The Criterion Collection

[Scottie]

Does anyone know if Criterion holds the rights to any classic comedy films?

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Does anyone know if Criterion holds the rights to any classic comedy films?

These are still in print on DVD, so I would assume that Criterion still hold the rights to them:

The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges)
My Man Godfrey (Gregory La Cava)
Heaven Can Wait (Ernst Lubitsch)
Unfaithfully Yours (Preston Sturges)
Hobson's Choice (David Lean)

This, of course, is not including the ones that they've put out on Blu-ray already, like Sturges's The Palm Beach Story, and several from Ernst Lubitsch.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Does anyone know if Criterion holds the rights to any classic comedy films?

The Cameraman?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by jayembee

These are still in print on DVD, so I would assume that Criterion still hold the rights to them:

The Lady Eve (Preston Sturges)
My Man Godfrey (Gregory La Cava)
Heaven Can Wait (Ernst Lubitsch)
Unfaithfully Yours (Preston Sturges)
Hobson's Choice (David Lean)

This, of course, is not including the ones that they've put out on Blu-ray already, like Sturges's The Palm Beach Story, and several from Ernst Lubitsch.

I watched Hobson's Choice for the first time last year, and I really enjoyed it. I hope Criterion does get around to releasing it one day.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Does anyone know if Criterion holds the rights to any classic comedy films?

https://www.criterion.com/people/117889-charles-chaplin
https://www.criterion.com/people/120498-harold-lloyd
https://www.criterion.com/explore/128-jacques-tati

[bwdowiak]

Anyone else here give The Executioner a try? I got it from the library last night. It wasn't bad. There were, for me, a couple good chuckles early on. As it went on, though, I don't really laugh much, but I admired it. It isn't difficult to follow by any means but there seems to be a little bit of political sub text - a little more understanding would have improved my viewing experience.

Overall, OK, but not a "must see" or anything like that.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Anyone else here give The Executioner a try? I got it from the library last night. It wasn't bad. There were, for me, a couple good chuckles early on. As it went on, though, I don't really laugh much, but I admired it. It isn't difficult to follow by any means but there seems to be a little bit of political sub text - a little more understanding would have improved my viewing experience.

Overall, OK, but not a "must see" or anything like that.

I really liked it, feels more like the Italian comedies of the time, although I haven't seen many Spanish films from that era.

Overall I felt the first half was better, but to be honest I didn't really get too much of the mentioned subtext, I guess because I never known much about the Franco regime times, most movies show stuff related to those times in subtle ways I guess because of censorship.

All in all I am still undecided whether to buy it or not when it's time for the next flash sale, I still need to do some serious reevaluation of the films I have seen and possible blind buys before the day comes .

[malakaheso]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Taipei Story.

Really?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by malakaheso

Really?

Yes, it was their latest newsletter clue.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Anyone else here give The Executioner a try? I got it from the library last night. It wasn't bad. There were, for me, a couple good chuckles early on. As it went on, though, I don't really laugh much, but I admired it. It isn't difficult to follow by any means but there seems to be a little bit of political sub text - a little more understanding would have improved my viewing experience.

Overall, OK, but not a "must see" or anything like that.

I anticipate watching it within the next week or so as I'm FINALLY getting caught up on my backlog of Criterion films.

Over the past few days I've watched Le Amiche, Black Girl, La Chienne, and Rumble Fish via Amazon Instant Video.

Each film started off really strong, in my opinion, but over time it lost something and I found myself gradually losing interest in them. This is especially true for Rumble Fish, which I found to be a slog.

I suppose I enjoyed Le Amiche and La Chienne enough. Le Amiche dragged a bit in the middle but it was a good film overall. Similarly, I had essentially seen La Chienne before in the form of Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street but I still found it to be enjoyable, particularly with the scenes involving

[Show spoiler]Legrand and his wife's "dead husband".

I don't really know what to think of Black Girl. I suppose it was pretty good. The 59 minute runtime certainly helped as I've found myself growing more and more impatient lately. Nevertheless there was certainly a lot of repetition (but I guess this was part of the routine and thus important to the film?).

I still need to watch another 19 films (before the number goes up once May 2017's slate is announced in a couple days) before I can safely say I've seen every film released on Blu-ray again. Thankfully most of them are available for rental on Amazon Instant Video.

1. Buena Vista Social Club
2. Canoa: A Shameful Memory
3. Chimes at Midnight
4. Dreams
5. The Executioner
6. Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words
7. Lone Wolf and Cub 1
8. Lone Wolf and Cub 2
9. Lone Wolf and Cub 3
10. Lone Wolf and Cub 4
11. Lone Wolf and Cub 5
12. Lone Wolf and Cub 6
13. One-Eyed Jacks
14. Roma
15. Something Wild
16. Tampopo
17. A Touch of Zen
18. The Tree of Wooden Clogs
19. Woman of the Year

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'll guess:

Ghost World
Elevator to the Gallows
Taipei Story
The Lure
In the Heat of the Night

I have to hold out hope that Criterion will put out at least one upgrade for May. So if not Elevator to the Gallows, perhaps Jeanne Dielman or Ugetsu. Also just throwing In the Heat of the Night out there since it's the film's 50th anniversary this year and could benefit from a newer scan. Looking back, Sidney Poitier had a very nice year in 1967 too, with ItHoN, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and To Sir, with Love.

I really wish Criterion would stop releasing films that already have a domestic blu ray release. Nothing againt ItHotN, but it seems like a waste of a release to me. There are still many great films having their 50th anniversary that haven't seen blu yet. If they want to honor Sir Sidney, they could release A Raisin in the Sun.

[pedromvu]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I suppose I enjoyed Le Amiche and La Chienne enough. Le Amiche dragged a bit in the middle but it was a good film overall. Similarly, I had essentially seen La Chienne before in the form of Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street but I still found it to be enjoyable, particularly with the scenes involving

[Show spoiler]Legrand and his wife's "dead husband".

I found Fritz Lang version way better, even if both transmit the same kind of feeling, I find this movie quite disturbing for some reason in the way the manipulations play out, fascinating yet hard to watch and I thought the Actors in Lang version simply brought it better.

Back to Criterion, I am also trying to catch up, at least with all releases up to February, still too many documentaries to see , luckily Filmstruck has several of the titles like all the Lone Wolf and Cub series.

Still like 16 films to go.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I really liked it, feels more like the Italian comedies of the time, although I haven't seen many Spanish films from that era.

Overall I felt the first half was better, but to be honest I didn't really get too much of the mentioned subtext, I guess because I never known much about the Franco regime times, most movies show stuff related to those times in subtle ways I guess because of censorship.

All in all I am still undecided whether to buy it or not when it's time for the next flash sale, I still need to do some serious reevaluation of the films I have seen and possible blind buys before the day comes .

It did really feel like an Italian film. For whatever reason, I found it a bit difficult to keep up with (or to focus) on the middle third, so I enjoyed the beginning and end more.

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I really wish Criterion would stop releasing films that already have a domestic blu ray release. Nothing againt ItHoN, but it seems like a waste of a release to me. There are still many great films having their 50th anniversary that haven't seen blu yet. If they want to honor Sir Sidney, they could release A Raisin in the Sun.

Generally agree, but the current ITHOTN transfer is very poor. I normally hate those kinds of suggestions (people who want Blue Velvet etc)

[SkyAntoine]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Anyone else here give The Executioner a try? I got it from the library last night. It wasn't bad. There were, for me, a couple good chuckles early on. As it went on, though, I don't really laugh much, but I admired it. It isn't difficult to follow by any means but there seems to be a little bit of political sub text - a little more understanding would have improved my viewing experience.

Overall, OK, but not a "must see" or anything like that.

I liked it and found parts humorous, but preferred Death by Hanging much more. Dark comedies are at their best when they're a bit over the top (Dr. Strangelove, Harold & Maude, Kind Hearts & Coronets, Man Bites Dog, etc.). I thought The Executioner was too subtle with the comedy and I agree the middle did drag.

[Stanis]

Originally Posted by Harakiri41

I watched Chimes in January for the first time and was blown away. Retroactively, I've changed my top blu-ray releases last year to put that one on top.

Me too, I wished I could have made it to the screening that preceded the blu's release, but it just wasn't in the realm of possibility. Chimes is so good, and Welles such a good actor, that I can't wrap my head around that movie being unknown. It's funny, it's emotional, and I love the stark production design. I can't thank Criterion enough for introducing it to us

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by pedromvu

I found Fritz Lang version way better, even if both transmit the same kind of feeling, I find this movie quite disturbing for some reason in the way the manipulations play out, fascinating yet hard to watch and I thought the Actors in Lang version simply brought it better.

I agree, but Renoir's version has

[Show spoiler]a murder scene

that's very elegantly done, which Lang skips completely, IIRC.

[MJD64]

I sincerely wish Criterion would upgrade David Lean's brilliant adaptations of Oliver Twist and Great Expectation to blu; this time with some extras!

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by MJD64

I sincerely wish Criterion would upgrade David Lean's brilliant adaptations of Oliver Twist and Great Expectation to blu; this time with some extras!

There's a region free release of Great Expectations out in the UK for cheap. It lacks extras though. Great transfer according to the site's review.



There's also a French release of Oliver Twist, but it might be locked.

[jlk5844]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I'll guess:

Ghost World
Elevator to the Gallows
Taipei Story
The Lure
In the Heat of the Night

I have to hold out hope that Criterion will put out at least one upgrade for May. So if not Elevator to the Gallows, perhaps Jeanne Dielman or Ugetsu. Also just throwing In the Heat of the Night out there since it's the film's 50th anniversary this year and could benefit from a newer scan. Looking back, Sidney Poitier had a very nice year in 1967 too, with ItHoN, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, and To Sir, with Love.

I've been waiting for Elevator to the Gallows for nearly 2 years now. With a couple editions out there in other countries, I feel like it should be coming soon.