Big news for Criterion Collection fans: the company known for its creme de la creme restoration releases is putting out more titles, and the selection list is pretty impressive. From cult classic guilty pleasures to high tone productions studied the world wide, Criterion has something to offer everyone.
Criterion, the company who brings the best possible quality releases of classic cinema, has announced an incredible release line-up, including a complete and newly restored edition of Krzysztof Kieślowski's epic 10-part masterpiece, Dekalog. One of the company's most ambitious and long-awaited projects will be available on Blu-Ray and DVD preceding the anticipated theatrical release of each individual film. Along with the Polish opus Criterion will be giving the all star treatment to Valley of the Dolls, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Blood Simple, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums, and the 1940 classic film, Night Train to Munich.
For those who don’t already know about these films, let me offer a little information. Valley of the Dolls is infamously known as a steamy, eye-popping adaptation of the 1960s decade-defining pop culture novel by Jacqueline Susann. The film was so well received it inspired a less prestigious sequel produced by B movie maverick Russ Meyer and written by film critique, Roger Ebert (yes, it’s true). More of a re-imaging than a sequel, their efforts produced the deliriously entertaining, ante upping, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Although it lacked the sophistication of the first film, the outrageous sequel has become a cult classic. Blood Simple, or course, is best known for being the debut of Joel & Ethan Coen (the wildly influential Neo-Noir is currently enjoying a theatrical re-release).
And the long awaited release of Jacques Tourneur's Cat People (made under the guidance of legendary producer Val Lewton) is a landmark of the horror genre and one of the cinema's best creature features. On the other side of the spectrum is Kenji Mizoguchi's pre-war masterpiece of love and theater, The Story of the Last Chrysanthemums, which joins the Collection in a US debut on Blu-Ray and DVD. These great titles will also be accompanied by Carol Reed's WWII Spy Thriller, Night Train to Munich, which was written by the same team who wrote Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes. This edition marks the first time the fan favorite will be available on Blu-Ray. And last but not least there’s the twenty-five-film set of the adventures of Zatoichi, The Blind Swordsman, which will be available in a Blu-Ray-only edition.
With so many great titles joining the already impressive library available through Criterion (link to site through above image) it seems as if there should be no great films left to receive the special treatment provided by the renown company. However, there are a LOT of films out there. So Criterion will keep doing what it’s doing and strive to bring us even more great titles in the future. Can’t wait to see what’s next.