Janus Films’ 50th-anniversary collection of 50 movies on DVD represents a significant chunk of cinematic history — “films like Michelangelo Antonioni’s ‘Avventura,’ François Truffaut’s ‘400 Blows,’ Fritz Lang’s ‘M,’ Akira Kurosawa’s ‘Seven Samurai’ and Luis Buñuel’s ‘Viridiana,’ along with dozens of others that constitute the backbone of the art house tradition.” So how did the little indie distributor compile such a catalogue? “At a time when rights to a foreign film in the United States could be had for less than $50,000, (the company) set about systematically acquiring the most prestigious films available, including some Hollywood classics.”
Tag: 11.07.06
Littell Wins Goncourt, Stays Away
Jonathan Littell, the first American winner of France’s Prix Goncourt, did not attend Monday’s announcement of the prize in Paris. “‘He hopes his absence will not be misunderstood or, even less, be interpreted as disdain for the jury,’ his French publisher, Antoine Gallimard, told reporters here. ‘He has no need for publicity, both out of modesty and because he believes that literature is not part of show business, that what’s important is the book.'” Littell’s novel, “Les Bienveillantes,” is a huge best seller in France.
Hollywood Pillages The Brits
“The Brits know how to get fresh, saucy material on screen, and American producers, buoyed by NBC’s Emmy-winning remake of “The Office,” have started a buying spree hoping just a few tweaks will help them reach mass audiences in the U.S. Desperate for innovative fare, networks are tripping over one another to acquire formats that worked in Britain.”
Millions Clamor For “Dancing”
What do most people want to see on TV? Turns out it’s dancing. As in “Dancing with the Star.” “Now regularly drawing some 20 million fans to each of its twice-weekly broadcasts, ‘Dancing With the Stars’ has turned into the second-most-popular reality show, ranking behind only American Idol.”