The Criterion Collection

[AaronJ]

Other than War and Peace I can't come to any conclusions.

I'm at a loss.

[Mike0284]

Double dipping for the exclusive extras.

[Show spoiler]

MOROCCO (1930)
DISHONORED (1931)
SHANGHAI EXPRESS (1932)
BLONDE VENUS (1932)
THE SCARLET EMPRESS (1934)
THE DEVIL IS A WOMAN (1935)

Release date: 19 August 2019
Limited Blu-ray Edition Box Set (UK Blu-ray premieres)

The collaboration between filmmaker Josef von Sternberg and actress Marlene Dietrich is one of the most enduring in all Hollywood cinema. Tasked by Paramount bosses to find ‘the next big thing’, director von Sternberg lighted upon German silent star Dietrich and brought her to Hollywood. Successfully transitioning from the silent to the sound era, together they crafted a series of remarkable features that expressed a previously hitherto unbridled ecstasy in the process of filmmaking itself. Marked by striking cinematography, beautiful design and elaborate camerawork these vibrantly sensuous films redefined cinema of the time, while Dietrich’s sexually ambiguous on-screen personas caused a sensation and turned her from actor to superstar and icon. Lavish, lascivious and wildly eccentric, the films Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich made for Paramount Pictures in the 1930s provide a unique testimony to Hollywood’s Golden Age.

The six films that von Sternberg made with Dietrich in Hollywood are presented here in new restorations on Blu-ray for the very first time in the UK. Containing a wealth of new and archival extras – including new appreciations, interviews, audio commentaries, rare films, outtakes and deleted audio, documentaries… and more! This stunning box set is strictly limited to 6,000 units.

INDICATOR LIMITED BLU-RAY EDITION BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES:

4K restorations of Dishonored, Shanghai Express, Blonde Venus, The Scarlet Empress, and The Devil Is a Woman
2K restoration of Morocco
Original mono audio
Morocco audio commentary with Daughters of Darkness’ Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger
Shanghai Express audio commentary with critic and film historian David Thompson
Blonde Venus audio commentary with film and arts critic Adrian Martin
The Scarlet Empress audio commentary with writer and film programmer Tony Rayns
Introductions on all six films by Nicholas von Sternberg, son of Josef von Sternberg
Josef von Sternberg, a Retrospective (1969): feature-length television documentary by the acclaimed Belgian director Harry Kümel
Marlene Dietrich: The Twilight of an Angel (2012): Dominique Leeb’s acclaimed French television documentary on Dietrich’s final years
The Fashion Side of Hollywood (1935): a short compilation film of lighting and costume tests from Paramount productions, including The Devil Is a Woman, and featuring costume designer Travis Banton
Lux Radio Theatre: ‘The Legionnaire and the Lady’ (1936): a radio play adaptation of Morocco, featuring Dietrich and actor Clark Gable
If It Isn't a Pain (1935, 3 mins): excised audio of the deleted musical number from The Devil Is a Woman
Von Sternberg at the BFI (2009): an audio recording of the 2009 symposium on von Sternberg held at London’s BFI Southbank
The Art of Josef von Sternberg (2019): Nicholas von Sternberg discusses his father’s works in painting and sculpture
New video essay by film historian Tag Gallagher on the Hollywood collaborations of Dietrich and von Sternberg
New interview with Erica Carter, author of Dietrich’s Ghosts, on the Dietrich’s career before von Sternberg
New interview with So Mayer, author of Political Animals: The New Feminist Cinema, on the queer iconography and legacy of Dietrich and von Sternberg’s films
New interview with Nathalie Morris, film historian and senior curator of the BFI National Archive’s Special Collections, on the costume designs of Travis Banton
New interview with Jasper Sharp, writer and filmmaker, on the life and career of Shanghai Express co-star Anna May Wong
Image galleries: on-set and promotional photography, including rare materials
New English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive 120-page book with a new essay by Pamela Hutchinson, archival interviews and articles, an overview of contemporary critical responses, film credits and more
UK premieres on Blu-ray
Limited Edition of 6,000 copies
All extras subject to change

Originally Posted by Indicator

With the caveat that the Indicator box specs aren't necessarily finally locked down, this should be a handy guide:

COMMON TO BOTH

• 4K restorations of Dishonored, Shanghai Express, Blonde Venus, The Scarlet Empress, and The Devil Is a Woman
• 2K restoration of Morocco
• Original mono audio
• The Legionnaire and the Lady, a 1936 Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of Morocco, featuring Dietrich and actor Clark Gable
• The Fashion Side of Hollywood, a 1935 publicity short featuring Dietrich and costume designer Travis Banton
• If It Isn't a Pain (1935, 3 mins): excised audio of the deleted musical number from The Devil Is a Woman

UNIQUE TO CRITERION

• New interviews with film scholars Janet Bergstrom and Homay King; director Josef von Sternberg’s son, Nicholas; Deutsche Kinemathek curator Silke Ronneburg; and costume designer and historian Deborah Nadoolman Landis
• New documentary about actor Marlene Dietrich’s German origins, featuring film scholars Gerd Gemünden and Noah Isenberg
• New documentary on Dietrich’s status as a feminist icon, featuring film scholars Mary Desjardins, Amy Lawrence, and Patricia White
• New video essay by critics Cristina Álvarez López and Adrian Martin
• Marlene Dietrich in Denmark (1971)

UNIQUE TO INDICATOR

• Morocco audio commentary with Daughters of Darkness’ Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger
• Shanghai Express audio commentary with critic and film historian David Thompson
• Blonde Venus audio commentary with film and arts critic Adrian Martin
• The Scarlet Empress audio commentary with writer and film programmer Tony Rayns
• Introductions on all six films by Nicholas von Sternberg, son of Josef von Sternberg
• Josef von Sternberg, a Retrospective (1969): feature-length television documentary by the acclaimed Belgian director Harry Kümel
• Marlene Dietrich: The Twilight of an Angel (2012): Dominique Leeb’s acclaimed French television documentary on Dietrich’s final years
• Von Sternberg at the BFI (2009): an audio recording of the 2009 symposium on von Sternberg held at London’s BFI Southbank
• The Art of Josef von Sternberg (2019): Nicholas von Sternberg discusses his father’s works in painting and sculpture
• New video essay by film historian Tag Gallagher on the Hollywood collaborations of Dietrich and von Sternberg
• New interview with Erica Carter, author of Dietrich’s Ghosts, on the Dietrich’s career before von Sternberg
• New interview with So Mayer, author of Political Animals: The New Feminist Cinema, on the queer iconography and legacy of Dietrich and von Sternberg’s films
• New interview with Nathalie Morris, film historian and senior curator of the BFI National Archive’s Special Collections, on the costume designs of Travis Banton
• New interview with Jasper Sharp, writer and filmmaker, on the life and career of Shanghai Express co-star Anna May Wong

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by Mike0284

Double dipping for the exclusive extras.

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Gotta say, it looks like the Indicator release has the edge when it comes to extras. I assume it will be Region B, no?

[GeoffOliver]

Most of Indicator’s releases are region free, but not all.

[exzachary]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Gotta say, it looks like the Indicator release has the edge when it comes to extras. I assume it will be Region B, no?

Indicator website says it is Region B locked.

[Arawn]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

In what bizarre alternate universe is that the consensus???

[Jobla]

Next month, I'll be looking at B&N for:

WAR AND PEACE
A FACE IN THE CROWD
ALL THAT JAZZ

and maybe:

NOTORIOUS
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

[dbhl3000]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

I have a confession to make.

There’s no easy way to say this, so i’m just going to come out and say it.

Sometimes the decision to buy and/or sell a Criterion title cums down to whether or not I like the cover art/case design.

Sometimes I don’t even like the picture that much, but the cover is so darn cool that I decide to keep it in my collection, even though I know i’ll never watch it.

...Scanners is such a film.

And it goes both ways. Sometimes i’ll get rid of a title, just because i’m lukewarm about it and the cover art does nothing for me.

Is that wrong?

Does anyone else have any guilty confessions, of which they would care to unburden themselves from?

Like enjoying the dinner scene in Salo.

Dinner scene in Salo made me want to go out and get some soft serve yogurt.

I too have on occasion bought an edition strictly based on the artwork of the slipbox/blu-ray case. One example, the Steelarchives edition of Into The Wild. What a beauty.

[Namuhana]

I'll finally be picking up the Bergman set, and I might get a few others (The Heiress, Detour, Swing Time, War and Peace).

[charsi]

funny games
blue velvet
diamonds of the night

[Brad1963]

I hope to have $$$ for the B&N Noble Sale. Top on my list, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, In the Heat of the Night, Klute, Do the Right Thing,One Sings..., Police Story I & II, the 2 recent Jarmusch releases and if possible the Bergman Collection.

[kwr212]

I’ve been setting aside money for the July sale and Amazon Prime Day. Some that are on my list from Criterion are:

Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema
War and Peace
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Detour
A Face in the Crowd
Swing Time

Beyond that I’m not sure. I’ve got a long list of titles I’d like to upgrade but most can wait until the November sale.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by belcherman

Gotta say, it looks like the Indicator release has the edge when it comes to extras. I assume it will be Region B, no?

Dang looks like I might have to get this for the exclusive extras.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by muchogris

By the way I viewed yesterday Criterion's edition for Picnic at Hanging Rock

[Show spoiler]and loved every aspect of it. The glorious lyricism, it's aesthetic beauty and the fact every single element has semiotic values. It is simply a perfect movie. I couldn't help but notice how it shared the end-of-an-era theme and a couple other elements I won't spoil with John Huston's The misfits or Martin Ritt's Hud. I'll let it sink in before reading any extra content.

I wanted to ask something, since I read somewhere that the book included in the digipak edition isn't a full version of the novel. Is this true?

It is the complete novel as originally published. As in the film,

[Show spoiler]the mystery is not resolved

. The "final" chapter was published much later.

[jonsax201]

With the announcement that Barnes and Noble is being purchased and going private, by a group intent to close stores and make a smaller footprint, I wonder if they'll continue their relationship with Criterion. I can't think of another store chain in the states that would step into the void, could be a big blow to Criterion sales.

[Al_The_Strange]

Originally Posted by jonsax201

With the announcement that Barnes and Noble is being purchased and going private, by a group intent to close stores and make a smaller footprint, I wonder if they'll continue their relationship with Criterion. I can't think of another store chain in the states that would step into the void, could be a big blow to Criterion sales.

I'd be okay with buying directly from Criterion, especially if they do more flash sales.

[Bradsdadg]

I'd have to assume they would have more sales then. I don't know how their sales figures break down (Criterion) But I would imagine that they sell most often during sales. No one really wants to pay $40 for a movie if you can wait a few months and get it for $20ish. I don't mind buying direct from them, just not at full price.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by jonsax201

With the announcement that Barnes and Noble is being purchased and going private, by a group intent to close stores and make a smaller footprint, I wonder if they'll continue their relationship with Criterion. I can't think of another store chain in the states that would step into the void, could be a big blow to Criterion sales.

I've shifted most of my buying to Criterion over the past 18 months, coinciding with the decline of the B&N media departments in all three stores near me. The registers have been mothballed, and the stock steadily reduced - resulting in a rather forlorn appearance, with empty racks and shelving, and the spaces being used for other purposes like sorting books during the holiday season. Also, I've found the general service level has declined, especially with longer waits at the main registers due to staff reductions.

Having said all this, I hope the physical stores and Criterion sales survive as I still like to browse and do pick up a few titles each time. Also, with only two 24-hour flash sales annually, it's a long wait to buy direct - although there is the benefit of the loyalty program.

[thatguamguy]

Well, it was nice while it lasted, and I still plan to get a membership for the next sale, because I'm going to buy enough that it will pay for itself, but I feel like we'll be lucky if we even get the November sale, let alone one for summer 2020.

[Snicket]

Has the July sale been confirmed?