The first Criterion I saw was The Seventh Seal. It was right around the time the director died, just before, I think. I had decided that I needed to conversant in at least one of his films, and I had at least heard of that one. I rented it from a Blockbuster. I was hooked by Crits when I watched the demonstration regarding refurbishing the print. I found that more interesting than the movie!
But in hindsight the first movie I saw that was in the collection was Hard Boiled, in college, it was a VHS. Two Vietnamese students across from the hall from me watched it all the time. The funny this is this: I couldn’t understand a word of it because it wasn’t subtitled in English. It was subtitled in French and Vietnamese, though.
The first Crit I bought was, I think, Branded to Kill.
I freely admit, I’m an addict! I"ve got, I think, 75 or 80 in my collection.
I purchased Carnival of Souls, Haxan and Kwaidan in the same week. I think I watched Carnival of Souls first.
Seduced and Abandoned … Best film ever
The Royal Tennebaums. first one i bought was Breathless.
L’ Avventura
Hard Boiled on laser disc, remember that?
I remember my first three, bought with my first DVD player: Seven Samurai, followed by Robocop and then Silence of the Lambs.
Band of Outsiders. I remember it like it was yesterday.
The Royal Tennebaums. However, at that point in my life I didn’t even know what the Criterion Collection was. Once I really learned about it and researched it, and in some ways became obsessed with it, the first Criterion I got my hands on was Wild Strawberries.
RoboCop on dvd, not sure if I saw any on LD, I think I saw The Game on Criterion LD….
My first was Coup de Torchon, closely followed by Rififi and Bob le Flambeur. Three of the best choices I’ve made so far, and was I ever happy to find The Bank Dick on DVD after not having seen it for 30 years. Purely coincidental all were Criterion title, but what a great introduction to a great brand.
My first was Coup de Torchon, closely followed by Rififi and Bob le Flambeur. Three of the best choices I’ve made so far, and was I ever happy to find The Bank Dick on DVD after not having seen it for 30 years. Purely coincidental all were Criterion title, but what a great introduction to a great brand.
My first was Coup de Torchon, closely followed by Rififi and Bob le Flambeur. Three of the best choices I’ve made so far, and was I ever happy to find The Bank Dick on DVD after not having seen it for 30 years. Purely coincidental all were Criterion title, but what a great introduction to a great brand.
My first was Coup de Torchon, closely followed by Rififi and Bob le Flambeur. Three of the best choices I’ve made so far, and was I ever happy to find The Bank Dick on DVD after not having seen it for 30 years. Purely coincidental all were Criterion title, but what a great introduction to a great brand.
My first was Coup de Torchon, closely followed by Rififi and Bob le Flambeur. Three of the best choices I’ve made so far, and was I ever happy to find The Bank Dick on DVD after not having seen it for 30 years. Purely coincidental all were Criterion title, but what a great introduction to a great brand.
My first Criterion DVD was either 8½ or Yojimbo.
I had a friend who had a laserdisc player, back in ye olden days, so I think it might have been Crimes & Misdemeanors or The Player. He and his girlfriend would buy a laserdisc, and cook a big feast (he’s a phenomenal cook) and invite lots of folks over; it was always an event.
I think it was Seven Samurai, but it was a rental store copy.
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, also before I knew anything about the Criterion Collection
I got my first 3 all at once. It was a 3 for 2 deal a while back and I got 8 1/2, The Seventh Seal, and Seven Samurai. I then went back and got 3 more: Rashomon, The Red Shoes, and La Dolce Vita (not Criterion but still expensive). I then once again went back and got The Last Temptation of Christ, Ace in the Hole, and Young Mr. Lincoln. After the sale was over I got Wild Strawberries on its own. That is how it all started. Now I own about 40 Criterion DVDs plus the John Cassavetes Box Set. I love Criterion (my wallet doesn’t though).
You’re gonna laugh … but it was actually Spartacus!
Like many others, for me it was Seven Samurai, shortly followed by the rest of the Kurosawa canon.
I think that the first I saw was The Royal Tenenbaums, then the first I purchased was The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. But I really didn’t grasp the awesome-ness of Criterion until I purchased my second CC which was M.
I think the first true Criterion film I watched – i.e. one that I was consciously watching as a Criterion film – was “The Rules of the Game” – I had seen The Royal Tenenbaums, The Rock, Armageddon, and a few others before then, but I didn’t watch the criterion version of them.
My first introduction to criterion and classic foreign film was 8 1/2, I bought Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas on criterion then looked the website up and was fascinated by everything I saw, I read practically every synopsis….
1.Seven Samurai.
2. Royal Tenenbaums
3. Ran
4. Rashomon and Kagemusha
then I forget.
I think it was DIABOLIQUES.
The Seventh Seal
It was either Dead Ringers or Sid and Nancy.
Oh wait, now I remember! Carnival of Souls was the very first.
I’ve been hooked ever since!
Joriah Goad
Probably The Seventh Seal of The 400 Blows.