Discland
edited by Jonathan Doyle
Cloverfield [BLU-RAY] (Paramount Home Entertainment, 6.3.2008) Disguised under deliberately goofy, yet deliciously edible-sounding, aliases such as Cheese and Slusho, Matt Reeves' Cloverfield was produced and rushed into theaters under an equally appetizing shroud of secrecy. From last year's incredibly elusive Super Bowl ad to the film's viral marketing campaign, Cloverfield had everybody scratching their heads and drooling in anticipation. Aside from the as-yet untitled title and the Blair Witch-ian visual style, the film's biggest appeal was the enigmatic creature who was last (un)seen hurling the decapitated head of the Statue of Liberty onto the crowded streets of New York City. All we knew about the mysterious beast was that it was big and angry. Now that the highy-anticipated project has come and gone, one question has fortunately been answered: Cloverfield was a major success. (continued)

Who Knows or Cares?

Nobody cares about Carol Reed's Outcast of the Islands, a 1952 adaptation of Joseph Conrad's novel with Trevor Howard in the lead role of Willem, a man who surrenders his dignity and civility for the love of a native woman. It's a forgotten film and nobody cares at all. Except, I'm thinking, possibly those obsessive weirdos at the Criterion Collection. Those guys are just whacked enough to put out a remastered version of this British-produced film on DVD.


I saw it on the tube eons ago, and I've never forgotten a scene in which Robert Morley has been tied up inside a hammock with the hammock having been hung by a rope from a tall tree, and Morley, poor fellow, is shown swinging back and forth while being taunted by Howard and some local natives with sticks and spears.

The story mostly takes place in Malaysia. I don't remember the particulars. I've never read the Conrad book, but I've been told it's a bit grim. Ralph Richardson and Wendy Hiller costar in the film. The striking black-and-white cinematography is by Ted Scaife and John Wilcox.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 08, 2008 at 05:57 PM

comment #1

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I've been waiting forever for that one-- as an admirer of all of Reed's early work, from Night Train to Munich to The Fallen Idol. And long had the same thought-- why ISN'T this a Criterion title? So the picture link isn't working, is that the cover of an actual Criterion release coming soon? Or are you just wondering why there isn't one, like I am?

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 06:27 PM

comment #2

Aguirre [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

if criterion is in fact in the process of putting out an outcast from the islands disc, it is not yet public knowledge (nor is it even rumored at the moment). moreover, that is certainly not the artwork, as it is FAR beneath criterion's aesthetic standards.

Posted by Aguirre [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 06:30 PM

comment #3

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Yeah, now that I can see the artwork (a 50s lobby card, I assume) it's clear Jeff is saying why isn't this a Criterion title? I know it was in 16mm distribution in the 80s, and from multiple distributors. but either video rights or Criterion-level materials are unavailable to them.

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 06:34 PM

comment #4

rocco [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Malaysia? You mean it's a Hawaii movie??...looks like I'll be avoiding this one...

Posted by rocco [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 06:41 PM

comment #5

Aguirre [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

yeah, i mean, unless the folks at criterion just don't like the movie i see no reason why they wouldn't give it a go (beyond rights issues, obviously). i know the only carol reed they've put out is his work with graham greene, but... that shouldn't stop em. though there are sooooo many other films i'd rather see them take on.

Posted by Aguirre [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 07:02 PM

comment #6

hailfreedonia [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Andrew Sarris showed this movie at Columbia U. film school ... I remember it as being very dark and good, with Trevor Howard giving a really wonderful anti-hero performance, unlike anything else I've seen him do.

Posted by hailfreedonia [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 07:18 PM

comment #7

Glenn Kenny [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Jeff, the Criterion guys are not whacked out. They are sane cinephiles who run a business (and do it well). Hence, they make a fairly large number of their decisions based on what makes sense for their business. I'm not sure "Outcast of the Islands" makes that cut. If Criterion were still working with Homevision, an extras-light remastered edition—such as what Homevision did with Reed's "A Kid For Two Farthings"—might be a possibility. But no. If I were you, I'd get an all-region DVD player, hunker down, and wait—your best bet for re-experiencing the scene you mention lies in a British DVD issue, which is entirely within the realm of possibility...

Posted by Glenn Kenny [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 07:24 PM

comment #8

Gaydos [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

For what it's worth, Monte Hellman cited this as his favorite movie many moons ago and years later I managed to get a Pal VHS when I lived in England. It's an INCREDIBLE film and deserves much wider recognition.

Posted by Gaydos [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 07:57 PM

comment #9

berg [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

any love for Carol Reed's THE RUNNING MAN with Harvey, Bates, and Remick?

Posted by berg [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 08:10 PM

comment #10

btwnproductions [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

It's a good movie. The Brooklyn Academy of Music screened an acceptable print two years ago.

Posted by btwnproductions [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 08:42 PM

comment #11

lipranzer [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

A couple of my co-workers have told me if I'm a Carol Reed fan - and I am - I should definitely check this out. As long as we're talking old Carol Reed titles that deserve to go on DVD, I'd also nominated THE STARS LOOK DOWN, which, IMHO, outclasses the similarly-themed HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY in every way.

Posted by lipranzer [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 09:33 PM

comment #12

Major Calloway [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Can't let a Carol Reed thread pass by without posting this link to a clip from a personal favorite:

youtube.com/watch?v=eKe9SIQkkl4

No Criterion here either, but thanks to this posting I've been prompted to track down a sweet-looking Region 2 special edition, (which I expect many of you may already have):

www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=531736

Posted by Major Calloway [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 8, 2008 10:19 PM

comment #13

nemo [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

I've often wondered exactly why Outcast of the Islands, out of all Carol Reed's films, has been unavailable for so long.

It's not exactly obscure. I've been reading about it for decades, and everyone who's seen it and written about it recommends it.

And it's not from an obscure period of Reed's career. It's the fourth of a terrific series of films: Odd Man Out, The Fallen Idol, The Third Man, and Outcast of the Islands. Every undergrad on earth has seen The Third Man, and Odd Man Out is also famous and widely available. Only The Fallen Idol is somewhat obscure, and even it has been available on VHS for a long time.

And then earlier in his career there's Night Train to Munich, which has also been easy to find on VHS.

So why the discrimination against Outcast of the Islands? Did it tank badly at the box office?

Speaking of obscure Carol Reed films, I just noticed The Key, starring Sophia Loren, William Holden, and Trevor Howard is available in VHS at my public library. I've never heard of it, but I plan to rent it as soon as it's returned. It's a WWII drama made in 1958, just before Our Man in Havana.

Posted by nemo [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 08:14 AM

comment #14

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

My guess is it wasn't produced by one of the major distributors (like Rank) but by some small company, and the rights are either in limbo or simply forgotten by whoever the heirs or assignees are all these years later; that might explain why it was widely available in 16mm 30 years ago, but now there's nobody who cares enough about it to license it for DVD. There are more films in that kind of limbo than we realize (where's a GOOD version of Korda's Jungle Book, eh?)

By the way, anybody who has an all-region player and likes midcentury British cinema, I have five words to say to you: It Always Rains on Sunday.

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 08:25 AM

comment #15

Arizona Joe [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

What a find. Thanks for the tip.

It's amazing to me that some of these lesser films from yesteryear sound more interesting than the Oscar contenders of today.

Posted by Arizona Joe [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 12:33 PM

comment #16

nemo [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Mgmax may be a right-wing pygmy when it comes to politics, but he has impeccable knowledge and taste when it comes to movies. Especially silents and mid-century British cinema, but really, he covers the gamut. He's the go-to guy.

Posted by nemo [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 03:49 PM

comment #17

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Um... thanks, sorta.

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 06:15 PM

comment #18

Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] says ...

Okay, I meant that to be more bemused than it is now looking in cold type. I do appreciate the compliment, Nemo.

Posted by Mgmax [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 9, 2008 06:23 PM

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