Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a picture reproducing and displaying apparatus which displays a compression-encoded picture on a display section. A first memory stores input encoded picture data. A decoding section decodes the input encoded picture data stored in the first memory. A second memory in which one of a first development area whose size larger than that of a display area of a display picture and a second development area whose size smaller than that of the first development area is capable of being set in the second memory. A second memory stores a picture decoded by the decoding section. A display section displays a picture developed in the second memory. A control section controls the decoding section and the second memory according to one of a picture quality priority mode and a speed priority mode.