Todd Haynes's Closet Picks

The writer and director of Safe, Carol, and May December describes the influence that Brief Encounter and Beau travail have had on his work, praises classic Douglas Sirk movies as “the most perfect films ever made,” and gives a shout-out to the late Terence Davies and his friend Kelly Reichardt.
Shop Todd's Picks: www.criterion....

[@matt8797]

one of those closet pick videos that i wish never ended. i just adore todd haynes and his films so much and his passion for movies is so infectious. i could hear him talk for hours

[@kingcyborg]

Todd Hayes getting a little choked up talking about Brief Encounter: He’s just like me FR

[@briansmith2163]

Wow great pics. He clearly had a copy of Romero's Night of the Living Dead in his stack, though not mentioned. Bravo.(at 5:01 facing camera)

[@rics1883]

Carol is without a doubt one of the best romantic movies ever, Blanchett is phenomenal in it.

[@irvingwashington8638]

Yesterday I watched "May December" in my local cinema. I strongly recommend. 👍

[@davidhollingsworth4665]

He is definitely one of the greatest filmmakers working today! I just adore Haynes and his passion for movies. I could listen to him forever.

[@Erasureeraser]

It's baffling to me that he NEVER recieved a Best Director nomination so far. He's a flippin genius

[@65g4]

​@@Erasureeraseroh dont even get me started on his Carol snub

[@mark-shane]

No he's not. 3rd rate movies

[@davidhollingsworth4665]

@@mark-shane you have your opinions, we have ours.

[@HBICTiff]

Safe is one of the most horrifying films ever made and I feel like it’s not even trying to be. Pure subtlety and atmosphere. Brilliant.

[@fanorama1]

so scary

[@smknny]

Explain please. I too think it’s brilliant, but I don’t understand the horrifying reference.

[@madonnasponytail]

Also eerily prescient!

[@fanorama1]

we are all becoming allergic to life@@madonnasponytail

[@JohnSmith-wi4xo]

@@smknnyI think it’s because Safe encapsulates and captures that feeling of feeling like a stranger in familiar surroundings, feeling unsafe and imperfect when everything around you is safe and perfect (i.e. the suburbs). The party scene, for instance, is a great example of this: while everyone around her is having fun and celebrating, she’s suffering in silence, literally in the corner, mostly unseen, until she has a literal breakdown. I think if you can relate to it, even just in terms of loneliness and isolation, it really resonates. I’m not sure if I’d go as far as to call it “horrifying” like the OP did, but I’d definitely call it unsettling.

[@shelleydiamond6468]

Brief Encounter is exquisite

[@musikafossora]

yes !!!

[@InsertCleverNameHere0]

Big fan of Todd Haynes, I'd love to see I'm Not There get a Criterion release someday, that movie is a stunning portrait of one of the most complex artists of our time.

[@johnm.withersiv4352]

Agreed. It should.

[@keybistro4525]

safe has one

[@sclogse1]

Night Of The Hunter has the theatrical quality that Welles introduced into Kane. Real storybook styling. Look for a book on the making of it, as it has interviews of the makers blended in a superior fashion, and also has the author of the book, Davis Grubb, speaking of it. Easily my favorite film book, and baby, I've read 'em all, from Sternberg to Wellman to Kurosawa to Madden. The title is Heaven And Hell To Play With. Laughton died before the book came out.

[@Lisa-qt4hh]

Thank you for the tip!!! 🙂

[@EazyJakeOven]

You know we have a real one when they use the step stool.

[@millsykooksy4863]

I love Safe, phenomenal film

[@phimseto]

I love that he is hardly taking any because he already has them. A true man of culture.

[@eily_b]

Velvet Goldmine is one of my top 5 music movies. ❤

[@90defaz]

Brilliant taste. Brilliant director.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

BRD Trilogy! Definitely one of the great Criterion releases. And In A Lonely Place, my personal favorite Nic Ray film. One of the all-time great film noirs. _All_ great selections, of course.

[@supertrouper2550]

"Brief Encounter" amazing. "Carol" amazing. Hopefully, Criterion will put out an edition of "Carol" with all the behind the scenes extras you see on KZbin, plus the cut scenes. Great selection and great taste, Todd!

[@tothelighthouse9843]

In my dreams I get an ALL DIRK BOGARDE film marathon/lost weekend with Todd Haynes. Not the naked kind, just the great films/alcohol/conversation kind. Far From Heaven, Velvet Goldmine & Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story are all absolute gems. Like their creator.

[@islembenzegouta]

Great picks from a great director. We need to learn more from you Todd 🧡

[@fratan12345]

I fuckin love that the non greediness of Tom! He just loves movies so much and the ones he already have back to the shelf!

[@PeruvianTreeProductions]

Great choices. Some lovely British picks in there too :)

[@henn863]

Far From Heaven is a masterpiece! Todd Haynes is a master film-maker.

[@reaganwiles_art]

TBT of Petra Von Kant is a movie worth re-seeing. Almost hieroglyphic. Hermetically sealed away in its own aesthetic....

[@excelsiormoviereviews]

I don’t think that I’ve ever seen anyone cover so many films and with that much variety. Night of the Living Dead was in his hand and didn’t need to be be mentioned as it is a classic.

[@BaronBirchum]

These are my favourite ones. The ones that just feel like a film nerd going through a closet of movies. So beautiful unstructured.

[@KT12191]

When someone asks me what a perfect movie is Safe is one of the first that come to mind. Underrated masterpiece

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

I watch all of these. But I never really comment. I just have to point out how wonderful and amazing and inspiring it is. Seeing Todd fervently with unbridled joy and enthusiasm, pick. Gem after gem. It’s like you can tell if these were precious stones, the joy of seeing and remembering and displaying to let’s say it’s a partnership, with us and he’ is the less greediest of anyone... PERIOD. thx Todd Bravo Criterion… 👏🏽 🏆 🫱🏽‍🫲🏻

[@Bonn1770]

Going to watch In a Lonely Place tonight, love Bogart!

[@bliss66]

This video needs a LOVE button.

[@johnm.withersiv4352]

I would feel overwhelmed by the closet too. I would love the opportunity. Heck, I'd like to build a Peacock closet if they released more of their original content on DVD.

[@DJGamingSmash]

Fucking love Todd's work. My favorites so far are Poison and Velvet Goldmine. His picks were excellent too.

[@nicklager1666]

Safe is such a masterpiece. Probably my favorite horror movie together with Spoorloss

[@robm6252]

Grossly underrated. One of the creepiest movies ever with a near constant level of anxiety and foreboding.

[@NewtShack5]

We need more Todd Haynes films in the collection.

[@keithkoenig5320]

Do we??

[@PoetryJesusY2K]

@@keithkoenig5320 uhhhhh yeah we do

[@NewtShack5]

@@keithkoenig5320 I already answered that question in my original comment.

[@buried4430]

We need Far from Heaven and Poison in the collection, asap!

[@Cinemactik]

Please give us a Criterion edition of Velvet Goldmine 💜⚡

[@denisefreitas6727]

I loved his picks! Great director!

[@pova-lr6nx]

Todd is such a great filmmaker, one of the best American directors if you ask me. Safe is an all-timer

[@keithkoenig5320]

As another Cinephile, I disagree wholeheartedly. I have seen most of Haynes films waiting for one that lives up to the hype and doesn't bore me to extremes. I am still waiting...😒

[@pova-lr6nx]

@@keithkoenig5320 well, even if you don't enjoy his movies, you cant deny his ability as a director and his impact on several genres (especially queer cinema and modern-day melodramas). Different strokes, it is what it is...

[@Erasureeraser]

After seeing May December, I'm conflicted whether it's Safe or May December as being Haynes' best movie

[@TaylorBrinkley-ei1ut]

Just watched May December. Great film.

[@thepalaceworm]

Thank You Sir. If nothing else, simply for "Safe" But Thank You for everything so far. We need "Velvet Goldmine" in there as well. You are definitely a Super Star! HA HA! I JUST NOW MADE THAT UP!

[@gillster3744]

Yes' Totally agree Long over dew.

[@alexstanton83]

We need more Bette Davis films on Criterion

[@twofingersmyfriends3830]

Yes!! I mean, to make the obvious suggestion, Baby Jane would be perfect for the Collection... and in 4K!!

[@alexstanton83]

@@twofingersmyfriends3830 I want The Little Foxes

[@danmoss2080]

Yes! Let’s start with The Man Who Came To Dinner

[@jimmygillard]

I watched Beau Travail for the for the firs time a few months ago. It's phenomenal.

[@82easyrider]

In a Lonely Place was one of the finest movies ever made. Anyone who wonders why Bogie is regarded as one of the greatest actors ever lived would find there answer there.

[@kengruz669]

Yes. He is a natural in that you don't get any self-consciousness, or actoriness in his performance. He doesn't seem to give a hoot as to if he is lovable or hateful as he inhabits his characters. Or if he is good-looking or pretty on screen. He can exude a smile, malevolence, or both. And his characters will provide enough unspoken information that you get a sense of his past even before the exposition kicks in.

[@DHU11]

Beyond the Valley of Dolls 🎯 Roger Ebert script. It’s so outlandish and comical. It makes me happy that Haynes likes it.

[@roncinephile]

There is no way in holy hell fire that Chalamet Dylan movie is gonna be as cool as I'm Not There. One of the coolest movies in existence.

[@rabit818]

I could listen to Todd all day

[@margaretbuckley9309]

Great choices Brief encounter Night of the hunter Well done todd

[@GabrielMartinGeller]

Todd Haynes is one of the greatest modern filmmakers.

[@ablazedark]

You were great in Star Wars!

' Night of the Hunter ' and ' All That Heaven Allows ' and the superb ' In A Lonely Place, ' are among the three greatest films America has given to the world. I remember the Queer Cinema of ' Swoon ' and ' Poison ' and the greatest of them all ' The Living End. ' I have these films. Does Criterion have them. A boxset of Queer Cinema perhaps ?

[@OldMan_PJ]

We need more Russ Meyer on Bluray, if only the estate wasn't holding the films hostage.

[@paulvoorhies8821]

Criterion

[@sclogse1]

That's funny. I started collecting real early girly mags with Meyers work in them. Ages ago. Got a couple first editions of obscure mags. I read the big bio on Russ. You didn't want to be the guy in his films. He was rough on them.

[@paulvoorhies8821]

@@sclogse1 What about the women.

[@arthousecouch]

🤞😫🤞 I'm Not There for the Collection please!!!!

[@seankeef9838]

When are you getting David Fincher in?

[@MrELLaMaLaKa]

He's fascinating in this. Chose a lot of films that I don't believe have been combed through prior...

[@roccocupido5082]

A PERFECT LIST..COULD HAVE BEEN MINE‼️‼️‼️

[@stanleykubrick666]

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls is the greatest film EVER MADE PERIOD!!!!

[@tectorgorch8698]

I really enjoyed this episode. Have only seen a couple of his picks -- but he forgot to praise Trevor Howard: I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter.............

[@juniorgalacto17]

I don't think they meant to include this unlisted in the playlist...

[@tommyt1971]

My favorite Crit collection so far is Godzilla - the idea that they put it in an atlas-sized book still blows my mind.

[@joemadden4160]

Safe is a pretty terrific remake of The Incredible Shrinking Man, right down to the dark cloud that the protagonist drives through, that causes her to shrink from the world that she knows. Subtle, metaphorical and very sad, although the ending, like the original, hints at hope. 👍🏼

[@Majoofi]

So glad he hit the top shelf.

[@blanketthief8886]

I know that this series has been around for a long time but wouldn't it be better if there were shots or short scenes of the films mentioned as it went along? The point, I feel of this would be elevated and more useful. We could see something in what these great artists are so enthusiastic about and venture forth to experience the films ourselves.

[@kengruz669]

Maybe two versions of each visitor's session in the vault. I like the straightforwardness of getting the visitor's picks with their commentary and then them moving on to the next so we get a compact overview of their outlook. There could then be a second, albeit longer cut with brief scenes of each for those unfamiliar or wanting to be reminded of the film's content or feel.

[@blanketthief8886]

I totally agree @@kengruz669

[@shweetify]

man I love the criterion collection, I find some crazy gems from these videos

[@Jahson70]

I would never have known any of these films, except _Night of the Hunter,_ so thank you.

[@georgemaranville3305]

Todd Haynes is my second favorite Todd, just behind Todd Killings.

[@netadav6866]

oh my god I love Todd Haynes so much

[@CodPatrol]

In A Lonely Place is brilliant

[@emmanuelsalazar9424]

Velvet Goldmine in the collection, please and thank you.

[@chateaulobby]

happy birthday todd!

[@larryunderwood4620]

He's holding Night of the Living Dead, I would have loved to hear what he said about it.

[@elichilton7031]

What a perfect way for a director to end their time in the CC by just saying, "cut!"

[@thevoid99]

i need to upgrade "safe" to blu-ray. i love his films. i hope "poison", "far from heaven", "carol", and "i'm not there" goes to criterion.

[@fanorama1]

poison is outstanding

[@ARTCHANIFY]

the man has impeccable taste

[@cscss2923]

Please release the unedited footage of "Todd in the Closet" on KZbin. 🙏

[@moogie242x]

Regarding the Dolls , I think Frank Conniff said it best Valley of the Dolls so bad it’s good Beyond the Valley of the Dolls so good it’s great .

[@wehosrmthink7510]

Roger Ebert wrote the screenplay to Beyond!

[@t_t_i_i]

Dark Waters is underrated. Great film.

[@tonyfarinella]

I’m waiting to see an OCD filmmaker/actor collector in the Criterion Closet examining the condition of the box sets/digibooks and making sure they are in good shape/condition. I’d feel seen 😅

[@andrewvenor8035]

I'd expect the OCD filmmaker would rearrange the films in the closet by spine number.

[@Dreamcatcher9000]

@@andrewvenor8035 I'm an organiser, and one of the troubles I have, is like, I want to list my DVDs according to directors, but then there are franchises like Alien (and I mean the original four Alien movies, not the Prometheus crap) that all of them are made by different directors, and I'm like should I put them all together separately, or according to directors? :p Or, even more extreme, if you're a J.J. Abrams fan and you want to have all his films, but from the last Star Wars trilogy, he directed 2 of the 3 movies, so do you put Episode 7 and 9 in his movies, and Episode 8 separately? Aaaargh! :p

[@107bobaphat]

Well, I'm not a filmmaker but I do have OCD. Which stands for Obsessive (from obsession, the 'thought') Compulsive (the 'action', what you need to do to take away the 'thought') Syndrome. It controls your life, but really has nothing to do with rearranging your books/films. You can for instance have a preoccupation with death, and images of loved ones dying. You need to shake that image, which you do by repeating certain actions. Sorry, but I'm a little tired of everybody on every comment section or forum always talking about their 'little OCD'. It's an illness, and not one with a simple cure or medicin.

[@Dreamcatcher9000]

@@107bobaphatOk, you're right. I had the impression that OCD is like "I want my blue M&Ms separated with the red ones" type of thing, etc.. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Edit: Ok. You confused me. I actually DIDN'T say that getting obsessed with organizing DVDs is OCD! It was the other posters above me that mentioned the term. >:( Edit 2: Oh... You weren't even replying to me... This is getting better and better... :p

[@107bobaphat]

(this time me replying to you:) Thanks anyway for understanding and replying!@@Dreamcatcher9000

[@charold3]

Mostly off beaten path stuff, but expected. Gonna give Fassbender another chance!

[@miseentrope]

Katzelmacher (1969) themes remain current and ever-chilling.

[@isaacmartinez6904]

This man really love the Criterion so much that he bought a handful of movies. And I can’t blame him. After all, it is the Criterion sale.

[@pamposandreou9655]

I wish they could restore Douglas Sirk german films with Zarah Leander

[@tommyt1971]

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD!! Still the best of the Dead series - it blew me away as a teenager and I still love it.

[@LukaszB1997]

Lean! Sirk! Laughton! Davies! Denis! Ray!

[@PhillipOliver]

I have never seen "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" - Criterion Channel, please show it!

[@Eiretraveller]

Thank you, thank you.

[@HuskyProductions585]

Finally!!!!!!!!❤

[@edaycock9405]

He is so freaking cool.

[@spanish2boys]

Amazing picks

[@andreakaiser360]

some years hold a very strong energy: 1950 gave us All about Eve and Sunset Blvd if I am not mistaken

[@julesjma]

SO many folks picked Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. Rather shocked.

[@admiralJONK]

i’m not there in the collection when!!!

[@thesirms]

you completely cut out night of the living dead, stop cutting these down!!

[@margaretbuckley9309]

GREAT PICKS NIGHT OF THE HUNTER NOW VOYAGER BRIEF ENCOUNTER WELL DONE

[@JloveLamar]

Criterion has Imitation of Life, Mr. Haynes. How early do y'all film these??

[@23Skeetoo]

Damn, he nearly picked out the library in toto!

[@reydali511]

Agree with him. That’s definitely the one closet I won’t come out of either.

[@whysoblutube]

He had Night of the Living Dead in the pile and did not comment on it! Or was it selective editing? Or impulse grab? Great clip, though.

[@zoszo19sl]

He was holding Night of the Living Dead tho!! Wanna hear those thoughts too.

[@coldmould]

How are all of his takes so resoundingly correct

[@genefranklin4862]

All That Heaven Allows is an absolute banger.

[@bcm9821]

luv the sirk luv

[@jesse1008]

I cannot wait for Todd’s and Joaquin Phoenix’s collaboration ! Hope that goes through

[@perspicaciouscritic]

5:37 - Clever ending.