The Criterion Collection

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by latehong

Try one on a streaming service first and if you love it, buy the box set. That's the best way to go. If you love one Demy, you'll probably love all of them. And what a box set it is. One of my all-time favorite DVD/Blu-rays.

Not even close to being true. I love the earlier 3 films in that set but despise Un Chambre Une Ville and was so so on the Young Girls Of Rochefert.
Give a couple a shot on streaming and take it from there.

[Edward J Grug III]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

Not even close to being true. I love the earlier 3 films in that set but despise Un Chambre Une Ville and was so so on the Young Girls Of Rochefert.
Give a couple a shot on streaming and take it from there.

'You'll probably love all of them' doesn't mean every single person will love every single film.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

I'm intrigued my Jacques Demy's filmography and I want to buy one of his films. Which one would you recommend to buy first: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg or The Young Girls of Rochefort?

Cherbourg is the more critically acclaimed of the two but it's primarily a drama that just happens to be performed as a recitative musical. It also has some loose connections to the earlier film Lola, so you might be a bit out of the loop if you haven't seen that one first. If you happen to like it, then you'll probably really like it. But if you don't really get into its groove, you might have a hard time enjoying it.

I find that Rochefort is a bit more fun and a bit more accessible and feels much more like a traditional movie musical (plus it has Gene Kelly in it!).

My recommendation would be to watch Rochefort first, then if you enjoy it try Lola and then Cherbourg.

[Mr.F]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

I'm intrigued my Jacques Demy's filmography and I want to buy one of his films. Which one would you recommend to buy first: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg or The Young Girls of Rochefort?

If you're interested in Demy then you may as well go all in and start with Umbrellas of Cherbourg. It has a simple story but his direction and the legendary score make it so much more important than it leads on. It's my favorite film of all time.

[Knaldskalle]

I didn't much care for Young Girls of Rochefort or Umbrellas of Cherbourg, but Lola is a really good movie. I've yet to see any other of his movies.

[AaronJ]

I'm biased, since The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is one of my favorite films of all time, French or not, musical or not, whatever. It also has one of my all time favorite endings.

But yes, The Young Girls of Rochefort is the more traditional, just fun movie as others have said.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Majin Blu

I decided to finally try a film from Yasujirō Ozu. I ordered LATE SPRING, since the synopsis intrigued me. I doubt I'll ever pick up every film from him, but would anyone care to recommend their favorite Ozu film?

Autumn Afternoon has almost the same basic plot but makes for a wonderful complimentary bookend to Late Spring. Also liked End of Summer, which I saw on DVD. I didn't care much for Good Morning, Ozu has a great sense of humor suffusing his family dramas (also liked but as an outright comedy maker he falls flat IMO.

[Gerby]

Of Demy's films i've only seen Cherbourg, Rochefort & Lola. Cherbourg blew me away, the other two were merely good.

[KrugerIndustrial]

Is the dual format edition L’eclisse out of print? Gone from the Criterion store, Amazon and BN.

[TajSamKojiJesam]

Originally Posted by the sordid sentinel

This is the 1st Tarkovsky I have seen and I know nothing about his politics, but does anyone else see this film as a not so subtle jab at the Soviet system? Or I guess any form of control and/or restriction? The Stalker's monologue at the end about the Scientist and Writer really felt that way to me. I was actually quite surprised how freely and openly a film made in 1979 USSR was so unabashedly anti government.

Yeah, that's how I interpreted it too. The opressive dystopian state they live in is very reminiscent of USSR and its attempts to supress religion and spirituality. Tarkovsky's films are openly spiritual anyway, it's really admirable and interesting how he managed to make them under the Soviet government.

[AaronJ]

I got this during the sale but haven't found the right time to watch it yet. It will be only my third Tarkovsky film, as I've only seen Andrei Rublev and Solaris -- amazingly, both in the theater. God bless the Institute of Arts.

I've heard so much about this for years that I am extremely excited to see it. I just need to find the right time to sit down and dig in.

[Namuhana]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

I'm intrigued my Jacques Demy's filmography and I want to buy one of his films. Which one would you recommend to buy first: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg or The Young Girls of Rochefort?

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is probably what Demy is most known for. It's a jazz opera, though--it's completely and entirely sung through. The Young Girls of Rochefort is a jazz musical, so there are scenes of dialogue throughout. I personally prefer the latter, but I know many people prefer the former.

[bwdowiak]

like just about everything else, opinions vary pretty wildly here. I've heard people say great things about Bay of Angels. I found it so incredibly formulaic and rather dull. I really enjoyed The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, although I had one false start with it.

I've been cautious about approaching The Young Girls of Rochefort. Based on what I've read here, there's no need to be, so that's good.

[Mose Harper]

Frankly, and it's just my opinion, but I wasn't a fan of YGoR- and I LOVE Umbrellas and found Donkey Skin mostly fascinating.

I'm sure I'll give it another watch again at some point, but it's gonna be quite a while.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

like just about everything else, opinions vary pretty wildly here. I've heard people say great things about Bay of Angels. I found it so incredibly formulaic and rather dull. I really enjoyed The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, although I had one false start with it.

I've been cautious about approaching The Young Girls of Rochefort. Based on what I've read here, there's no need to be, so that's good.

Rochefort is just a fun, frothy musical. The story is mainly concerned with characters reconnecting with old loves, or finding romance with new ones. Nothing too taxing for the brain but the visuals and music are both a treat. The only thing that's somewhat out of place

[Show spoiler]is a bizarre murder subplot which maybe occupies about five minutes worth of screentime and kind of leaves you wondering what the point of it was.

[zoodermin]

Thanks for the Demy replies. I think I'll watch them on a streaming service before I commit to a purchase. I think I'm going to go with Westerns this time. So, Red River or My Darling Clementine? I heard great things about both (and I own Ford's Stagecoach which is amazing) but if you can only buy one right now, which one would it be?

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

Thanks for the Demy replies. I think I'll watch them on a streaming service before I commit to a purchase. I think I'm going to go with Westerns this time. So, Red River or My Darling Clementine? I heard great things about both (and I own Ford's Stagecoach which is amazing) but if you can only buy one right now, which one would it be?

I may be in the minority here, but I would take Red River. John Wayne and Montgomery Clift are both great playing against each other and Hawks gives you the feeling of being on a cattle drive. As for My Darling Clementine, it's very good but two things bothered me about. The first is that Tombstone, AZ is nowhere near Ford's beloved Monument Valley, and the other is that I could never get used to Fonda in that droopy mustache.

[The Sovereign]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

So, Red River or My Darling Clementine?

I'd second Red River.

One of my two favorite John Wayne performances (along with The Searchers). The photography and music seal the deal.

[TheProf89]

Originally Posted by zoodermin

I'm intrigued my Jacques Demy's filmography and I want to buy one of his films. Which one would you recommend to buy first: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg or The Young Girls of Rochefort?

I got skilled on Demy through my better half , she grew up speaking French and on French cinema. The first Demy she showed me was P'eau Dane (Donkey Skin). Umbrellas is the more famous film but personally Young Girls is a much better start into Demy in my opinion. The boxset is fantastic and I can highly recommend it. Demy was a huge fan of the classic noir and big musicals of the early era so you'll see a lot of that influenced in his films. He has an amazing eye for color as well.

[BluProofie]

I hope Criterion releases Caché. Their edition of Haneke’s The Piano Teacher is excellent.