The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
#1The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/17/14 at 11:28am
YES!
http://www.criterion.com/boxsets/1055-the-essential-jacques-demy
#2The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/17/14 at 12:11pm
CAN NOT WAIT!!!!
I have been wanting to see Umbrellas forever.
I kind of figured this was coming because the UK's version of Criterion just reissued these films across the pond.
....but the world goes 'round
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#2The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/17/14 at 8:39pm
There are a couple of these I'd buy separately, like the brilliant LOLA and UMBRELLAS, two films of real charm and style that I like a hell of a lot. Alas, the box is overpriced, and there's no way I'm going to pay to own one much less two copies of that godforsaken DONKEY SKIN travesty.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Updated On: 4/17/14 at 08:39 PM
#3The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/18/14 at 4:50pm
Donkey Skin is one of my favorite movies 
LOL
#4The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/18/14 at 4:53pmI have no idea how anyone can not love this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw7sCNtYOd0
#5The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/18/14 at 5:30pmThis is great news. Also Scanners (that includes Cronenberg's debut film in the supplements). A little more of a head-scratcher: The Big Chill. Guess that was populist reach-out film that helps Criterion balance the books.
#6The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/18/14 at 5:53pm
OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH GOD! OH MY GOD!
OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH GOD! OH MY GOD!
OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH GOD! OH MY GOD!
OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH GOD! OH MY GOD!
I JUST PEE'D MY PANTS!!!
LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT!!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOVE THAT FILM!!!
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#7The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/19/14 at 12:30pm
Yeah, well, you know, opinions they differ all over the place. For me DONKEY SKIN is in dire need of the magic that keeps UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG from curdling into posed phony silliness.
I can never look at clips of DONKEY SKIN without thinking of that musicalized LOST HORIZON remake. Painfully earthbound despite everyone's best efforts.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
Updated On: 4/19/14 at 12:30 PM
#8The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/19/14 at 2:53pm
I was in French immersion school, and as a treat in my second grade class we would get to watch Peau D'Ane. So it's always held a weird fascination for me -- it was my first Demy film. I have always thought it is meant to be earthbound (ie the anachronistic elements through out.) And it has a really beautiful score, I think.
Anyway the film in the collection that I think will most polarize fans is Chambre en Ville.
#9The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/19/14 at 3:09pmI just wish Criterion got the rights to Rivette works. Any of his 70s works would do.
#10The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/19/14 at 4:38pm
That box set is crazy-priced.
I would buy Umbrellas and Demoiselles separately, but I'm not familiar with the other ones. I admit the scene/song that Eric posted didn't get me enthused. It did remind me of the worst that Lost Horizon has to offer. But for the same reason I love Lost Horizon (I first saw it multiple times as a kid), I can understand why it's a favorite of Eric's.
Hopefully, they'll sell them individually or eventually have a fire sale on the set. Otherwise, as much as I wouldn't mind having the recently restored Umbrellas in HD, along with Demoiselles, I can wait for these until the price is right.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#11The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/19/14 at 5:16pm
I know I won over one of this site's more frequent posters to the charms of Donkey Skin. I mean--come on, how can you not love Deneuve singing to herself about baking a cake? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7axZxIdNhM
(But, Besty--you're completely right, I suspect my love of the movie--and the reason so many people from France--is having grown up with it. As an adult re-watching it I do enjoy all of the Cocteau references, down to casting Marais.)
It's still pretty early--I imagine some sort of sale price will happen (I have resisted temptation and pre-ordering.)
La Chambre en Ville is an interesting, though I think flawed, movie--an attempt to do a deadly serious musical. Legrand refused to score it because he found the nudity and violence too off-putting. Regardless, Michel Colombier's score is VERY good, and I think any fan of serious musicals should give it a watch.
#12The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/19/14 at 5:29pmIt should be pointed out that Lola, for those who haven't seen it (and it's a terrific film) features the first appearance of Roland from Cherbourg. (It would have been nice to include Demy's attempt at a Hollywood cross-over, Model Shop, which Finishes Lola's story, but it's a pretty terrible movie--TCM randomly programs it every so often.)
#13The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/19/14 at 9:59pmCriterion really is so amazing. I hope one day they release Almodóvar's films on Blu!
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#14The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:30am
Best -- check out LOLA sometime. I'd advise waiting until the Blu-Ray comes out and renting it, if possible. LOLA's just a joy from start to finish, and it stars the sublime Anouk Aimee as the most radiantly gorgeous female onscreen presence since Louise Brooks. LOLA also, as noted above, has a connection with UMBRELLAS -- one of the characters in LOLA features prominently in UMBRELLAS, which even takes the time to make a return trip to one of the film's major locations.
I notice the Criterion Collection box doesn't include MODEL SHOP, which is kind of a sequel to LOLA, showing What Happened Later. Probably just as well, it isn't a particularly good movie.
PEAU D'ANE, on the other hand -- shudder.
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick
My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#15The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/20/14 at 2:51pmI would have wished for Model Shop as a bonus. It's not a good film but is interesting because of the Lola connection. And Roscoe and I agree on Lola--it's an awesome film.
#16The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/20/14 at 3:44pm
LOLA is a very good film. MODEL SHOP is definitely a curiosity. It was Demy's American directorial debut starring Anouk Aimee, who reprises her role from LOLA. It co-stars Gary Lockwood fresh off his success from 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and Alexandra Hay (SKIDOO and THE LOVE MACHINE) The film was already released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in 2009.
It's still available on Amazon for $6.49
MODEL SHOP (1969) - Amazon.com link
Updated On: 4/20/14 at 03:44 PM
#17The Essential Jacques Demy Criterion Box Set
Posted: 4/20/14 at 7:06pmI actually had no idea it was on DVD! Thanks Carlos.
