Criterion DVD and Blu-ray coming March 12, 2013 - Ministry of Fear (1945) Discussion

[–] AaronCapenBanner 12 years ago

Great news,I enjoyed this thriller when I had the VHS,now I won't feel so bad getting rid of it too soon!

Where is the other Ray Milland classic "The Uninvited"? I hope Criterion gets this next,since(as you know) it was just released in Region 2.

They did a fine job with "Island Of Lost Souls" last year.

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[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

Funny, as I came onto this site to read your post I was also wondering when -- if ever -- they're finally going to release The Uninvited. It would seem a logical Criterion title, yet for years, nothing. I always suspected that, if they did issue it, it'd be for Halloween, but it can't come soon enough for me.

I have the Region 2 disc and it's very good. Thank God for Region-free players!

Perhaps Ministry of Fear is a portent.

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[–] outdoorcats 11 years ago

7 months later...you got your wish! The Uninvited will be released by Criterion this October!

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[–] hobnob53 11 years ago

Yes, I know -- it's about time! Thanks.

Also nice that The Uninvited, like Ministry of Fear, is priced low for a Criterion -- $19.99 for the DVD, $29.99 for the Blu. Great Ray Milland double feature.

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[–] outdoorcats 11 years ago

I suppose that's because of a lack of bonus features, but that's fine by me. I would rather have a reasonable-priced DVD that's a great transfer which comes in high-quality packaging than all the documentaries and extra stuff which I rarely watch.

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[–] hobnob53 11 years ago

I think you're right about the reasons for the prices, and also have the same view as you about extras: the film's the thing. As long as we get that, preferably of good quality (pretty much a given with Criterion), I don't much care about extras, which I also rarely watch or listen to (with some exceptions). That said, I'm frankly kind of surprised Criterion has almost no extras for either of these films, about which you'd think they could dredge up a lot of commentary...even if it's from people we never heard of, as with most Criterion discs!

I've actually read posts by people who say they won't buy a DVD because there aren't any extras -- a position that makes absolutely no sense to me.

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[–] Doc_Ostrow 12 years ago

On December 19th, I ordered both Ministry of Fear and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp on Blu-ray. I already had The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Criterion DVD but I have never seen Ministry of Fear since it was never available on DVD or Blu-ray before. I look forward to seeing it because Fritz Lang, Graham Greene, and Ray Milland are involved in the production. I also want The Uninvited (1944) released in the US on either DVD or, better yet, on Blu-ray. I copied The Uninvited from the Laserdisc I owned using my DVD recorder.

Monsters from the Id

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[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

If you'd like to see Ministry of Fear it's being shown on TCM late tomorrow night (Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012 at 4:00 AM Eastern -- technically, early Monday morning, the 31st). It runs 87 minutes. You could record it if you'd like a pre-Criterion peek.

Not my favorite Lang by any means, but a good film.

Totally off the subject, and having seen your IMDb name around the boards, I think it's a shame that TCM, in its round-up of film people who have passed away this past year, omitted actor Warren Stevens, who of course played Doc Ostrow in Forbidden Planet. He certainly was more prominent than many of those who are included in their farewell.

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[–] Doc_Ostrow 12 years ago

Unfortunately, I don't have cable. However, I am in Southern California, which is the second largest TV broadcast area in the US (first is New York). When I read about good cable TV series on IMDB, I will rent the DVDs and, if I like them, will buy them on either DVD or Blu-ray. I bought The Game of Thrones on Blu-ray because it had a 9.4 IMDB rating, even though I had never seen it. I also have Mad Men and True Blood on Blu-ray.

You must have noticed that my Signature has "Monsters from the Id" and an angry red face. I love Forbidden Planet, which I have on Laserdisc, DVD, and now Blu-ray. TCM should have included Warren Stevens after he died. His character, Doc Ostrow, was the only person who understood the mind and the danger of any species, even the Krell, allowing a mind to control the powerful Krell machine. All species are evolved from more primitive species and the emotional mind can often dominate the rational mind. Carl Sagan wrote The Dragons of Eden, which speculates on the evolution of human intelligence. He even includes alien species in chapter 9 (if they exist).

Monsters from the Id

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[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

Yes, I'm in New York, and we're lucky to have grown up in areas with lots of great broadcast TV in the pre-cable, pre-satellite days.

I've also bought a number of films sight unseen because they sounded interesting, and I've never had any real cause to regret such leaps into the dark.

I did of course see your Monsters from the Id signature, and wanted to compliment you on it -- very neat. After posting above I went to Warren Stevens's site and complained about TCM's omission there. Your voice, with your signature, would be a most welcome post in support, if you'd care to join in.

Forbidden Planet is one of my favorites, too. But I guess we shouldn't stray any farther from Ministry of Fear on this thread!

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[–] sametic 12 years ago

(re)Watching now. It's like Simulacres et Simulation on steroids: Lang blatantly emulating early Hitch, who spent the majority of his early career emulating German expressionist directors, notably Lang, right down to setpieces.

Concur this is no Fury or M, but it works. Entertaining enough, with some occasionally clever if not thrice-recycled cinematography by the brilliant Sharp (more Baudrillardian copies of copies). Also, Reynolds is nice eye candy.

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[–] micaofboca-836-322711 12 years ago

Jan - (Ms. DeMello AKA Hobnobber fifty three)- in "Ministry of Fear" when Ray Milland (Stephen Neale) is released from Lembridge asylum, what was his crime against a woman he once was associated with? The Nazi sympathizer fortune teller referred to it when she gave her phony fortune reading so she could check if he was (indeed) the right contact spy she was supposed to give the right weight for the cake to. It's been bugging me since I couldn't find any reference to it later on in the film, but perhaps I missed it or you might have figured it out. If you do know, please tell me where in the movie it's revealed. Thanks.

Oh, and well placed, happy and grateful collie pups throughout Washington say "hi", and advise you to ignore the nasty customers from Rochester who don't act dignified and publish unfair criticisms without just cause. Thanks in advance.

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[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

micaofboca-836-322711:

First -- Sorry, I can't answer your question, as it's been years since I've seen this film and don't remember anything about your particular point.

Second -- Apparently you've mistaken me for someone else. I'm not Jan or Ms. DeMello (or a woman) and have nothing to do with adopting out collies! But could you please answer something for me? Is there an IMDb user who calls herself "Hobnobber fifty three"? (Mine is "hobnob53", slightly different.) And your own user name intrigues me. Are you by any chance related to (or are you) the congressman from Boca Raton, Florida? Aside from the name I note the reference to Washington, presumably D.C. Just interested, as this is a first for me on IMDb. (You can send me a private message if you'd prefer not to reply on the public boards.) Thanks!

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[–] herveywillets 12 years ago

Neale was convicted in the mercy killing of his wife. She apparently was in great pain and the doctors could do nothing. He bought poison, but could not bring himself to give it to her, but she found it and took it herself.

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[–] Xcalat3 12 years ago

Yay Blu ray.

thanks for the heads up.

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

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[–] hobnob53 12 years ago

No problem, Xcalate. Not to mention this is a cheaper-than-usual Criterion, the Blu only $29.99 instead of their normal $39.99 (and standard similarly $10 less than usual, only $19.99).

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