An image recording and reproducing apparatus and an image recording and reproducing method in which, in an AV server using a so-called G-Shuttle system, the processing required in the high-speed playback mode can be simplified. A corresponding relationship between image groups results from dividing image data of each image unit by a plurality of image groups and groups of a first memory are being cyclically changed at every image unit, the image groups are recorded by the first memory and error-correcting codes of the image groups are generated at every image unit and recorded by a second memory. During normal speed playback, the image groups and the error-correcting codes are reproduced and digital errors of the image groups are corrected. During high-speed playback, the error-correcting codes are not reproduced.