[Edit: I fixed the HTML so this post should display properly in feed readers, and the pop-up Thai info should work in Internet Explorer now, too.]
It's not easy to be a Thai film buff, even if you speak the language. Unlike Wise Kwai, I don't think I qualify yet. In fact, I paid little attention to Thai movies until last year. Though I owned a number of movies--Fan Chan, Last Life in the Universe, Suriyothai, etc--I generally held a dim view of the local cinematic offerings. I still think there's too much formulaic garbage in theaters, but then the same is true in Hollywood. So this past year or so I've been trying to ground myself better in Thai film, and give it a fair shot. There's plenty more good stuff out there than I used to know about.
One of the main problems is that older Thai movies are poorly preserved and often only available in low quality transfers (think VCDs made from videotapes). And even the ones that are available can be hard to find.
So I started studying up on what movies are actually available. There's a lot out there on VCD, but relatively little on DVD. The pre-1990 titles available on DVD tend to be recognized "classics", so that's what I've focused on.
For these titles, I've transliterated (and sometimes translated) the Thai titles in square brackets. If there is a known English title of the film (which usually isn't a translation of the Thai), I've given it in parentheses.
I thought a lot about how to present names, too, and decided to give the English (using spellings on IMDb and English Wikipedia wherever possible). But if you hover your mouse over a given name, the Thai will pop up. Or hover over the beginning of the line to see the Thai for that whole line (this works for info on actors, directors, and premieres).
I compiled the information from Amorn Movie, Boomerang, and the user forum of the Thai Film Foundation. I've included several covers for illustration, but they're just kind of randomly scattered. Finally, I found conflicting info about DVD release dates, so I just used the data from Amorn Movie--I don't vouch for it.
The following is a listing of DVD offerings of the company พันธมิตร (Phanthamitr). There are actually two series of Phanthamitr movies. The first was the shortly lived คิดถึงหนังไทย Missing Thai Movies series, which only has three installments:
1. อินทรีทอง [Insee Thong--The Golden Eagle]
Premiere: 12 November 1970
Director: Mitr Chaibancha
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Petchara Chaowarat, Kanchit Kwanpracha
DVD Released: 15 July 05 (English subtitles)
2. โทน [Tone]
Premiere: August 1970
Director: Piak Poster
Starring: Chaiya Suriyan, Aranya Namwong, Sayan Jintarawibun, Jaruwan Panyophat, Sangthong Sisai
DVD Released: 21 October 05 (English subtitles)
3. ชุมแพ [Chumpae]
Premiere: 26 June 1976
Director: Jaran Phromransee
Starring: Sombat Metanee, Nat Puvanai, Piyamas Monyakul, Tanyarat Lohanan
DVD Released: 21 October 05 (English subtitles)
The second and ongoing DVD series from Phanthamitr is distributed by XxX or ทริปเปิ้ลเอ็กซ์ (Triple X). The series is called Movie in My Heart (Triple X also has a large VCD series with the same name featuring 50+ titles, with some overlap). The DVD series currently has 18 titles. They retail for ฿199, but only the first two have English subtitles.
1. เรือนแพ [Ruean Phae] (The Boat House)
Premiere: 23 December 1961
Director: Prince Phanuphan Yukhol
Starring: Maria Chang, Sor Asanajinda, Chaiya Suriyan, Jinfong
DVD Released: 3 July 07 (English subtitles)
2. ชู้ [Choo--Adulterer]
Premiere: 28 December 1972
Director: Piak Poster
Starring: Manop Aswathep, Krung Srivilai, Wandee Sritrang, Khainapha Jianbutr
DVD Released: 3 July 07 (English subtitles)
3. เสาร์ 5 [Sao Ha]
Premiere: 24 July 1976
Director: Winit Phakdeewichit
Starring: Krung Srivilai, Sorapong Chatree, Pairoj Jaisingha, Nirut Sirichanya
DVD Released: 3 July 07
4. นักเลงป่าสัก [Nak Leng Pa Sak--Teak Forest Gangster]
Premiere: 29 November 1975
Director: Phon Phairot
Starring: Sombat Metanee, Nat Puvanai, Aranya Namwong, Naiyana Chivanand
DVD Released: 3 July 07
5. ไผ่สีทอง [Phai Si Thong--Gold Bamboo]
Premiere: 14 July 1979
Director: Sanyakorn
Starring: Sorapong Chatree, Suphansa Nuangpirom, Nirut Sirichanya
DVD Released: 3 July 07
6. นรกตะรูเตา [Narok Tarutao--Tarutao Hell]
Premiere: 30 January 1976
Director: Ruj Ronapop
Starring: Sombat Metanee, Nat Puvanai, Aranya Namwong, Sirikwan Nantasiri
DVD Released: 3 July 07 (English subtitles)
7. 7 พระกาฬ [Jet Phrakan]
Premiere: 3 February 1967
Director: Charlie Intarawijit
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Man Huapla
DVD Released: 5 October 07
8. จ้าวอินทรี [Jao Insee--The Eagle]
Premiere: 27 December 1963
Director: Dutchanee
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Pisamai Wilaisak
DVD Released: 5 October 07
9. เพชรตัดเพชร [Phet Tat Phet--Diamond Cuts Diamond] (Operation Bangkok)
Premiere: 5 April 1966
Director: Prakob Kaewprasert
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Kecha Plianwithi, Luechai Narunat, Petchara Chaowarat
DVD Released: 5 October 07
10. ทุ่งลุยลาย ชุมแพ ภาค 2 [Thung Luy Lai: Chumphae 2]
Premiere: 7 July 1978
Director: Wisan Santisucha
Starring: Sombat Metanee, Nat Puvanai, Piyamas Monyakul, Tanyarat Lohanan
DVD Released: 5 October 07
11. คมเฉือนคม [Khom Chuean Khom--Blade Against Blade]
Premiere: 13 October 1976
Director: Payung Payakul
Starring: Nat Puvanai, Sombat Metanee, Chaiya Suriyan, Pairoj Jaisingha
DVD Released: 5 October 07
12. สิงห์สั่งป่า [Sing Sang Pa--King of the Forest]
Premiere: 23 September 1978
Director: Chumphorn Thepphithak
Starring: Sombat Metanee, Krung Srivilai, Piyamas Monyakul, Naowarat Yuktanan
DVD Released: 5 October 07
13. จอมโจรมเหศวร [Jom Jone Mahesuan--King of Thieves]
Premiere: 21 August 1970
Director: Anumat Bunnag
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Petchara Chaowarat
DVD Released: 17 November 07
14. พระอภัยมณี [Phra Aphaimanee]
Premiere: 18 March 1966
Director: Rangsri Tasanapayak
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Petchara Chaowarat
DVD Released: 17 November 07
15. อัศวินดาบกายสิทธิ์ [Atsawin Dap Kaiyasit--Knight of the Magic Sword]
Premiere: 4 December 1970
Director: Chun Liak Pin
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Petchara Chaowarat
DVD Released: 17 November 07
16. มนต์รักลูกทุ่ง [Monrak Luk Thung--Country Love Story]
Premiere: 15 May 1970
Director: Rangsi Thatsanaphayak
Starring: Mitr Chaibancha, Petchara Chaowarat, Prachuap Lukgamdi
DVD Released: 19 March 08
17. 2 สิงห์ 2 แผ่นดิน [Song Sing Song Phaendin--Two Lions, Two Lands]
Premiere: 18 August 1972
Director: Chalong Phakdiwichit
Starring: Sombat Metanee, Anoma Palarak, Gao Yuan
DVD Released: 19 March 08
18. เขี้ยวเสือเล็บสิงห์ [Khiaw Suea Lep Sing--Tiger's Fangs, Lion's Claws]
Premiere: 1977
Director: Phayung Phayakun
Starring: Sombat Metanee, Nat Puvanai, Pairoj Jaisingha
DVD Released: 19 March 08
In part 2 I'll cover the DVD offerings of Happy Time.