the inside cover of Sony's recent Blu-book version of Easy Rider.
The CriterionCast guys have done some digging and seem to have some solid info that Criterion recently acquired rights to various Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider-produced pictures, Easy Rider and The Last Picture Show in particular. They go on to say their sources indicate a 5-7 movie boxset in the fall, available in Blu-ray and DVD editions. Here's my take on what I think they'll include, with proviso cases for both 5-title and 7-title editions:
Easy Rider and Last Picture Show are #1 and #2 respectively, that's a given. Five Easy Pieces was a Criterion Laserdisc back in the day, and I'd call it a safe #3. Tracks, starring Dennis Hopper, went out of print recently, so I'm calling it #4. I am hoping #5 is the long-desired Drive, He Said, Jack Nicholson's directorial debut. If it goes to seven, I'd hope to see A Safe Place and Broken English, neither of which has been on DVD in the US previously.
Wildcards that could fill slots 6 and 7 include Head (a Monkees far-out weirdo pic and the first collaboration between Rafaelson and Schneider), The King of Marvin Gardens (whose Sony/Columbia DVD is ten years old), and Stay Hungry (J. Bridges, Ahnuld, and Ellen Burstyn). Criterion already has rights to Hearts & Minds, a Vietnam doc, and it isn't a stretch to see them take the opportunity to reissue it, but it'd be a weird fit as the only doc.
An interesting title included in Schneider's filmography is The Gentleman Tramp (VHS-only in R1), the only authorized doc about Chaplin. I'd expect if Criterion has rights to this, they'll release it alongside their upcoming Chaplin titles. I'd love to see Peter Bogdanovich talk about that one, which he started but someone else completed, tossing out most of Bogdanivich's footage.
Here's a list-format rundown of my speculation, with some more notes:
1) Easy Rider
2) Last Picture Show
These are givens. They're happening, period.
3) Five Easy Pieces
It would finally return to the Collection for the first time since Laserdisc and complete a trio of high-profile marquee titles.
4) Tracks
This is a recently-OOP Hopper-headlined movie that seems like a natural fit.
5) Drive, He Said
This is Nicholson's first directing gig, and long-desired by collectors. Imagine the marketing juice they'd get out of this.
6) A Safe Place
Critical division was so fierce at the NYFF in 1971 after this screening that a fistfight broke out. I'm not joking. Nicholson did the movie as a favor for no paycheck and just a new color TV. Tuesday Weld is in it too. Orson Welles pays "The Magician", and it doesn't have much resembling a plot. If it's ever to see a DVD release, this is its chance.
7A) Broken English
I've never seen this, but I know that it is the only screen appearance of daughter of Eugene O'Neill and Chaplin's last wife, Oona O'Neill Chaplin. It's reputed to be rather good, and deals with interracial/intercultural relationships.
7B) Stay Hungry
This one could (and let's be honest, probably will) edge out Broken English and be Bridges title #2 in the "set of seven". Hell, I'd be compelled to beg them to make it a set of eight if it means that they could include Broken English.
The other most likely films from that era and involving the abovve-mentioned producers would be Head (the weirdo "Monkees" movie which would be new to DVD) and The King of Marvin Gardens. I've thought my way into a knot on this at this point, but I know for sure that enough fascinating work will be packed in here that it'll be one of the releases of the year if/when it happens.
Post Script
I can't wait for the eyeball-straining, painstaking comparisons and fights comparing the Sony Blu of Easy Rider to Criterion's.