"Look Out Haskell, It's Real!"

It's no secret around these parts, the best movie we watched last year was 1969's "Medium Cool." Obviously, we were a little late to the party, but it blew us away. If you haven't seen it, rent it.



Afterwards, you'll probably wonder how certain shots were shot and, generally, how the filmmakers of a low budget movie managed to pay a few thousand extras to riot in the parks and streets of Chicago on cue. They didn't. It just happened.

While there is an official DVD of "Medium Cool" out and available, there isn't a fancy Criterion disc or any sort of "40th Anniversary Edition" in the works (that I know of) to speak of. If there were, however, it would no doubt include "Look Out Haskell, It's Real!," a making-of documentary "released" in 2002, as a lauded bonus feature.

If you haven't heard of it, you're not alone. The documentary has made the festival rounds once or twice since its release, and is currently available to arthouses via Cinema Guild, a company which does not market to consumers. Both VHS and DVD "prints" of "Haskell" sell for $285, and rent for $85.

Does anyone know if "Medium Cool," a film school staple and prime candidate for lavish anniversary treatment, is being re-released in any form next year for its 40th birthday? I don't know anyone in the industry that would make that sort of decision, but imagine someone reading this does. If you know, please drop me a line, specifically as to whether or not "Haskell" will be included in the package. Thanks!

EDIT: It looks like "Haskell" is, in fact, available for purchase from Cinema Guild for under $30. Check the comments of this post for the link. Thanks again, Ryan!