for those that subscribe to the Criterion Collection newsletter, you probably already know that Criterion has announced that at the end of March, about 30 titles will be going out of print. Very considerate of this company to give us almost 2 months advance notice to pick up these titles while they are in stock. For the majority of online shoppers, you will be going to Amazon, which there is already a spike in sales and interest. Many of the titles are classic foreign films which are the ones you have at least said once, "I have to get that someday". Well, that day has come and the time is now, otherwise, it will become increaingly difficult to obtain a copy. Criterion has expressed in the email that it will be able to fulfill all orders throug the end of March, at which point you are on your own. The email reads in its entirety (links are to Criterions site):

Dear Criterion collectors,

Our three least favorite initials: OOP. Since we launched the Criterion Collection more than twenty-five years ago, we?ve endeavored to keep everything we?ve published in print. But despite our efforts to renew rights, we are losing a large group of titles from StudioCanal at the end of March, and we wanted to give you advance notice that our editions will be going out of print. Until we're out of stock, we will be offering these titles at an additional $5 off on our website. The titles are going to Lionsgate, and we don?t know when they may be rereleased. As ever, we will continue to try to relicense the films so that they can rejoin the collection sometime in the future.

Here are the titles that will soon be out of print:

Alphaville
Carlos Saura's Flamenco Trilogy (Eclipse Series 6)
Le corbeau
Coup de torchon
Diary of a Country Priest
The Fallen Idol
Forbidden Games (Criterion and Essential Art House editions)
Gervaise (Essential Art House edition)
Grand Illusion (Criterion and Essential Art House editions)
Le jour se lève (Essential Art House edition)
Last Holiday (Essential Art House edition)
Mayerling (Essential Art House edition)
The Orphic Trilogy
Peeping Tom
Pierrot le fou (DVD and Blu-ray editions)
Port of Shadows
Quai des Orfèvres
The Small Back Room
The Tales of Hoffmann (Criterion and Essential Art House editions)
Trafic
Le trou
Variety Lights (Essential Art House edition)
The White Sheik

Take note: this may be your last chance to pick up spine number 1 from the collection.

Happy viewing!
The Criterion Collection

For the visually minded, like myself, here they are with cover art (links to Amazon). You will notice that some have 2 versions, a Criterion and an Essential Art House ediiton. While some titles are only Essential Art House Collection. Remember, purchases through this page to Amazon help keep our site up and running in support, and would like to thank you all in advance for your kindness.