Double Indemnity -- new DVD in the works? (1 Viewer)

[Tyler Ruggeri]

I've been wanting Double Indemnity for a long time, and Borders has two copies of the OOP Image disc for $9.99. The only problem is supposedly Criterion has the rights now and the picture/sound quality on this Image disc is God awful. I haven't seen it, but judging by the Sixteen Candles and Kiss of the Vampire I own from them it will be mediocre at best, albeit cheap. TCM is airing Double Indemnity as part of their Billy Wilder tribute on Wednesday/Thursday and I want to tape it.

So I guess my question is, is there anything in the works for the near or distant future and if not, is the Image disc worth it?

 

[Craig_T]

Criterion has the rights to this now? Is this true? God, I would LOVE a Criterion version of this ***** film. The current disc isn't the worst thing ever released, but a title of this caliber deserves a much better release.

 

[Deepak Shenoy]

Double Indemnity is a perfect candidate for a Criterion release (thanks to their working relationship with Universal), but they have never confirmed that they will be releasing this title. I have the current release and it looks pretty bad. The print that is used for the TCM broadcast isn't any better.
Maybe some day Universal will get around to doing a Film Noir Collection and release other Noir gems such as Criss Cross, The Killers, The Big Clock, This Gun for Hire, etc.

 

[Craig Beam]

Ultimately, it's the quality of the film itself that matters most. A glorious transfer of a lousy film is an utter waste of time... however, watching a mediocre (or even lousy) transfer of a brilliant film is still time well spent. DOUBLE INDEMNITY is a masterpiece, and if you can get it for ten bucks, don't hesitate. It'll hold you over till a better edition comes along someday.

 

[Thomas T]

Craig, I couldn't have said it better myself.
The Image Double Indemnity is pretty rough looking but why wait 1 year, 3 years, 5 years or however long it will take for Universal to remaster this title. Why deny yourself? Enjoy it now!

 

[Mark-W]

I asked John Mulvaney about Double Indemnity
and a possible Criterion release, and he made it sound like
this was NOT going to happen...
(I even mentioned their apparently good relationship
with Universal, and that didn't seem to help the matter.)
That was just prior to their chat here at the forum,
I want to say last summer, but I could be wrong.
Mark

 

[Mark-W]

I just found that part of the Criterion chat transcript
from October 2001:
Mark_Walker: Wow! Well, first of all, I would like to thank you for exposing me
to some great films! THE THIRD MAN, in particular! What I am wondeing is this:
Jon e-mailed me and said that A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH and DOUBLE INDEMNITY
are titles you would persue if you could get the rights. Is there any help we can give
to encourage Universal to let you do these?
JonMulvaney: These are perennial favorites with the Criterion crew. They're always
possibilities, but so far the opportunity hasn't arisen.
Sad, but true.
I hope things have changed....Double Indemnity is a film
that just keeps seeming better and better.
Mark

 

[Jay E]

I had to return the DVD of Double Indemnity as it was one of the worst transfers I've seen for a film of this magnitude. I could never bring myself to watch this film like that.

Universal must realize that this film deserves a re-release and that it would be a good money maker, which is the reason, (I'm hoping), that they have not allowed Criterion to release this.

 

[streeter]

Universal should release it on DVD with audio commentary from Woody Allen and Cameron Crowe.

 

[Carrol M]

I wrote Jon Mulvaney about this title, actually. And he said that there aren't any plans at this time. I guess you can read alot into that if you want.

 

[Mark-W]

Michael-
You think Allen would do a commentary track? He is
famous, even above and beyond Speilberg for his
statements to let films speak for themselves. He
doesn't want any extras on his DVD, minus the trailers.
As for films Allen highly regards, he is responsible for
the release of The Sorrow and The Pity, and
that 2 disc DVD set has no extras...
Granted, if the Academy can get him to leave NYC even for
a night, maybe it is possible, but I really really doubt it.
Carrol M-
Believe me, I would love this title to be
a Criterion release, but having written Mulvaney about it
and several other titles, I can tell you, "...at this time..." is a fairly pat answer from them.
Like it says in the transcript, I would love to know what
I could do to get Universal to let Criterion get their
hands on it...but there was no suggestion, and I am dreadful
sick of on-line petitions.
I always figured that if Universal was willing to farm
it out to Image-Entertainment, why would they not give
Criterion a crack at it? Per the Criterion chat, it would
appear that they see it as film they would like to to do,
but Universal probably, especially now, sees this as a title
they probably want to tackle themselves, or if they were
even contemplating letting Criterion do it, the price
for the rights probably just went up. :frowning:
Mark

 

[Carrol M]

Carrol M-

Believe me, I would love this title to be a Criterion release, but having written Mulvaney about it and several other titles, I can tell you, "...at this time..." is a fairly pat answer from them.

Thanks, I figured as much. After mailing him recently I got nearly the same answer for every suggestion/question.

Carrol

 

[Tom-G]

Universal must realize that this film deserves a re-release and that it would be a good money maker, which is the reason, (I'm hoping), that they have not allowed Criterion to release this

Gosh, I hope so! I would have done just about anything for a Criterion release. I've held off on buying the OOP version despite seeing it used for a very low price.

This film deserves special treatment.

 

[Rob Tomlin]

Are there any updates on this title? Regardless of who releases it (I would love a Criterion release) this film clearly deserves top notch treatment on DVD!

 

[Mark-W]

In a thread regarding Scrooge
I mentioned that, really,
I only have one title left to whine about after
both DragonSlayer and Scrooge are released:
Double Indemnity.
After I stated that, Ron E responded, "no comment "
Now, hopefully that little smiley face and Ron's "silence"
means that either Universal has decided to re-do this
film for DVD, or has decided to let Criterion handle it.
Of course, this is just speculation,
but I hope it is enough to merit kicking this thread
awake, so futher updates can be posted when
the people "in the know" no longer
have to be "silent" on the subject.

Mark
PS: Yes, I know that both DragonSlayer
and Scrooge are Paramount titles,
and that Double Idemnity is Universal.

 

[Kirk Tsai]

Mark, I hope you're right. An SE for Double Indemnity, and they get my money.

 

[Robert Crawford]

Mark,

I don't believe Ron was responding to "Double Indemnity" but to the other two titles.

Crawdaddy

 

[Mark-W]

So, the one disk release was cancelled for this fall, so is there any word on this title being reconsidered for release, or maybe that Universal is working on improving the print?

I would hope that was the cause for the delay, but that may be highly wishful thinking.

-mw

 

[Mark-W]

So...it has been a month.

Any news on a REissue of this title on DVD?

Please Universal, let us know.

-mw

 

[Eric Peterson]

I just rewatched my Image disc on Sunday night. It was the first time that I watched it on my 55" Mitsubishi and now I see what everybody was complaining about. It looks pretty rough.

Hopefully, Universal is working up a worthy special edition, but I have my doubts as they very rarely do their films properly.