Janus Films
Profile
Janus Films is a film distribution company. It was one of the first distributors to bring 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, Federico Fellini, Jean-Luc Godard and others. Janus has a close relationship with The Criterion Collection and Home Vision Entertainment regarding the distribution of films on DVD. Current theatrical distribution of films for which Janus holds American rights is generally handled through Rialto Pictures and Kino International.
Janus Films was founded in the 1950s by Bryant Haliday and Cyrus Harvey, Jr.. Bryant Halliday 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 Theatre in Boston. 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. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janus_Films [Nov 2005]
your Amazon recommendations