Charade: Criterion out of print only to sell "The Truth about Charlie?" (1 Viewer)

[Patrick McCart]

I noticed that the 2-disc SE of The Truth About Charlie will have Charade on the second disc, but will Universal release a Charade-only DVD? Will Criterion do a SE themselves?

It seems wrong to consumers to have Criterion stop production of their DVD only for Universal to make it part of Charlie's DVD.

 

[Patrick Mirza]

Since when is it "wrong" that a licensing period expires? Business is business.

 

[Rain]

I noticed that the 2-disc SE of The Truth About Charlie will have Charade on the second disc....

Oh, I didn't know that.

I assume it will be anamorphic....

I wonder if it will be a better transfer than the Criterion...

 

[MatthewA]

What about the same extras?

 

[Patrick McCart]

Besides upgrading to anamorphic, I don't see what Universal could upgrade. The transfer used by Criterion is used on TCM (and that OTHER channel) is nearly spotless and has excellent color.

 

[Rain]

Quite right, Patrick. The Criterion is lovely for a non-anamorphic.

But there is room to improve there if they did it anamorphically. But will Universal be up to the task?

Personally I frown on the whole thing with putting the movie in the same package with the remake. Certainly Charade is worthy of a release of its own.

 

[Christopher Bosley]

Yah, but then who would want to buy "Truth about Charlie"? haha

 

[Tina_H_V]

Actually, Christopher, I would.

The Truth about it is, I did not mind The Truth About Charlie. I thought it was an interesting twist on the old story, IMHO, as well as the interracial angle as portrayed by Thandie Newton and Mark Wahlberg. Although I thought Mark was, to me at least, a little on the tense side in this role, I liked many of the peripherals and thought many in the supporting cast fared well enough to make up for whatever shortcomings there may have been.

And, if I am not mistaken...DTS shall also be featured on this one! (One more, if so, to get me closer to a 2003 of 100 DTS DVD's in my collection!! )

And although this package shall include the original Charade...I found that old Criterion Collectible DVD in Berkeley for a lovely song (CHEAP-CHEAP!!!!) back in May 2001 and it shall NEVER leave my itinerary voluntarily. To me, it is a keeper!!!!

 

[Tina_H_V]

Actually, I meant that sentence to mean a 2003 goal to have 100 DTS DVD's in my collection!

 

[TonyD]

i would buy the truth mostly to have charade but only if it is anamorphic.

another dvd that had the remake and the origional was the ultimate version of meet joe black.
it contained the origional "death takes a holiday".

death was/is a much better film.

 

[Rain]

another dvd that had the remake and the origional was the ultimate version of meet joe black.
it contained the origional "death takes a holiday".

I didn't know that!

How is the quality and is it still available? I'd buy the DVD just to get that.

 

[Mark Zimmer]

Just like any other Criterion that goes OOP, you snooze, you lose. If you're even vaguely interested in a Criterion title you should pick it up at a decent price because who knows when it will hit $100 on the ebay market.

 

[Enrique B Chamorro]

The UK had a nice Special Edition by SANCTUARY DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT that now seems OOP.

The extras on the UK PAL version was;
Audio commentary from film historian Ken Barnes
(including conversations with Mancini and Johnny Mercer)
Excerpt from Cary Grants' 1931 screen debut
Excerpt from Audrey Hepburn's 1951 debut screen appearance
Cast & crew profiles
Production background
The JFK factor
Original theatrical trailer
Trailers for 'Funny Face' and 'Notorious'

Not a bad compliment to Criterion's OOP version.

Maybe Universal can get some of the UK extras?

 

[Herb Kane]

I didn't know that!

How is the quality and is it still available? I'd buy the DVD just to get that.

Rain.... it is included with the "Ultimate Edition" of Meet Joe Black (which is a DTS version BTW). I still see it around from time to time.

Quality wise, it's "OK".

Herb.

 

[Mark-W]

I also bought Meet Joe Black: Ultimate Edition just because Death Takes A Holiday is
included. (Still haven't watched MJB.)

I have only seen the Ultimate edition in stores locally
since, I thought, it was part of that phase where Universal
did "ultimate" 2 disc sets, often without adding any new
features from the 1 disc version, as is the case with
Notting Hill.

Rain-
As Herb said, picture quality is "Ok," or I would
say "fair," on Death Takes a Holiday, but
then my eyes aren't as sharp as yours, as I really wasn't
bothered by the transfer on the Canadian DVD release of
Giant, so maybe you shouldn't listen to
me.

regards,

Mark

 

[Rain]

Thanks, maybe I'll see if I can find a used copy somewhere for cheap.

 

[Mark Zimmer]

I liked Meet Joe Black too, though. Hopkins is always fun to watch, and I like Claire Forlani a lot too. There's some other guy in it too but I forget his name.

 

[Patrick McCart]

Death Takes A Holiday was mastered from UCLA's restoration of the film.

One more movie I'd like to see that is stapled to a movie..

 

[Yumbo]

it's a single DVD-14.

single layer.
anamorphic (helps with pans).
no restoration.
no extras.
sound is encoded differently (better).
chapter breaks are different.
colour is cooler.

the criterion opening titles are windowboxed.
colours are warmer, but panning blurs.

get the new one if you don't have the old one.
I'm selling my old one for $20.

 

[Damin J Toell]

no restoration.

What does that mean?

DJ