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L'Âge d'or (1930)
L'Âge d'or (1930) poster
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3.6

L'Âge d'or (1930)

Romance, Comedy, Drama • 1h 3m

Overview

The film consists of a series of tightly interlinked vignettes, the most sustained of which details the story of a man and a woman who are passionately in love. Their attempts to consummate their passion are constantly thwarted, by their families, by the Church and bourgeois society in general.

Director: Luis Buñuel

Best English-Friendly Release

BFI Blu-ray or unreleased 4K restoration

Best Video Release

Format

1080p Blu-ray

TSPDT

2026: #169
2025: #167
2024: #166
2023: #161
2022: #161

External Links

Criterion Forum

Review

Picture: 6, Audio: 5, Extras: 7

Length

63 mins

Type

Movie

Alternative Titles

The Golden Age, Age of Gold

Last Updated

6 months ago

Contributors

Best English-Friendly Release

BFI Blu-ray or unreleased 4K restoration

Best Video Release
Format
1080p Blu-ray
TSPDT
2026: #169
2025: #167
2024: #166
2023: #161
2022: #161
Criterion Forum
Review

Picture: 6, Audio: 5, Extras: 7

Length
63 mins
Type
Movie
Alternative Titles
The Golden Age, Age of Gold
Last Updated
6 months ago
Contributors

More from Luis Buñuel

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Belle de Jour poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray uses a newer 4k scan than Criterion Blu-ray or older StudioCanal Blu-ray see https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=4373

Belle de Jour poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray uses a newer 4k scan than Criterion Blu-ray or older StudioCanal Blu-ray see https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=4373

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

US VCI Blu-ray or UK Second Run Blu-ray

Best Video:

US VCI Blu-ray or UK Second Run Blu-ray share the same 4K restoration transfer and look essentially the same see caps

Best Audio:

2001 R2 Films Sans Frontières DVD

Best English-Friendly:

US VCI Blu-ray or UK Second Run Blu-ray

Best Video:

US VCI Blu-ray or UK Second Run Blu-ray share the same 4K restoration transfer and look essentially the same see caps

Best Audio:

2001 R2 Films Sans Frontières DVD

Viridiana poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Radiance Blu-ray / Criterion DVD

Additional Info:

Radiance's audio is ported from the Criterion DVD, see Blah-ray

Viridiana poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Radiance Blu-ray / Criterion DVD

Additional Info:

Radiance's audio is ported from the Criterion DVD, see Blah-ray

Simon of the Desert poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance Blu-ray

The Young and the Damned poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

DVD or unreleased restoration

Best Video:

Japan IVC Blu-ray but not English-friendly

Film Foundation has 4k restoration https://www.film-foundation.org/world-cinema but no EN-friendly release yet

Best English-Friendly:

DVD or unreleased restoration

Best Video:

Japan IVC Blu-ray but not English-friendly

Film Foundation has 4k restoration https://www.film-foundation.org/world-cinema but no EN-friendly release yet

The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal has 4k, good encode, accuracy of the color grading is debatable vs Criterion

Best English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

StudioCanal has 4k, good encode, accuracy of the color grading is debatable vs Criterion

Un Chien Andalou poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray

Nazarin poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate DVD

Nazarin poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate DVD

The Exterminating Angel poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance Blu-ray is new 4K restoration

Best English-Friendly:

Radiance Blu-ray

Best Video:

Radiance Blu-ray is new 4K restoration

The Phantom of Liberty poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion and StudioCanal very similar

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or StudioCanal Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion and StudioCanal very similar

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The Hidden Fortress poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray has excellent master and grade, no DNR and tasteful HDR

Best Audio:

Restored original mono mix: Toho Japan 4K Blu-ray
Unrestored original mono: 2014 BFI Blu-ray

BFI 4K Blu-ray has OG Perspecta (in 5.1 container) and a stereo downmix of it; no original mono.

Additional Info:

The unrestored track on BFI's earlier release appears to be an almost entirely unmanipulated transfer of the original mix. It suffers from a distracting low-frequency hum. The 4K restoration comes with a restored track, which appears to be the same transfer, but which appears to be cleaned up with a moderate amount of noise reduction and some EQ, nicely opening up the high-end, and which is likely to be preferable to most listeners. All earlier releases sound poor.

Perspecta isn't a discrete surround format, instead only relying on manipulating volume and panning of the mono track across L/C/R channels, based on embedded control tones. As such, even the Perspecta track is technically just the mono mix, though the omission of the proper mono on BFI's 4K is still unfortunate.

Get Carter poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 R1 WB DVD (slightly)

Get Carter poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2000 R1 WB DVD (slightly)

High and Low poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW

Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Toho 1993 LaserDisc

BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

France Carlotta > Criterion 4K Blu-ray see caps: https://slow.pics/c/s7AfL3XW

Grain is sharper/clearer on the new Carlotta/Criterion 4K; BFI's grain resolves slightly worse and more so in motion, being a standard Blu-ray; The Toho 4K's grain is softer, probably DNR'd.

Best Audio:

Toho 1993 LaserDisc

BFI Player used to have the same mastering available to stream in 2019.

Jules and Jim poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray has better encode than Criterion

Best Audio:

2001 MK2 DVD

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

BFI Blu-ray has better encode than Criterion

Best Audio:

2001 MK2 DVD

Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2025 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 BFI Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray, a lot better encoding. See caps https://slow.pics/c/DW2jtYxN Criterion seemed to did some additional adjustment to the original grading

Both France Capricci and Japan Blu-ray are worse than Criterion and BFI.

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray largely sounds better, but attentuates away some low-frequency ambient noises. BFI Blu-ray has hum, dropouts, pops, noticable patching and beeping.

Best English-Friendly:

2025 BFI Blu-ray

Best Video:

2025 BFI Blu-ray > Criterion Blu-ray, a lot better encoding. See caps https://slow.pics/c/DW2jtYxN Criterion seemed to did some additional adjustment to the original grading

Both France Capricci and Japan Blu-ray are worse than Criterion and BFI.

Best Audio:

Criterion Blu-ray largely sounds better, but attentuates away some low-frequency ambient noises. BFI Blu-ray has hum, dropouts, pops, noticable patching and beeping.

Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray upcoming
New 4K restoration without Ritrovata color timing

Best Video:

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours. 2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Wicked Vision 4K Blu-ray upcoming
New 4K restoration without Ritrovata color timing

Best Video:

Italy CG Entertainment Blu-ray is 4K resto, but horrible colours. 2019 BFI Blu-ray is the older master but better encode + extra footage than Criterion

Invasion of the Body Snatchers poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

  • Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has frozen grain, sharpening, lots of debris, and handles lesser materials. The supposed non-Superscope version is false advertising. It merely reveals more picture information. 

Best Audio:

1992 Republic Pictures LaserDisc PCM Mono

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc has exclusive commentary. Olive Films Signature Blu-ray and BFI Blu-ray each have exclusive extras. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has exclusive commentary.

Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray or 2018 Olive Films/BFI or 2012 Olive Films/Italy Sinister Films Blu-ray, all three are not ideal.

  • Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has frozen grain, sharpening, lots of debris, and handles lesser materials. The supposed non-Superscope version is false advertising. It merely reveals more picture information. 

Best Audio:

1992 Republic Pictures LaserDisc PCM Mono

Additional Info:

Criterion LaserDisc has exclusive commentary. Olive Films Signature Blu-ray and BFI Blu-ray each have exclusive extras. Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray has exclusive commentary.

The Innocents poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray or maybe 2020 Capelight Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Criterion > BFI & 2012 Capelight, not sure about 2020 Capelight

Best Audio:

2012 Capelight Blu-ray?

The Innocents poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion Blu-ray or maybe 2020 Capelight Blu-ray?

Best Video:

Criterion > BFI & 2012 Capelight, not sure about 2020 Capelight

Best Audio:

2012 Capelight Blu-ray?

Inside Nazi Germany poster
HD Streaming
Best English-Friendly:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

Best Video:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

Best English-Friendly:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

Best Video:

BFI 720p Streaming: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/collection/the-march-of-time no longer available

Unofficial Youtube Streaming

More Romance on Blu-ray

The Rules of the Game poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

The Criterion 4K Blu-ray has marginally better detail and grain structure than ESC 4K Blu-ray

The ESC France 4K Blu-ray is an SDR grade erroneously presented in HDR, but if your player can force the HDR into SDR it looks very good.

Best Audio:

2011 Criterion Blu-ray has the least tampered with audio of the DVD era, but it's possible the 1993 Criterion LaserDisc or the 1998 Japan LaserDisc are preferable.

Kiss Me Kate poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Kiss Me Kate poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

Best Video:

2D version: Warner Archive Blu-ray

3D version: Warner Archive 3D Blu-ray

The Sound of Music poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Atmos is great, a reference quality track. It's a very slight remix (music seems to be from a better source), but it's completely seamless and faithful to the original, better fidelity than anything since the 1994 30th Anniversary Edition LaserDisc.

All DVDs (and 2010 Blu-ray) sound far worse than the 4K Blu-ray/LaserDisc and have various missing sound cues.

What Dreams May Come poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

US end credits song: US Universal Blu-ray

International end credits song: International Universal Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The US uses the end credits score “Beside You” from composer Michael Kamen, while in other markets it is Simply Red “Besides You”.

Best English-Friendly:

Shout! Factory 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

US end credits song: US Universal Blu-ray

International end credits song: International Universal Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The US uses the end credits score “Beside You” from composer Michael Kamen, while in other markets it is Simply Red “Besides You”.

Angel poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4k resto

Best Audio:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray 

Additional Info:

The audio on the Kino Lorber Blu-ray comes from a better source than the various DVDs and the previous HD version on streaming. This audio is relatively untampered with, and is likely the best available source as no laserdisc was ever issued.

Angel poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Best Video:

Kino Lorber 4k resto

Best Audio:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray 

Additional Info:

The audio on the Kino Lorber Blu-ray comes from a better source than the various DVDs and the previous HD version on streaming. This audio is relatively untampered with, and is likely the best available source as no laserdisc was ever issued.

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Hairspray poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Stereo: Criterion 4K Blu-ray

5.1: Warner Bros Blu-ray

Shanghai Express poster
1080p Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

Indicator Blu-ray is slightly sharper than Criterion Blu-ray see DVDBeaver caps

Additional Info:

Indicator Blu-ray has more extras than Criterion Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Indicator Blu-ray

Best Video:

Indicator Blu-ray is slightly sharper than Criterion Blu-ray see DVDBeaver caps

Additional Info:

Indicator Blu-ray has more extras than Criterion Blu-ray

Donovan's Reef poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

Donovan's Reef poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber 4K Blu-ray

L'Atalante poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray with much better encoding than the Gaumont Blu-ray with the same 4K restoration see caps

Criterion Blu-ray uses an older restoration

L'Atalante poster
UHD Blu-ray
Best English-Friendly:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray

Best Video:

Curzon 4K Blu-ray with much better encoding than the Gaumont Blu-ray with the same 4K restoration see caps

Criterion Blu-ray uses an older restoration

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L'Âge d'or (1930) backdrop

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