Hey-

Need advice on which releases I should acquire.... So far I have the "Alfred Hitchcock Presents..." vol. 1-4 only. I know I should get the Criterion boxset. Whatelse?

you need these 3 boxsets:

That Criterion box set is a must as well, but yeah all four of the Hitch box sets are the perfect start.

Actually, the Criterion Hitchcock is not nearly as good as the other releases are, in fact, the only nice thing about them is that they have good prints of The Lady Vanishes and The 39 Steps, otherwise the extras are not nearly as good as the ones on the Universal sets. All you get are some very dry, boring commentaries and some old radio plays. I bought them all seperately myself, but I was disappointed in the Rebecca and Notorious dvd's. Especially as the prints to these fims are fine in their earlier release, and the so-called 'extras' aren't very interesting.

My fav extras on the Criterions are the commentaries. One of the ones on Notorious helped move that film up my list of fav Hitchcock films.

BLESSTHEMESS, there are some threads here on "favorite" and/or "Best" Hitchcock films...maybe check out some of the comments there. Buying all of the boxsets might not be financially feasible...I know it wasn't for me. So I started slow by buying the ones I liked the most. Going that route...and always putting a couple on my B-Day/Christmas lists...I got a nice lil Hitchcock Collection.

Check out this previous thread for suggestions and discussion:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=371449

Youll also need the 2 3-disc Universal sets to get the other two Alfred Hitchcock Presents DVDs (if you are a completist). I bought these and hocked the four duplicate movies on Ebay (of course, you could buy the other two volumes on Ebay too, but youll pay almost as much for them).

I've got the Criterion Box Set and think it's awesome.
My next purchase will probably be the Signature Collection.
I've already posted in the STL section for the Signature Collection, but no one has responded.
if anyone here's interested in this from Amazon, please STL.

[email protected]

Don't forget to pick up Paramount's release of "To Catch a Thief". That, in addition to the four boxsets and the other 2 "Hitchcock presents" DVD's should keep you entertained for some time.

Don't forget Paramount's To Catch a Thief.

I also own Image's Under Capricorn and Anchor Bay's Paradine Case. I had a couple of Laserlight discs that I sold them this weekend.

MGM is going to release a boxset of all 4 Anchor Bay films + a few more of his British films, but the release was delayed. There's also a German boxset of British films that is very good quality.

Why does Amazon still show this at $24.99 list? DVD Empire and even Columbia House (which is usually slow on reprices) have this listed for $14.99.

I have two universal boxsets, presents vol.1-4, warner boxset, 5 criterion collection. still need catch up his early works.

My fav's are

Strangers on a Train
Shadow of A Doubt
Lifeboat
Psycho

Don't care for the rest.

Cheers

I collect Hitchcocks. I've got all the Criterions, the Signature Selection box set and a few of the Universal titles. Very happy with them.

I agree with the dryness of the Criterion commentaries on the Hitchcock films. Notorious is one of my favorite movies, but the academic monotone reading on the commentary track is devoid of any first-hand recollection or human interest toward the film; it's absolutely painful to sit through. Commentaries on the Universal titles, when available, are typically much more interesting.

Hitch is one of my favorite directors. I've got the Criterion discs, the two universal sets, the Warner Bros. set, the Laserlight discs, and the German set of some early films, for a total of over 40 discs.

Already been covered to death in this thread... But yeah, the Warner set and most - to all - of the Universal releases come pretty highly recommended but Psycho and Vertigo still need new anamorphic transfers The Criterion set is nice but you may want to hold off and see what the - now delayed until ?? - MGM box looks like / MSRP... Notorious, Rebecca, Spellbound, The Lady Vanishes, The 39 Steps, etc are/were being re-issued in that set...

Also, yup, don't forget about To Catch A Thief from Paramount...

My current Hitch count is 25 but I still need to add a few from the Universal sets... So yeah, I definitely collect Hitchcock, he's one of my favorites.

A friend of mine has all the Hitchcock dvd's that have been released. I have The Birds, North By Northwest, Psycho and my favourite one: Vertigo. I saw Rear Window in theatres twice, both times the restaurated print.

George

I actually prefer the "academic" critical analysis commentaries for Hitchcock's films over the anecdotal commentaires, so I loved the Criterion DVD's!

same here. their treatment of his films is perfect

I also collect Hitchcocks. I have a Timmy, a Paul, two Susan's and a Miranda. I keep them in the basement.

Woah- !

Yep got only the 4 Hitchcock Presents DVDs to start everything off.... gotten them off eBay so that i won't have duplicates of you-know-whats...

Heard GREAT things abt the German boxset from here (which is a great Hitchcock resource; but im sure you guys already know... )

Fartface: DVDBeaver was saying that several of the Criterion prints are inferior to other releases so you are rite..... So it boils down to the wealth of "academic" commentaries and the ilk. But bugger, i like the ilk.

BassDude: Yep, thats the path im taking. Slowly choosing the ones i like(but what the hey i haven't seen any other than ROPE-- and how wonderful that was!)

Johnny: Good point. Spoken like a true DVD afficionado! I'm really wondering how the MGM boxset look. What films are being releases in that boxset again? I dont suppose they have BETTER prints or similar Criterion-like extras, do they?


1. ANY NEWS OF FUTURE RELEASES???

2. Need recommendations for your top 5 Hitchcocks!

Goody goody for you (as Sinatra would croon). We all like some academic critical analysis in commentaries. The complaint about the commentary on the Criterion Notorious release refers to the "monotone" and "reading" aspects of the delivery. If you prefer monotone over inflected speech and prefer someone reading notes instead of talking to the viewer, then that's fine, but most folks interested in films, I would wager, would prefer the inverse (i.e., inflected speech and at least a smidgeon of interest or passion in the subject she's commenting on); and potential buyers should be aware of that before letting the $40 out of their hands, so they can make their own decision. Personally, I think the DVD is worth it, but it could have been better, much better.

MGM Box: The Lady Vanishes, Notorious, The Paradine Case, Rebecca, Sabotage, Spellbound, Young and Innocent, The 39 Steps.

No word yet on the prints being used or the extras that will be available. That said, I wouldn't hold my breath expecting great extras from MGM on their catalog titles. Hitchcock or not... Could be wrong though.

1. Lifeboat is due soon. After that (and the re-releases of Paradine, Sabotage and Young and Innocent in the MGM box) the Hitch on DVD catalog will be mostly complete.

2a. Hard to do... North By Northwest, Vertigo, Notorious, Psycho and Strangers on a Train are possibly my very favorite Hitch films (but, as stated above, Vertigo and Psycho are NOT anamorphic in R1, so that takes away from the DVD quality IMHO).

2b. That said, I'm also quite fond of Dial M For Murder, The Man Who Knew Too Much (56'), Rear Window, Saboteur, Rope, The Trouble With Harry, Spellbound, To Catch a Thief, The Birds, Foreign Correspodent... Like I say, I currently own 25 of Hitch's films on DVD and I like em' all, each and every one!