As you've probably gathered already, we here at Cinema Nerds are huge fans of The Criterion Collection. Just last night we were drooling over their new Blu-Ray of Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator. Thanks to them, some of cinema's most important and hard to find films are now available to the masses with pristine transfers and enriching bonus features. As of right now there are 578 films in The Collection with new titles announced each month. Here are some suggestions to get them closer to that 600 mark.
The Chelsea Girls
6 years before Deep Throat, this was the movie that built a bridge between the underground and the mainstream. High society people flocked "downtown" to get a little culture by watching Andy Warhol & Paul Morrissey's 3hr 15min, double projected epic! Criterion already has a history of releasing Paul Morrissey films (Flesh For Frankenstein & Blood For Dracula) so this should be right up their alley. Also, there is apparently no longer a moratorium on releasing Warhol's films on home video so let's make this happen!
Johnny Guitar
Directed by Nicholas (Rebel Without A Cause) Ray, this film was worshiped by many of the men who went on to be known as La Nouvelle Vague. This is one weird little movie. Joan Crawford at her most butch and Sterling Hayden...well...being Sterling Hayden. 1954 audiences looking for a traditional western must have been thrown for quite a loop. Since Criterion has released more New Wave films than anyone else in the game, it would stand to reason that they would want to release one of the films that lead the way.
Crash (1996)
In a career spanning well over 30 years, David Cronenberg has produced more than his share of controversy. In the early days, that controversy was brought about through disturbing visuals. With Crash, it was the result of disturbing ideas. This essentially plotless film is a beautiful and frightening collision point between sex & violence. You'll never be able to look at a car accident the same way again. Obviously not to be confused with that "other" Crash movie.
Don't Look Now
Directed by Criterion favorite Nicolas Roeg, this mostly bloodless film is one of the creepiest and most beloved horror films of all time. A super-de-dooper edition already exists in the film's native England but here in Region 1 we are stuck with a lame "film only" edition. Come on! I demand a documentary on whether or not Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie were actually fucking!
Multiple Maniacs
Recently Criterion has started releasing hard to find black & white first films by respected auteurs (Gus Van Sant's Mala Noche, Allison Anders' Border Radio, etc.) so why not keep the ball rolling with John Waters' extremely hard to find first feature. It isn't fair that only a select few with the old VHS, have the privilege of watching Divine get violated by a giant lobster. Oh and did I mention David Lochary's miraculous moustache?
Great list! Multiple Maniacs uses lots of classic pop music which Waters never paid the rights for. I can't remember how much it would cost to sort out, but from an interview or the This Filthy World tour he does, Waters said it was a huge amount, and it probably won't happen...
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