That’s not a typo. Janus. The company responsible for Criterion releases will be releasing Essential Art Hous: 50 Years of Janus Films. The box will include Alexander Nevsky (1938), Ashes and Diamonds (1858), L’Avventura (1960), Ballad of a Soldier (1959), Beauty and the Beast (1946), Black Orpheus (1959), Brief Encounter (1945), The Fallen Idol (1948), Fires on the Plain (1959), Fists in the Pocket (1965), Floating Weeds (1959), Forbidden Games (1952), The 400 Blows (1959), Grand Illusion (1937), Häxan (1922), Ikiru (1952), The Importance of Being Ernest (1952), Ivan the Terrible, Part II (1958), Le Jour se léve (1939), Jules and Jim (1962), Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), Knife in the Water (1962), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), Loves of a Blonde (1965), M (1931), M. Hulot’s Holiday (1953), Miss Julie (1951), Pandora’s Box (1929), Pépé le Moko (1937), Il Posto (1961), Pygmalion (1938), Rashomon (1950), Richard III (1955), The Rules of the Game (1939), Seven Samurai (1954), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), La Strada (1954), Summertime (1955), The Third Man (1949), The 39 Steps (1935), Ugetsu (1953), Umberto D. (1952), The Virgin Spring (1960), Virigiana (1961), The Wages of Fear (1953), The White Sheik (1952), Wild Strawberries (1957), The Great Chase (1962), The Love Goddess (1965) and Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1979). Also included will be a huge companion book. There’s no word yet on individual releases of the titles that haven’t yet received the Criterion treatment. The Spirit of the Beehive (1973), The Fallen Idol (1948), and Pandora’s Box (1929) have November stand-alone release dates. There are rumors that Fires on the Plain (1959), Le Jour se léve (1939), Miss Julie (1951), The Great Chase (1962), The Love Goddess (1965) and Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1979).
These discs will all be the Criterion versions of the film and will be released in January with a staggering $850 suggested retail price. But those who order early enough from Criterion, you’ll save $200.00.