The Criterion Collection

[nitin]

Lubitsch’s Heaven Can Wait has some real effortless charm and wit, and some spectacular cinematography and set design. This has to be one of the best shot films of the 40s and when you couple that with the nuanced characterisations and terrific dialogue, it is a real winner. And Gene Tierney is once again completely mesmerising.

Criterion’s disc is an absolute knockout, even though Fox’s restoration is from a 2nd generation source.

[Dailyan]

Originally Posted by nitin

Lubitsch’s Heaven Can Wait has some real effortless charm and wit, and some spectacular cinematography and set design. This has to be one of the best shot films of the 40s and when you couple that with the nuanced characterisations and terrific dialogue, it is a real winner. And Gene Tierney is once again completely mesmerising.

Criterion’s disc is an absolute knockout, even though Fox’s restoration is from a 2nd generation source.

I’ve still got to get that disc myself. I’m also still waiting on Beatty’s version.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by Dailyan

I’ve still got to get that disc myself. I’m also still waiting on Beatty’s version.

I have revisited quite a few Lubitsch films this year and definitely rate him more than I used to. Hopefully WA or Criterion also put out The Shop Around the Corner.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by mrmikefern

I am thrilled to hear that Criterion is releasing The Story Of Temple Drake. If ever there was a film that deserved the deluxe treatment, this is it. Re-issues of All About Eve and The Silence Of The Lambs and Midnight Cowboy are well and good, but I’m relieved that this label is still in the search-and-rescue business, restoring important obscure titles to their rightful place in cinema history and in people’s libraries.

I'm looking forward to that title too, but it didn't give me any sense of "relief." Criterion puts out important, relatively obscure titles on a monthly basis - nothing has changed. Whether it's one that I want or don't, I can almost always recognize the validity in the titles that they add to their collection. And no matter how many titles I may wish for, it's not their responsibility to fill my library.

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

I'm looking forward to that title too, but it didn't give me any sense of "relief." Criterion puts out important, relatively obscure titles on a monthly basis - nothing has changed. Whether it's one that I want or don't, I can almost always recognize the validity in the titles that they add to their collection. And no matter how many titles I may wish for, it's not their responsibility to fill my library.

Oh, come on, now! Where’s your sense of entitlement?

[Hellspawn28]

What Criterion releases come with the mini posters inside of them? I always love when Criterion puts them in their home video releases and I like to collect them to put on display (I do frame theme).

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by Hellspawn28

What Criterion releases come with the mini posters inside of them? I always love when Criterion puts them in their home video releases and I like to collect them to put on display (I do frame theme).

Dazed and Confused has one.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by Alex82

Silly me, for some strange reason, I thought you guys were talking about this movie:

[Show spoiler]

The Shop on Main Street, also known as The Shop on the High Street

By the way, that movie could use a Criterion release as well.

Second Run in the UK did release a region free BluRay of it, but I agree a Criterion BluRay would be welcome.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

As I've mentioned before, there's a lot of untapped gold in Pre-Code titles out there. Warners has some of them as MOD DVDs in their Archives collection but only a few have made it to Blu-ray. I don't know how willing they'd be to let other labels have them. In the meantime, it'd be nice if Criterion could upgrade Trouble in Paradise. It's a gem.

Pre-Codes like I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang that have been OOP on DVD and not seen a WAC release seems like the likely type of titles by Warner to be released by Criterion.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by StarDestroyer52

A release of The Cameraman or Pandora's Box would be a great title for December. It be nice if Criterion would release A Shop Around the Corner as that would be the perfect December title and badly needs to be on BluRay.

Big thumbs up to all three. I completely agree.

I’m a big chemistry guy. If the male and female leads have a really good connection, like Bill Powell and Myrna Loy, Cary Grant and Irene Dunne, Spencer Tracy and Kate Hepburn-it just makes the film that much more enjoyable; if I believe the two could be a real couple, it adds that extra layer. There’s that tension before they become an item, and a playfulness that adds to the character development. You can’t script it: two leads either have it, or they don’t. Clark Gable and Jean Harlow had it in spades. So, the connection that Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan had helped The Shop Around the Corner resonate with me. I could see the director yelling, “cut”, and the two of them leaving the set together. They did four films together; The Mortal Storm was also outstanding. I’ve not yet seen the others.

Originally Posted by hoytereden

As I've mentioned before, there's a lot of untapped gold in Pre-Code titles out there. Warners has some of them as MOD DVDs in their Archives collection but only a few have made it to Blu-ray. I don't know how willing they'd be to let other labels have them. In the meantime, it'd be nice if Criterion could upgrade Trouble in Paradise. It's a gem.

I have to wonder if the reason we’ve not seen more pre-code films on blu-Ray is that the surviving film elements just aren’t up to it. When I think of how much of our film heritage has been lost due to the ravages of time, I can’t help but feel a twinge of sadness.

I’ve got a long list of blu-rays to buy yet. If, at some point, the pre-code era films don’t make it to blu-ray, then I’ll be buying them on DVD. I will remain hopeful that we’re pleasantly surprised.

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

Baby Face with Barbara Stanwyck is on The Criterion Channel and it's pretty wild. Wish it would get the full-blown Criterion Blu-ray treatment.

If Criterion released Baby Face on blu, my year would be made. Barbara is so good in it, like a lioness that will not be tamed. She doesn’t put up with crap, and any man that makes an unwelcome advance towards her will end up getting a bottle of suds smashed over their head. She just oozes sexuality, and uses it to get exactly what she wants from men. Yet you sense that she is ultimately a good person inside; she is merely playing the game that men have created. She’s just much better at it than they are.

[ilenewoodsfan99]

Great to see love for Lubitsch titles! I'd just love to see his 5 musicals on Criterion. 4 are part of the Eclipse set, and The Merry Widow is with WAC like Shop Around the Corner, and all those movies are in dire need of a Blu Ray release

[zoodermin]

Saw Volver over the weekend (as part of the Almodovar retrospective that the Criterion Channel had) and I loved it. I'm a huge Almodovar fan but for some reason, I've never seen this film before. The story and the performances (particularly Penelope Cruz, Lola Dueñas and Carmen Maura) are exceptional and I hope Criterion will give us a BD release soon.

[DaBargainHunta]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

Saw Volver over the weekend (as part of the Almodovar retrospective that the Criterion Channel had) and I loved it. I'm a huge Almodovar fan but for some reason, I've never seen this film before. The story and the performances (particularly Penelope Cruz, Lola Dueñas and Carmen Maura) are exceptional and I hope Criterion will give us a BD release soon.

Wish I had been able to explore more Almodovar before they expired from the Channel, but the only one I got around to was Bad Education, which was brilliant.

[nitin]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

Saw Volver over the weekend (as part of the Almodovar retrospective that the Criterion Channel had) and I loved it. I'm a huge Almodovar fan but for some reason, I've never seen this film before. The story and the performances (particularly Penelope Cruz, Lola Dueñas and Carmen Maura) are exceptional and I hope Criterion will give us a BD release soon.

There’s already a pretty good release from Sony. If they do more Almodovar, we need All About My Mother, Talk to Her and Bad Education, neither of which are available on English friendly blu rays.

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

Saw Volver over the weekend (as part of the Almodovar retrospective that the Criterion Channel had) and I loved it. I'm a huge Almodovar fan but for some reason, I've never seen this film before. The story and the performances (particularly Penelope Cruz, Lola Dueñas and Carmen Maura) are exceptional and I hope Criterion will give us a BD release soon.

I just bought thr Sony release so that might trigger a Criterion

Saw his new film at the weekend - terrific!

[C.A. Hall]

Deciding what Criterion to buy next can be overwhelming with over 1,000 titles. The temptation to go with a movie that seems closer to your taste, rather than picking a film that you haven't even heard of until now, is totally antithetical to the "film buff" moniker you've christened yourself with.

So today I got an idea to use the Random Number Generator the next time I'm thinking of buying a Criterion, and go with whatever spine # popped up.

[zoodermin]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

I just bought thr Sony release so that might trigger a Criterion

Saw his new film at the weekend - terrific!

I'm watching it tomorrow!

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by C.A. Hall

Deciding what Criterion to buy next can be overwhelming with over 1,000 titles. The temptation to go with a movie that seems closer to your taste, rather than picking a film that you haven't even heard of until now, is totally antithetical to the "film buff" moniker you've christened yourself with.

So today I got an idea to use the Random Number Generator the next time I'm thinking of buying a Criterion, and go with whatever spine # popped up.

Oof that's sounds risky!

I just did a test and got 202 - Indiscretion of an American Wife. (I don't buy DVDs any more, so this wouldn't work for me anyway)

[C.A. Hall]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Oof that's sounds risky!

I just did a test and got 202 - Indiscretion of an American Wife. (I don't buy DVDs any more, so this wouldn't work for me anyway)

Or you can filter out DVD's. I don't see it as a risk because I'm open to being surprised, and Amazon often sells these movies for nearly half the price anyway.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by C.A. Hall

I don't see it as a risk because I'm open to being surprised, and Amazon often sells these movies for nearly half the price anyway.

Random number generator says....

17. Hmm, Salò, or The 120 Days of Sodom



“I wonder if I’ll be surprised?”