Jonathan Demme Prepares For Criterion’s Upcoming Release Of Something Wild

Last August, when the film line-up for All Tomorrow’s Parties was announced, we learned that Criterion would be presenting a theatrical screening of Jonathan Demme’s 1986 film, Something Wild. After the festival, we got a chance to see the comic book inspired poster for the film, illustrated by Connor Willumsen.

Earlier today Criterion tweeted out an image (see below) of Demme signing his name, for what will presumably be what is printed on the “Director Approved” labels that go on the DVDs and Blu-rays. With the May 2011 titles set to be announced next week, I’d say it’s highly likely we’ll see the final product information for this release.

What I love about the super large picture that Criterion tweeted out, is that there are clearly jewel cases on the table, and if only the camera was at a slightly different angle, we could have had a glimpse at the cover art.

What other Jonathan Demme films would you like to see in the Collection, once we get Something Wild? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The humdrum life of businessman Charles Driggs (Jeff Daniels) is suddenly interrupted when sexy, free-spirited Audrey (Melanie Griffith) shanghais him for a bizarre weekend road trip. Things get even stranger when they pose as a married couple, attend Audrey’s high school reunion and visit her mother. And when Audrey’s dangerously psychotic ex-con of a husband Ray (Ray Liotta) shows up, what had been a liberating fling for Charlie turns into a bloody battle for survival. Director Jonathan Demme’s screwball odyssey is a look at the pleasures and dangers of stepping outside the norm, in life and in film.

6 comments

Samuel says:

February 10, 2011 at 6:06 am

I think the discs on the table are actually Demme’s gifts from the Criterion storeroom.
RyanGallagher says:

February 10, 2011 at 6:09 am

Interesting theory. I like to think that they’d let him into the storeroom after he was done with his visit to the office, but you could be right. I’m not sure how far in advance Criterion has mock-ups ready for future titles. They do look like they’re sealed.
Rob Bickmore says:

February 10, 2011 at 8:10 am

I’d love to see Swimming To Cambodia get the Criterion treatment. And maybe a set of his concert films…Stop Making Sense, Storefront Hitchcock and Heart Of Gold would be great.
Anonymous says:

February 10, 2011 at 4:01 pm

Something Wild is the third greatest film in cinema history. You can find out why at http://www.moviemorons.com

Other Demme’s I’d love to see in the Criterion Collection:

CITIZEN’S BAND (A.K.A Handle With Care)
MELVIN AND HOWARD
The long-lost director’s cut of SWING SHIFT (perhaps in a Brazil-type set that showcases both cuts of the film)
MARRIED TO THE MOB
And if these were done as an “Eclipse” set, his television work and music videos could also be included.