Silent Film on DVD and BD

[Jonathan S]

I don't know why the MovieMail listing (presumably following a Network press release) suggests The Wrecker was "once thought lost". For many decades, copies have been circulating on 16mm, 9.5mm and even 8mm, mostly in complete or nearly complete form, I understand. Indeed, a "home movie version" is one of the extras listed for Network's release (though that's probably the 9.5mm one-reel abridgement). If this edition is taken from 35mm, that might be a new discovery - I'm just speculating.

My late friend Gerald McKee wrote about it in his book A Half-Century of Film Collecting where he praises the extensive location filming and particularly the real crash they staged for the film and allegedly shot with 22 cameras! (Presumably so they could re-use it not only at various points in the movie but in later films too!) Gerald thought the comic sub-plot with Gordon Harker was "tedious", though, and indeed these scenes were edited out in at least one amateur gauge version. I've never seen the film myself, having always been outbid on 8mm prints, probably by those rail enthusiasts!

The Wrecker was originally a stage play by Arnold Ridley (who much later played Private Godfrey in the long-running BBC sitcom Dad's Army). It was the follow-up to his hugely successful The Ghost Train, the 1931 film of which is lost, or only exists in fragments (some of them mute) in its English-language version.

[Tommaso]

According to a post at the German Stummfilmforum (scroll down the page), Divisa has released three more German silents:
Das wandernde Bild (Lang, 1920)
Madame Dubarry (Lubitsch, 1919)
Geheimnisse einer Seele (Pabst, 1926)

All with the original German titles and no English subs, of course, but as the divisa titles normally rather quickly show up in the English-speaking world (the Pabst is already out via Kino, with replaced titles), I'd say it's great news anyway, especially the Lang.

[Knappen]

Tommaso:

Better get back to NFI, who are releasing the greatest thing since Brudeferden these days:



There's even a sample on Youtube.

This took me completely by surprise. Couldn't find any info in English right now, but here are some pictures. Will probably have the DVD by tomorrow.

[Tommaso]

Wonderful, Knappen. Do you know whether this has English subs? Please keep us informed!

Anyway, I couldn't find English info on the disc itself either, but a search around the NFI-site producedthis entry from 2005 which at least describes the film a little:

Raid on the Bergen Express / Bergenstoget plyndret inatt
Uwe Jens Krafft, 1928; 98m - Piano accompaniment by Donald Sosin
A late silent classic, Raid on the Bergen Express combines the breathtaking use of nature with a wry thriller plot. Beginning with a remarkable sequence filmed at the National Ski-Jumping Championships, the film tells the story of an ambitious young man, Tom, who loves Grete, daughter of the manager of the national railroads; but Grete’s father prefers Lund, an upright and uptight army officer. To prove his worth, Tom organizes a daring robbery of the nightly Bergen Express in the hopes of outwitting his rival, who’s been assigned to track down the thieves. There are several delightful plot twists and reversals, and the on-screen chemistry between Aud Richter’s Grete and Paul Richter’s Tom lights up the snow-covered landscapes.

[Knappen]

I would be very surprised if English subs weren't provided. Having translated some silents myself I know that it's only a couple of hours work as long as the title cards are decipherable. Will check asap.

[Hofmeister]

This elision threw me too; language information at the NFI filmbutikken is usually meticulously precise and complete, see for example Markens grøde.

It's doubly irritating because (as is obvious from the cast list) Bergenstoget plyndret inatt a.k.a. Schneeschuhbanditen was a co-production. Is there even a tiny chance that the print might be 'amphibian'? Could the cards be bilingual, Norwegian above and German below?

Looking forward to your findings, Knappen. Will you alert the keepers of the NFI website to this oversight?

[Knappen]

My contact at the NFI doesn't answer his mail or phone today. I'll pick the DVD up tonight or tomorrow, though.

Listen guys, if for some crazy reason there are no English subs on the disc, I'll personally make a translation of the title cards with the right timelines so that you can see the film without any trouble.

Btw, a Rasmus "Brudeferden" Breistein talkie, Ungen, has also been released on DVD lately. This one I can guarantee has English subs.

[Knappen]

My man the Nfi called me up. The disc is both German and English friendly and the 230 page book included is bilingual Norwegian-English.

Will post caps in 24 hours.

[Tommaso]

My man the Nfi called me up. The disc is both German and English friendly and the 230 page book included is bilingual Norwegian-English.

Will post caps in 24 hours.

Sorry, I simply HAD to make this BOLD. Sounds completely unbelievable. Is the film regarded as being so important in Norway? I must admit I never heard about it before...

[Knappen]

I think the book is not only about the movie, but also includes an essay about the train in Norwegian film and popular culture.

I have known about Bergenstoget since I was running my local cineclub at age 17, but it's hard to say if that is representative of the average Norwegian film buff.

[Forrest Taft]

My man the Nfi called me up. The disc is both German and English friendly and the 230 page book included is bilingual Norwegian-English.

Will post caps in 24 hours.

Sorry, I simply HAD to make this BOLD. Sounds completely unbelievable. Is the film regarded as being so important in Norway? I must admit I never heard about it before...

I actually hadn´t heard about it until I saw it mentioned here on this forum, so no. Still, this looks like a terrific, must-have release. Peter Cowie, in his book Cool and Crazy - Modern Norwegian Cinema 1990-2005, describes it as "nothing more or less than a fast-moving soap opera, with the rivalry between its two main men similar to the struggle between the siblings in Dynasty. Locations enhance the quality of Uwe Jens Krafft´s film, compensating for the frivolty of the upper-class dialogue."

[Knappen]

Peter Cowie, in his book Cool and Crazy - Modern Norwegian Cinema 1990-2005, describes it as "nothing more or less than a fast-moving soap opera, with the rivalry between its two main men similar to the struggle between the siblings in Dynasty. Locations enhance the quality of Uwe Jens Krafft´s film, compensating for the frivolty of the upper-class dialogue.

Why is this film from 1928 mentionned in a book about Norwegian cinema from 1990 onwards?

[Forrest Taft]

An introductory chapter in a very short book. No silents were mentioned in Cowie´s book on Norwegian cinema from 1971-1999. Here he briefly discusses five other silents: Fante-Anne, Kristine Valdresdatter, Trollelgen, Madame besøker Oslo, and Pan.

[Knappen]

Typically there is no talk about Brudeferden i Hardanger, which seemed to fall out if the sky a couple of years back.
Would really like to see Madame visits Oslo too.

[Knappen]

OK, so Tommaso was right in thinking that the prospect of a bilingual 230 page "booklet" sounded unbelievable. It's in Norwegian with a 5 page synopsis in English and the same length in German. Also, the essay is not what I said it was: It's about the film in question and movies as popular culture in the end of the silent area.

I'm in a hurry right now, but will give you some samples. First the package you are getting (I'm keeping it hidden as you might not want to spoil the surprise as you should be putting this on your X-mas list):

Spoiler

The DVD menu where you choose the language you want for your title cards:



The film:








Will report back later when I have seen the film.

[Knappen]

Seen and hugely enjoyed the film. I have taken the train to Bergen numerous times and been skiing in the mountains where the action takes place, so it would be hard for me not to like these 69 pulpy minutes of silent entertainment.

Being Norwegian it typically gains in freshness what it lacks in sophistication.

But what moral ambiguity at stake here! Not strange the film was banned in Sweden at its release. I won't get further into this to avoid spoilers.

Here is the director in an important role in the film. He died the following year:



Here is the heroine, who would have been a good candidate for my Norwegian silent starlets contest last year.



And here's the mise-en-abîme of the film. Take that, Jean-Luc!

[fiddlesticks]

I have taken the train to Bergen numerous times [...]

I've only taken it once, and that was nearly 30 years ago, but it has left a sufficient impression on me that I'm dying to see this film.

[Erikht]

It's not that well known outside a small group of cinephiles. Quite frankly, most Norwegians do not know much about Norwegian cinema. But this release is a very bold statement indeed. If this is the future of DVD releases of Norwegian films, they will be better known in the future. Which they deserve. Norwegian cinematic productions are Better than their Reputation, if I may say so.

[myrnaloyisdope]

Anyone know anything about this UK release of
Seven Chances?

It's from a company called Cornerstone Media, but I have no idea what kind of reputation they have.

[Peacock]

It's from a company called Cornerstone Media, but I have no idea what kind of reputation they have.

See this thread

[myrnaloyisdope]

Thanks, and with that I just picked up the Kino disc on amazon.ca

[Tommaso]

It looks like Raro Video have just released a dvd edition of Paul Czinner's wonderful "Fräulein Else". Music is by the excellent Italian indie band Marlene Kuntz.

[Hofmeister]

Great find, Tommaso! Great price at DVDVillage (13.90 EUR +sh).

[TMDaines]

Do Raro do any other early silents on DVD? Their advanced search system isn't very helpful in answering this.

[Tommaso]

I can't swear upon it, but I think "Fräulein Else" is so far the only silent film with Raro, if you perhaps exclude some occasional avantgarde film.