Criterion Collection Recommendations

[Solitary Wanderer]

I'm intrigued by the Criterion Collection of movies. Theres a number of them I've seen over the years, before re-release on Criterion, and since my local video specialist store has a large number available for hire, I thought I would begin to investigate some of the more obscure titles.

I've been to the CC website, which is interesting, but I've noticed a number of members here watching them so I thought some recommendations could be a good idea so as to form some sort of consensus as to some of the key titles to begin with.

I invite your suggestions! 

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

What type of stuff do they offer?

[SonicMan46]

Hello Chris - I can recommend the Criterion DVDs highly; of course, the only problem is their cost - expensive!  So, a rental might be a good first choice - currently I have just 10 DVDs from them (listed below) - usually buy from this Criterion DVD Site which provides a modest discount.

I've rented a number of Criterion films & have a bunch of their offerings on 'burned DVDs' or as standard commercial DVDs - would love to change out my 'burned' discs for the quality produced by this company, but the cost would be prohibitive for me - Dave 

All That Heaven Allows (1955) - Douglas Sirk
Charade (1963) - Stanley Donen
Hopscotch (1980) - Ronald Neame
Lady Eve, The (1941) - Preston Sturges
My Man Godfrey (1936) - Gregory La Cava
Naked Prey, The (1966) - Cornel Wilde
Oliver Twist (1948) - David Lean
Pygmalion (1938) - Anthony Asquith
Sullivan's Travels (1942) - Preston Sturges
Written on the Wind (1956) - Douglas Sirk

[Great Gable]

I have a few - a mixed bag, in terms of what's actually on each release. Some are laden with extras and some....well, not so laden

Alphaville, Une Etrange Aventure de Lemmy Caution   1965
Black Narcissus   1947
Canterbury Tale, A   1944
Cercle Rouge, Le (aka The Red Circle)   1970
Diabolique, Les   1954
Grand Illusion, La   1938
I Know Where I'm Going   1945
Insomnia   1999
Pepe Le Moko   1936
Pickup On South Street   1953
Quai Des Orfevres (aka Jenny Lamour)   1947
Red Shoes, The   1948
Rififi   1955
Samouraï, Le   1967
Sullivan's Travels   1941
Third Man, The   1949
Trou, Le (aka The Hole)   1960
Wages Of Fear, The (aka La Salaire De La Peur)   1953
Monterey Pop - The Complete Festival   1967

[Harry]

And how exactly is the picture quality. Are those old films remastered and cleaned?
And are they better than the standard releases?

[E d o]

Being a Japanophile I'll recommend:
Kurosawa's films
The Teshigahara box
Onibaba

Some other favorites:
Down By Law
Lord of the Flies
Mr. Hulot's Holiday

[The new erato]

Mr. Hulot's Holiday

Anything by Tati is worth seeing, which reminds me that I should see these films again.

[Great Gable]

Harry

As far as I can recall, all are "treated" in some way. I can't remember any problems.

[SonicMan46]

And how exactly is the picture quality. Are those old films remastered and cleaned?
And are they better than the standard releases?

Harry - these films are re-mastered beautifully - I've not owned different production versions to offer you a personal A-B comparison, but the transfers are clean & the sound well done; plus, the 'specials' add to the value.  Check out the Criterion FAQs for some 'too limited' information on their methods.

As an example, though, the David Lean Oliver Twist is an absolute 'knock-out' B&W film - here's an excerpt from the back of the case "..This new digital transfer was created from the 35mm fine-grain master, made from the original negative.  The sound was created from a 35mm optical soundtrack positive.."  - do at least a rental to judge for yourself (and let's us know) - Dave 

[FideLeo]

Anything by Tati is worth seeing, which reminds me that I should see these films again.

Playtime is spectacular and beyond that if one could get the 70mm presentation.

[FideLeo]

Particularly dear to my heart is Marcel Carne's Les enfants du paradis.  Yes I do sometimes feel like a romantic!