the first version (1957) and 87 minutes for the second version (1959). Wikipedia does mention the "alternative version," presumably the 1957 release, discovered in 2004. BFI and Criterion releases (on this site) show a 1959 release date and runtime of 82 minutes. Is anything on the internet reliable?

Edit: Here is The quest for the first version of Shadows and Ray Carney's discovery.

Edit: My impression is that BFI and Criterion are offering the second version of Shadows.

It includes the second version. At the time if the box set's release, it was to originally have both versions and commentaries by Carney. This was lost and it seemed as if Gena Rowland's participation and support of the project was contingent upon it.

[Ausjdm]

My friend had a copy of CC version of My Private Idaho. Saw it last night. I thought it was ok I liked the second half. I just wish it didn't use so many Shakespearian angles. Maybe I was expecting a more gritty street life angle...

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching To Be or Not to Be, and am now watching the Kalat commentary track.

I'll write more later, but I loved every minute of this film. To Be or Not to Be still shows real nerve with its comedy, and there are a few lines that got some double takes from this viewer. At the same time, it works quite well on different terms as a dramatic thriller.

I had a good sixth sense feeling about this particular title, and I'm glad that I followed through with that gut feeling for this blind buy.

A great great great double feature with Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.

[SammyJankis]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

At least you watched it with subtitles. I seriously did not know how to turn them on when I watched it.

I still cried like my little cousin at the Bieber concert. Only a soulless grunt wouldn't be moved by that movie

I was definitely moved, but I'm a sucker for this kind of stuff.

When they first started talking, all I could hear were slurs. I went back and forth with the original sync and the post-production sync and it didn't help at all. I thought you guys were exaggerating, but nope.

[smoss469]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I just finished watching To Be or Not to Be, and am now watching the Kalat commentary track.

I'll write more later, but I loved every minute of this film. To Be or Not to Be still shows real nerve with its comedy, and there are a few lines that got some double takes from this viewer. At the same time, it works quite well on different terms as a dramatic thriller.

I had a good sixth sense feeling about this particular title, and I'm glad that I followed through with that gut feeling for this blind buy.

A great great great double feature with Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.

Sounds interesting. I've never seen the original but I have seen the Mel Brooks version which sounds like a pseudo remake and was pretty enjoyable.

[Ctzalman]

Originally Posted by joie

Does the Blu-ray set have the original "Shadows" or both?

supposedly there was some controversy/drama between carney and gena rowlands which led to the suppression of the original release of 'shadows.' i don't know all of the details, but i read something along the lines of rowlands threatening to scrap the whole box set if criterion used any of carney's material.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Hopefully Criterion aren't under some awful contractual agreement to release the same transfer for their release. It had to be the issue with the BLUs for Children of Paradise and Earrings of Madame De... Honestly I bet they do not like having those transfers released. It must suck to have your hands tied to inferior product.

According to the head of Gaumont video, Criterion were pleased with Madame De... and even phoned to thank the restoration team. They also have the ability to refuse transfers and have done so in the past.

[spanky87]

I'm going to have to go with the shorter English language version of Europe 51 since it features Bergman's real voice.

Am I missing much with the extra 6 minutes in the Italian language version of Europa 51?