I would add my vote for the laserdisc version of El Cid. I was so certain that this would be released on dvd that I let my ld copy go a few years ago; big mistake.
I appreciate the mention, but region 2 doesn't work for me. I find the pal conversion distracting, as either the image is like a series of 2-frame freezes, or isn't nearly as sharp. Occasionally a full-screen film such as PARALLEL would be passable, but widescreen (such as SOLDIER BLUE) were unwatchable to me. I don't have the big bucks to be able to afford players and t.v.'s that allow for smoother conversions.
That must indeed be a terrible PAL -> NTSC conversion. Because normally on PAL a film is shown one frame during two TV frames (2:2), while NTSC is 2:3 (first a film frame twice, then a film frame three times). Also, the PAL images have a higher resolution than NTSC, so if it's more blurry, something went wrong. I would certainly recommend Ted's suggestion: see it on a HTPC.
And about Soldier Blue, I'm interested where that DVD would be too!
Place Soldier Blue and El Cid on my desired list for Criterion.
Re Soldier Blue: The German DVD by Kinowelt is in the correct format, uncut and has the original english mono. You can get it via Amazon.de under the title "Das Wiegenlied vom Totschlag". It is also rather cheap (10 Euro, around 12 Dollar). Make sure you get the Kinowelt DVD; there were three earlier editions by a company called Best Buy Entertainment that are cut and in the wrong format.
Berlin Alexanderplatz (which is a given, of course wanting everything I'd love to see Eight Hours Are Not a Day, World on a Wire and still missing feature films with interesting extras potential like The Third Generation & Despair (A Tom Stoppard commentary on Fassbinder's use of his script?)
The Mother and the Whore Oh, Rosalinda!
More Ozu (silents box?, Record of a Tenement Gentleman, The Flavor of Green Tea Over Rice, An Autumn Afternoon, etc.)
Mizoguchi & Naruse
Rossellini (Stromboli, Voyage in Italy, Paisa, Germany Year Zero, etc)
I'd also 2nd a lot of those mentioned already, but to suggest some new areas, I'd really like to see some more German filmmakers beyond Lang/Fassbinder/Schlondorff, such as Syberberg. I would love to see Hitler: A Film from Germany or Ludwig: Requiem for a Virgin King
Peter Greenaway! Criterion has yet to release any of his films which is a glaring omission for one of the most creative, ambitious directors of our time.
DROWNING BY NUMBERS
PROSPERO'S BOOKS
BABY OF MACON
THE TULSE LUPER TRILOGY
I'll echo the request for Welles' CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT and OTHELLO with the original track.
PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (thought there is a first class KINOWELT Edition from Germany) The Austrailian 2 disc edition could have taken the honors except for the gall to release it 4:3 letterboxed! REPULSION CRASH (Cronenberg) EL TOPO MONA LISA remastered, enhanced STALKER (Tarkovsky-both the released version, with correct soundtrack, and the "ruined" one, which I recall reading is fully intact, but the whole film is tinted green(?) due to a screw up at Mosfilm Labs, which was shot on a bigger budget and was a little more ambitious in scope. Tarkovsky was tired and short of funds when he re-shot most of the film.
THE SICILLIAN CLAN, DeSica's THE LAST JUDGMENT, THE POWER AND THE GLORY (Preston Sturges script), GONE TO EARTH/THE WILD HEART, THE HAPPIEST DAYS OF YOUR LIFE, THE GREEN MAN, THE ELUSIVE PIMPERNAL, LA RONDE, LE PLASIR, THREE CASES OF MURDER, BORSOLINO, UNDER CAPRICORN (Remastered).
I'll second 12 Angry Men...on the very short list of my favorite movies, the current DVD is a disappointment. Fortunately, the picture and audio are both good, which is most important, but no subtitles or extras is frustrating.
Not only is it in desperate need of a proper anamorphic remastered release, but it would benefit greatly from Criterion's care. This would actually be my number one choice film for Criterion to license.
Also -- Corbucci's THE GREAT SILENCE.
It would mark a first forray into new genre territory for Criterion and also fit the Collection quite nicely as it's easily among top choice of the more obscure Italian/Euro B-Grade Spaghetti Westerns, making it an ideal addition to Criterion's picks in terms of both context and content.
Not to mention the current Fontana release is soft and grainy with poor contrast and the colors are completely washed and dull, and the non-16x9 enhanced transfer riddled with dirt. Worst of all, it doesn't even offer the original Italian language track.. so you're forced to listen (and cringe through) this terrible, horrible, awful, embarassing English dubtrack!
Criterion would make me so happy if they obtained distribution rights to this film. Plus Klaus Kinski is kind of an eccentric cult figure in 'international' cinema which would play into Criterion's "outline" nicely.
I think this along with Repulsion would be the ultimate choices for new additions to Criterion's library of ecclectic and acclaimed film.
1. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 2. The Fisher King 3. A long shot but: Henry and June (To go along with The Unbearable Lightness of Being even though it is out of print it is stil part of the Criterion Family)