For classic and foreign film, nothing beats Criterion

When I was a college undergraduate, there were only a few ways to see classic and foreign films.

I lived in San Diego at the time, and I would regularly attend La Jolla’s Unicorn Theatre . It was there that I saw the work of such foreign masters as Akira Kurosawa, Ingmar Bergman and Michelangelo Antonioni.

My only other option was to look out for special screening opportunities offered by the area’s colleges and universities. The first time I ever saw “Citizen Kane,” for example was at a special event at San Diego State.

These days, however, you can see pretty much anything online. And for those interested in the very best of classic and foreign films, it’s hard to beat the Criterion Channel .

In September, for example, Criterion is keying on the following:

James Wong Howe , the cinematographer of such films as “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Sweet Smell of Success,” “Hud” and “Funny Lady.”

Romy Schneider , the German actress and star of such films as “La Piscine,” “That Most Important Thing: Love” and “Inferno.”

The British New Wave , that collection of films of the 1950s and ’60s that keyed on working-class experiences and featured the emergence both of filmmakers such as Tony Richardson, Karel Reisz and Lindsay Anderson and of actors such as Albert Finney, Tom Courtenay and Julie Christie. Examples: “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning,” “Billy Liar” and “Darling.”

Carlos Saura , the Spanish filmmaker and author of such films as “The Garden of Delights,” “Cousin Angelica” and “Cria Cuervos …”

All this and more is available through the Criterion Channel’s subscription service. Following a free two-week trial, the service costs $99.99 a year (or $10.99 a month ).

Yeah, that sounds a bit pricey, especially in this era of rising prices. But it’s actually a deal for those movie fans who want access to some of the greatest cinema ever made.

And below, I’ve embedded a YouTube video that explains how the crew at Criterion is able to make old films feel new. Enjoy.