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The Third Man CC DVD & Blu-ray OOP

post #1 of 34
10/26/09 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 
According to the Criterion website and their Facebook page. 
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post #2 of 34
10/26/09 at 3:37pm
Yeah, the news hit the DVD Talk forums and folks are starting to hit up Amazon.  I'm embarrassed to say that I'm one of them.  I had the original release and just never got around to upgrading.
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post #3 of 34
10/26/09 at 6:21pm
Thread Starter 
I ran out at lunch, and picked up a copy at Barnes & Noble.
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post #4 of 34
10/26/09 at 8:19pm
Glad I bought the BD during a Barnes & Noble sale a few months back. I still had the original DVD version, but the BD is a big improvement. I'd just like to download cover art and ditch the cheesy cardboard case.
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post #5 of 34
10/27/09 at 5:22am
Thread Starter 
There is (or was) a replacement program for that.  From criterionforum.org:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Mulvaney
We currently have THE THIRD MAN replacement cases in and we will be receiving the rest come November. The cost for a replacement case is $5, which includes shipping. If you would like to go ahead and purchase an upgraded case for THE THIRD MAN simply make a payment of $5 to the email address store@criterion.com through PayPal, providing your mailing address and item needed in the message field, and we'll send it out to you! If you prefer to receive [it and other] cases together, I would advise waiting until we have all cases available and then making the payment of [$5 each] through Paypal.
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post #6 of 34
10/27/09 at 6:45am
Thanks, Tim. I will give that a try. I just looked at their forum, and as of a few days ago, they still had replacement covers.
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post #7 of 34
10/27/09 at 7:04am
I don´t like the "windowboxed" format so the previous Criterion is still the best in my book.
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post #8 of 34
10/28/09 at 9:52am
I have the first criterion release from a while back and am content with it.
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post #9 of 34
10/28/09 at 6:23pm
I wonder if MOC will pick it up now for R2 and take advantage of int'l sales...
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post #10 of 34
10/28/09 at 6:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert_M View Post

I have the first criterion release from a while back and am content with it.

Have you rented the Blu-ray? It is really (IMO) an improvement over the original DVD.
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post #11 of 34
10/29/09 at 6:20pm
It is an improvement, in that it offers the tremendous clarity of the better classic Blu-ray titles with what apears to be the proper grain, plus great contrast. This is one of those movies that has such superb cinematography that only the best avalailable video source will do. This OOP status surprises me...the Blu-ray hasn't been out for more than a year, has it?
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post #12 of 34
10/29/09 at 7:09pm
I'm not 100% on this, but I have heard Rialto Pictures is planning another reissue of THE THIRD MAN to arthouses in 2010 - perhaps they've asked Criterion to put it on moratorium to boost ticket sales.  Happens all the time with MGM when they have a new Bond film in the works.
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post #13 of 34
10/29/09 at 7:24pm
Rumor has it that this is a casualty of a Studio Canal / Lionsgate deal.
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post #14 of 34
10/29/09 at 9:01pm
Amazon just sold out of the Blu so the rush is obviously on.  And yeah, this is not a moratorium thing, it's a Criterion no longer has the license thing.  It looks like it's falling victim to the same thing Ran did as they are both Studio/Canal.
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post #15 of 34
10/30/09 at 11:12am
Thread Starter 
If that's the case, what other Studio/Canal titles could be pulled from Criterion?
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post #16 of 34
10/30/09 at 8:57pm
 While it may be an improvement over the Criterion DVD, the Criterion Blu-Ray of The Third Man is nowhere near what it should be and that has everything to do with their source material.  A gorgeous restored DVD came out in England a couple of years ago and that's what The Third Man should look like.
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post #17 of 34
11/1/09 at 3:49pm
 Who released the THIRD MAN DVD in England that you are talking about, Billy?  I think I'd like to pick that up rather than the Criterion.
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post #18 of 34
11/1/09 at 8:07pm
 It's Universal UK (from Studio Canal) - a two-disc special edition.  Checking amazon.uk it seems to have disappeared off the face of the Earth.  There's one from Optimum that also says Studio Canal, but I don't know if it's the same as this one.  

Update:  This is the weirdest thing ever - I can find no trace of the Universal DVD anywhere - no reviews (I could have sworn there was a comparison on DVD Beaver, but his redesigned site is very odd and you can't search the way you used to), no mention of it anywhere.  I'd be curious to see if anyone else can find it.
Edited by BillyFeldman - 11/1/09 at 8:43pm
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post #19 of 34
11/2/09 at 2:53am
The original UK DVD came from Warner / Studio Canal. After Warner lost the UK rights to this and a whole other slew of Studio Canal owned titles, the much improved edtion (which is a tad better than the Criterion transfer IMHO) was by Optimum, who are owned by Studio Canal. Universal never has released the disc in the UK, though they have in France where they have a distribution deal with Studio Canal.
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post #20 of 34
11/2/09 at 2:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdnitoil View Post

Amazon just sold out of the Blu so the rush is obviously on.  And yeah, this is not a moratorium thing, it's a Criterion no longer has the license thing.  It looks like it's falling victim to the same thing Ran did as they are both Studio/Canal.
I am certain that Criterion will do what they can to relicense both titles.  While StudioCanal seems to be funneling the majority of their product to Lionsgate, they still seem to prefer making individual licensing deals with Criterion for the prestige titles in their catalog.  The only instance I can think of where a Criterion-level movie went to Lionsgate was DIVA, and I suspect that may have been Criterion's decision to pass on it and let it go there.  Right now, I'm sure they're just bickering about money and residuals and all the related matters that go into sublicensing.

That being said, I did pick up a RAN, and I will likely get my THIRD MAN very soon.
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post #21 of 34
11/3/09 at 5:31am
That's weird - I made a response to this last night, but I'm guessing I clicked "clear" instead of "submit" because my eye always seems to go down to the left.  Anyway, I think what I have is Australian maybe - packaging is all in English, 2 DVDs, from Studio Canal and Universal, and if I'm remembering correctly it's better-looking than the Optimum, which I also have.  Maybe I'll put both of 'em on and check it out again - but doing a Google search I can find no evidence that what I have here exists.  Cue Twilight Zone music.  But I have it, nonetheless.

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson View Post

The original UK DVD came from Warner / Studio Canal. After Warner lost the UK rights to this and a whole other slew of Studio Canal owned titles, the much improved edtion (which is a tad better than the Criterion transfer IMHO) was by Optimum, who are owned by Studio Canal. Universal never has released the disc in the UK, though they have in France where they have a distribution deal with Studio Canal.
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post #22 of 34
11/3/09 at 5:53am
Ah, that will be this Australian set then?
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post #23 of 34
11/4/09 at 10:02am
It is now unavailable, sold-out, out of stock at all the major e-tailers... the BLU-RAY edition that is.
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post #24 of 34
11/4/09 at 5:23pm
That's the one!  I probably got it from that online store, actually.  But I had to have read about it somewhere and now can't find any reference to it on any board that I frequent.

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Hodson View Post

Ah, that will be this Australian set then?
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post #25 of 34
11/5/09 at 8:00am
Up again for $29.99 at amazon! Just ordered mine, hurry before the speculators order 20 copies each and inventory runs out again. Remember they only have what's left of this.


UPDATE: gone again
Edited by Rick Z. - 11/5/09 at 8:54am
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post #26 of 34
11/11/09 at 10:38am
Quote:
Have you rented the Blu-ray? It is really (IMO) an improvement over the original DVD.
 

I don't have a Blu player. Yes I know the prices are falling rapidly - now - on blu players but I didn't have the energy to branch out at those prices (and title prices)

That is changing and I might make the jump next year.
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post #27 of 34
11/16/09 at 1:04pm
Out of Stock again at B & N - and checking my open orders on amazon.com, order placed a few days ago at $19.99, it says this item will ship after December 25th - if ever is what I think.
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post #28 of 34
11/22/09 at 6:42pm
Well I just placed my order for the two-disc standard version from B&N at discount with coupons stacked (total $22 incl. Can s/h) and while it shows in my account "In Process: Not Yet Shipped", on my main order summary page it lists "Unable to process order. Please call 1-877-379-0036, or 212-414-6024, if outside U.S." - I wonder if this means that they are completely sold out of stock or acknowledging the status, will refuse to ship the order out?

When you click on the [url=http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?EAN=0715515023429&x=26212211]product page[/url] at B&N, it appears to be available to purchase with a working Add To Cart button for the item. Does B&N usually signify out of print products on their website or simply remove the listing?

Finally, to anyone who might've purchased this at B&N recently in the rush to secure a copy last minute, can you confirm what type of packaging it was shipped in? The original hard cover box or the recently reissued plastic case?

Thanks, and I hope I'm not too late on this one!

I'm crossing my fingers that it will ship out tomorrow...
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post #29 of 34
11/22/09 at 6:55pm
Update: PayPal indicates payment status is "Pending"... I've never seen that for a store purchase before but all does not bode well for this order. :(
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post #30 of 34
11/25/09 at 2:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcoBiscotti View Post


Finally, to anyone who might've purchased this at B&N recently in the rush to secure a copy last minute, can you confirm what type of packaging it was shipped in? The original hard cover box or the recently reissued plastic case?

Mine was in the cardboard box. 
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