Five ways to please the film buffs on your list

Did you manage to get a PlayStation 3? Were you lucky enough to win the sprint through Toys “R” Us and snag a Tickle Me Elmo Extreme? Congratulations! You’ve successfully joined the herd. Or flock. Or whatever it is that comprises a multitude of lemmings.

It’s post-Thanksgiving now. Once upon a time, we called it December, but really, Nov. 24 was like the first day of a new month, wasn’t it? You hit the ground running that Black Friday morning, energized by a long, tryptophan-induced snooze the night before.

But if you’ve got a movie-lover on your list, there’s a good chance your shopping is incomplete. Sure, the big box stores are great if you’re trying to get a copy of “Wedding Crashers” or a new five-disc DVD player. But come on – why not try for something more original than the movie you know he’s already seen eight times, or the video components you’re not sure are entirely compatible with her home theater? It’s time to think outside the big box. So here are a few suggestions for a range of holiday gifts for rocking their stockings.

For the cinephile: “Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection.” This is a stunning collection of some of Hitch’s best known movies, including “Psycho,” “Vertigo,” “Rear Window,” “The Trouble with Harry” and 10 others. Most of the films in this set have earned legendary status; the casts read like a Hollywood who’s who of the 1960s: James Stewart, Kim Novak, Grace Kelly, Anthony Perkins, Sean Connery, Tippi Hedren. Bundled with the movies is an additional disc with documentaries on Hitchcock and his craft, along with several opportunities to witness his droll, often macabre sense of humor.

For the film-school wannabe: “The Complete ‘Mr. Arkadin’ – aka ‘Confidential Report.’” “Mr. Arkadin” was a post-war thriller written by, directed by and starring Orson Welles. So furious was producer Louis Dolivet at Welles’ slow editing of the picture that he had the auteur banned from the editing room and had studio editors hack it into something they could send to theaters. Welles disowned the film and never touched it again.

Since then, film scholars have tried repeatedly to re-edit the film to try and discover Welles’ intentions, but no definitive version has been released. The excellent crew at Criterion Collection, however, has put together perhaps the best cut yet. Welles plays Gregory Arkadin, a wealthy amnesiac who hires a small-time smuggler to uncover details of his past against the backdrop of a Europe in ruins. This three-disc set presents two prior versions of “Mr. Arkadin,” interviews with film scholars attempting to “fix” the film, and episodes of the radio drama on which the movie is based. It offers hours of film-geek analysis.

For the obsessive collector: When owning the movie itself isn’t quite enough, it’s time to bring out the big guns, or at least your platinum Visa card, and get your film fan a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Screenused.com specializes in securing props, wardrobe items and crew knickknacks from films and television shows, and these unique items for a tidy profit. Think of it as eBay gone Hollywood. Though you can pick up crew T-shirts and ballcaps for relatively little, the truly thoughtful friend or relative will pony up for some unforgettable swag.

How about the hip and thigh from one of the Terminators used in “Terminator 2”? Just $3,249, and it’s yours. Maybe you’d love to see your husband and toddler dressed up as Dr. Evil and Mini-Me? The silvery slacks and Nehru jackets worn by Mike Myers and Verne Troyer in “Austin Powers in Goldmember” can be yours ... for $9,999. But that’s nothing compared to the site’s crown jewel: a Superman costume worn by Christopher Reeve in “Superman 3.” Your own super man can wear it for a breathtaking $79,999.

For shoppers on a tight budget: “50 Movie Pack: Drive-In Movie Classics.” If the preceding paragraphs caused chest pains, here’s a pick for you, Ms. Penny Pincher. If that Hitchcock collection is the cinematic equivalent of steak and lobster, this bunch of Z-movies is that aerosol cheese stuff squirted onto off-brand saltines. But sometimes really bad can be really good. Just consider some of the titles: “I Wonder Who’s Killing Her Now,” “Invasion of the Bee Girls,” “Mama Dracula” and the favorite of screenwriters everywhere, “Death by Dialogue.” Like the Hitchcock set, this one has plenty of star power: Christopher Lee, Richard Burton, Jennifer Connelly, Louise Fletcher – hey, some of those people won Oscars! This is a must for film buffs who – à la “Mystery Science Theater 3000” – can’t resist the chance to get together with friends and be snarky at the screen.

For the true St. Louisan: A membership to Cinema St. Louis. This is a gift that works two ways. First, it provides always-needed funding to St. Louis’ premier organization for the encouragement and appreciation of movies. Each year it runs the St. Louis International Film Festival, 10 days in November that bring in films (and filmmakers) from around the world to be showcased here. Throughout the year, it sponsors film series, special screenings, seminars and the annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, spotlighting up-and-coming local talent. Second, it provides members with invitations to parties (including a huge Oscar gala) and, as the membership level rises, free passes to movie screenings, film festival tickets and many other perks.

Finally, I always end this column by pairing a great restaurant with my film pick of the month. So it only makes sense to recommend a suitable foodie gift, one that pairs well with any of the suggestions above. The obvious suggestion? Sauce gift certificates! I’m not being nudged to shill here; I got one last year from a relative in Chicago who didn’t even know about this column, and it led to a fabulous night out. They’re accepted at restaurants across the St. Louis region and often come with an added bonus: Chances are good the person you gift might ask you to help him use it.