Then at least please listen to Scorsese's Hoffman commentary before regailing us with another 'review'. Thanks.

Can't say I'm a huge fan of 49th Parallel or A Canterbury Tale, as both are quite limited by their origins as propaganda films, but do check out Black Narcissus, which is my favorite P&P.

Funny how almost everyone has a different favorite.
I'll chime in for I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) as the best P&P.

I wouldn't say that even for "49th", but for "Canterbury"?! Sure, the film has some of its origins in the idea of telling the British (and American) soldiers 'why we fight', but from that beginning, P&P manage to turn the film into something completely different. It's not only a half-mystical celebration of the English countryside, but also a fabulous contemplation on film-, or more generally: image-making. And it's wonderfully human and funny, too.

And yes, Lemmy: IKWIG should not be forgotten, too. or AMOLAD. Honestly, I can't think of any Powell film apart from "Ill met by moonlight" in which I don't find at least something that makes it special. That even goes for obscurities like "Honeymoon" or his three "Espionage" serials. But these are not a first recommendation, of course.

I bought the EAH version which I don't believe comes with commentary. Uhh, sorry?!

Absolutely.
A Canterbury Tale is my favourite P&P, an absolutely magical film.

And I'm already worrying about the 40s listmaking in a year or so because I don't know whether I should put "Canterbury" or "Red Shoes" on #1 for that period. But you can expect me to plaster half of the whole top ten with P&P movies for sure...

I loved this film. It's easily up there with Black Narcissus for me concerning P&P. Of course it looks dark, gorgeous and expressionistic (maybe played a little much with the whiskey bottle business) but what got me were the lived in areas and staging. The first scene in Rice's house where P&P are playing with body language and props, fooling around with the relationship reveal actually made me chuckle (nerd chuckle?) The MoD meeting with the jackhammers, note passing, and sweaty MP is full of tactile impressions, and I feel so "in the room" that when the blackout is called for it startled me.

I haven't gotten to the commentary yet, but the Powell audio interview is GREAT. Powell is old, candid, and usually sounds a little drunk. Complaining of John Davis' being annoying and "bourgeois", admonishing an actress in a deleted scene that she won't be able to "fuck her way to the top" with him, and his love of Clouzot, Chaplin's The Gold Rush, and Dreyer. Gold.

I finally got around to picking this one up off eBay, but my copy didn't come with the booklet. This, of course, irks me. Was the booklet extensive or should I not worry about it and simply enjoy the disc?

Here's the essay in all of it's glory. If I remember correctly it's a good one.

Send an email to "Jon Mulvaney" and Criterion will send you a replacement booklet.

Not likely since it's out of print.

Thanks for the advice. I sent him an email. I'll give it the old college try.

No dice, they are all gone.

I'll learn to cope.

In case you're unable to cope...if the seller didn't disclose that the booklet was missing, I'd say you're entitled to a refund, which you could use to get another (hopefully complete) copy from someone else.

Well, the so-called booklet is just the essay and credits. So, if you've read that you've read the booklet.

This might be in my top 10 all time favorite films as far as favorite films go for me. Does anyone know what has happened to the rights since CC lost them? I own a copy of the CC version but I love it so much I'd like to buy another DVD or Blu copy (if one ever came out). I have nightmares about my CC copy being destroyed somehow.

Amazon still has stock of the CC release. You can get it now for 50% off.