The Criterion Collection

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Some of Wilder's more obscure pictures (Five Graves to Cairo, Fedora,etc) deserve some attention, too. Heck, I haven't even seen them because they're so hard to find.

I have still never seen Fedora, but I'm scared that it will live up to it's reputation. I only just saw Five Graves to Cairo a few months ago, bizarrely. That is good fun and practically a quintessential early Wilder.

[BluPix]

Originally Posted by BluPops

OK. On boxed collections, I'll just slit the shrink wrap and leave it on, so I can take/put the movies out/in, but the box stays minty fresh with no greasy fingerprints.

Works just fine for box sets, LPs, and... Criterion laserdiscs...snif!

If you're concerned about fingerprints then I highly recommend you wear white cotton inspection gloves or white cotton dermatological gloves. The inspection gloves are considerably cheaper, though the dermatological gloves are softer, may feel nicer and more comfortable to wear and are a bit less "linty." But both work very well at preventing fingerprints from marring treasured collections of any sort. Discs, books, packages, etc.

I'm sure you've noticed that, no matter how clean your hands are, certain types of printing and surfaces attract fingerprints (Alien Anthology, anyone? Any surface with a lot of black, etc.). Such gloves are a highly effective way to combat them and I wear them every time I handle such deluxe blu-ray packages, including all my Criterions.

Wear the gloves and eliminate the shrink wrapping.

[g.schweet]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

Not sure if this means anything (some are already on blu) but these were added to Hulu (thanks to Ryan G for info via CriterionCast's twitter).

• The Letter Never Sent

Cool! Didn't know Criterion had the right to this. Hopefully it's on their shortlist of films to release.

Sergei Urusevsky + Mikhail Kalatozov = One of the best cinematographer and director pairings ever.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

I always forget there is a Godard bomb in here.

it was a question.

[bugsy_pal]

Originally Posted by g.schweet

Cool! Didn't know Criterion had the right to this. Hopefully it's on their shortlist of films to release.

Sergei Urusevsky + Mikhail Kalatozov = One of the best cinematographer and director pairings ever.

I have an old copy of "The Letter Never Sent" on VHS, taped from the TV a couple of decades ago - I'd love to see this get a DVD/Blu release. A fascinating film and some gorgeous black and white cinematography.

[ChadFL]

Jon Mulvaney at Criterion came through for me. My copy of Beauty and the Beast is in the mail. They're sending me a replacement since my original purchase mysteriously had no disc in the case. Though I do think this may be widespread for that film since I've seen others posting similar issues with missing Beauty and the Beast Blu-Rays.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Jon Mulvaney at Criterion came through for me. My copy of Beauty and the Beast is in the mail. They're sending me a replacement since my original purchase mysteriously had no disc in the case. Though I do think this may be widespread for that film since I've seen others posting similar issues with missing Beauty and the Beast Blu-Rays.

See, that's why you should never take the plastic off. Ever.

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by octagon

See, that's why you should never take the plastic off. Ever.

Shouldn't that be an argument FOR taking the plastic off? To ensure that you do in deed have the valuable disc in there in case it goes OOP and you want to sell it off?

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by Monty70

You mean that it is not PC to be a proud citizen of the United States?

That is why I never gave a shit about being "PC".

It's not PC to be anything these days it seem I can't wait for society to remove the giant stick they have up their rear end and start acting like normal people again and stop shoving everything from the past they find embarassing under the wrug.

The fear of releasing certain classic movies because they no longer fit with our suppose great values of the 21st century seem strange for me, history is history and why try to pretend it never happen? At least Criterion don't seem afraid to do so which is good.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by rock, stone

You would think. But as time marches on, Wilder seems to share a similar fate as Lubitsch. He may be one of the most popular of his day and his influence is obvious, but he is still being forgotten. Outside of Some Like it Hot topping the great comedy lists and The Apartment still having that oscar, he doesn't seem to get a lot of play.

I honestly don't care what gets a CC release as long as good movies get released well. But Wilder was as good as what he did as Bergman or Godard were at doing what they did, and he could do with some attention from somewhere.

Yes! It is true that main stream studios care more about Iron Man, The Dark Knight or Transformers and seem to push their great classics to the back. I understand their views in a way, the above titles give's them billions while the classic no one want's them except the few exceptions like us in here and others but we sure are in small numbers.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

uh, what?

I think a better description would be that to the modern consumer of DVDs & BR's (mainly white males), Capra's films are hokey and cheaply sentimental, kind of like a pre-"dark" period Spielberg without the special effects. Even though he made propaganda films for the USA, he was also a target of the HUAC investigation for palin' around with Reds. I seriously doubt his politics have anything to do with his films availability in the home video market.

It's so of what I was meaning by it. I know that it's not bad to be proud of being American, even today but the style in which most of Capra's movies were made is out of touch with today's audiences. But you have to admit that outside the USA, his movies would be look upon as "ultra USA propaganda forcing it on the world". Don't forget studios now a days just don't release movies for the American market but for the entire world. Look how they even turn the superheroes into less "the American ways" into more of a world way. In any case no matter I would enjoy more Capra on Blu-ray, I really like his movies, if Criterion could get them, perfect but I would take them from anyone else as well.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by BohemianGraham

Shouldn't that be an argument FOR taking the plastic off? To ensure that you do in deed have the valuable disc in there in case it goes OOP and you want to sell it off?

Can you imagine the case for those who sell The Third Man at huge prices on Ebay and when the buyer get's it and open's it, no disc inside

[BohemianGraham]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It's not PC to be anything these days it seem I can't wait for society to remove the giant stick they have up their rear end and start acting like normal people again and stop shoving everything from the past they find embarassing under the wrug.

The fear of releasing certain classic movies because they no longer fit with our suppose great values of the 21st century seem strange for me, history is history and why try to pretend it never happen? At least Criterion don't seem afraid to do so which is good.

This. We're having a bit of an issue in NS right now with the PC police. Cornwallis high school was just renamed, because it was offensive to the First Nations in the province becase 200 years ago he ordered a bounty on First Nations people. Now they're trying to change everything in the province that has to do with Cornwallis: The former Navy Base, the town, the rivers, the statues that are around Halifax, etc. It's getting to the point where something offends someone, and we're going down the slipperly slope of hiding "bad things" to make other people happy. Cornwallis was a bit of a jackass, but he still did play an important role in NS history. Those that fail to learn history, or try to eradicate the bad parts of it because they make others feel bad, are doomed to repeat it. But that's going off on a wild tangent.

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

Can you imagine the case for those who sell The Third Man at huge prices on Ebay and when the buyer get's it and open's it, no disc inside

That would be horrible, yet hilarious.

[ikari777]

Highly Recommend The Killing/Killer's Kiss especially for those who like films in the CC such as Pale Flower, The Third Man, Sweet Smell of Success, etc. Both are great films and IMO The Killing is a Masterpiece and utterly enthralling! I bought it at B&N and went straight to my friends house (he's been dying to see it but didn't have enough time to make it the 20 min drive to and from my house and still be able to watch both. We watched them chronologically and I suggested everyone do the same so you can see the progression by Kubrick in just a years time!

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

But you have to admit that outside the USA, his movies would be look upon as "ultra USA propaganda forcing it on the world".

Just how long has it been since you've seen Capra's movies? His movies are no more nationalistic than the other films of the forties. And the notion that there is a cabal directed by "PC" elites to prevent the spread of uber-patriotism in Capra's films can quickly be disposed of with one visit to Amazon and looking up the number of his films readily available on home video. If you wanna bit ch about PC 'tudes, you may have a point with Song of The South, assuming you've decided that it's offensiveness can be overlooked, but not with Capra.

[BluPops]

Sorry about the short notice... TCM is showing Le Jour Se Leve today @ 9:30AM, Pepe le Moko, Grand Illusion, La Bete Humaine, and Touchez Pas Au Grisbi start at 8PM.

[P@t_Mtl]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

If you wanna bit ch about PC 'tudes, you may have a point with Song of The South, assuming you've decided that it's offensiveness can be overlooked, but not with Capra.

I wish Song Of The South was released but Disney will never let it happen

[rock, stone]

Originally Posted by P@t_Mtl

It's not PC to be anything these days it seem I can't wait for society to remove the giant stick they have up their rear end and start acting like normal people again and stop shoving everything from the past they find embarassing under the wrug.

The fear of releasing certain classic movies because they no longer fit with our suppose great values of the 21st century seem strange for me, history is history and why try to pretend it never happen? At least Criterion don't seem afraid to do so which is good.

PC is such a loaded term nowadays I think it should be abandoned. It is used far too often as a euphemism for perceived victimization of some truly unpleasant points of view and has effectively lost all meaning.

As for Capra, his films are often not to my taste. I'm not saying stuff like It's a Wonderful Life is bad, but I've seen it once and don't need to see it again. Even Arsenic & Old Lace seems to lack the elegance and easy charm that so many of its contemporary screwball comedies have in spades.

[ShellOilJunior]

For me, Mr.Smith Goes to Washington is more relevant today than it was in 1939. Stewart's performance is beyond praise. It stands alongside his performance in Vertigo as his finest. Oh yeah, both these films should be on blu-ray.

[ShellOilJunior]

I locked in the November pre-orders. I think $55.99 seems fair for Three Colors. I hope the others come down from $27.99.

I don't see Fanny and Alexander coming down much from $41.