725 Eraserhead

[flyonthewall2983]

I wonder how many "Making-of's" are as long if not longer than the actual film itself. The doc on the 25th Anniversary Blade Runner disc is over 3 hours long altogether.

[sir_luke]

I wonder how many "Making-of's" are as long if not longer than the actual film itself. The doc on the 25th Anniversary Blade Runner disc is over 3 hours long altogether.

The making-of documentary on Autumn Sonata is also over three hours. Twice as long as the film!

[criterion10]

All I was getting at with my original comment is that all of the special features included, with the exception of the "New and archival interviews" have been released before and widely seen by many, myself included. (Lynch's shorts are very interesting, and the "Stories" documentary is very comprehensive.)

I was merely hoping to see more newly created special features or ones that haven't been as widely distributed. Though it's completely possible that the interviews could be very lengthy and extensive, so I won't pass judgment until the Blu-Ray debuts.

I understand that Lynch probably had certain stipulations regarding the special features (the apparent lack of a booklet/writing supplement was almost certainly at his request), especially considering that this is one of his more inexplicable works.

The release as a whole still looks great, especially considering that Eraserhead is one of my favorite films, and I couldn't be more happy that Criterion is releasing it, especially since they will surely do the transfer for the films and the shorts justice.

[flyonthewall2983]

Just curious but have there been other Criterions without booklets?

[manicsounds]

Nope, every Criterion has has some sort of booklet. If Lynch doesn't want critical essays, then that's his choice, but I think it would be an opportunity to include a booklet with still photos instead.

[flyonthewall2983]

Even the laserdiscs?

[CSM126]

Even the laserdiscs?

Laserdiscs typically had the liner notes printed on the box, but there were some with booklets, such as Se7en (a recreation of John Doe's diaries) and Trainspotting (a guide to slang terms in the film).

[Minkin]

Harold & Maude was announced without a booklet, but then one was added later-closer to the release date. I assume it will be the same case here (probably trying to finalize what will be in it).

[dekadetia]

Maniscsounds is probably on the right track: the original Absurda box came with a book of photographs (though that would need to be significantly reformatted, as i think the dimension of that book are something like 8" x 8").

I'm wondering also whether CC will be replicating that tiny deleted scene snippet from the Absurda menus.

[Minkin]

Not sure what the archival interviews are, but the "new interviews" have been detailed:

New documentary featuring interviews with actors Charlotte Stewart and Judith Roberts, assistant to the director Catherine Coulson, and cinematographer Frederick Elmes

Also, as I predicted, a booklet has been added:

PLUS: A booklet featuring an interview with Lynch from filmmaker and writer Chris Rodley’s 1997 book Lynch on Lynch

[Adam X]

I noticed the short film listing has been updated too, stating they've had "2K digital restorations".
So The Amputee, shot on video tape, restored in 2K for a Blu-Ray release. I'm not sure anyone ever saw that coming.

This is shaping up to being a really nice release. Hopefully Criterion manage to include some input from Alan Splet in some form too. I've heard Lynch's stories about working with him on his early films, but it'd be great to hear from the man himself.

[Forrest Taft]

He's been dead for quite a while, so input from him is unlikely. But his widow, Ann Kroeber, has also done sound work on several Lynch projects. I believe she also lectures on the subject (sound design that is), so she could in theory fill in for Splet.

[Adam X]

Yeah, I'm aware he sadly died a while back.
I was thinking amongst the unspecified archival interviews, though I imagine chances are slim. I didn't know about Ann Kroeber though, so that could definitely be interesting too.

[criterion10]

Not sure what the archival interviews are, but the "new interviews" have been detailed:

New documentary featuring interviews with actors Charlotte Stewart and Judith Roberts, assistant to the director Catherine Coulson, and cinematographer Frederick Elmes

Also, as I predicted, a booklet has been added:

PLUS: A booklet featuring an interview with Lynch from filmmaker and writer Chris Rodley’s 1997 book Lynch on Lynch

Well, I take back my initial criticisms. Looks like this is shaping up to be a pretty nice release after all.

[flyonthewall2983]

Will this have chapter stops?

[Forrest Taft]

I would guess yes. Lynch went away from his "no chapter stops" phase around the time of the MGM SE's of Wild at Heart and Blue Velvet, didn't he?

[MichaelB]

I wonder how many "Making-of's" are as long if not longer than the actual film itself. The doc on the 25th Anniversary Blade Runner disc is over 3 hours long altogether.

Charles Laughton Directs 'The Night of the Hunter' (on both the Criterion and Arrow releases) is over an hour longer than the main feature. And I wouldn't have wanted it any shorter: it's riveting stuff from beginning to end.

[richast2]

I would guess yes. Lynch went away from his "no chapter stops" phase around the time of the MGM SE's of Wild at Heart and Blue Velvet, didn't he?

I think he was specifically anti-chapter-stop to keep people from skipping directly to the nudity in Mulholland Drive. I do know that the DVD of Fire Walk With Me has chapter stops, but it doesn't have a scene selection menu and the packaging gives no indication what the chapters are.

[mfunk9786]

Really? I don't recall ever seeing that re: nudity, do you have a source?

[Forrest Taft]

Nah, the frist time was Straight Story which came with a written explanation from Lynch.

[warren oates]

Nah, the frist time was Straight Story which came with a written explanation from Lynch.

Not only that, but Lynch himself traces his change of heart/mind about the issue to a very nudity navigation specific demonstration of the use value of chapter stops on the Bound DVD by his then assistant Eli Roth.

[merzbau]

I'm so used to the iconic cover image that my eyes kind of glazed over, went "mmmyessir, that's Eraserhead" and slid straight to the special features without noticing (until yesterday's Facebook post) that it's a brand-new oil painting rendition. Nicely done.

[zedz]

Nah, the frist time was Straight Story which came with a written explanation from Lynch.

I was really annoyed when I couldn't skip immediately to the nudity in The Straight Story.

[FrauBlucher]

Blu-ray.com

[pzadvance]

Woah. Check out those extras! Who was complaining about this release again?

I guess I should wait and see just what "New and archival interviews" will be included, but that Eraserhead package is sort of disappointing after all this time. Glad for the new transfer, but everything else was available on the Japanese blu.

Oh. Right.