The Criterion Collection

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Actually, I'd argue that Don Siegel is best know for one of his early flicks: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

I'd argue you're crazy!

Dirty Harry must be by far the better known movie!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by dorothyv

The release of Breaking the Waves fills that quota for me (and it is being released 10 days before my birthday). I assume that it will be the original version of the film, and not the censored version that was released on U.S. dvd.

That's a good question. Criterion's site entry doesn't specifically say. The running time for the BD/DVD release given on the site is 159 minutes. The original European cut, which Criterion released on LD back in the late 90s, is 153 minutes.

At any rate, LvT worked with Criterion on this release (as well as the original LD release), so it should be what he intended.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

That was always there no? I googled it, and I found an article from 2008 with nearly identical wording

Well, it wasn't always there.

The original DVD release in 1998 (and the LD release in 1993) did not include the short. The short was added to the DVD in 2003, when Criterion released the Antoine Doinel set. Every subsequent individual release of The 400 Blows (the Essential Art House edition, the 2006 DVD reissue, and the 2009 Blu-ray) have not included the short.

In short (pun not intended), out of the six times that Criterion has released The 400 Blows, the short appears on only one of the releases.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Swift1246

What i find most interesting about the press release is that on the description of the films themselves, when naming the actor or director, other films they have done are referenced that all belong in the criterion collection... Notice emily watson's reference for punch drunk love. I know that has been rumored for some time now, and i think this just serves as another solid hint that we will see it soon.

Possibly. Or possibly they just used that title because (a) she doesn't appear in anything that Criterion has previous released, and (b) it's a Sony title, and they are now (somewhat) in business with Sony.

Note that for the Il sorpasso announcement, they mention the original Scent of a Woman (Profumo di donna) for Dino Risi, which hasn't been released by them before and hasn't even been rumored for a future release.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by spanky87

Does every month have an even amount of Criterion releases and does a re-release like 400 Blows take one of those spots or is it an extra?

There's no perfect consistency. Typically, there are four new -- that is, new to Criterion (not counting laserdisc) -- titles per month. That's pretty consistent. There will also be one or two upgrades.

A non-upgraded dual-format re-release definitely won't take the place of a "new" title, but it might well be taking the place of an upgrade. Hard to say, as there have, so far, been only two non-upgraded dual-format re-releases announced so far. Breathless didn't eliminate upgrades completely for February, as there is an upgrade for Jules and Jim that month as well. For April, there's the one non-upgrade dual-format re-release and no upgrades.

It's up to you whether you want to see a pattern in that, but it's too early to say if there is a pattern.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Actually, I'd argue that Don Siegel is best know for one of his early flicks: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I'd argue you're crazy!

Dirty Harry must be by far the better known movie!

Possibly. I'm not sure how the hell one could come up with supporting evidence for either assertion, though.

My assertion is based on the idea that IotBS was considered a classic film, and in the American consciousness, before Dirty Harry even existed. But that's neither here nor there. The point wasn't what the best known films are, but which film(s) Don Siegel is best known for. I suspect (and yes, it's only a suspicion) that if you ask a random set of film fans what movies Siegel has directed, you'll get more "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" responses than "Dirty Harry" responses.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by jayembee

My assertion is based on the idea that IotBS was considered a classic film, and in the American consciousness, before Dirty Harry even existed.

So which film is better known, The Hangover or Invasion of the Body Snatchers?

Invasion was considered a classic film, and in the American consciousness, before The Hangover even existed...

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Actually, I'd argue that Don Siegel is best know for one of his early flicks: Invasion of the Body Snatchers

A fair point, since that happens to be one of my favorite films. I'd venture to guess, however, that Don Siegel's collaborations with Clint Eastwood are the most universally-recognized films in his canon. When I mentioned that Siegel's early films are equally amazing, I was thinking of Invasion of the Body Snatchers along with the other early works.

As it turns out, I have two more Don Siegel films coming to my doorstep soon, because The Big Steal and Crime in the Streets are respectively included in the DVD sets, Film Noir Classic Collection Volumes 4 and 5.

I'll be ready for Riot in Cell Block 11 in April, yessiree.

[Edward J Grug III]

I'd also argue if you asked random people which film Don Siegel is best known for, most will say, 'Who is Don Siegel?'

Also, for example, Dirty Harry has been rated by 92,356 users on IMDB, Invasion only 26,226 users.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by jayembee

The point wasn't what the best known films are, but which film(s) Don Siegel is best known for. I suspect (and yes, it's only a suspicion) that if you ask a random set of film fans what movies Siegel has directed, you'll get more "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" responses than "Dirty Harry" responses.

Hmmm, interesting (and yeah, largely unanswerable) question.

If I had to guess I'd say that Body Snatchers wasn't a 'directed by' kind of movie. I mean, how many people could tell you off the top of their head who directed The Blob?

Dirty Harry probably wasn't much different in that regard but I think in general directors got more attention in the 70s so I might lean that way.

But really, a random set of film fans would probably just say 'Don who' or ask if you were talking about the guy from Just Shoot Me so...

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

I'd also argue if you asked random people which film Don Siegel is best known for, most will say, 'Who is Don Siegel?'

Perhaps. But how would that support the idea that he'd be better known for Dirty Harry? If a random person doesn't know who Siegel is, he wouldn't be known for any of his films. Which makes the whole issue pointless.

While we're arguing, I'd also argue that if you asked people who directed Dirty Harry, you'd probably get more "Clint Eastwood" responses than "Don Siegel" responses. Because, seriously, if Dirty Harry is a well-known film, it's well-known as a Clint Eastwood film, not as a Don Siegel film.

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Perhaps. But how would that support the idea that he'd be better known for Dirty Harry? If a random person doesn't know who Siegel is, he wouldn't be known for any of his films. Which makes the whole issue pointless.

While we're arguing, I'd also argue that if you asked people who directed Dirty Harry, you'd probably get more "Clint Eastwood" responses than "Don Siegel" responses. Because, seriously, if Dirty Harry is a well-known film, it's well-known as a Clint Eastwood film, not as a Don Siegel film.

Just to wade in with my two cents, I'm also certain the average man on the street would have no idea who Don Siegel is these days, he was simply not that kind of director. He was just a good, solid, no-nonsense workmanlike filmmaker without the flashiness of a Hitchcock. I would agree that most people identify Dirty Harry as simply a "Clint Eastwood" movie with no thought given as to who actually directed it, in fact many people would probably think he directed it himself.

That being said, if we're talking about the films themselves, I would say that, again, the man on the street would identify Dirty Harry as the more famous film, however, amongst cinephiles I would say it's a toss up as to which is the more "classic" one.

[chris_sc77]

Just saw the announcements. I have gotta get breaking the waves asap.
Very good announcement and the features look great.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by chris_sc77

Just saw the announcements. I have gotta get breaking the waves asap.
Very good announcement and the features look great.

April is so far away :'(......

[joie]

Some (most?) directors may be more managers than artists. It's easier for me to say that a manager has a career than an oeuvre.

[Banned User]

Originally Posted by smoss469

Il Sorpasso looks interesting and Riot In Cell Block 11 sounds like it could be an entertaining film, but Master of the House? Not sure how entertaining what sounds like a silent family drama would be. .

Master of the House was Dreyer's most successful film at the box office and it is because of this film he was able to later make Passion of Joan of Arc. I've never been let down by a Dreyer film so I'll be getting this day one. Now if we could get a HD treatment of Vampyre. Maybe two cuts with the scene of the staking of the vampire put back in and any other scenes that might have been found since the last restoration effort.

I'm very excited to see the film myself.

Originally Posted by TCM

Later critics have pointed to Master of the House as an influence on or at least a precursor of both the realistic French comedies of the '30s and the Italian neo-realism of the '40s and '50s. In France, the film was so popular it played in 57 theatres in Paris during one three-week period. The film's success there prompted French investors to bankroll what would become Dreyer's greatest film, The Passion of Joan of Arc.

http://www.tcm.com/this-month/articl...r-of-the-House

Personally I don't care for this dual format release stuff. Especially with the larger boxsets. Seems like a waste of space for something I will never watch. I'd be curious how good their sales were for DVD's that already had Bluray releases. I like to think most people who buy Criterion are already cinema lovers and as such most would always prefer the best possible presentation of a film and would buy Bluray if available. Of course now with the dual format there will be no way for them to determine if they should just drop DVD because of low sales.

[Halation]

Originally Posted by smoss469

but Master of the House? Not sure how entertaining what sounds like a silent family drama would be.

please kill yourself posthaste

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by octagon

At best this is a right church, wrong pew situation. The comments and reactions in this thread have been very measured this month.

'Nothing for me this month' is about as scathing as the reactions got. It's not like villagers are gathering torches and pitchforks.

I agree with octagon... disappointment was expressed rather respectfully this month. There have been past titles that have piqued my interest and one way of gauging the community's excitement or opinions on a particular title is to go back on this thread and read the comments expressed by members when the film's release was announced. I have read some extremely immature comments and I am glad to say that people are rather well behaved these days.

[A Sith Lord?]

400 Blows is a great great great buy.

[Gothemtry66]

I am wanting to buy a Steelbook Blu Ray of Evil Dead and It says its region free so im wondering if it will play on my ps3.