Kino Lorber Studio Classics

[larrys]

I don't buy 4Ks but I will gladly buy Escape from Alcatraz and double dip for the remastered blu ray (the same thing I did for the 4K Leone westerns). IMO, Alcatraz is in the top 10 in Eastwood's filmography.

This leaves 16 70s titles in the Paramount deal. No disrepect to all the 4K UHD buyers, but I'm hoping that at least 10 of the remaining 70s titles are new to blu in the U.S. releases. There certainly are 6 solid possible 70s 4K candidates, all of which have been mentioned in this thread recently.

Now, if only the KLI would, or could, verify how many of the 70s titles are UHD upgrades and how many are new to blu.

[Jlouisbarrett]

I’m stunned Paramount licensed out a brand new 4K/HDR master of Escape from Alcatraz. That’s a huge get for Kino and I will be handing over my money day one.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

I’m stunned Paramount licensed out a brand new 4K/HDR master of Escape from Alcatraz. That’s a huge get for Kino and I will be handing over my money day one.

Makes me wonder if their foray back into catalog releases didn't pan out like they'd hoped, and decided to go back licensing major titles to labels again.. This doesn't feel like the same studio that snatched titles like Don't Look Now and Days of Heaven from Criterion to do their own releases of them.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Makes me wonder if their foray back into catalog releases didn't pan out like they'd hoped, and decided to go back licensing major titles to labels again.. This doesn't feel like the same studio that snatched titles like Don't Look Now and Days of Heaven from Criterion to do their own releases of them.

Maybe they figure they can only do so many releases, and this way, they'd get upfront money from Kino, dividends and have titles remastered for them for streaming, and future use and licensing to other territories.


Also, why does everyone say they "snatched" or "took back" the licenses from Criterion? They just expired, and Paramount probably just figured they'd give a stab themselves. It's not like Paramount is the villain and Criterion the hero. At least the films are still in print, unlike lots of Fox/Disney titles.

[Kino Lorber Insider]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Makes me wonder if their foray back into catalog releases didn't pan out like they'd hoped, and decided to go back licensing major titles to labels again.. This doesn't feel like the same studio that snatched titles like Don't Look Now and Days of Heaven from Criterion to do their own releases of them.

They will continue to release Blu-ray & UHD titles, I'm sure they had a few announcements the last few weeks. They've been the busiest studio releasing catalog titles the last couple of years.

We were very happy to acquire Alcatraz and also acquired some other really cool titles.

[Kino Lorber Insider]

And let's please stop with the speculations, all they do is create false rumors...

[BarnDoor]

Kino Insider - Is there any more 80s horror in the MGM deal? Thanks.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Gunsnroses092789

Maybe they figure they can only do so many releases, and this way, they'd get upfront money from Kino, dividends and have titles remastered for them for streaming, and future use and licensing to other territories.


Also, why does everyone say they "snatched" or "took back" the licenses from Criterion? They just expired, and Paramount probably just figured they'd give a stab themselves. It's not like Paramount is the villain and Criterion the hero. At least the films are still in print, unlike lots of Fox/Disney titles.

Compared to most boutique labels, it's just not that common for Criterion to lose titles, and usually when they do, it's because the studio thinks they can make more money by releasing it themselves, cutting out the boutique middleman. Studiocanal did that with The Third Man, Ran, etc....until they pretty much gave up on The StudioCanal Collection here in the US without releasing the vast majority of the titles that went OOP from Criterion.

And now Paramount did that with Rosemary's Baby, Don't Look Now, La Dolce Vita, Days of Heaven, and Nashville, and Harold and Maude. Clearly part of their roadmap a few years ago was to take their catalog more seriously, which is why they created the Presents line, and even went as far as comparing it to Criterion. So perhaps "snatched" is a harsh word, but it seems pretty funny to me that they didn't let very niche titles like Days of Heaven get renewed by Criterion, yet are licensing titles that would easily sell more had they released them under the Presents line.

We know Kino has a big deal with Paramount, it appears there's a new deal with Criterion, and all signs point to Arrow having a big deal for 2023. So yeah, I do think whatever their focus was years back of getting back into the catalog game has shifted somewhat back to licensing to labels again.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Compared to most boutique labels, it's just not that common for Criterion to lose titles, and usually when they do, it's because the studio thinks they can make more money by releasing it themselves, cutting out the boutique middleman. Studiocanal did that with The Third Man, Ran, etc....until they pretty much gave up on The StudioCanal Collection here in the US without releasing the vast majority of the titles that went OOP from Criterion.

And now Paramount did that with Rosemary's Baby, Don't Look Now, La Dolce Vita, Days of Heaven, and Nashville, and Harold and Maude. Clearly part of their roadmap a few years ago was to take their catalog more seriously, which is why they created the Presents line, and even went as far as comparing it to Criterion. So perhaps "snatched" is a harsh word, but it seems pretty funny to me that they didn't let very niche titles like Days of Heaven get renewed by Criterion, yet are licensing titles that would easily sell more had they released them under the Presents line.

We know Kino has a big deal with Paramount, it appears there's a new deal with Criterion, and all signs point to Arrow having a big deal for 2023. So yeah, I do think whatever their focus was years back of getting back into the catalog game has shifted somewhat back to licensing to labels again.

Totally agree. And I wasn't singling you out with the "snatched". I see a lot of people angry that Paramount decided to not renew Criterion's license. The way I see it is that Paramount owns the titles, and they can do as they please with them— in this case, see how they sell as low-priced releases. Criterion released those titles 10 or more years ago, maybe the renewal fee and the continued dividends aren't much for titles out that long.

Anyway, very glad Paramount is firing on all cylinders with their titles, from releasing their own catalog cheapie releases, the PP titles, 4KUHD, licensing again to US distributors, and giving big first time BD titles to Imprint

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Gunsnroses092789

Totally agree. And I wasn't singling you out with the "snatched". I see a lot of people angry that Paramount decided to not renew Criterion's license. The way I see it is that Paramount owns the titles, and they can do as they please with them— in this case, see how they sell as low-priced releases. Criterion released those titles 10 or more years ago, maybe the renewal fee and the continued dividends aren't much for titles out that long.

Anyway, very glad Paramount is firing on all cylinders with their titles, from releasing their own catalog cheapie releases, the PP titles, 4KUHD, licensing again to US distributors, and giving big first time BD titles to Imprint

Yeah, it's all good for the market. I forgot who said it, but it has to be a sign of a healthy market if they can release more under the radar stuff like Rough Cut and Back to the Beach through the Presents line. And like KLI said above, Paramount for sure has been releasing more catalog titles than any other studio these past few years. It just felt like things have changed somewhat lately. If their focus has shifted to licensing more stuff to boutiques, that in my opinion is a benefit to us consumers too, since we're likely to see some movies get a more premium release than it would have gotten otherwise.

[cgpublic]

Originally Posted by cgpublic

Oh well, guess I'm going to have to update my list… a crowd-pleasing UHD of Escape from Alcatraz with a special nod to Fred Ward.

Consider me pleased.

[RICKBONDOO7]

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

We will share the link for the leftover THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY slipcases on Tuesday, June 7th at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

Attachment 276962

KL Insider, Where will the Link be ?

[duggie walker]

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

And let's please stop with the speculations, all they do is create false rumors...

Seriously? Speculation is ninety percent of this thread and 100 percent of the fun. And unless you want to tell us right now every title in the Paramount deal, I don't see how you're going to stop it.

What would you have people talk about? Presumably you don't want complaints. So should this thread just be compliments, slipcover enquiries and lists of the films we've bought?

Mindboggling to see a couple of users liking this comment.

[DawnShadow]

He just doesn’t want people going around saying studios aren’t releasing titles anymore and citing various imaginary failures for the reason… you’re exaggerating quite a bit.

[tangerinewolf]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

I’m stunned Paramount licensed out a brand new 4K/HDR master of Escape from Alcatraz. That’s a huge get for Kino and I will be handing over my money day one.

They've done it before. An example would be War of the Worlds. They handed a new 4K master to Imprint in Australia just over two years ago. Although it didn't turn out to be a 4K release. But I'm sure there are other examples, and not just with Paramount, but other studios as well.

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

Seriously? Speculation is ninety percent of this thread and 100 percent of the fun. And unless you want to tell us right now every title in the Paramount deal, I don't see how you're going to stop it.

What would you have people talk about? Presumably you don't want complaints. So should this thread just be compliments, slipcover enquiries and lists of the films we've bought?

Mindboggling to see a couple of users liking this comment.

I don't think it's fun, but I recognize that others do. I read their comment as referring to speculating on the reasons behind who is or isn't releasing what titles, not simply guesses about what titles are in Kino's deals. There's a big difference between personal wish lists and inventing who has what and when it's being released.

[Kino Lorber Insider]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

Kino Insider - Is there any more 80s horror in the MGM deal? Thanks.

I don't think so, there's one title that may be considered horror by some.

[Kino Lorber Insider]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

We know Kino has a big deal with Paramount, it appears there's a new deal with Criterion, and all signs point to Arrow having a big deal for 2023.

So yeah, I do think whatever their focus was years back of getting back into the catalog game has shifted somewhat back to licensing to labels again.

This is what I mean by speculations, how do we know there's a deal with Criterion and what signs are pointing to a deal with Arrow? I'm not saying there are no deals, but let's wait for some proof first.

You mean around the same time they did a big deal with Shout and were very close to a deal with KL, that fell through?

[Kino Lorber Insider]

Originally Posted by RICKBONDOO7

KL Insider, Where will the Link be ?

On this thread.

[Marsstudd]

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

I don't think so, there's one title that may be considered horror by some.

The Terminator immediately came to mind.