There doesn't appear to be a lot (or any?) difference in the image quality but feeling somewhat tested I did find one 'more cleansed' frame on the Criterion (see the 7th large capture pairing below - with Enoch Emory - played by Dan Shor.) At my most picky the Criterion skin tones seem a semi-tone truer (UK transfer's are a bit redder) and in motion it's, almost imperceptivity, smoother. Both are dual-layered, progressive and anamorphic (the Second Sight disc even starts with the Janus Films logo) but for those sensitive to it - the UK disc has PAL speedup that I could only identify in - the minor part of - John Huston's distinctive voice. I think I 'got' the exact frames on most captures below and I don't see huge differences in what's in the frame. While, if pushed, I'll go with the Criterion - both transfers are strong and you'd have to have a heck of a system to notice differences beyond the PAL speedup.

Audio-wise I'll also go Criterion's mono track - very marginally superior - over the PAL disc's 2.0 channel. Again though - only fairly sensitive ears will distinguish in normal viewing and Criterion offers optional English subtitles where the Second Sight have none.

Extras have less exacting parity than the transfers. While Second Sight offer four new interviews - lead Brad Dourif, writer Benedict Fitzgerald, writer-producer Michael Fitzgerald and actress Amy Wright - Criterion repeat but lose the last segment - the gal who played Sabbath Lily - and shorten the others by a total of 15-minutes (notably précised is the one with writer Benedict Fitzgerald). Criterion add a rare archival audio recording of author Flannery O’Connor reading her short story “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”, a 2.5 minute theatrical trailer and a wonderful bonus of the 1982 television program Creativity with Bill Moyers, featuring John Huston discussing his life and work in three parts (God, Ego, Hollywood) - for about 25 minutes. This is especially appealing to fans of the director. Criterion wouldn't be complete as the label we love without some liner notes - in this instance a 14-page booklet featuring photos and an essay by author Francine Prose.

The Criterion is the expected winner but, unfortunately, everything on the mudball seems to relate to price and the Second Sight is £11.98 GBP = $17.7187 USD and the Criterion is $29.99 USD - at this writing. Individuals should judge for themselves - especially accounting for shipping dependant on your geographic location. The film is surprising faithful to Flannery O'Connor's, hard to explain, story and I consider it somewhat of a masterpiece. Whichever way you lean - it's important to see Huston's film - one you won't be forgetting soon. Both editions are recommended but the Criterion wins on every level (transfer - video and audio - package, cover, menus and extras).   

Gary W. Tooze