1953; 1954 in the USA; Criterion, unrated

Though the old laserdisc was plagued by one of the few shopworn prints in Criterion's canon, this handsome rendering honors the film that critic Andrew Sarris has called the greatest ever.

Back story:

After countess Danielle Darrieux sells husband Charles Boyer's gift jewelry, a narratively symmetrical masterpiece of marital duplicity and heartbreak gets complicated. The justifiably legendary eye of director Max Ophuls always knows where our eyes want to go in a movie that improves as one attains the wisdom of age or romantic disillusionment.

Extras, extras:

Many, but take special note of a glossy, 76-page booklet containing the source novella.

2008, Fox, PG

No, no, not Frank Sinatra and Doris Day in "Young at Heart," with Frank's No. 2 Billboard smash title tune. Here's a different brand of tune-smithing entirely.

Back story:

We begin by fearing the sentimental worst: a musical chorus of seniors (one 92) taking cracks at covering, in rehearsals and on stage, Sonic Youth, The Ramones and (now, this one seems appropriate) David Bowie's "Golden Years." But thanks to a couple of incidents that are shattering in real life but gold to a documentary filmmaker, the story kicks into much higher gear in the second hour, becoming a poignant portrait of life's home stretch. Bob Cilman, the group's younger director, doesn't flinch from pushing its members, who respond fully.

Extras, extras:

Featurettes, deleted scenes and music videos. Did someone say "Stayin' Alive"?