German Filmmuseum Edition

[Hofmeister]

There are not too many European Silent Westerns to begin with and PO ZAKONU is particularly unusual. The screenplay deviates from its source of inspiration, Jack London's short story The Unexpected. Kuleshov had been accused of being too apolitical, so he chose a subject where party propaganda was simply out of the question.

Personnel is restricted to a tiny group of five prospectors in the Yukon (4m, 1f). Just as they're about to give up they strike it rich. In the endless Winter, cabin fever sets in and one of them slays two of his partners. The two others subdue him and the law is to prevail. But what law, by whose standards, applies in the wilderness? And if you think it's bad inside the hut, look at the swelling waters outside...

All five actors had worked with Kuleshov on MR WEST before. Sergei Komarov (the unforgettable arch-villain in the same year's MISS MEND) is always a marvel to behold, Aleksandra Khokhlova will widen her eyes until you fear they might pop out, and Vladimir Fogel' gets to play an Irishman!

[Tommaso]

Thanks, Hofmeister, I was looking forward to see more Kuleshov ever since I watched the documentary on the German "Engineer Pright" disc, and your description makes it even more interesting. I hope that the release date is not too far in the future, perhaps they could release it alongside the much awaited Barnet disc.

[htdm]

There was also a Kino VHS of By the Law produced, I think, by David Shepard. I wonder if it might be among the titles in his forthcoming Soviet set for Flicker Alley.

This was also released on laserdisc by Image

[Hofmeister]

I hope that the release date is not too far in the future, perhaps they could release it alongside the much awaited Barnet disc.

Speaking of Barnet, you don't happen to be in Munich on 4 November, do you? That Thursday night the Filmmuseum will be screening Barnet's U SAMOGO SINEGO MORYA (a.k.a. "By the Bluest of Seas", 1935).

I was looking forward to see more Kuleshov ever since I watched the documentary on the German "Engineer Pright" disc,

That disc (from absolutMEDIEN and hence slightly off topic) is a stunner, isn't it? I thought Hyperkino was all hype and no kino, but they've developed it into quite a useful tool. Sorry to veer just a bit further off, but Hyperkino has found a fitting 'home', see these 3 links:
Prite at Ruscico
first line-up of Academia titles
Academia blurb

[Tommaso]

No chance for me to come to Munich. It's all work and no play at the moment.

That disc (from absolutMEDIEN and hence slightly off topic) is a stunner, isn't it? I thought Hyperkino was all hype and no kino, but they've developed it into quite a useful tool. Sorry to veer just a bit further off, but Hyperkino has found a fitting 'home'

Yeah, very nice and useful tool, a good way of commenting on a film. Have seen none of the Academia titles so far, but perhaps I'll have a go for Kuleshov's "The Great Consoler" soon (the other films are all 'standards', though the Hyperkino annotation is probably a great addition compared to earlier releases).

To stay off-topic: absolutMEDIEN/arte seem to have completely stopped their Silent Film Edition, am I right?

[Hofmeister]

To stay off-topic: absolutMEDIEN/arte seem to have completely stopped their Silent Film Edition, am I right?

You've touched a painful issue. Diagnosis: decubitus. However, the etiologies of the two cases you mentioned - absolutMEDIEN and arte - differ greatly and so do their respective prognoses.

Case #1. I understand that the highly committed team at the ZDF/arte Stummfilmredaktion have seen their resources spread r-e-a-l-l-y thin. Think Phyllo dough. Think Cellophane. Now think Graphene. At the same time their task load grew steadily from additional responsibilities that seem extraneous to us laymen. Docu-soaps yet! So you see the initial analogy about pressure ulcers was apposite.

The biggest boon that came their way was The Metropolis Miracle™ which gave them their hour in the sunshine and record ratings. Will they be able to harness the expected Nibelungen effect and sustain the current fad to regard silents as films and not as some curious antediluvial artefacts (sic)? I admit that's wishful thinking.
You will have noticed that silents at arte were subjected to rather erratic distortions these last months: everything from forced pillar-boxing which rendered a postage stamp-sized image on 4x3 monitors, to widescreen masking (!) which made a total mess out of VON MORGENS…. Even malevolent gremlins in the broadcast center could not have turned silent film lovers off with greater efficiency. At this stage the single monthly silent film is usually a rerun but the upcoming November date may indicate successful regrouping: two Vertovs with Nyman score + a Nyman documentary. Both the Vertovs and other recent arte broadcasts (NATHAN; VON MORGENS...) are Edition Filmmuseum releases. This could bode well for the future although I have no idea what strategies are being considered.

Case #2. Of late, absolutMEDIEN have displayed great skill in their selections of licenses for silents: You mentioned their PRIGHT; they also landed the MITCHELL & KENYON COLLECTION from the bfi. But for my money their most important contribution to spreading archive material (be it silent or sound) lies in their Cinefest DVDs. In case you don't know them, these are annual anthology releases curated by CineGraph and Bundesarchiv.

The event proper, Cinefest 7 is scheduled for 13-21 November (always in Hamburg). There's an English Cinefest page. This year's topic are film relations between Italy and Germany, with films ranging from LA SIGNORA DI TUTTI to DER GEHEIME KURIER (with Ivan Mosjukin and Lil Dagover), from Bava's SEI DONNE PER L'ASSASSINO to Max Reinhardt's INSEL DER SELIGEN (1913). What's this noise? Your avatar keeps pestering me, look how insistent he is:

Alright already, I'll say it: CONDOTTIERI is also on the schedule. There. You happy now?


On to the discs then. All Cinefest DVDs are filled to the brim with unusual material. Film im Herzen Europas (see linked item page for details) addressed the cinematic relations between Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia; it contained half a dozen historical films (190 minutes' worth) plus the surviving fragment of the 1914 GOLEM. Leinen los! (1909-1938) carried eight maritime shorts (160min) including DER MAGISCHE GÜRTEL (1917 submarine picture). Then there was a Peter Pewas Anthology Box (423min). I found Schatten des Krieges. Innovation und Tradition im europäischen Kino 1940–1950 particularly worth while (181min); it has Carol Reed's THE NEW LOT (1943) on board as well as wartime 'public service' films such as MAERKISCHE FAHRT (1942, Agfacolor) or another short explaining how to preserve clothing as it goes to shreds. There's also the first German postwar animation from 1945 and more. Then they had an issue titled Alles in Scherben!...? (gone to pieces, 210min) that brought together ten shorts and one feature from 1941-1950. Cinefest DVDs are not region coded but there are no English subtitles.

This year's Cinefest will of course have its own DVD spin-off (avl. late November), cinema trans-alpino. No contents have been posted yet but the PDFs of the Cinefest schedule (851 KB) and the trilingual flyer (2.3 MB, de-it-en) are very promising indeed.

Sorry this became more and more detailed as I went along, but I hope that some of it addresses your question. Here's the gist -- absolutMEDIEN are up to great things, and let's hope (and lobby for it) that the ZDF/arte Stummfilmredaktion can regain its former standing. Let's face it: There's no other channel left in Germany or Austria that broadcasts more than one or two silent films a year.

[Tommaso]

Very nice indeed, Hofmeister! I never looked up the details of the cinefest releases, for whatever reason (well, possibly because I'm not very much in favour of thematic compilations). But especially the forthcoming 'cinema transalpino' release might be interesting, if the program of the festival is any indication. I want a box which contains at least the Luciano Albertini film, "Der geheime Kurier" by Righelli, and of course my avatar says "Condottieri" (ma pronto!). But I fear we will end up with another release of "La signora di tutti" or "Germania anno zero" instead (before you ask: Käutner's "Die Rote" of course deserves a standalone release).

I of course share anything you say about the disastrous way that arte Stummfilmredaktion managed to lose all the positive publicity they got thanks to "Metropolis". It's not just the misframing and other weird things in the last few months: it's most of all the endless replays of the same few films. The Vertov broadcast is fine, of course, but hey: most silents fans in Germany will have that set already, and if they don't, well showing all the filmmuseum stuff on TV might only bring the sales of the discs down. We are no longer in the age of VHS recorders; I'm perfectly happy with my off-TV DVDR of "Der Bettler vom Kölner Dom", for instance, and don't see any real need to get this rather average film from filmmuseum anymore (should it ever see the light of day....). So why don't they show "Der brennende Acker" or "The Light of Asia" again, if they must show replays?

Case #2. Of late, absolutMEDIEN have displayed great skill in their selections of licenses for silents: You mentioned their PRIGHT; they also landed the MITCHELL & KENYON COLLECTION from the bfi.

Sure, but does anyone need another edition of M&K if the BFI one is simply perfect? And cheaper?

Let's face it: There's no other channel left in Germany or Austria that broadcasts more than one or two silent films a year.

Yes, how true. Not even 3sat. The latter at least show some early German talkies from time to time, even though mostly Hans Moser is in them . What we really need is a round-up on Wysbar, Hochbaum and Schünzel at the very least. The Pewas box gives me some hope, but it's a tiny glimmer only....

[Hofmeister]

I want a box which contains at least the Luciano Albertini film, "Der geheime Kurier" by Righelli, and of course my avatar says "Condottieri" (ma pronto!). But I fear we will end up with another release of "La signora di tutti" or "Germania anno zero" instead.

If you look at the previous main features in the series you won't find a double dip there. It's all archival (including LIEBE 47), so I don't share your concern - or is it primarily Enttäuschungsprophylaxe? My money is on the KURIER, being a recent rediscovery of a full version and possibly held in Hamburg in the first place (I didn't check).

Sure, but does anyone need another edition of [the MITCHELL & KENYON COLLECTION] if the BFI one is simply perfect? And cheaper?

Two words: German subtitles. The bfi remains mercilessly monoglot.

What we really need is a round-up on Wysbar, Hochbaum and Schünzel at the very least. The Pewas box gives me some hope, but it's a tiny glimmer only....

Pleased to meet a fellow Wysbarian. Wysbar, Schünzel and Hochbaum make a terrific trio.

[Tommaso]

If you look at the previous main features in the series you won't find a double dip there. It's all archival (including LIEBE 47), so I don't share your concern - or is it primarily Enttäuschungsprophylaxe

Probably that As usual I would want to have a box containing all the films made before 1940, and have less appetite for the later ones. But that of course is wholly subjective.

Not quite sure about the need for German subs on the M&K films. These are practically intertitle-free. Or did they sub the commentary?

Pleased to meet a fellow Wysbarian. Wysbar, Schünzel and Hochbaum make a terrific trio.

Absolutely. I know that there are other Wysbarians, Schünzelians and Hochbaumians (now that sounds silly) here and elsewhere, but still many people don't know about these directors at all. So let's spread the word. The upcoming 30s listmaking might be a chance to propagandise a bit.

[Hofmeister]

They subtitled the extras on the Mitchell&Kenyon disc (see the item page linked above). It's no big deal but a nice gesture. It would seem that absolutMEDIEN function mainly as a packaging&distribution outfit; but this should not overshadow the unique content of the Cinefest releases. (Will this thread ever get back on topic again? Don't miss next week's exciting episode.)

I know that there are other Wysbarians, Schünzelians and Hochbaumians (now that sounds silly)

Only because you used a unified taxonomy where diversification was called for: There are Wysbarians, Schünzelites and Hochbaumists.

The upcoming 30s listmaking might be a chance to propagandise a bit.

The prop bit sounds right but as I am quite adverse to listmaking in general I've stayed away from any threads containing the string list. Care to convert me?

[Tommaso]

(Will this thread ever get back on topic again? Don't miss next week's exciting episode.)

I think this is on topic, as least as far Wysbar, Schünzel, and Hochbaum are concerned (your taxonomy is indeed better than mine, btw, but how about 'Wysbarites'? Nice sing-along to a certain Desmond Dekker song). After all this thread is about the German Filmmuseum; and so the only thing we need is an Edition of these films/filmmakers. If you like, a little bit of Filmmuseum Random Speculation and Wishlist.

The prop bit sounds right but as I am quite adverse to listmaking in general I've stayed away from any threads containing the string list. Care to convert me?

Sure. First of all, the respective threads often point you to films you might have overlooked otherwise. And the complete neglect of early German sound film internationally (and even nationally) is a situation that needs to be changed. If nothing unforeseen happens, my top 10 for the 30s listmaking will contain at the very least "Der Kongress tanzt" and "Anna und Elisabeth". In other words: even if you don't want to hand in a list, discuss the films.

[antnield]

The Digital Fix on Himmel und Erde.

[Tommaso]

Believe it or not: the 'In Preparation' page now gives a release date for Gade's "Hamlet": February 2011! Only about four years after it was first announced. The Kuleshov disc is also due in January, but no date for the Barnet yet. And please look up the dates for the modern films that don't interest me yourself

[gelich]

I received the new release 'Hal Roach Female Comedy Teams' earlier this week. I haven't got through the entire set yet, but so far it is pure delight. Wonderfully funny shorts, beautifully restored. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed watching something this much.

[scott]

I also received their new release "Hal Roach Female Comedy Teams" and am quite pleased with it. These wonderful shorts are certainly worthy of rediscovery by film historians. Despite the bad weather in Germany and the rest of Europe, I received this wonderful DVD within 3 days of ordering. Of course, I paid in FEDEX postage fees. I am looking forward to their new releases and will probably place my next order with them next week.

[antnield]

The Digital Fix on Kuleshov's Po zakonu / By the Law.

[Tommaso]

The announcement for Gade's "Hamlet" being released this February has been taken away. However, the 'In Vorbereitung' page now shows a very tiny cover shot, and it reveals that the film will be paired with Urban Gad's 1913 "Die Filmprimadonna" (also starring Asta Nielsen). At least something to sweeten the seemingly endless wait...

They also now announced:

64 Screening the Poor Lichtspiele und Soziale Frage 1888-1914

Not the slightest idea what this is all about, but any release of earliest films is surely very welcome.

[zedz]

Urban Gad's 1913 "Die Filmprimadonna" (also starring Asta Nielsen)

Who wouldn't be excited by a film with that title (and pedigree)?

[knives]

Out of curiosity are there any Filmmuseum DVDs that you wouldn't recommend? After such a great experience with the Vertov set I just picked up Enthusiasm and Von Morgens bis Mitternachts(that cover is fantastic). Also am I correct in assuming that they all come with english subtitles?

[antnield]

From their website:

All the DVDs in this webshop are with English subtitles (and some even with much more subtitles in up to ten languages).

[Tommaso]

Out of curiosity are there any Filmmuseum DVDs that you wouldn't recommend?

In a word: no. That is, if this question is about edition and transfer quality. Of course there are films in their collection that don't interest me at all, but which others find great. Talking about silents only, I'd say you can live without the two football films and without Noa's "Nathan", but of course these are also of the highest technical quality.

One quite definite recommendation from me would be the new Kuleshov disc, about which Anthony has written in his Digital Fix review linked at the top of this page, and I have nothing to add apart from saying that "Po zakonu" really blew me out of my socks last night. Had I seen this a little earlier, it would have definitely been on my Top 50 for the 20s list, and rather highly ranked, too. An extremely intense film, questioning the morals and motivations of everyone involved in its plot, and I really liked how Kuleshov uses the changes in weather conditions to comment on and intensify the psychic going-ons. Not quite sure what to make of its ending: is it reality, a dream, a vision? Nevertheless, even this surprise twist works really well. The experimental music, of which I was very skeptical after seeing a clip on youtube first, is ideally suited to the film and greatly furthers the gripping effect on the viewer. The transfer is another stunner, even if the source materials are what they are. The fragment from "Your acquaintance" is a wonderful extra.

[knives]

Thanks for that. I definitely was referring to the quality of the films over any technical specs. Would you recommend Ludwig II or the Lamarr colection(with the note I am only interested in Ekstase) as very good/great films.

[lubitsch]

Thanks for that. I definitely was referring to the quality of the films over any technical specs. Would you recommend Ludwig II or the Lamarr colection(with the note I am only interested in Ekstase) as very good/great films.

Ludwig no, Ekstase yes but as I wrote in the viewing guide for the 30s be aware that this a recut post war version with fake Happy End shot in the 50s as well as cuts made all over the film see my post http://www.criterionforum.org/forum/vie ... f=5&t=6992" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . Even if the picture quality is far better than on the Image disc it's a sad example how institutions don't work together when restoring films.

[Tommaso]

And so we have the problem that none of the two "Ekstase" discs are satisfactory. The problem with the cuts and the different ending has made me keep the Image disc so far, even though I'm rather annoyed with the chopped-off heads due to the 1.33 instead of 1.19 ratio. Try to get the Image version cheap, and stick with it until someone gets the film really right. I think there's also an Austrian release from Hoanzl, but I know no details about it, and it's almost certainly unsubbed. The film itself is fine, though not a masterpiece (it's a little uneven in its second half), and there are other Machaty films that would deserve the same - or more - attention that "Ekstase" gets.

But I would certainly recommend the "Ludwig II." set; the Dieterle is an interesting film with a somewhat unusually toned-down approach to the well-known story, though I wouldn't call it a 'great film', just a good one, well worth seeing. But that whole set is more than the sum of its parts: the comparison with the Raffé version is illuminating, and the very long and well-made documentary tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the Bavarian king.

Would anyone recommend "Im Reich der sieben Punkte"? That's one of their silents that didn't receive much attention, and somehow I never really felt the urge to check it out. But maybe I'm missing something...

[Tommaso]

More 'forthcoming' announcements:
61 Willow Springs & Regno di Napoli Werner Schroeter, 1973/78
65 Torre Bela Thomas Harlan, 1975
66 Sonnenfinsternis Thomas Heise, 2011


And specs for the Asta Nielsen "Hamlet", now scheduled for April:

DVD 1

* Hamlet 1920, 110'
* Musikbegleitung von Michael Riessler
* 20-seitiges zweisprachiges Booklet mit Texten von Holger Ziegler, Thomas Worschech und Anke Mebold

DVD 2

* Der elektronische Hamlet 2007, 8'
* Hamlet con Asta Nielsen 2007, 7'
* Hamlet Fassungsvergleich 2009, 30'
* Die Filmprimadonna 1913, 17'
* Musikbegleitung von Trio New Amsterdam
* Asta Nielsen Privatoptagelser 1912-14, 4'
* Asta Nielsen Privat 1970, 2'
* Ausführlicher ROM-Bereich mit Dokumenten zum Film und seiner Restaurierung