ADDITION: Eureka - Masters of Cinema - November 07': In short - both images look fabulous to me. The Criterion has bumped the black levels slightly and it appears to be somewhat  sharper because of it. The biggest difference for many will be the pictureboxing (see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review). NOTE: The Criterion captures below have been put in their own table to indicate the amount of the pictureboxing (indicated by the black border circumventing the edge). Where this may benefit systems that produce overscan (ex. production made cathode ray tubes) - it detracts from systems that do not requite it (ex. HTPC). Other prominent differences:

• The MoC has added a second dual-layered disc with Gion Bayashi (see captures below). It's a fabulous film although the MoC image quality has a few issues of damage and flickering contrast. Very watchable though.

• The Criterion has the Angels commentary. The MoC has the video discussion(s) - one on each disc - by Tony Rayns (BTW, these are excellent at 10 minutes and 30 minutes respectively).

• The Criterion is region 1, the MoC is region 2. Both are NTSC.

Both have wonderful liner notes booklets (see 'Edition Details' above for specifics). I could read these constantly.

Personally, I am happy owning both - MoC's inclusion of Gion Bayashi is somewhat of an essential in my eyes now (this addition is very noteworthy in my mind despite the inconsistencies with the print available). I can't believe I'd never seen it before now. I also appreciate owning Sanshô dayû in a non-pictureboxed transfer. The Criterion commentary is golden so I see no option for me but to own both. Having no English-friendly Sansho the Bailiff on DVD for all these years and then two stellar editions both in 2007 is unthinkable.  

***

We should count ourselves extremely fortunate that a company like Criterion, at the pinnacle of DVD production, are the ones releasing this film digitally, as they did with Ugetsu, to the English-speaking world. This is a film that was not even released in the US until 1969 and it is regarded as one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces. I don't know that it has ever been broadcast on North American television - you would never see this outside a festival retrospective. Many were able to view Sansho the Bailiff by purchasing the VHS and suffering all the limitations of that format. 

The Criterion image exceeds expectations. It is again pictureboxed but many of us incorrectly assumed that because Ugetsu came out first that Sansho, frequently cited as a more lauded Mizoguchi favorite, had elements in worse condition. If they were of lesser quality you wouldn't know it by this Criterion DVD. It has fewer visible scratches than Ugetsu and is quite possibly even sharper. Both exhibit Criterion's pristine contrast. As expected this DVD is progressive, sports optional English subtitles and original Japanese mono audio. Criterion's painstaking digital cleansing, stated on the their website as "Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and scratches were removed using the MTI Digital Restoration System.", makes their restoration a true joy to watch. I only have the VHS to compare to and this DVD is a staggering improvement. 

Supplements include a thoroughly professional audio commentary by Japanese literature professor Jeffrey Angles. He examines the various versions of Sanshô dayû and where Mizoguchi and the writers, Fuji Yahiro and Yoshikata Yoda, took liberties with the original Ogai Mori story. Pretty high-brow stuff but after introducing himself in Japanese, Angles goes on to give an entertaining and informative commentary. There are some short gaps where he lets the narrative flow and times where he himself narrates/explains some less than obvious plot details. In short it is as professional and prepared a commentary as I have heard this year. No one who bothers to listen will be disappointed.

There are three separate video interview featurettes. The first, entitled Performance, is about 10 minutes long with legendary actress Kyoko Kagawa (who, unbelievably, also worked with Kurosawa, Ozu and Naruse) and she relates some of her memories of working with Mizoguchi. The second is called Production, and is 15 minutes long with assistant director Tokuzo Tanaka. It's an exceptional technical overview of Mizoguchi's techniques. The final interview, called Simplicity, almost 25 minutes long with critic/historian Tadao Sato who expands on some of Mizoguchi's themes. All three are excellent.

Finally there is an 80-page book included - it has an essay by scholar Mark Le Fanu, 'The Lessons of Sansho', and two versions of the story on which the film was based--Ogai Mori’s 1915 "Sansho Dayu," in an acclaimed translation by J. Thomas Rimer, and a written form of an earlier oral variation, in a new English translation.

Folks, this is a perfect and complete a DVD as you are ever to likely purchase. A masterpiece of a film, in as pure a form as technically available, with viable and relevant extra features. Criterion continues to raise the bar and this DVD is absolutely essential.

Gary W. Tooze