One of art cinema’s great champions, William Becker, died on Saturday after complication from kidney failure. He was 88.
Starting out his career as a theater critic, Becker purchased legendary art cinema label and Criterion Collection backer Janus Films in 1965, in turn helping it evolve into the brand that it has become today. Overseeing expansion into realms like university education and eventually home video, Becker was a man with an affinity for intellectual discussion of cinema (he himself was a Rhodes scholar) and also an early adopter of the auteur theory, focusing on legendary filmmakers ranging from Luis Bunuel to Yasujiro Ozu.
He purchased the company with Saul J. Turell, going on to nab rights to films like Citizen Kane and King Kong, putting them alongside legendary art house films and pieces of world cinema, like Renoir’s Grand Illusion. This itself will be his lasting legacy.
I’m not normally one to write obituaries,...
Starting out his career as a theater critic, Becker purchased legendary art cinema label and Criterion Collection backer Janus Films in 1965, in turn helping it evolve into the brand that it has become today. Overseeing expansion into realms like university education and eventually home video, Becker was a man with an affinity for intellectual discussion of cinema (he himself was a Rhodes scholar) and also an early adopter of the auteur theory, focusing on legendary filmmakers ranging from Luis Bunuel to Yasujiro Ozu.
He purchased the company with Saul J. Turell, going on to nab rights to films like Citizen Kane and King Kong, putting them alongside legendary art house films and pieces of world cinema, like Renoir’s Grand Illusion. This itself will be his lasting legacy.
I’m not normally one to write obituaries,...
- 9/14/2015
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Founder of the legendary distributor Janus Films, Cyrus Harvey, died on Thursday from complications of a stroke he had suffered four days prior. He was 85.
Teaming with actor Bryant Haliday, Harvey founded Janus Films in 1956 after converting the historic Brattle Theater, which Haliday had purchased, into an arthouse theater. Harvey and Haliday would later sell Janus to Saul J. Turell and William Becker, who ultimately turned the company over to Jonathan Turell and Peter Becker, who run The Criterion Collection.
The company is still very much involved in theatrical distribution, but of the classic side of things. With only one first-run release in thirty years (Revanche), the company is now the main backer of the Collection, and also has become quite a staple in the news, particularly after their purchase of the domestic theatrical and home video rights to the entire Charlie Chaplin library.
As a young film fan, many...
Teaming with actor Bryant Haliday, Harvey founded Janus Films in 1956 after converting the historic Brattle Theater, which Haliday had purchased, into an arthouse theater. Harvey and Haliday would later sell Janus to Saul J. Turell and William Becker, who ultimately turned the company over to Jonathan Turell and Peter Becker, who run The Criterion Collection.
The company is still very much involved in theatrical distribution, but of the classic side of things. With only one first-run release in thirty years (Revanche), the company is now the main backer of the Collection, and also has become quite a staple in the news, particularly after their purchase of the domestic theatrical and home video rights to the entire Charlie Chaplin library.
As a young film fan, many...
- 4/19/2011
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films from Criterion
Photo: Criterion Last week in my On DVD Today column I mentioned how the folks at Criterion were clearing off their shelves and offering every item in stock at a 40% discount while supplies lasted. I would assume a majority of the folks that read the article ignored that link since it didn't have any new information on Batman, Iron Man or any other kind of man from a comic book. However, I am hoping this headline brought in the folks that may be interested in such a deal. Of course, the hour is late and the majority of the titles are now gone as the deal ends Monday, November 24, at midnight Est. When I first got the email from Criterion I shuffled over to check out a few titles I had been longing to get and had never wanted to spend the money.
Photo: Criterion Last week in my On DVD Today column I mentioned how the folks at Criterion were clearing off their shelves and offering every item in stock at a 40% discount while supplies lasted. I would assume a majority of the folks that read the article ignored that link since it didn't have any new information on Batman, Iron Man or any other kind of man from a comic book. However, I am hoping this headline brought in the folks that may be interested in such a deal. Of course, the hour is late and the majority of the titles are now gone as the deal ends Monday, November 24, at midnight Est. When I first got the email from Criterion I shuffled over to check out a few titles I had been longing to get and had never wanted to spend the money.
- 11/24/2008
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
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