The Criterion Collection

[mdonovan]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

My wife and I have just started to get into westerns. Have recently watched Jubal, 3:10 to Yuma, Stagecoach, True Grit and The Magnificent Seven.

Thinking of picking up The Searchers on Blu-Ray this week.

One word ....

Shane.


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[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Oh yeah, Once Upon a Time in the West is in my cart also.

Tangentially related: Once Upon a time in America gets my highest reccomendation. In my opinion, the greatest gangster film of all time.

[Scottie]

Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 spy film remains one of his finest works of all time.

Richard Hannay is a Canadian tourist in London. After attending a theater performance one night, he meets Annabella Smith, a counterintelligence agent who he offers a place to stay. When she is brutally murdered that night, Hannay finds himself forced to clear his name, while also trying to get to the bottom of the spy ring that he now finds himself a part of.

Since seeing the film for the first time earlier this year, I have considered The 39 Steps to be of Alfred Hitchcock's best films of all time, even surpassing such works as "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and "North By Northwest". With that being said, I was a little let down with tonight's viewing. I recall laughing quite a bit and being engrossed throughout upon my first viewing, but it fell rather short tonight.

My favorite thing about an Alfred Hitchcock film has always been the way that he directs them. With The 39 Steps, for example, it's great to see the long camera shots and the way the main character goes about seeking refuge in various small villages located in the middle of nowhere. I guess that's why I also enjoy his 1942 film, Saboteur, as much.

Even though I was a bit let down by tonight's viewing, I still consider The 39 Steps to be one of the most entertaining films that Alfred Hitchcock put out. The Criterion Collection's transfer is beautiful and it's nicely packed with extras and a rather long essay that will definitely keep the average viewer very entertained.

[Miradon]

Originally Posted by RandyK

Just finished Stagecoach for my film class and while I don't typically watch westerns, this was really, really good and kind of makes me want to watch more. So far I've watched two great films for this class; this and Chaplin's The Kid. Next week brings Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street.

Stagecoach is a personal favorite film of mine as well as one of my favorites from the Criterion catalogue. I watched it at a time when I thought I didn't like westerns either but decided to venture into John Ford's works (I watched it & The Searchers as a double bill), I loved it immediately and it is still my favorite Ford, and only my second favorite western (The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly first).

I'll echo the love for 3:10 To Yuma as well, I prefer it quite a bit to the remake, although they have their fair share of differences aside from the basic plotting. I hope Criterion picks up more Westerns in the future, I really enjoyed Jubal as well (although it's certainly not as strong as 3:10), it's really a gorgeous looking film that Criterion treatment helped enhance the beauty of.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 spy film remains one of his finest works of all time.

Richard Hannay is a Canadian tourist in London. After attending a theater performance one night, he meets Annabella Smith, a counterintelligence agent who he offers a place to stay. When she is brutally murdered that night, Hannay finds himself forced to clear his name, while also trying to get to the bottom of the spy ring that he now finds himself a part of.

Since seeing the film for the first time earlier this year, I have considered The 39 Steps to be of Alfred Hitchcock's best films of all time, even surpassing such works as "The Man Who Knew Too Much" and "North By Northwest". With that being said, I was a little let down with tonight's viewing. I recall laughing quite a bit and being engrossed throughout upon my first viewing, but it fell rather short tonight.

My favorite thing about an Alfred Hitchcock film has always been the way that he directs them. With The 39 Steps, for example, it's great to see the long camera shots and the way the main character goes about seeking refuge in various small villages located in the middle of nowhere. I guess that's why I also enjoy his 1942 film, Saboteur, as much.

Even though I was a bit let down by tonight's viewing, I still consider The 39 Steps to be one of the most entertaining films that Alfred Hitchcock put out. The Criterion Collection's transfer is beautiful and it's nicely packed with extras and a rather long essay that will definitely keep the average viewer very entertained.

Good work! The 39 Steps is still my favorite of the early Hitchcock films that are in the Criterion Collection, and, although I've seen it a million times, I'll be revisiting it again soon.

This Blu-ray of The 39 Steps takes a lot of flack, but it's miles above the old Criterion DVD edition that I used to have, in terms of picture quality. The cover art is also better on the new edition.

[Show spoiler]

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Good work! The 39 Steps is still my favorite of the early Hitchcock films that are in the Criterion Collection, and, although I've seen it a million times, I'll be revisiting it again soon.

This Blu-ray of The 39 Steps takes a lot of flack, but it's miles above the old Criterion DVD edition that I used to have, in terms of picture quality. The cover art is also better on the new edition.

[Show spoiler]

I prefer The Lady Vanishes to the other two Hitchcock films.

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by RandyK

Just finished Stagecoach for my film class and while I don't typically watch westerns, this was really, really good and kind of makes me want to watch more. So far I've watched two great films for this class; this and Chaplin's The Kid. Next week brings Fritz Lang's Scarlet Street.

The movie that got me into Westerns was "The Man who Shot Liberty Valance." Just got "Stagecoach" for my bday last week, can't wait to sit down and take it in.

[Cocophone]

Have you watched the UK bluray of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"?

I understand it's region free and reasonably priced.



-----------------
"Why am I me and why not you? Why am I here and why not there? When did time begin and where does space end?" - Wings of Desire

[Tin Drum]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I prefer The Lady Vanishes to the other two Hitchcock films.

Agreed. I greatly enjoy The 39 Steps and The Man Who Knew Too Much, but The Lady Vanishes is on a whole other level for me. Better paced than the other two, IMO.

[The Great Owl]

All this talk about the early Hitchcock stuff is making me wish for Criterion to upgrade Carol Reed's Night Train to Munich to Blu-ray.

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Speaking of Westerns, I watched The Outlaw Josey Wales today. I've been a massive fan of this movie since childhood, but this was my first time seeing the movie on Blu-ray.
I was planning to watch Unforgiven today as well, but I'm going to take some time to enjoy the extras on The Outlaw Josey Wales and spend a couple days immersing myself in the package.

Westerns are great to see on Blu-ray. Criterion's Stagecoach and 3:10 to Yuma are both wonderful. Rio Bravo is a great John Wayne movie to seek out, since enjoyed Stagecoach. It goes without saying that The Searchers is a monumental work as well.

The Digibook is sweet for Josey Wales! It is probably my favorite Eastwood flick. So many one liners!

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Oh yeah, Once Upon a Time in the West is in my cart also.

This could be my favorite western of all time.

[joie]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

All this talk about the early Hitchcock stuff is making me wish for Criterion to upgrade Carol Reed's Night Train to Munich to Blu-ray.

They must have decided it isn't Blu-ray material, because it's a recent release -- after they started doing Blu-ray.

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by Edward J Grug III

Oh yeah, Once Upon a Time in the West is in my cart also.

It is worth it for the opening scene alone!

[blkhrt]

Originally Posted by joie

They must have decided it isn't Blu-ray material, because it's a recent release -- after they started doing Blu-ray.

Not necessarily. If I remember correctly, the have upgraded two titles that were released after they starting doing blu rays. It probably depends on the elements they have available. Perhaps there was not a HD transfer available at the time.

[joie]

Originally Posted by blkhrt

Not necessarily. If I remember correctly, the have upgraded two titles that were released after they starting doing blu rays. It probably depends on the elements they have available. Perhaps there was not a HD transfer available at the time.

They've recycled old, DVD transfers (scans) before, haven't they?

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Criterion should certainly release The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance or Lonely Are the Brave.

Totally agree with a The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance CC release. One of my favorite Westerns, and the Western that got me watching Westerns. Was never really a fan, even though my dad loved them. But somehting about this movie... just amazing.

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Tin Drum

Agreed. I greatly enjoy The 39 Steps and The Man Who Knew Too Much, but The Lady Vanishes is on a whole other level for me. Better paced than the other two, IMO.

This. Seemed like he got better and better the closer he got to the 1940s.

[JJJ225]

Originally Posted by lordmorpheus72

Totally agree with a The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance CC release. One of my favorite Westerns, and the Western that got me watching Westerns. Was never really a fan, even though my dad loved them. But somehting about this movie... just amazing.

I'll echo the The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance love. I am not a Western fan at all, but I LOVE this movie.

[Abdrewes]

I would kill for this gem to get a spine. It would make a fine pairing with Jubal, too.