Question:
From davisdvd
The Criterion Collection has just announced a couple of new discs for February.
First up is Swedish director Vilgot Sjöman's notorious I Am Curious - Yellow, a film actually seized by U.S. customs upon its 1967 entry into the country. Criterion presents the film with its companion piece I Am Curious - Blue, a parallel piece featuring the same characters. Presented in fullscreen from new high-definition digital transfers of both films, the set features Swedish Dolby Digital Mono audio and English subtitles. Supplements include a new video introduction and selected scene audio commentary by director Vilgot Sjöman, excerpts from Self Portrait, a 1992 Swedish television documentary, an interview with publisher Barney Rosset and attorney Edward De Grazia about the controversy surrounding the film, the documentary "The Battle for 'I Am Curious—Yellow'" detailing the film's censorship and trial, excerpts from the actual trial, an essay by critic Gary Giddins, a reprinted 1968 interview with the director, and trailers. The retail will be $39.95.
Also due is 1975's The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, presented with a 1.77:1 anamorphic transfer, German Dolby Digital Mono, and English subtitles. Supplements include new video interview with directors Volker Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotta, a new video interview with director of photography Jost Vacano, a documentary on author Heinrich Boll, and the original theatrical trailer. Retail on this is $29.95.
No "I Am Curious - Orange"? :confused:
~~stu
Potential viewers should be advised that <i>I Am Curious Yellow</i> contains scenes of gratuitous and explicit politics.
I must say, the I Am Curious films look like the weakest addition to the collection since Hopscotch.
However, since Janus Films (the company who jointly owns Criterion with Home Vision Entertainment) were the ones who went through the courts with the film back in the late 60s, it's unsurprising they're putting the films out, especially with extra features like "Excerpts from the transcripts of the trial for I Am Curious—Yellow"
They appear to be putting it out on account of its controversial past rather than it's individual merits as a film.
Hurrah !! "Lost Honor Of Katherina Blum" is one of the best of the New German Cinema movies and still by far the finest work Voker Schlondorff has ever done.
Better than 'The Tin Drum'? That's probably my favourite novel and Schlondorff adapted it respectably - whatever happened to the DVD? I rather liked his work on 'Voyager' too
Definitely going to buy this - haven't seen it and I always confuse it with 'The Marriage of Maria Braun'.
Ah, the days when Germany produced good films... (willing to be corrected - as long as no-one mentions 'Das Experiment')
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Better than 'The Tin Drum'? That's probably my favourite novel and Schlondorff adapted it respectably - whatever happened to the DVD?
Scratch that, just found 'Die Blechtrommel' (it's original title - and the only one on the packaging) on DVD in Pusan.
Nifty tin cigar-case packaging, less than ten quid, and it looks like a direct port of Kino's deleted release - same commentary, non-anamorphic but with optional English and Korean subtitles. Didn't have money at the time and there was only one copy there so I hope no-one buys it before next Saturday...
Criterion are going to be releasing The Tin Drum next year - the president of Kino said that the two companies were teaming up for a re-release!
I was about to ask about a potential Criterion release... I've seen the film several times so perhaps I'll wait for this extra special edition.
You seem to be redirecting a lot of my money from small DVD labels into the coffers of the Criterion fat-cats... ;)
(Just picked up a Korean port of Criterion's 'Notorious' disc for 9 pounds!)
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
(Just picked up a Korean port of Criterion's 'Notorious' disc for 9 pounds!)
Christ! So all the disc contents are the same?
If I hadn't won my copy, I'd be extremely jealous right now! ;)
"...Ah, the days when Germany produced good films... (willing to be corrected - as long as no-one mentions 'Das Experiment')..."
...ok, I won't mention that movie then... how about Anatomie or Bang Boom, Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding or the apparently hugely successful Die Musterknaben - Dumm wie Brot or its sequel Phil Collins im Puff? ;)
...seriously, though... there most certainly are 'good' contemporary German films: Max Färberböck's Aimée & Jaguar and Romuald Karmakar's Der Totmacher come to mind - then there's Volker Schlöndorff's Der Unhold
(starring John Malkovich) and Die Stille nach dem Schuss (Schlöndorff again)
and (don't know if that counts) Heinrich Breloer's epic three-part TV DocuDrama Die Manns - Ein Jahrhundertroman - to name a few... all available on German DVDs (and all-but-one without English subs)...
. . . :smokin: . . .
Yes, the 'Notorious' contents are identical but for optional Korean subtitles. All legal and above board. Also saw 'Gimme Shelter' (absolutely identical - Criterion markings, english sleeve) for ten quid. The range of DVDs in Japan and Korea is astounding these days. :thumbs:
Hendrik, I'll read up on some of your serious suggestions and see if they're worth me sourcing a DVD from outside the country. Or they may turn up here with added subs and needless DTS soundtracks... (my nomination for least necessary - the 'Guys & Dolls' DTS edition :eek: - yours for 8 pounds)
Originally posted by Narshty
I must say, the I Am Curious films look like the weakest addition to the collection since Hopscotch.
However, since Janus Films (the company who jointly owns Criterion with Home Vision Entertainment) were the ones who went through the courts with the film back in the late 60s, it's unsurprising they're putting the films out, especially with extra features like "Excerpts from the transcripts of the trial for I Am Curious—Yellow"
They appear to be putting it out on account of its controversial past rather than it's individual merits as a film.
To be fair, <i>I am Curious Yellow</i> is of considerable historical interest, and there are some people who think it's a masterpiece. Norman Mailer is quoted on the case of the British video release from Jezebel. (It was the first release on that label, and sits rather oddly, a very serious b/w Swedish arthouse movie sharing a catalogue with cheapo British 70s soft porn.) For a couple of decades, until <i>Cinema Paradiso</i> beat it, it was the highest-grossing subtitled release ever in the US.
Watching it nowadays, it's a strange mixture of avant-garde art movie, political diatribe (now very dated and seeming to go on for ever) and explicit depiction of a love affair. We see full-frontal nudity of both sexes, two years before <i>Medium Cool</i> and <i>Women in Love</i> introduced the uncovered penis to the commercial English-language cinema. There's even a scene where Lena Nyman kisses Borje Ahlstedt's penis: not quite hardcore fellatio, but pretty close to it. This must have been electrifying in 1967 and still has an impact now - as Danny Peary points out in his <i>Guide for the Film Fanatic</i>, we've got to know Nyman as a character before we see her having sex, and a lot of the film's impact is due to that. Needless to say, the BBFC were having none of that, and cut the film by 11 minutes before giving it a X certificate. (If the BBFC website is to be believed, the distributors precut the film before submission, but it was still cut further.) The Jezebel release, passed 18 in 1994, is complete and uncut.
The film certainly has a place in history as a landmark in the breakdown of censorship. Though I don't think it's a great film, it's certainly worth a look.
I haven't seen <i>I am Curious Blue</i> (the two colours are those of the Swedish flag, by the way), so can't comment on it.
Any chance of Marian Keane following up her Notorious commentary with one for I Am Curious... - her first analysis of a 'pornographic' feature?
"In this charged medium-shot we see the male star's erect penis - a clear phallic symbol.."
I imagine it would be something like Beavis & Butthead's reaction (in their movie) when they finally hear a genuine sexual advance after years of innuendo...
(those who've never heard a commentary by Ms. Keane won't have a clue what I'm talking about :dork: )
Originally posted by StuBruise
No "I Am Curious - Orange"? :confused:
~~stu Starring the Curious Orange?
Originally posted by Dr Hfuhruhurr
Starring the Curious Orange?
Exactly :thumbs:
Thought someone would've picked up on it sooner :(
~~stu
And I was thinking of The Fall's 1988 LP 'I am Kurious, Oranj', which is what the name of the Curious Orange is a reference to.
The Criterion Collection has just announced a couple of new discs for February.
First up is Swedish director Vilgot Sjöman's notorious I Am Curious - Yellow, a film actually seized by U.S. customs upon its 1967 entry into the country. Criterion presents the film with its companion piece I Am Curious - Blue, a parallel piece featuring the same characters. Presented in fullscreen from new high-definition digital transfers of both films, the set features Swedish Dolby Digital Mono audio and English subtitles. Supplements include a new video introduction and selected scene audio commentary by director Vilgot Sjöman, excerpts from Self Portrait, a 1992 Swedish television documentary, an interview with publisher Barney Rosset and attorney Edward De Grazia about the controversy surrounding the film, the documentary "The Battle for 'I Am Curious—Yellow'" detailing the film's censorship and trial, excerpts from the actual trial, an essay by critic Gary Giddins, a reprinted 1968 interview with the director, and trailers. The retail will be $39.95.
Also due is 1975's The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, presented with a 1.77:1 anamorphic transfer, German Dolby Digital Mono, and English subtitles. Supplements include new video interview with directors Volker Schlöndorff and Margarethe von Trotta, a new video interview with director of photography Jost Vacano, a documentary on author Heinrich Boll, and the original theatrical trailer. Retail on this is $29.95.
Answers:
No "I Am Curious - Orange"? :confused:
~~stu
Answers:
Potential viewers should be advised that <i>I Am Curious Yellow</i> contains scenes of gratuitous and explicit politics.
Answers:
I must say, the I Am Curious films look like the weakest addition to the collection since Hopscotch.
However, since Janus Films (the company who jointly owns Criterion with Home Vision Entertainment) were the ones who went through the courts with the film back in the late 60s, it's unsurprising they're putting the films out, especially with extra features like "Excerpts from the transcripts of the trial for I Am Curious—Yellow"
They appear to be putting it out on account of its controversial past rather than it's individual merits as a film.
Answers:
Hurrah !! "Lost Honor Of Katherina Blum" is one of the best of the New German Cinema movies and still by far the finest work Voker Schlondorff has ever done.
Answers:
Better than 'The Tin Drum'? That's probably my favourite novel and Schlondorff adapted it respectably - whatever happened to the DVD? I rather liked his work on 'Voyager' too
Definitely going to buy this - haven't seen it and I always confuse it with 'The Marriage of Maria Braun'.
Ah, the days when Germany produced good films... (willing to be corrected - as long as no-one mentions 'Das Experiment')
Answers:
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
Better than 'The Tin Drum'? That's probably my favourite novel and Schlondorff adapted it respectably - whatever happened to the DVD?
Scratch that, just found 'Die Blechtrommel' (it's original title - and the only one on the packaging) on DVD in Pusan.
Nifty tin cigar-case packaging, less than ten quid, and it looks like a direct port of Kino's deleted release - same commentary, non-anamorphic but with optional English and Korean subtitles. Didn't have money at the time and there was only one copy there so I hope no-one buys it before next Saturday...
Answers:
Criterion are going to be releasing The Tin Drum next year - the president of Kino said that the two companies were teaming up for a re-release!
Answers:
I was about to ask about a potential Criterion release... I've seen the film several times so perhaps I'll wait for this extra special edition.
You seem to be redirecting a lot of my money from small DVD labels into the coffers of the Criterion fat-cats... ;)
(Just picked up a Korean port of Criterion's 'Notorious' disc for 9 pounds!)
Answers:
Originally posted by Earl Jolly Brown
(Just picked up a Korean port of Criterion's 'Notorious' disc for 9 pounds!)
Christ! So all the disc contents are the same?
If I hadn't won my copy, I'd be extremely jealous right now! ;)
Answers:
"...Ah, the days when Germany produced good films... (willing to be corrected - as long as no-one mentions 'Das Experiment')..."
...ok, I won't mention that movie then... how about Anatomie or Bang Boom, Bang - Ein todsicheres Ding or the apparently hugely successful Die Musterknaben - Dumm wie Brot or its sequel Phil Collins im Puff? ;)
...seriously, though... there most certainly are 'good' contemporary German films: Max Färberböck's Aimée & Jaguar and Romuald Karmakar's Der Totmacher come to mind - then there's Volker Schlöndorff's Der Unhold
(starring John Malkovich) and Die Stille nach dem Schuss (Schlöndorff again)
and (don't know if that counts) Heinrich Breloer's epic three-part TV DocuDrama Die Manns - Ein Jahrhundertroman - to name a few... all available on German DVDs (and all-but-one without English subs)...
. . . :smokin: . . .
Answers:
Yes, the 'Notorious' contents are identical but for optional Korean subtitles. All legal and above board. Also saw 'Gimme Shelter' (absolutely identical - Criterion markings, english sleeve) for ten quid. The range of DVDs in Japan and Korea is astounding these days. :thumbs:
Hendrik, I'll read up on some of your serious suggestions and see if they're worth me sourcing a DVD from outside the country. Or they may turn up here with added subs and needless DTS soundtracks... (my nomination for least necessary - the 'Guys & Dolls' DTS edition :eek: - yours for 8 pounds)
Answers:
Originally posted by Narshty
I must say, the I Am Curious films look like the weakest addition to the collection since Hopscotch.
However, since Janus Films (the company who jointly owns Criterion with Home Vision Entertainment) were the ones who went through the courts with the film back in the late 60s, it's unsurprising they're putting the films out, especially with extra features like "Excerpts from the transcripts of the trial for I Am Curious—Yellow"
They appear to be putting it out on account of its controversial past rather than it's individual merits as a film.
To be fair, <i>I am Curious Yellow</i> is of considerable historical interest, and there are some people who think it's a masterpiece. Norman Mailer is quoted on the case of the British video release from Jezebel. (It was the first release on that label, and sits rather oddly, a very serious b/w Swedish arthouse movie sharing a catalogue with cheapo British 70s soft porn.) For a couple of decades, until <i>Cinema Paradiso</i> beat it, it was the highest-grossing subtitled release ever in the US.
Watching it nowadays, it's a strange mixture of avant-garde art movie, political diatribe (now very dated and seeming to go on for ever) and explicit depiction of a love affair. We see full-frontal nudity of both sexes, two years before <i>Medium Cool</i> and <i>Women in Love</i> introduced the uncovered penis to the commercial English-language cinema. There's even a scene where Lena Nyman kisses Borje Ahlstedt's penis: not quite hardcore fellatio, but pretty close to it. This must have been electrifying in 1967 and still has an impact now - as Danny Peary points out in his <i>Guide for the Film Fanatic</i>, we've got to know Nyman as a character before we see her having sex, and a lot of the film's impact is due to that. Needless to say, the BBFC were having none of that, and cut the film by 11 minutes before giving it a X certificate. (If the BBFC website is to be believed, the distributors precut the film before submission, but it was still cut further.) The Jezebel release, passed 18 in 1994, is complete and uncut.
The film certainly has a place in history as a landmark in the breakdown of censorship. Though I don't think it's a great film, it's certainly worth a look.
I haven't seen <i>I am Curious Blue</i> (the two colours are those of the Swedish flag, by the way), so can't comment on it.
Answers:
Any chance of Marian Keane following up her Notorious commentary with one for I Am Curious... - her first analysis of a 'pornographic' feature?
"In this charged medium-shot we see the male star's erect penis - a clear phallic symbol.."
I imagine it would be something like Beavis & Butthead's reaction (in their movie) when they finally hear a genuine sexual advance after years of innuendo...
(those who've never heard a commentary by Ms. Keane won't have a clue what I'm talking about :dork: )
Answers:
Originally posted by StuBruise
No "I Am Curious - Orange"? :confused:
~~stu Starring the Curious Orange?
Answers:
Originally posted by Dr Hfuhruhurr
Starring the Curious Orange?
Exactly :thumbs:
Thought someone would've picked up on it sooner :(
~~stu
Answers:
And I was thinking of The Fall's 1988 LP 'I am Kurious, Oranj', which is what the name of the Curious Orange is a reference to.
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