MovieChat Forums > His Girl Friday (1940) Discussion > Criterion DVD & Blu coming 1/10/17

Criterion DVD & Blu coming 1/10/17

posted 8 years ago by hobnob53
3 replies | jump to latest

His Girl Friday will get a Criterion release on January 10, 2017.

Besides the usual array of extras, the edition also includes a newly-restored print of The Front Page (1931), the first film adaptation of the play on which Howard Hawks based his 1940 classic. Criterion says this is a print of director Lewis Milestone's "preferred" version.

The price will be a bit higher than standard Criterion releases: $39.95 for the DVD, $49.95 for the Blu-ray. Here's the link to the film's Criterion webpage for artwork and complete information:

https://www.criterion.com/films/27903-his-girl-friday

Columbia had allowed HGF to fall into public domain many years ago, which is why there has been a plethora of cheap PD editions flooding the market all these years. Columbia, however, put out its own, high-quality release from the pristine studio print in its own vaults; people forget that the fact that a film has fallen into public domain doesn't prevent the original studio from producing its own release as well. Similarly, The Front Page had long since fallen into PD and all that was available was mostly crummy prints, although this film too just recently had a restored, first-class release from Kino.

Still, you can't beat Criterion, and to get both films in one set...wow!

[–] puirt-a-beul 7 years ago

Heya hobnob! 

I've just finished watching this myself on the new Blu-ray release, and I must say I was delighted with it. It's long been a favourite of mine -- I'm a big fan of Cary Grant's comedies generally, and love Rosalind Russell in roles like Hildy and Auntie Mame, but this one is special -- so I was really happy to see what a spectacular job has been done on the restoration, both visually and aurally. Criterion released it in the UK, so it's great to have a matching Region B version.

I bought it for myself for Christmas, along with (finally!) the WB Archives release of Time After Time. So, two more of my favourites that I can cross off my wishlist!

Hope you've been well, my friend. I was glad to find your post here -- it's always a pleasure to read your informed enthusiasm.

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.

[–] hobnob53 7 years ago

Hi p-a-b, I was delighted to find the notification of a reply from you. Really glad to hear from you!

I haven't gotten the Criterion release yet -- I'm cheap and wait for the 50%-off sale that the book seller Barnes & Noble holds on Criterion discs twice a year. In this case that means not until late June (November is the other time), but I've learned to contain my desires! Especially since this is a higher-priced edition. With my membership card I get an extra 10% off (the sale, not retail, price), so getting 55% off is usually worth the wait!

But I'm glad you saw and reported about it. I love this film too and while I have the excellent Columbia disc I want to get this edition -- especially with The Front Page included. Have you watched that yet? If so, how is it?

I didn't know Criterion released in the UK, though of course you can get anything anywhere these days.

I'm going to PM you after posting this.

[–] puirt-a-beul 7 years ago

Hi hobnob,
Criterion's started to release just some of its titles in the UK, coded for Region B. Other distributors there have rights to many of CC's titles (a fair number of the restorations and transfers Criterion has used were originally done by either the British BFI or the French StudioCanal, for instance), so it's never going to be able to release the full collection there. But because of currency exchange rates, those it does release are much cheaper for me to buy from the UK (AU$25) than the US (AU$46). And they have the same contents. (I wish Criterion would release its version of Malick's The New World in Britland!!)

I did buy some Criterions once from the B&N sale, but even at half the price (half the SRP, that is, not half the Amazon price) they were still bloody expensive, and they took four and a half months to arrive! Haven't done that again.

So anyway, yes, the Criterion release of HGF is superb. I have a slight quibble with the Criterion releases, in that their image contrast is usually set a little darker than my own tastes run to, but never mind. I haven't watched the Front Page disc yet -- I've seen the Matthau/Lemon version, and even in those hands I thought it was a poor second to HGF -- but I will. I'm hoping it's a real eye-opener. 

You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment.