Thanks for some interesting recommendations. Of course i agree about the 2 Mizoguchi you mentioned. Tales of the Taira Clan is greatly underrated; the colours are like jewels, the compositions masterful as ever, there's a lovely little romance, and the scene with the monks' torchlit procession through the forest is (for me) like a dream or some vague childhood memory. I only wish Chikamatsu Monogatari were available on video so i could see it again at leisure.

I'll look out for the Oshima and Ivens films. Day of Wrath has grown on me too, and good to see Barry Lyndon's improved reputation (it's in far more critics' top 10's these days, i've noticed). 