ADDITION: Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - February 2010: Cinephiles were ecstatic that Criterion included this magnificent title for a spine #. It's a film that frequently leaves me aching.

Criterion's transfer is pictureboxed - with a black border circumventing the frame - marginally limiting the resolution. For a detailed description of picture-boxing see our Kind Heart and Coronets review HERE.

Comparatively the Criterion image is a significant improvement over the hazier, greenish with muddier contrast, and horizontally stretched image of the BAC French release from 2008. The Criterion shows a lot of grain and the improvement is greater than I was expecting. Light scratches are pushed beneath the surface. In motion this looks heavily textured and just grand. Detail is dramatically superior and there is much more information in the frame. I consider this an extremely important release for Criterion and, aside from some minor flickering contrast, my only disappointment is that it didn't make it to Blu-ray from the esteemed distributors. I'm still delighted with this transfer and it will have a revered place in my library.

Audio, like on the BAC, has some weakness but with the film approaching it's 75th year - it is hard to complain. Significant pops, hiss or other distracting deficiencies have been removed or lessened so as not to impinge on the viewing experience. Criterion, as typical, offer removable English subtitles.

Extras on the NTSC disc are excellent although there are only two digital supplements and no commentary. Tomorrow, Yesterday, and Today is a new, 20-minute, video interview featuring filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich discussing the career of Leo McCarey and Make Way for Tomorrow. It wzas recorded specifically for Criterion in Los Angeles, 2009. The other interview has critic/writer Gary Giddins (Warning Shadows: Home Alone With Classic Cinema). He he talks about McCarey’s artistry and the political and social context of the film also for about 20-minutes. Criterion have included a 32-page liner notes booklet featuring new essays by critic Tag Gallagher and filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier, and an excerpt from late film scholar Robin Wood’s 1998 piece “Leo McCarey and ‘Family Values’”.

One Beaver's easiest recommendations - as we gave the nod to the BAC - we surely endorse a purchase of the, superior-on-every-front, Criterion package. My favorite DVD of this early year. Our highest recommendation! 

***

ON THE FRENCH BAC DVD: The image quality is what it is and, as you can judge by the screen captures below, remains quite imperfect. However, to be able to have the film in one's DVD library at all, far outweighs the inferiorities. Looking to be taken from an analog source the transfer (decent bitrate) is both dual-layered and progressive. Contrast is not strong (fluctuates) but black levels have some infrequent depth. The French subtitles are player generated and can be removed on some players. If  not people may re-burn - see HERE. Audio is perhaps even a notch below the video quality but dialogue is audible enough for the film to reach you. The disc is coded for region 2 in the PAL standard.  

The supplements - a 15 minute talk by Bernhard Eisenschitz - is only in French with no subtitle options - but there is a stills gallery.

The DVD is strongly recommended for the depth of emotion the film evokes and it, personally, ranks as one of the best pieces of pure cinema I've seen in years. 

Gary W. Tooze