It’s pretty old school Criterion, from back in the day when they didn’t add many bonus features to some of their releases, so the oversight isn’t that surprising from that perspective. But you raise a good point, esp. since they included a dubbed version of The Seventh Seal.
This must have been in the early DVD days. Because I have a Criterion laser disk of “Spartacus” which actually has more features than their DVD version! I’ve burnt all those unpreserved extras to DVD at home for my own private use. But it seems to me remarkably chintzy not to include it if they’ve already got it to hand. Or perhaps I poorly understand their archiving procedures/capabilities. I guess I just expect too much of a group that’s supposed to be the best there is in home video.
Sometimes, they can’t secure the rights to particular extras, and sometimes they have to make economical choices.
Sometimes, they can’t secure the rights to particular extras, and sometimes they have to make economical choices.
Jeff
I usually have nothing but respect for the wonderful job Criterion does with its films. But I regret to say that something went catastrophically wrong with this one! Why? Because it does not include the English dubbed version. Now for most films this wouldn’t matter, but for this one it’s an entirely different kettle of fish. Three of its most important roles are played by English actors: Freddie Jones, Barbara Jefford, and Peter Cellier, and they naturally dubbed their own English tracks. The loss of the English version, therefore, robs us of three powerful and distinctive vocal performances! I cannot imagine what the folks at Criterion were thinking, but whatever it was, I lament it. Luckily I myself have a video tape of the dubbed version. But this is also a pan & scan, and nowhere near of the fine visual quality of Criterion’s disk. And naturally, it benefits only me.
What on earth were you thinking, ladies and gentlemen of Criterion???