Berlin Alexanderplatz in November
Water 2-disc SE in October
The Open Road in September
Apartment 1303 in September
The City of Violence in October
Pasolini's Theorem in September
Young Hero of Shaolin II in September
In Search of the Great Beast 666 in September
Hurt in September
Captivity in October
Election 2 and Exiled in October
Shameless launches in October
We Know Where You Live Remix in September
René Laloux double in October
 

The Lady Vanishes from Criterion in November
9 September 2007

There can be few early Hitchcock film that are more fun than the 1938 The Lady Vanishes, a near perfect blend of thriller and character comedy whose lightness of touch must be the envy of filmmakers today (and was certainly absent from the workmanlike by unexceptional 1979 remake). If you've never seen it then I envy you that first viewing pleasure, not least for the joyous pairing of basil Radford and Naughton Wayne as the cricket loving Charters and Caldicott.

Whilst travelling across Europe by train, wealthy young playgirl Iris Henderson (Margaret Lockwood) meets Miss Froy (Dame May Whitty), a kindly old governess who in the course of the journey unexpectedly disappears. When Iris investigates her whereabouts she is perplexed to discover that not only is there no trace of her on the train, but that other passengers who met her now have no recollection of her ever being on board. Determined to prove her version of events is correct, Iris teams up with musician Gilbert Redman (Michael Redgrave) in an attempt to locate Miss Froy before they reach their destination.

Released back in 1998 as part of the Criterion collection, The Lady Vanishes is to be re-released under the same banner as a double-disc set in November with the following features:

  • New, restored high-definition digital transfer;
  • Audio commentary by film historian Bruce Eder;
  • Crook's Tour, a 1941 feature-length Charters and Caldicott adventure, available for the first time on home video, starring Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne reprising their beloved The Lady Vanishes roles;
  • Excerpts from François Truffaut's legendary 1962 audio interview with Alfred Hitchcock;
  • Mystery Train, a new video essay about Hitchcock and The Lady Vanishes by Hitchcock scholar Leonard Leff;
  • Stills gallery of behind-the-scenes photos and promotional art;
  • New essays by critic Geoffrey O'Brien and Hitchcock scholar Charles Barr.

The Lady Vanishes will be release on US DVD by Criterion on 20th November 2007 at the SRP of $39.95.