I already mentioned how Warner Home Video would be releasing a *new* Stanley Kubrick Blu-ray collection, this time including high definition versions of Lolita and Barry Lyndon with previously released HD versions of Spartacus, Dr. Strangelove, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, Eyes Wide Shut and a new 40th Anniversary Edition of A Clockwork Orange. That set hits Blu-ray on May 31, but Kubrick’s now-40-year-old A Clockwork Orange will be hitting the Cannes Croisette a little bit earlier than that.
It had been previously announced, but yesterday the Cannes Film Festival made it official that A Clockwork Orange would be part of the fest’s Cannes Classics selection along with 13 other films and five documentaries, many of which will be screened on the beach at the Cinema de la Plage, which you can see in the two panoramic shots I took above while at the festival last year.
Last year I didn’t actually take a moment to watch any of the films that played in the Cannes Classic selection, but this year I think I’ll make it a point to watch A Clockwork Orange and may try to catch one other. Here’s a list of the announced films:
- A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la lune) by Georges Melies (France, 1902, 16′)
- A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick (USA, 1971, 137′)
- The Machine to Kill Bad People (La Macchina Ammazzacattivi) by Roberto Rossellini (Italy, 1952, 80′)
- A Bronx Tale by Robert De Niro (USA, 1993, 121′)
- The Conformist (Il Conformista) by Bernardo Bertolucci (Italy, 1970, 118′)
- Sugar Cane Alley (Rue Cases-Negres) by Euzhan Palcy (France, 1983, 106′)
- Puzzle of a Downfall Child by Jerry Schatzberg (USA, 1970, 105′)
- The Law of the Border (Hudutlarin Kanunu) by Lufti O. Akad (Turkey, 1966, 74′)
- No Man’s Land (Niemandsland) by Victor Trivas (Germany, 1931, 81′)
- The Children of Paradise (Les Enfants du paradis) by Marcel Carne (France, 1945, 190′)
- Despair by Rainer Werner Fassbinder (Germany, 1978, 115′)
- The Savage (Le Sauvage) by Jean-Paul Rappeneau (France, 1975, 106′)
- Chronicle of a Summer (Chronique d’un ete) by Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin (France, 1960, 91′)
- The Assassin (L’Assassino) by Elio Petri (Italy, 1961, 100′)
- The Look by Angelica Maccarone (Germany / France, 2011)
- Corman’s World: Exploits Of A Hollywood Rebel by Alex Stapleton (USA, 2011)
- Belmondo… Itineraire by Vincent Perrot and Jeff Domenech (France, 2011)
- Kurosawa’s Way (Kurosawa, la Voie) by Catherine Cadou (France, 2011)
- Once Upon a Time… A Clockwork Orange (Il était une fois… Orange mécanique) by Antoine de Gaudemar and Michel Ciment (France, 2011)
It might be fun to watch A Trip to the Moon on the big screen rather than on YouTube, which is the only place I’ve ever watched it. Not only that, this is a found color version of the feature of the 109-year-old film discovered in 1993 in Barcelona.
Bertolucci’s The Conformist will screen as he will be receiving an honorary Palme d’or at the festival’s opening ceremony. I’ve never seen it, but considering this is a restored version I wouldn’t be surprised if it found its way to the Criterion Collection pretty soon. I’ve also never seen Robert De Niro’s A Bronx Tale and seeing that may be fun as well.
Cannes 2011 is also launching “The Rossellini Project” in which ten films by Roberto Rossellini (including Rome, Open City, L’Amore, Stromboli and Germany Year Zero) will be restored. I recently reviewed Rossellini’s War Trilogy as presented by Criterion, a trio of amazing films.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Kurosawa’s Way, a documentary on the life and work of Akira Kurosawa directed by his assistant and translator Catherine Cadou.
As for A Clockwork Orange, the newly restored print will be screened on May 19 and the following day, Malcolm McDowell will give a Masterclass to be moderated by Michel Ciment, a renowned expert on Stanley Kubrick. The Masterclass will be followed by the premiere screening of Once Upon a Time… Clockwork Orange, a film by Antoine de Gaudemar and Michel Ciment, produced by Folamour Productions by Marie Genin and Serge July.
 Interestingly enough, this documentary isn’t included on Warner’s new Blu-ray. The features on that disc include:
- Malcolm McDowell Looks Back: Malcolm McDowell reflects on his experience working with legendary director Stanley Kubrick on one of the seminal films of the 1970s
- Turning like Clockwork Considers the Film’s Ultra-violence and its Cultural Impact
- Commentary by Malcolm McDowell and historian Nick Redman
- Documentary Still Tickin’: The Return of Clockwork Orange
- Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making A Clockwork Orange
- Theatrical Trailer
- Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures (Produced and directed by Jan Harlan the brother of Christiane Kubrick, Stanley Kubrick’s widow). Kubrick’s career comes into sharp focus in this compelling documentary narrated by Tom Cruise. Fascinating footage glimpses Kubrick in his early years, at work on film sets and at home, augmented by candid commentary from collaborators, colleagues and family.
- O Lucky Malcolm! Documentary about the life and career of actor Malcolm McDowell produced and directed by Jan Harlan
You can preorder it, or the complete Kubrick collection by clicking here. I’ve also added the new Blu-ray trailer for A Clockwork Orange directly below.
Also, as if that wasn’t enough, it was previously thought Barry Lyndon and Lolita would only be available on Blu-ray as part of the upcoming Kubrick Collection, but Amazon has the exclusive on the single editions of both film. If you’re interested in placing a pre-order you can click here and add them to your cart. They are each only $13.99 at the moment.
