The Criterion Collection

[ClassyCo]

What's the fuss all about? Honestly, I can't explain it myself, but I have been collecting movies released through the Criterion Collection for a few years now. Every once in a while I simply Google "Criterion Collection Classic Hollywood", just to see what old movies are being released through the label. I have an entire list of classic films released as a Criterion Collection DVD or Blu-ray on Amazon.

Here are just a few I can think of that I already on as either a Criterion DVD or Blu-ray:

*THE GIRL CAN'T HELP IT (1956)
*SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
*THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987)
*SHOW BOAT (1936)
*IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD (1963)
*MY DARLING CLEMENTINE (1946)
*ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
*SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS (1957)

And others I can't think of right off without digging through my collection.

Just this week, I bought:

*THE PALM BEACH STORY (1942)
*I MARRIED A WITCH (1942)

Anyone else have any in their collection?

 

[Willie Oleson]

I have

Stagecoach
The Devil & Daniel Webster
The Magnificent Ambersons
Rebecca
Notorious
The Browning Version
Hiroshima Mon Amour
The Innocents
Carnival Of Souls
Repulsion
Cul-De-Sac
The Damned (starring Peter De Vilbis)
Women In Love
The Honeymoon Killers
Death In Venice
Picnic At Hanging Rock
Down By Law
Twin Peaks - Fire Walk With Me
Happiness

I don't collect them specifically for the label, and if I can find an equally recent-ish copy in Europe (say, Studiocanal or BFI) then I'd rather buy that one.

I'm still looking for 3 Women (1977) which is out of print and marketplace sellers are very aware of that and price the DVD accordingly (like, 70 or 80 dollars).

 

[ClassyCo]

I can add two more to my Criterion Collection that my mother-in-law bought me for Christmas.

 

[ClassyCo]

I Married a Witch | 1942 | B&W | 77 minutes

So, my wife and baby girl have taken off for a few days, and I decided to watch I MARRIED A WITCH (1942) last night for the very first time. I had a vague idea what this movie was about before getting it for Christmas this year, and word-of-mouth seemed relatively positive.

I don't want to spoil the plot (just in case there's anyone reading that doesn't want spoilers), so I'll just talk about what I liked and didn't like about the movie, the performances, the story, the comedy, etc.

Contrary to what I've written here before, after watching I MARRIED A WITCH last night, I don't believe I've ever seen Veronica Lake in a movie. I must've misremembered another actress as being her, and that's my mistake. I found her to be aloof, a little standoffish, and there is an undercurrent, a vibe to her that just doesn't pull me in. She was pretty, and her hair is cute, but as of right now, I am not a fan, and I have no intention on seeking out more of her films.

Fredic March is a sturdy leading man, but as with Lake, I still can't say I'm a fan as of his right now.

For me, the standout performances were Susan Hayward, in a rather archetypical role as a snotty society girl, and Cecil Kellaway as Lake's father. I know Hayward was quite new at the time, but she might've made a better leading woman here than Lake. I certainly like Hayward better than Lake, and Kellaway was funny all the way through --- even when it's just his voice you hear.

That's my biggest complaint about I MARRIED A WITCH .... I just didn't find it very funny. For a movie I've heard hyped as a comedy, and a screwball comedy specifically, I found most of the humor to fall flat and miss the mark. It's similar to 1958's BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE --- it's just not very funny, either.

Had the movie been funnier and had different leads, this would've played better for me.

6/10 --- Mostly because of Cecil Kellaway and the good B&W cinematography.