Released as part of the Orphic Trilogy box set, Jean Cocteau's visually dazzling and trend-setting update of the Orpheus myth deservedly becomes a part of the Criterion Collection. The movie's audio and visual tracks have been superbly digitally remastered, making Nicolas Hayer's sumptuous camera work all the more impressive. (Keep in mind that the movie was made in 1950, before the adoption of widescreen aspect ratios so the picture naturally conforms to the dimensions of standard television sets). The disc also features a new English translation of the subtitles and the good people at Criterion have thoughtfully dealt with them so that they neither obscure the images nor get lost in the screen (which is common in black and white movies). The disc also features a short essay by Cocteau on the movie (there are more DVD extras on the two other discs in the box set). This movie is a must for film libraries and hopefully the Criterion Collection will soon feature Orpheus as a stand-alone disc outside of the Orphic Trilogy box set. Fans of the 1980s rock band the Smiths will recognize the image on the DVD cover (which is taken from a still from the movie) as the cover of the single "This Charming Man."