Obscenity charges, defamation, story theft, censorship and X-ratings. Here are 17 classic Criterion Movies that were plagued by lawsuits:
Ace In The Hole (1951)
Billy Wilder Sued for Story Theft
Desny v. Wilder: Victor Desny claimed he pitched an idea for a movie based on the story of Floyd Collins to Billy Wilder, who then made the story into “Ace In The Hole.” Desny won the lawsuit and Wilder settled the case for $14,350. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
Otto Preminger Sues Columbia Pictures
Preminger v. Columbia Pictures: Director Otto Preminger sued Columbia Pictures in 1966 to stop the TV broadcast of his classic movie Anatomy of a Murder. Preminger fought the studio over the broadcast edits and complained that commercial interruptions would ‘detract from the artistic merit of “Anatomy of a Murder” ‘. We agree, but the court did not. READ THE LAWSUIT.
And God Created Woman (1956)
Brigitte Bardot Movie Hit With 3 Obscenity Lawsuits
The next Criterion movie is the french melodrama And God Created Woman. Roger Vadim’s movie was met with harsh condemnation from the church and the censor boards that policed theatrical exhibition at the time. This led to three court cases after And God Created Woman was deemed obscene and illegal to screen to the public by numerous censor bodies. READ THE LAWSUITS.
Babette’s Feast (1987)
US/Canada Rights Dispute Over Criterion Blu-Ray
Josi W Konski v. Danish Film Directors: This case is centered around the US and Canadian distribution rights to Babette’s Feast, which is the topic of dispute. One of the companies claiming ownership of the movie formed a distribution deal with The Criterion Collection, which prompted this lawsuit from the other. The case was privately settled and the movie is out on Criterion for sale. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
The Brother of the Oklahoma City Bomber Sues Michael Moore for Defamation
Nichols v. Moore: James Nichols, the brother of convicted Oklahoma City bomber Terry Nichols, sues Michael Moore for defamation in the documentary “Bowling for Columbine”. READ THE LAWSUIT THAT MICHAEL MOORE WON.
I Am Curious (Yellow) (1967)
A New York Jury Condemned ‘I Am Curious (Yellow)’ as Obscene
United States v. A Motion Picture Film entitled I Am Curious – Yellow: Another case of obscenity charges, this time a New York jury condemned I Am Curious (Yellow) as an obscene picture. The charges were deemed unlawful and eventually reversed. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
Canal+ Sues to Stop Another Adaptation of Public Domain Book
Douglas Canal + Image UK Ltd. v. Lutvak: Canal + is the owner of the film Kind Hearts and Coronets, which is based on the public domain book Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal. More than half a century later, Canal has sued to prevent another film adaptation of the novel. The problem is — Canal seeks to assert monopolistic control over a book that they did not create, and which is indisputably in the public domain. Canal lost this frivolous case. READ THE LAWSUIT.
La cage aux folles (1978)
United Artists Sues Nightclub ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ in LA
United Artists Corp. & LPAA v. La Cage Aux Folles, Inc.: United Artists sued Lou Paciocco, after he opened a nightclub called “La Cage Aux Folles” in Los Angeles. The club’s featured entertainment includes a floor show by female impersonators and United Artists sued for “trademark, and copyright laws by copying the name, characters, and distinctive features of the films.” UA lost the case. READ THE LAWSUIT.
La dolce vita (1960)
Owners of Fellini’s classic “La Dolce Vita” Sue Porn Film with Same Title
International Media Films, Inc. v. Lucas Entertainment, Inc.: International Media Films, Inc., the owner of the copyright to Federico Fellini’s classic movie “La Dolce Vita” sued a two-part pornographic film called “Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita” for dilution by tarnishment and trademark infringement. The owners of the porn film won the case. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Medium Cool (1969)
Paramount Loses Music Rights Case
Cohen v. Paramount Pictures Corp.: Medium Cool, starring the late, great Robert Forster is the next Criterion movie. The owner of the copyright to the song “Merry-Go-Round” licensed the rights to the song to Paramount for theatrical and TV exhibition of Medium Cool. When the license was arranged in the late 1960’s, the VHS home video market had yet to exist and this lawsuit was launched when Paramount used the song in the 1980’s VHS release. Paramount lost the case and could not distribute the movie with the unlicensed song. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Rebecca (1940)
Did Hitchcock’s “Rebecca’ Rip Off a Published Confession Story Called ‘I Planned to Murder My Husband’?
MacDonald v. Du Maurier: Edwina Levin MacDonald wrote a published confession story called “I Planned to Murder My Husband” and claimed that the novel and the Hitchcock movie “Rebecca” copied her work. The defendants, including David O. Selznick won the case. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Shampoo (1975)
Writer Wins $185,000 Judgement for Unpaid Story Outline
Mann v. Columbia Pictures, Inc.: Bernice Mann wrote a 29-page story outline called “Women Plus” which she submitted for Columbia’s consideration as the basis for a motion picture. She contends that her outline was accepted by Columbia, and used in the movie “Shampoo.” A jury awarded Bernice Mann $185,000. READ THE LAWSUIT.
The Blob (1958)
Did ‘The Blob’ Rip Off the Short Story ‘Slime’?
Brennan v. Paramount Pictures Corporation: The author of a short story called “Slime” launched this lawsuit claiming that “The Blob” ripped off his work. The Blob won this case. READ THE LAWSUIT.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line in Ownership Dispute
Briarpatch Ltd. v. Geisler Roberdeau: This decade plus long lawsuit boiled down to a rights dispute to Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line. Phoenix and Briarpatch Film Corp. jointly acquired the rights to the film project in 1996 and then Briarpatch claimed full ownership of the movie — and launched an expensive suit that ended with them liable for a decades worth of attorney fees for both parties. READ THE LAWSUIT.
The Virgin Spring (1960)
Janus Films (owner of The Criterion Collection) Sued the City of Fort Worth for Banning Ingmar Bergman’s Movie
Janus Films, Inc. v. City of Fort Worth: Janus Films (owner of The Criterion Collection) sued the Censor Board created by the Fort Worth Ordinance, because of their decision to ban the exhibition of Ingmar Bergman’s The Virgin Spring, unless the rape scene was removed. Janus Films seeked to restrain and enjoin the Censor Board from interfering with the exhibition of the picture in Fort Worth. Janus Films was unfortunately unsuccessful in Fort Worth. READ THE LAWSUIT.
This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Rob Reiner Seek $400 million in Unpaid Profits
Century of Progress Productions v. Vivendi S.A.: The four creators of This Is Spinal Tap have sued Vivendi over profits, since the four creators’ share of total worldwide merchandising income between 1984 and 2006 was just $81 (eighty-one) dollars. Between 1989 and 2006 total income from music sales was $98 (ninety-eight) dollars. Harry Shearer, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Rob Reiner seek $400 million in unpaid profits. The case is currently open with settlement negotiations ongoing. READ THE LAWSUIT.
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989)
Almodóvar Sues the MPAA over X-Rating
Miramax v. Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.: Pedro Almodóvar and Miramax sue the MPAA for slapping the movie Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! with a X-rating. They seek a court-imposed modification of the rating from “X” to “R”. The court sided with the MPAA and the adults only rating remained. READ THE LAWSUIT.