Sorry about yesterday's blunder. I accidentally posted an unfinished version of this article. Here's the complete post. Several Marx Brothers will disappear from the Criterion Channel at the end of the month…and that's no laughing matter. Some serious films will disappear as well. Here are just a few of the films that will no longer … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of June – the complete version
Category: Home Theater
Carole Lombard & The Marx Brothers at the Criterion Channel
Only yesterday I posted an article about a series of movies at The Criterion Channel, and here I am doing it again. Only this time, I'm discussing two series, and they're all about funny movie stars. Carole Lombard I haven't seen enough Carole Lombard movies. This series, Starring Carole Lombard, should give me a chance … Continue reading Carole Lombard & The Marx Brothers at the Criterion Channel
Dalton Trumbo and films of the Blacklist at Criterion
The Criterion Channel is currently doing something unusual; they're running a series set around - not a director or a star - but a screenwriter. Dalton Trumbo was a top MGM screenwriter in the 1940s, when he was blacklisted for his leftwing politics. He did time in federal prison, then he spent the 1950s writing … Continue reading Dalton Trumbo and films of the Blacklist at Criterion
What’s leaving Criterion at the end of May
A lot of laughter will be leaving the Criterion Channel when May turns into June. The Preston Sturges flicks will disappear, along with comedies by Melvin Van Peebles, Elaine May, and John Sayles. Even a few great dramas will also leave the Channel. A+ The Lady Eve (1941) Like all great screwballs, The Lady Eve … Continue reading What’s leaving Criterion at the end of May
Great films, strange streams: The Crowd, Lone Star, & Sparticus
Not all great films get the home theater treatment they deserve. Here are three terrific films getting better home presentations…although they still need improvement. The Crowd (1928) Last year, I wrote an article about great films not available at home, and I put The Crowd first. This isn't a lost work, but a masterpiece kept … Continue reading Great films, strange streams: The Crowd, Lone Star, & Sparticus
The Producers on Blu-ray
A desperate has-been Broadway producer (Zero Mostel) and a timid, neurotic accountant (Gene Wilder in his first major role) plan a bit of larceny that will make them a fortune - if the play they produce flops. But if it's a hit, they'll go to jail. No wonder they select a play called Springtime for Hitler. … Continue reading The Producers on Blu-ray
Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies, now on Criterion Blu-ray
There's something very special about Mike Leigh's family drama, Secrets & Lies. Every person on the screen appears to be a fully fleshed-out human being, and I'm not just talking about the main characters. Even actors with one or two scenes feel as if they have a history. You can care about all of them … Continue reading Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies, now on Criterion Blu-ray
Fun stuff on Criterion, Part 2: Chaplin & Méliès
Last week I told you about a Preston Sturges series available on The Criterion Channel. This week, I'm telling you about two other series on the Channel intended just to entertain. One is about the most loved comedian of all time. The other was one of the first filmmakers to use the medium to tell … Continue reading Fun stuff on Criterion, Part 2: Chaplin & Méliès
What’s Leaving Criterion when March ends
At the end of every month, the Criterion Channel trims its collection of films to make room for others (probably because of contract issues). Thankfully, they give us warning, so we can watch a film before it goes away. If you're a Criterion subscriber, catch some of these before you wake up and discover it's … Continue reading What’s Leaving Criterion when March ends
Jazz on a Summer’s Day on Blu-ray
The concert documentary didn't start with Woodstock, Gimme Shelter, or even Monterey Pop. In fact, it didn't even start with rock 'n' roll. But it just may have started with Jazz on a Summer's Day. Shot in and around the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, and released a year later, it's one of the best of its kind. First, there's the … Continue reading Jazz on a Summer’s Day on Blu-ray
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