Not much in the way of a comparison hence I have limited the 'versus' frame matches. The stingy, single-layered MGM DVD is non-anamorphic, cropped, has boosted colors and is interlaced.  It sports optional French or Spanish subtitles and only a trailer as a supplement. Let's just forget the MGM shall we?

The progressive Criterion is anamorphic on a dual-layered DVD. It is not pristine sharp but without high end production dollars and with the transfer supervised by director of photography Juan Ruiz Anchia - I expect this is the best we will se it look for a long while. Audio is unremarkable but close, I'll wager, to the way it was produced. Criterion has optional English subtitles. 

The Criterion has some great extras - the Mamet/Ricky Jay commentary is a lot of fun. Not very serious and I suspect Jay was chosen as he is a sharp cookie and, even gently, sparring with the giant intellect of Mamet was a joy to listen to. Ricky Jay reflects on much of his knowledge as a magician and scholar of unusual performance art (Ricky Jay from films like Magnolia (narrator) and The Spanish Prisoner (1997) is actually famous for his astounding ability to throw playing cards, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing a playing card a hundred and ninety feet at ninety miles an hour. From ten paces he can throw a playing card into the flesh of a watermelon). Mamet impresses us with his frequent references to films and directors gone by (quoting many) from Eisenstein to Poverty Row Pictures. There are also video interviews with actors Lindsay Crouse and Joe Mantegna and a short documentary shot on location during the film's preparation and production storyboard detail by David Mamet. Also included are a theatrical trailer and A 30-page liner notes booklet featuring an essay by critic Kent Jones and excerpts from Mamet's introduction to the published screenplay.

Great film - I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it till I watched this Criterion disc (and listened to the commentary). Lindsay Crouse, whom you may remember as the nurse in The Verdict (written by, at one time husband, Mamet) and a brief stint on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (among other things) is just excellent while darting around Mamet's stringent verbal cadence. This is really a special and unusual piece of work. Highly recommended!   

Gary W. Tooze