The Criterion Collection

[theater dreamer]

I'll tell you all one film I would absolutely love to have Criterion add to their roster, and that's The Asphalt Jungle. Just finished watching it again, and it's unfathomable to me how this John Huston classic has never been issued on Blu-ray. While some of his best-known works, The African Queen, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, and The Maltese Falcon have received multiple releases, it seems to me that this film has somehow slipped through the cracks. And, in my humble opinion, it ranks right up there with his best films.

It's fantastic noir. The film lacks the archetypal noir detective, but the great Harold Rosson's cinematography creates wonderful atmosphere: when the alarms sound, you feel as if a copper, or a hooligan, could be around any corner. And while the film lacks the plot twists that are often such a large part of the genre, the story is still riveting. Sterling Hayden is simultaneously menacing, yet filled with melancholy. Sam Jaffe, the mastermind Doc Riedenschneider, just out of the joint, exhibits meticulous control over every detail, until it all spirals out of control. James Whitmore, loyal to a fault, Louis Calhern, the double-crosser, and Jean Hagen, "the Doll", is utterly devoted to Hayden's "Dix" Handley. The entire cast is on their game. And, a 23-year old Marilyn Monroe, a relative unknown in 1950, is absolutely luminous in the few scenes she is a part of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlv16s4DxwI

Sadly, it looks like I'll have to pick up the DVD until somebody gets around to releasing this on Blu-ray. If not Criterion, hopefully it will be added to the Warner Archive Collection...and soon! The above high def clip looks great.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by theater dreamer

I'll tell you all one film I would absolutely love to have Criterion add to their roster, and that's The Asphalt Jungle.

Yet another title they released on laserdisc back in the day, but lost the rights after Ted Turner turned his MGM catalog over to Warner. I'm sure that Warner is working on an upgrade, and that it'll probably come out from WAC; we just have to be patient.

The Asphalt Jungle is my favorite John Huston film, and my favorite film noir. It's just all-around excellent. Probably my favorite part of it is the "strange bedfellows" friendship that developed between Dix (Hayden) and the Doc (Jaffe).

By the by, I never jumped into the character actor discussion from the other week, but Louis Calhern is quite possibly my favorite. He did everything from serious, as in The Asphalt Jungle to droll comedy, as in Duck Soup. Just a class act.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Yet another title they released on laserdisc back in the day, but lost the rights after Ted Turner turned his MGM catalog over to Warner. I'm sure that Warner is working on an upgrade, and that it'll probably come out from WAC; we just have to be patient.

The Asphalt Jungle is my favorite John Huston film, and my favorite film noir. It's just all-around excellent. Probably my favorite part of it is the "strange bedfellows" friendship that developed between Dix (Hayden) and the Doc (Jaffe).

By the by, I never jumped into the character actor discussion from the other week, but Louis Calhern is quite possibly my favorite. He did everything from serious, as in The Asphalt Jungle to droll comedy, as in Duck Soup. Just a class act.

I think you're right. Seeing the HD clips makes me think we'll see this pretty soon. It's a day one buy for me without a doubt.

The heist scene, in particular, is spectacular.

[Show spoiler]When they blow "the soup", and the sirens are first audible in the distance, the tension slowly starts to builds. Never let it be said that old movies can't build suspense, because Huston's direction here is masterful. The sirens get closer, and closer...ever so slowly. Dix peeks out the window, waiting for the coppers, waiting for the night watchman. Suddenly, Louis' drill bit breaks, and still, the sirens are getting ever closer. I found myself saying "get the hell out of there!!!!" But, they had ice in their veins. They're taking a vote, deciding if they should continue on with the diamond and gold heist, and my heart is pumping a mile a minute. I'm half expecting to see their getaway car spotted. I fully anticipated seeing a cop staring back at them as they pried open the manhole cover. Watching the whole thing unravel because of a few unforeseen circumstances, incredible.

And then, I keep thinking back to how incredible Marilyn looked. I can't wait to see this whole movie in high def.

[bwdowiak]

Chicago has a lot of awesome film related things going on. We had Roger Ebert and (still have) his (very underrated) film festival which he hosted until he died only 100 miles south in Champaign, IL. Agnes Varda was in town last fall. There is a 70 mm fil festival going on right now. We have the quaint and wonderful Music Box Theater, Facets, and the Gene Siskel Film Center.

It seems that we get films maybe a week after NY and LA premieres, but we get everything.

Scottie, if you're ever in Chicago, I'd be glad to show you where the awesome is at. Outside of the politics, it's definitely one of the best cities in our country.

[theater dreamer]

I think I've got my final list for the end of March selected. I'll end up buying about 75% of these.

From Criterion:

The Last Metro
Day For Night
3 Women
Bicycle Thieves
The Manchurian Candidate

From Twilight Time:

A Man For All Seasons
Inherit The Wind

From the Warner Archive Collection/Warner Brothers:

The Big Sleep
The Wrong Man
Out of the Past
The Postman Always Rings Twice
Mrs. Miniver

From Kino Lorber:

Witness for the Prosecution
Sherlock Jr./Three Ages


From Olive Films:

High Noon
The Bells of St. Mary's

From Fox Connect:

The Misfits
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
A Letter to Three Wives
Cavalcade
Manhattan
M*A*S*H

These should keep me busy for a while.

[ChromeJob]

Originally Posted by KillDaWabbit

Just got back from a trip to Costco in San Diego, and they a new round of Criterion blu-rays available for 19.99 a piece. I picked up Inside Llewyn Davis, but they had It Happened One Night, Slacker, Eraserhead and Harold and Maude as well.

I had never seen any of these titles in stock at Costco before.

I try to keep the Costco Deals lead posts updated with titles sighted in multiple stores. Of course, YMMV, depending upon your local store.

Recently I've seen the Criterion titles stocked in two separate racks based on content, so scour the racks if you don't see a title with the others.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Chicago has a lot of awesome film related things going on. We had Roger Ebert and (still have) his (very underrated) film festival which he hosted until he died only 100 miles south in Champaign, IL. Agnes Varda was in town last fall. There is a 70 mm fil festival going on right now. We have the quaint and wonderful Music Box Theater, Facets, and the Gene Siskel Film Center.

It seems that we get films maybe a week after NY and LA premieres, but we get everything.

Scottie, if you're ever in Chicago, I'd be glad to show you where the awesome is at. Outside of the politics, it's definitely one of the best cities in our country.

Love Chicago. I spent much of my childhood there. My grandfather had an apartment in Marina City. There is nothing like falling asleep in downtown Chicago, with the orange-yellow glow of the city bathing the night. He was pretty high up there, and I'd sneak out onto the patio after everybody else had gone to sleep, and I'd just stare at the buildings, and down at the Chicago River. I remember during St. Patty's Day, how they'd turn the river bright green.

More than anything, I'd love to make it back up there to explore the city as an adult. And I'd have to visit Wrigley, and take in a Cubs game.

To anybody who hasn't been to the Windy City--go. I've been in a lot of big cities. Chicago has its darker side as any major metropolitan area will. But it's got a lot of great people, and a lot of fun things to do. And, there's nothing like walking down Michigan Avenue.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

All six US screenings of Abel Gance's Napoleon (1927) a few years ago was in Oakland, CA, arranged by the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. There's sometimes stuff going on in Chicago as well.

But New Mexico... nada.

Hey I can't take the Breaking Bad tour in Salt Lake.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I'm convinced that all good things happen in New York City and Los Angeles.

Toronto is a good place to be near. TIFF is super accessible, and they do stuff year round like traveling museum exhibits and master classes with Guillermo del Toro.

They also have the Toronto Japanese Film Festival which I'm going to hopefully finally get to this year.

Living near a larger city is definitely helpful when you're a film fan.

[nashcameronn]

Anybody else who placed an order for the flash sale not get their's yet? I haven't even got a shipping notification yet.

[Snicket]

Criterion just posted a gif from Le Samourai to their facebook page.


TIME TO FREAK THE HELL OUT!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Criterion just posted a gif from Le Samourai to their facebook page.


TIME TO FREAK THE HELL OUT!

Only 11 more days until their next announcements.

[drb124]

Originally Posted by nashcameronn

Anybody else who placed an order for the flash sale not get their's yet? I haven't even got a shipping notification yet.

I would think you would have gotten a shipping notice, unless something was backordered. Gilda was in stock when I ordered it, but is not backordered and mine i expected to ship on March 24.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Criterion just posted a gif from Le Samourai to their facebook page.


TIME TO FREAK THE HELL OUT!

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Criterion just posted a gif from Le Samourai to their facebook page.


TIME TO FREAK THE HELL OUT!

Is this a bad time to mention that Criterion frequently puts things on social media that are unrelated to upcoming releases?

[Pyro.Kitty]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Criterion just posted a gif from Le Samourai to their facebook page.


TIME TO FREAK THE HELL OUT!

#dying

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

[Show spoiler]

^ this. 100%

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Is this a bad time to mention that Criterion frequently puts things on social media that are unrelated to upcoming releases?

you're a demon.

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Criterion just posted a gif from Le Samourai to their facebook page.


TIME TO FREAK THE HELL OUT!

This is the 2nd best thing that has happened to me all day!
(1st was not dying...so far.)

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

Is this a bad time to mention that Criterion frequently puts things on social media that are unrelated to upcoming releases?

[pro-bassoonist]

CRITERION:

[ThatOneGuy]

Wow, the film must be really good if it gets reactions like that.