The Criterion Collection

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by Fellini912

Criterion collection has a diverse catalogue. I guess the next question is: What are your favorite genre?

These are some classics:

Belle de Jour
Three Color Trilogy
Double Life of Veronique
Vivre Sa Vie
Red Shoes
8 1/2

(All above have gorgeous actresses, which I find necessary for a blind buy)



I think this is a good starting list, I can probably narrow it down knowing your favorite genre.

Fellini...you forgot Repulsion...that has the beautiful Catherine in it as well and quite a fine tale to add to anyone's "mind"..."cough"...I mean....collection!!!

[Scottie]

Catherine Deneuve is great in all aspects

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by iScottie

Catherine Deneuve is great in all aspects

Amen...brother!!!

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by *PREACHER*

Amen...brother!!!

[Jr7936]

just got the 6 moral tales box set, and haven't watched any of the movies, but the set looks super nice, even though it is dvd only
includes all the novels as well

[*PREACHER*]

Originally Posted by Jr7936

just got the 6 moral tales box set, and haven't watched any of the movies, but the set looks super nice, even though it is dvd only
includes all the novels as well

That set looks really nice...I added it to my Amazon wish list..thanks for the push on this set Jr7936!!!

[A Sith Lord?]

Thanks all.

My genre is pretty diverse. I love variety.

I've seen only two Hitchcock films (this being the 2nd and the first being Psycho) so I don't know much about him but his reputation is showing.

I'm pretty much down for whatever. I would like to work my way from the 20's-30's era onward to the modern era for criterions. I've been trying to buy as many classic films as possible to understand why they're so loved and have stood the test of time through many generations. I bought Casablanca, trying to find a nice deal on Citizen Kane.

Of course you know if a deal for a criterion presents itself from whatever decade I'm in for a pickup. I'm just trying to get my feet wet here.

[Jr7936]

That set looks really nice...I added it to my Amazon wish list..thanks for the push on this set Jr7936!!!

i got it from frys online, when they had it listed for 99 cents and 9 dollars shipping. so 10 dollars for it new

[Blu-Velvet]

Originally Posted by MasturB

Thanks all.

My genre is pretty diverse. I love variety.

I've seen only two Hitchcock films (this being the 2nd and the first being Psycho) so I don't know much about him but his reputation is showing.

I'm pretty much down for whatever. I would like to work my way from the 20's-30's era onward to the modern era for criterions. I've been trying to buy as many classic films as possible to understand why they're so loved and have stood the test of time through many generations. I bought Casablanca, trying to find a nice deal on Citizen Kane.

Of course you know if a deal for a criterion presents itself from whatever decade I'm in for a pickup. I'm just trying to get my feet wet here.

If that's all the Hitchcock you've seen, you need to go next to Criterion's THE LADY VANISHES (which includes a fun little bonus film starring two of the minor characters in TLV) and THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS. Then go ahead and splurge, especially if there's a decent sale price, for Universal's great Hitchcock box set and work through those chronologically. And if you don't already have it, you also need Universal's incredible classic monsters Blu-ray collection.

John Ford's STAGECOACH is a must-buy (including a rare early Ford silent feature as a bonus, in reasonable but much lesser shape). The David Lean/Noel Coward Criterion box set is another one to get for sure, and for comparison to IN WHICH WE SERVE and THIS HAPPY BREED be sure to get Warners' Blu-ray of MRS. MINIVER.

Kino's got some nice 1920s-40s classics on Blu-ray (you need THE PENALTY, THE NIBELUNGEN, SCARLET STREET, and A FAREWELL TO ARMS, and should probably have METROPOLIS and POTEMKIN), and Olive has lately been releasing a ton of great and often obscure stuff from the 30s through the 60s, in usually beautiful picture quality though usually with no bonus features. (Be sure to go to Import CDs, DVD Planet, or other discount dealers for Olive titles, rather than Amazon, which usually charges nearly list price).

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by MasturB

Thanks all.

My genre is pretty diverse. I love variety.

I've seen only two Hitchcock films (this being the 2nd and the first being Psycho) so I don't know much about him but his reputation is showing.

I'm pretty much down for whatever. I would like to work my way from the 20's-30's era onward to the modern era for criterions. I've been trying to buy as many classic films as possible to understand why they're so loved and have stood the test of time through many generations. I bought Casablanca, trying to find a nice deal on Citizen Kane.

Of course you know if a deal for a criterion presents itself from whatever decade I'm in for a pickup. I'm just trying to get my feet wet here.

If you're interested in more Hitchcock, go straight to North by Northwest. The blu-ray is pretty fantastic.
There's also three MGM Hitchcock blu-rays: Rebecca, Notorious and Spellbound.
Hopefully, individual releases will be available from the Hitchcock Collection box-set, such as Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds and others.
As for early(-ish) cinema from Criterion, have a look at the 3 Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg (DVD only), The Phantom Carriage, The Complete Jean Vigo, Design for Living, The Rules of the Game, Lonesome, and anything from Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.
Also, if you use Criterion's website, when you select a film, it usually has a series of "related" titles on the right hand side - it's a great tool for directing your attention to things you've never heard of.
Also, check out Criterion's various "Three Reasons" trailers for their films.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by Blu-Velvet

If that's all the Hitchcock you've seen, you need to go next to Criterion's THE LADY VANISHES (which includes a fun little bonus film starring two of the minor charactacters in TLV) and THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS. Then go ahead and splurge, especially if there's a decent sale price, for Universal's great Hitchcock box set and work through those chronologically.

John Ford's STAGECOACH is a must-buy (including a rare early Ford silent feature as a bonus, in reasonable but much lesser shape). The David Lean/Noel Coward Criterion box set is another one to get for sure, and for comparison to IN WHICH WE SERVE and THIS HAPPY BREED be sure to get Warners' Blu-ray of MRS. MINIVER.

Kino's got some nice 1930s-40s classics on Blu-ray (you need SCARLET STREET and A FAREWELL TO ARMS), and Olive has lately been releasing a ton of great and often obscure stuff from the 30s through the 60s, in usually beautiful picture quality though usually with no bonus features. (Be sure to go to Import CDs, DVD Planet, or other discount dealers for Olive titles, rather than Amazon, which usually charges nearly list price).

Yes! Good advice

[rkish]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

In that case I'm in!
Actually, have not seen enough Lloyd and haven't seen anything for ages.
I love Keaton. The General is a masterpiece and it's impossible not to love films like Steamboat Bill, Jr.
I saw Sherlock Jr for the first time recently. So great
Many years ago I was able to see a lot of his films. I always remember completely losing it over The Cameraman. Any sign it coming to blu-ray?
I've been working my through a 4-DVD collection of Keaton short films. The first two discs are mostly two-reel Fatty Arbuckle films with Keaton in supporting roles.
I've recently come around on Chaplin, buying Modern Times, The Gold Rush and The Great Dictator.

Agreed...I had been a Chaplin virgin (as far as silent comedies), but Kino got me hooked on Keaton. College coming out in a month and I'm already waiting for the Import CDs listing to go live, so that I can order it.

I've got all of the Chaplins and Keatons on blu so far...I had collected all of the MK2 Chaplin DVDs, back in the day...

[The Great Owl]

Ahhhh.... Alfred Hitchcock and Blu-rays.

I have a ton of Hitchcock movies on DVD, including the Criterion edition of Notorious with the amazing Ingrid Bergman cover art.

I only have two Hitchcock Blu-rays, though. North by Northwest and To Catch a Thief. They both look outstanding on Blu-ray, and, if you're looking for a demo disc to show to people, you could do much worse. To Catch a Thief is generally regarded as a throwaway Hitchcock film, but it's one of my personal favorites. I'm not sure why I gravitate to movies about the French Resistance, but the cards just always seem to fall that way.

I'm probably going to trade off my Criterion DVDs of The 39 Steps and The Lady Vanishes soon to make room for the eventual Blu-ray purchases of these movies. They're that good, and I want the best picture quality versions. The Lady Vanishes is my favorite of the early Hitchcock films, because it's just so fun-spirited. For some reason, I'm in an "off phase" with the early Hitchcock stuff, although I love the films dearly, and they just haven't been a priority yet as I've started my Blu-ray collection. I'll probably own the Blu-rays of The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, and The Man Who Knew Too Much before year's end, though.

I really want the Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection box set, but the price tag is a tough call these days. I mean, it's funny how I have no problem spending the same amount of money on individual Blu-rays during a particular month, but the idea of shelling out all that money at once on a single box set is somehow daunting, although I know it would be worth every penny. I'll find it for a good sale at some point, though. I suspect that my reluctance to dive into the Hitchcock Blu-rays that I don't yet own is because I'll become enthused and spend too much money to buy everything in a short time.

I'm dying to see The Birds on Blu-ray. I love the conclusion of that film so much. In fact, my vote for the greatest final camera shot of any movie is probably a three-way tie between The Birds, Le Samouraï, and the original Planet of the Apes.

[MacEachaidh]

It's a pity Strangers on a Train keeps getting overlooked in these Hitchcock discussions. It's one of my favourite Hitchcocks (along with The Lady Vanishes, for which I have the Criterion Blu), and its transfer to HD has been handled quite well.

I hear what you say about feeling daunted at laying out so much money on a single box, Wol — odd, isn't it? But I'm the same. I dithered a couple of weeks back over grabbing the Universal Classic Monsters box, even though the price had dropped so dramatically, and the price per film was so compelling, but still it seemed too large an amount to hand over in one go. And then Amazon put me out of my misery by putting the price back up! :chortle:

I'm having a similar struggle with the Qatsi box. I want it sure enough, but it still somehow seems too pricey.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

I hear what you say about feeling daunted at laying out so much money on a single box, Wol — odd, isn't it? But I'm the same. I dithered a couple of weeks back over grabbing the Universal Classic Monsters box, even though the price had dropped so dramatically, and the price per film was so compelling, but still it seemed too large an amount to hand over in one go. And then Amazon put me out of my misery by putting the price back up! :chortle:

I was fortunate to find the region-free UK edition of the Universal Monsters set on Amazon UK for $43 (less than five dollars a movie) shortly before the new year. It's a great set, but I was also hesitant to pay a higher price for it.

Funny thinking about it now, but I live within walking distance of all the stores that had the exclusives for the James Bond 50th Anniversary individual Blu-rays, so I bought all of them in one single day the week that I bought my Blu-ray player at the beginning of December. With the sales at the time, I was able to find all 22 individuals for roughly the same price as the clunky box set, but I'll probably never ever spend that much money on Blu-rays in one day again. I had read stories about the 50th Anniversary Bond editions going out of print and such, and, since those movies are big favorites of mine, I was in a hurry to grab all of them at once.

[drbikeshorts]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

It's a pity Strangers on a Train keeps getting overlooked in these Hitchcock discussions. It's one of my favourite Hitchcocks (along with The Lady Vanishes, for which I have the Criterion Blu), and its transfer to HD has been handled quite well.

Good point. I forgot all about Strangers on a Train, as well as To Catch a Thief.
I have both blu-rays and recommend both for Hitchcock beginners.
It's a pity about the dreadful cover artwork for Strangers, but the A/V package is very good.
I've always loved To Catch a Thief. For me, it's one of those "I'm so there!" films, where you really feel you're on holiday with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. A total delight. In fact, in the trailer Hitchcock invites the audience to come on a trip to the French Riviera.
It also has an outstanding A/V package.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by drbikeshorts

I've always loved To Catch a Thief. For me, it's one of those "I'm so there!" films, where you really feel you're on holiday with Cary Grant and Grace Kelly. A total delight. In fact, in the trailer Hitchcock invites the audience to come on a trip to the French Riviera.
It also has an outstanding A/V package.

I love how To Catch a Thief is one long travel brochure for the French Riviera. It works, though! It's in my Top Five for the best-looking Blu-rays that I've seen so far.

To Catch a Thief was a good stand-alone Blu-ray purchase, because it's not included in the big Hitchcock box sets that are on sale right now.

I couldn't hold off on buying North by Northwest, although I'll probably end up with double copies of that film if I buy the box set later on. North by Northwest is one of those films that I just had to own right away.

[DarkRyder]

Originally Posted by bluskies

We'll just have to wait and see if I am also correct about 3:10 TO YUMA and MAN ON A TIGHTROPE.

The clown on the tightrope was for YoYo.

[ccg1978]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I love how To Catch a Thief is one long travel brochure for the French Riviera. It works, though! It's in my Top Five for the best-looking Blu-rays that I've seen so far.

To Catch a Thief was a good stand-alone Blu-ray purchase, because it's not included in the big Hitchcock box sets that are on sale right now.

I couldn't hold off on buying North by Northwest, although I'll probably end up with double copies of that film if I buy the box set later on. North by Northwest is one of those films that I just had to own right away.

To Catch a Thief is amazing visually. The PQ is great! Storywise not so much. North by Northwest is great both PQ and storywise.

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by bluskies

The man hanging from the clock is SAFETY LAST, a famous Harold Lloyd comedy.

And I wonder if the clown on the wire is MAN ON A TIGHTROPE, a film starring Frederic March, set in Communist Russia?

The other clock in the drawing shows 3:10, a reference to 3:10 TO YUMA (the original 1957 film starring Glenn Ford)?

This was discussed when the cartoon was sent out back on the 1st. You might want to have a look here & here. There were several who speculated that the tightrope was a double clue, the first being the Etaix set (announced for April) the other guesses were less obvious/compelling.