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Simon of the Desert (1965)
Simon of the Desert (1965) poster

Simon of the Desert (1965)

Simón del desierto

Comedy, Drama • 43m

Director: Luis Buñuel

Cast: Claudio Brook, Silvia Pinal, Hortensia Santoveña, Enrique Álvarez Félix, Francisco Reiguera, Luis Aceves Castañeda, Antonio Bravo, Enrique del Castillo, Enrique García Álvarez, Eduardo MacGregor, Jesús Fernández, Glauber Rocha

Best video release

Updated 9 months ago


About the film

Simon, a deeply religious man living in the 4th century, wants to be nearer to God so he climbs a column. The Devil wants him come down to Earth and is trying to seduce him.

TSPDT
2026: #938
2025: #916
2024: #906
2023: #914
2022: #914

More from Luis Buñuel

See more →

Director: Luis Buñuel

4K · Solid
Best Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Audio:

Radiance Blu-ray / Criterion DVD

Additional Info:

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

Director: Luis Buñuel

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

DVD 

Sources: film-foundation.org (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

Japan IVC Blu-ray

Video Notes:

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

Director: Luis Buñuel

Best Video:

StudioCanal 50th Anniversary Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

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

Director: Luis Buñuel

Best Video:

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

Sources: DVDBeaver (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

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

Director: Luis Buñuel

Best English-Friendly:

BFI Blu-ray or unreleased 4K restoration

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · filmlinc.org (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

4k transfer, no disc https://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2019/films/lage-dor/ 

Director: Luis Buñuel

4K · Solid

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

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

Director: Luis Buñuel

Director: Luis Buñuel

Video format: 1080p Blu-ray

Best English-Friendly:

Lionsgate DVD

Director: Luis Buñuel

Best Video:

Radiance Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

Radiance Blu-ray is new 4K restoration

Director: Luis Buñuel

Best English-Friendly:

Criterion or StudioCanal Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

Criterion and StudioCanal very similar

More from Radiance

See more →

Director: Steve De Jarnatt

Best Video:

2024 Kino Lorber Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

UK Transmission 4K Blu-ray in January 2027

Best Audio:

Either the 2015 Kino Lorber Blu-ray or the Arrow Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

The 2024 Kino Lorber Blu-ray is botched.

Director: Mitra Farahani

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Ebrahim Golestan

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Ebrahim Golestan

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Ebrahim Golestan

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Ebrahim Golestan

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Forugh Farrokhzad

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Ebrahim Golestan

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Ebrahim Golestan

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

Director: Ebrahim Golestan

Best Video:

Radiance Treasures from the Golestan Film Studio Blu-ray

More Comedy on Blu-ray

Director: Mike Cheslik

Best Video & Audio:

UK Blu-ray

Video Notes:

> US Blu-ray

Director: Hal Ashby

4K · Excellent

Director: Tom Holland

4K · Excellent
Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)

Best Audio:

Eureka Blu-ray's stereo or LaserDisc

Audio Notes:

sounds better than the Sony 4K Blu-ray , https://slow.pics/c/pJfES0fl

Additional Info:

Twilight Time has an isolated score

Director: Alan J. Pakula

Best Video:

Olive Films Blu-ray

Director: Frank Oz

Best Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Director: Steve Gordon

Best Video:

WB Blu-ray

Director: Ernst Lubitsch

Video Notes:

4K restoration from Original Camera Negative

Director: Jack Conway

Video Notes:

4K restoration from safety preservation elements

Director: George B. Seitz

Video Notes:

4K restoration from safety preservation elements

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Researched and maintained by

M_Avanshady

· last reviewed 9 months ago

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