The Movie: This the 1968 movie starring Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway, on which the 1999 version was based. Since I saw the 1999 version first, I guess I'll be making my comparisons in reverse. The basic structure of the story is the same, and while some details were quite similar, other details were quite different.

I'll just come straight out and say that the remake was better in many ways. I was shocked when I discovered that in this version, Thomas Crown used accomplices to steal money, instead of working alone to steal a valuable painting. It really did leave me wondering why a rich man would steal money. It just doesn't make sense. And it was so much cooler when he worked alone.

There were a few scenes in the new movie that were lifted almost directly out of the old one, but in every case, the writing was much smarter and more dramatic in the newer version. So, I'll say again, the newer version is better.

Although Faye Dunaway did not run around topless (as Rene Russo does in the new version), I gotta say, she was pretty hot in this movie, and in some ways, was sexier than Rene Russo was in the new version (while revealing a lot less skin). Steve McQueen, on the other hand, was not as effective as Pierce Brosnan was in the new version.

One very cool thing about this original version was the music. I was kind of surprised (though I guess I really shouldn't have been) that the song "Windmills of your Mind", which Sting sang for the soundtrack for the new version of the film was the theme song for the original version. Also, it was kind of weird seeing classic Ferraris (and other exotic cars) except they were not classic, they were new. Haha. Also, I enjoyed the multi-screen sections that appeared sporadically through the film... and I'm sure the technique was high technology at the time.

Overall, I wouldn't really recommend this movie to someone though. I really do believe the new version is better.

The DVD: The disc was dual-sided, with the widescreen version on one side, and pan and scan on the other side. I was curious how the pan and scan version would treat the multi-screen sections (since they take up the whole width in the widescreen format), but as it turns out, for those sections, the pan and scan version switches to a letterboxed format. So can safely say that by watching the pan and scan you probably won't miss too much.

The picture quality however, left a lot to be desired. It was full of spots and specks which flickered on more or less continuously through the movie. The situation did however, improve as the movie went on.

The audio was in mono, and about the same quality as most of the DVD's of other movies from this era. As far as special features go, you get the standard theatrical trailer and director's commentary.