Mouchette; Allison Anders and Dean Lent’s 1987 film Border
Radio; upgraded editions of Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo and Sanjuro; and producers Richard and Alex Gordon’s four-disc “Monsters and Madmen” box set, which will include The Haunted Strangler, Corridors of Blood, The
Atomic Submarine and First Man into Space.

Film master Kurosawa is obviously the main draw here. Yojimbo and Sanjuro will each feature new, high-definition digital
transfers from restored elements and optional Dolby digital 3.0 soundtracks
(preserving the original Perspecta simulated-stereo effects). Also
included will be audio commentary tracks by film historian and Kurosawa scholar Stephen
Prince, documentaries on the making of the films, theatrical and
teaser trailers, photo galleries and improved English subtitle
translations. Sanjuro will also include a booklet featuring an essay by critic
Michael Sragow, along with anecdotal tidbits from Kurosawa, cast and
crew.

Oddly, though, it’s probably Mouchette and the “Monsters and Madmen” set I’m most looking forward to actually. The Haunted Strangler and Corridors of Blood feature Boris Karloff, while First Man Into Space and The Atomic Submarine sound like atomic age treats. The set includes a clutch of audio commentaries from the Gordons, still photo galleries, new video interviews and an insert booklet featuring new essays by Bruce Eder, Michael Lennick, Maitland McDonagh and a 1984 Fangoria interview with producer John Croydon about Karloff — in short, exactly the sort of edifying
information that makes the DVD format the great film school equalizer. For more information, visit Criterion’s web site by clicking here.