Criterion to re-release The 400 Blows in new partnership deal! [Archive]

View Full Version : Criterion to re-release The 400 Blows in new partnership deal!

Narshty

13-02-2002, 19:10

http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/index.cgi?page=News&id=2786

:clap: :D

kanedaa

13-02-2002, 19:47

hurrah! I haven't got a clue what this '400 Blows' business is all about but any news that also says we're gonna see re-issues in some form for Ran, Hard Boiled and The Killer makes my day a better one :)

dave.

horseflesh

13-02-2002, 19:58

Right with you on this one Dave!!!

now lets hope it actually happens..........

Horseflesh

Arch Stanton

13-02-2002, 20:03

Originally posted by kanedaa
hurrah! I haven't got a clue what this '400 Blows' business is all about but any news that also says we're gonna see re-issues in some form for Ran, Hard Boiled and The Killer makes my day a better one :)

dave.

400 Blows is a classic.

Linda Lovelace was never better.*

* I know it's a Classic of French cinema but it was too cheap a shot to miss. :)

Michael Brooke

13-02-2002, 20:09

In all seriousness, I think Criterion should tackle at least one of Deep Throat, Devil in Miss Jones or The Opening of Misty Beethoven - there's no doubting their historical and cultural importance, and all three films badly need a decent remastered DVD (though Misty Beethoven isn't too bad).

As for The 400 Blows, that's wonderful news - though I hope Criterion either do a fresh anamorphic transfer (the original was non-anamorphic) or licence MK2's reputedly outstanding one. I can see the latter being a possibility, as the MK2 disc seems to use a few of Criterion's extras (though without subtitles).

Confucius

13-02-2002, 20:42

If they do, let's hope it keeps the same catalogue number as the discontinued one:D

Narshty

13-02-2002, 20:45

I can't see Criterion deciding to simply reissue the old 1998 disc without any changes whatsoever, so I'm pretty sure it won't have the same catalogue number.

Mind you, if it does come out with a new anamorphic transfer, I won't exactly mind having the spine number gap in my collection!

mr_woo

13-02-2002, 21:26

i really do hope that they re-release Hard Boiled with an all new remastered picture etc.

I'm not so fussed about The Killer as HKL are doing that over here in the UK though i think our american friends will disagreeand would like to see it :D

Andy_C

13-02-2002, 21:59

(me runs as fast as I can to www.ebay.co.uk)

For sale.... long deleted Criterion DVDs... Unavailable elsewhere... Recently sold for over $300 on ebay.com.... Don't miss this once in a lifetime chance to own a truly limited edition of the classic film (insert filmname here) etc etc

Tristan H

14-02-2002, 08:05

Great news. I've now got over 30 Criterion DVDs in my collection and would love a copy of The 400 Blows. I think this clearly demonstrates why it's very risky to buy up these OOP Criterion releases for large sums of money.

charlie angel

14-02-2002, 08:07

Great stuff - now get on with it Criterion! ;)

Michael Brooke

14-02-2002, 08:22

I think this clearly demonstrates why it's very risky to buy up these OOP Criterion releases for large sums of money.

Not so much risky as totally insane – most of the OOP titles can be bought elsewhere, often on discs that are at least as good if not better (This Is Spinal Tap, the MK2 The 400 Blows, both of which are anamorphic and have extras that are more than up to the same standard).

To be honest, I just don’t understand the “collect all Criterions” mentality – my taste in films is notoriously eclectic, but even I don’t want to own every title in their catalogue, and there are cases where even when I do want to own a particular title, the Criterion disc wouldn’t necessarily be my first choice! (The Ruscico Ballad of a Soldier and The Cranes Are Flying look superior to the forthcoming Criterions on every level). Printing catalogue numbers prominently on the spine is a brilliant marketing gimmick – but unless it’s an investment, what’s the point?

jonathan.e

14-02-2002, 09:16

Hmmmm....to EBay my copy now or wait until I hear more details?

BTW ALL DVD releases (and books, CDs, records etc) have catalogue numbers on them - Criterion are no different than any other distributor in this regard except that they are a much smaller operation therefore it is feasible to acquire every title where it wouldn’t be, say, to collect every Fox title (and who’d want to?). In a different media it was a similar situation with Factory records, 4AD, Le Disques du Crepescule (who even omitted catalogue numbers within sequence to purposefully confuse ardent label collectors!) all of whom had obsessives who wanted to own everything. There’s a brilliant short story called The Man who collected The Shadow by Bill Prozini which sums up the collector mentality beautifully.

Criterion DVDs are risk free investments as even the titles that are not OOP are easily saleable for more than you or I would have paid in the first place and that’s without even calculating the cost/profit ratio of such titles as The Killer, Salo etc.

Michael Brooke

14-02-2002, 09:36

In a different media it was a similar situation with Factory records

Not really, as Factory gave catalogue numbers to things that were impossible to collect, such as the cat at the Hacienda nightclub! I remember Melody Maker publishing a complete list once, which was hilarious – obsessive Factory collectors must have thrown tantrums up and down the country!

jonathan.e

14-02-2002, 09:48

Yes, I realise Factory numbered handbills, posters and even live events but I was referring to the recorded and published output. I had a supplement to Music Week (the trade journal of the music industry) covering Factory’s history and beautifully designed by Peter Saville that had it’s own Fac number. I put it up on EBay and was deluged with bids arguably from people who merely wanted to fill another gap in their collection.

I’d also lay money on a few obsessives trying to buy the Haçienda when it announced it’s closure.

Foxy Slamdangle

14-02-2002, 13:08

To be honest, I just don’t understand the “collect all Criterions” mentality

Ah, it's just the collectors syndrome. Criterion have used a neat marketing ploy by simply numbering their discs rather than just having an unidentifiable catalogue code. Who wants to collect disks like FN-145309XT and GSD-311152Y?

It's the just the same as buying the Panini sticker albums, all the fun is in the collecting (what the hell does anyone do with a completed sticker album - other than bin it?). I've collected the entire back-catalogue (including imports) of plenty of bands during my adolescent days, only to sell them on once I'd got the lot.

I have a theory about males and checklists which I won't bore anyone with here :)

GregB

14-02-2002, 14:04

Originally posted by Foxy Slamdangle
To be honest, I just don’t understand the “collect all Criterions” mentality

Ah, it's just the collectors syndrome.

Absolutely. I used to have all the original Rough Trade pressings of the Smiths CDs and didn't realise how much I treasured them until I was burgled about 10 years back and lost my copies of The Smiths, Meat is Murder and The Queen Is Dead. Whenever I'm in 2nd hand cd store I always check to see whether they have a Rought Trade pressing. Why I do that is unexplainable as I know that my current copies look and sound the same.