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Nanook of the North (1922)
Nanook of the North (1922) poster

Nanook of the North (1922)

Documentary, Drama • 1h 19m

Director: Robert Flaherty

Cast: Allakariallak, Alice Nevalinga, Cunayou, Allegoo, Allee

Best video & English-friendly release

Updated 1 year ago


About the film

This pioneering documentary film depicts the lives of the indigenous Inuit people of Canada's northern Quebec region. Although the production contains some fictional elements, it vividly shows how its resourceful subjects survive in such a harsh climate, revealing how they construct their igloo homes and find food by hunting and fishing. The film also captures the beautiful, if unforgiving, frozen landscape of the Great White North, far removed from conventional civilization.

Featured Lists
National Film Registry

Year of Induction: 1989

TSPDT
2026: #316
2025: #316
2024: #305
2023: #304
2022: #304

Featured in National Film Registry

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Director: Victor Sjöström

Best Video & English-Friendly:

Flicker Alley Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Blu-ray with a new score composed and performed by Matti Bye

Director: Victor Sjöström

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Blu-ray 

  • New 4K digital restoration of the 1928 theatrical-release version, preserved and digitally restored by the MoMA, with original soundtrack

  • New 2K digital restoration of the 1983 variable-frame-rate version, with a score by Carl Davis

Director: Leo McCarey

Best Video & English-Friendly:

2012 MoC Blu-ray or Elephant Films France Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Blu-ray with new 4K restoration

Video Notes:

They are using the same very old HD transfer.

Directors: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

4K · Excellent
Best Video & English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Director: Philip Kaufman

4K · Excellent
Best Video, Audio & English-Friendly:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray is a significant upgrade over previous WB Blu-ray see comparison

Audio Notes:

Criterion for the first time on home video have provided the 70mm 6-track as well as the Dolby stereo which was previously on LaserDisc. Both tracks are unique so included both with the 6-track default. Criterion’s 5.1 remix is lossless compared to the lossy tracks of the previous blu-rays and DVDs.

See comparison

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Best Video & English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Additional Info:

New restoration to be shown at TCM Film Fest

Director: Joel Coen

4K · Excellent
Best Video & English-Friendly:

UK Arrow 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Shout is still very good but Arrow has the edge due to better handling of highlights and less chroma noise, comparison

Best Audio:

All the same

Director: John G. Avildsen

4K · Excellent
Best Video & English-Friendly:

Sony boxset or 2024 VHS packaging 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Sony boxsets or 2024 VHS packaging has Dolby Vision, 2019 Sony 4K Blu-ray is HDR10 only.

Best Audio:

Original Stereo mix: Columbia Pictures LaserDisc, Sony 4K Blu-ray (any) 

5.1 remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray, Sony Blu-ray 

Dolby Atmos remix: Sony 4K Blu-ray (any)

Directors: Ernest B. Schoedsack & Merian C. Cooper

Best Video & English-Friendly:

WB Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Warner Bros 4K Blu-ray

Director: Mike Nichols

4K · Solid
Best Video & English-Friendly:

StudioCanal 4K Blu-ray

Video Notes:

StudioCanal 4K caps.Criterion Blu-ray better encode than StudioCanal Blu-ray.

Best Audio:

1987 Criterion LaserDisc

More from Robert Flaherty

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Directors: Robert Flaherty & Frances H. Flaherty

Best Video & English-Friendly:

Kino Lorber Blu-ray

More from Flicker Alley

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Director: Ernst Lubitsch

Best Video & English-Friendly:

Flicker Alley DVD

Director: Marcel L'Herbier

Best English-Friendly:

Flicker Alley Blu-ray

Video Notes:

Same 4K restoration but no comparison available

Director: Frank Urson

Best English-Friendly:

Older Restoration: Flicker Alley Blu-ray

2026 Restoration: YouTube 4K Streaming

Best Video:

Older Restoration: Lobster Films DVD

2026 Restoration: YouTube 4K Streaming

Video Notes:

Older Restoration: Lobster Films DVD > Flicker Alley Blu-ray (Flicker Alley Blu-ray/DVD has every 25th PAL frame deleted)

Director: Lewis Milestone

Best Video & English-Friendly:

Flicker Alley Blu-ray

Video Notes:

2K scan of a surviving 35mm safety fine grain provided by the Academy Film Archive

Director: Lewis Milestone

Best Video & English-Friendly:

Flicker Alley Blu-ray

Director: Erich von Stroheim

Best English-Friendly:

Flicker Alley Blu-ray

Best Video:

Flicker Alley Blu-ray new 4K restoration

Director: Harry O. Hoyt

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Upcoming Flicker Alley Blu-ray Focus on Clara Bow according to their calendar

Director: Herbert Brenon

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Upcoming Flicker Alley Blu-ray Focus on Clara Bow according to their calendar

Director: James P. Hogan

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Flicker Alley Blu-ray Focus on Clara Bow according to their calendar

Director: Raoul Walsh

Best Video & English-Friendly:

Flicker Alley DVD

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· last reviewed 1 year ago

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