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Janus Films
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Janus Films is a film distribution company. It was one of the first distributors to bring what are now regarded as classic world cinematic masterpieces to the United States. In this regard, Janus can be credited with helping to introduce American audiences to the films of Ingmar Bergman, François Truffaut, Michelangelo Antonioni, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard, Akira Kurosawa and many others. Janus has a close relationship with The Criterion Collection, a producer of DVDs for home viewing, and Home Vision Entertainment regarding the distribution of films on DVD. Current theatrical distribution of some of the films for which Janus holds American rights is generally handled through Rialto Pictures and Kino International.
Janus Films was founded in 1956 by Bryant Haliday and Cyrus Harvey Jr.. Bryant Haliday also ran the 55th Street Playhouse in New York and used it as a primary location for exhibiting Janus-distributed films. He was also an actor, appearing in films such as Devil Doll, Curse of Simba and Tower of Evil. Haliday also purchased the historic Brattle Theater, a Harvard Square landmark in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With Harvey, Haliday converted the Brattle into an art film moviehouse in the mid-fifties. In 1966, Haliday sold the Brattle, as well as Janus. Harvey continued to administer the Brattle into the 1970s.
Janus was later acquired by Saul J. Turell and William Becker. Their sons, Jonathan B. Turell and Peter Becker, who own The Criterion Collection, are presently involved in the business of Janus.
On October 24, 2006, in celebration of 50 years of Janus Films, the Criterion Collection [1] released 50 of the films which Janus has distributed in a large box containing 50 DVDs and a 200-page essay on the history of art house films and specialized film theatres in the US. The package is called Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films. A.O.Scott chose the set as his DVD pick when he co-hosted Ebert and Roeper. Also, as part of its 44th Festival in 2006, the New York Film Festival presented a series, 50 Years of Janus Films, in tribute to the company.