Criterion Hitchcock Box Set (1 Viewer)

[ShaunS]

Posted on the Criterion Home Page .

I like that they are doing these box sets (Kurosawa, Truffaut) as I don't have too many Criterions. It's an easy (and cheaper) way for me to catch up.

I haven't seen any of these Hitchcock films yet. Same goes for the Truffaut films.

Someone want talk me into (or out of) buying them?

What other previous Criterion releases lend themselves well for box sets?

Shaun

 

[JonBoriss]

Excellent news, I have been meaning to buy all those discs, but now I will for sure.

 

[Simon_Lepine]

Great stuff! Just need to get rid of my Anchor Bay Spellbound now...

I was mad when the Kurosawa box set came out since I already had 3 of the 4 DVDs of the set and paid more for the 3 total than the box set is selling for.

I guess I'll wait before buying the Fellini and Bergman releases, a box set might be coming considering how many of their movies they carry.

 

[Lew Crippen]

I haven't seen any of these Hitchcock films yet. Same goes for the Truffaut films.

Well Shaun, you are in for a real treat.

The Lady Vanishes and The 39 Steps are late British (Hitchcock) films, while the other three are early American ones.

Both Rebecca and Spellbound were made under Darryl Zanuck’s regime and are not (regardless of their merits) typical of Hitchcock. Both Rebecca and Notorious are outstanding. I’m not a big fan of Spellbound but it is well worth having.

My only regret is that I already own them all, so I can’t take advantage of the reduced prices.

Which means that I recommend picking them up. They all have good commentaries and extras. Others will differ, but I rank them more or less in this order:

Notorious
Rebecca
The Lady Vanishes
Spellbound
The 39 Steps

On the day, I might flip the last two.

 

[BrettB]

to be sold together at a reduced price.

Approx. what will this go for?

 

[Scott Leopold]

Excellent news for anyone who doesn't already have these. I'd highly recommend it, but I've also already purchased them separately. In my opinion, The 39 Steps & The Lady Vanishes are Hitchcock's best British films, and two of his best ever. I still find them to be two of his most enjoyable films, and have watched my Criterion DVD's of them at least 4 times each. The other three are also excellent films, although I've always found Rebecca to be the least enjoyable of the lot.

 

[george kaplan]

I also already own them all, but these are all certainly well worth getting for those who don't.

 

[Paul_D]

Rebecca
Spellbound
The 39 Steps
The Lady Vanishes
Notorious

I've never really understood why Notorious was so well thought of. I always found it very ordinary compared with Hitch's other thrillers. For my money, Spellbound and Rebecca are the 2 best sets out of the 5, but owning all of them certainly isn't a bad thing.

With their latest releases, and the Truffaut box set in April, Criterion really are on top form. Love 'em.

 

[Patrick McCart]

David O. Selznick produced Spellbound, Rebecca, and Notorious, not Daryll Zanuck. He was at Fox by this time.

 

[Paul Arnette]

Damn! I just recently bought all these individually. :frowning:

 

[Chucky P]

I'll pick this up along with the Antoine Doinel box set.

 

[Rob Lutter]

Sweeet... I was just about to pick these up anyways!

I'll get it right after I get the Kurosawa set.

 

[Adam_S]

Excellent, I've wanted all five for some time, have seen none, and own none, this will take me through my may purchases

Adam

 

[ShaunS]

What about the Truffaut box set? I haven't seen any of the films in it. Is it worth a blind purchase?

Shaun

 

[Eric Peterson]

Any chance that Criterion might supply just the box to us folks who already own all of the Hitchcok films? Then I could place it next to both of the Universal box sets.

 

[DonRoeber]

I'd love it if Criterion would make the box available to us. I was very happy when i was able to "upgrade" my Jurassic Park and Cowboy Bebop sets by just buying the box for the set. With regards to the Hichcock set, I've got three out of the five in the set already, so I'm torn as to wether I should buy the last two by themselves, or buy the boxed set and ebay off my duplicates.

 

[Lew Crippen]

David O. Selznick produced Spellbound, Rebecca, and Notorious, not Daryll Zanuck.

You are correct as usual Patrick. I just got on a typing roll. :b

 

[Lew Crippen]

What about the Truffaut box set? I haven't seen any of the films in it. Is it worth a blind purchase?

The 400 Blows is generally considered to be one of the best and most influential films of all time. Plus, it is one of my favorites. The was Truffaut’s first feature film and was an immediate hit both at Cannes and in the U.S. It’s depiction of early adolescence is not to be missed—it is heart-rending to anyone who was ever 14. And the final shot is one of the most famous in all of cinema.

In my opinion the other films in this set, do not meet the standard set by The 400 Blows, but they do give us a sense of completeness. For me, they are worth seeing, even if not for a purchase. I will buy the set, as my copy of The 400 Blows is not a very good transfer and I don’t have any of the rest.

 

[Brook K]

I would have to disagree with Lew. Stolen Kisses, I feel, is one of the best romantic comedies ever made and I think it's both better than The 400 Blows and Truffaut's best film. In fact, J-P Leaud and Claude Jade are such a perfect couple that it causes me to have a problems with the lastter two films, especially Love On The Run.

But all 3 have fun moments are are worth seeing. The short, Antoine et Collette is excellent, taking on the air of romantic tragedy because of how much we care about Antoine.

On the Hitchcock box, wish I could take advantage, but I own Rebecca (my favorite) and Notorious, and don't like Spellbound at all.

 

[ChuckDeLa]

I own all of these except Spellbound. I've been vacillating on whether or not to buy Spellbound.... if I could get the box for all the discs, that would probably seal the deal for me.