German Filmmuseum Edition

[ptmd]

Outtakes and extant footage from uncompleted projects like The Merchant of Venice and The Deep, footage of Orson Welles reciting passages from Moby Dick obsessively, etc. I've seen Droessler present it on film and it's all very interesting, and gives a new perspective on Welles' late period.

[cinemartin]

How much footage are we talking? Is it going to be a box set or something more along the lines of The One Man Band?

[ptmd]

The total running time for all the material Droessler showed was about 4 hours. I'm sure there's more, but I don't know how much will be included on the set. It's definitely more than was shown in One Man Band.

[Tommaso]

Every time I see that list above, I feel like swooning...

But don't get too over-excited, folks. That Welles set has been announced as 'in preparation' for at least two years now, and the same goes for the Suzuki film. And both are still not in the 'next releases' list (where Gade's "Hamlet" has been lingering for more than a year now, too). It's cruel that these guys always tease us with these announcements and then nothing ever seems to happen.

Anyway, as their website announces "Die Freudlose Gasse" for May (which probably means September) I'd like to ask whether anyone has bought the recent release of that film from the Filmmuseum Austria and could comment on that 220 pages book that comes with it? I'm still undecided whether I should buy the Austrian version or rather wait for the German filmmuseum 2-discer. I assume it's very much like a CC vs MoC situation here, with the German disc having more valuable on-screen extras and the Austrian disc having great printed texts. So, for the Austrian release, are the texts more about the general social situation of the time or are they also concerned with the film specifically (which I would much prefer)?

[skuhn8]

Every time I see that list above, I feel like swooning...

But don't get too over-excited, folks. That Welles set has been announced as 'in preparation' for at least two years now, and the same goes for the Suzuki film. And both are still not in the 'next releases' list (where Gade's "Hamlet" has been lingering for more than a year now, too). It's cruel that these guys always tease us with these announcements and then nothing ever seems to happen.

Anyway, as their website announces "Die Freudlose Gasse" for May (which probably means September) I'd like to ask whether anyone has bought the recent release of that film from the Filmmuseum Austria and could comment on that 220 pages book that comes with it? I'm still undecided whether I should buy the Austrian version or rather wait for the German filmmuseum 2-discer. I assume it's very much like a CC vs MoC situation here, with the German disc having more valuable on-screen extras and the Austrian disc having great printed texts. So, for the Austrian release, are the texts more about the general social situation of the time or are they also concerned with the film specifically (which I would much prefer)?

I have the Filmmuseum Austria version. The book is excellent, approx. 100 behind the scenes and promotional stills. As far as I can tell the essays are a comprehensive collection covering not only the film production but German silent cinema with Gasse as the center point. My German isn't so good but I did get about 25 pages into the first essay the weekend I picked this up. Please note: The DVD has no on-screen special features...and not even chapter stops! The soundtrack is very modern, very minimalist, and very quiet which makes for an ominous viewing experience.

[Tommaso]

Thank you, Skuhn!
The book seems to be very good, then. But what you say about the soundtrack definitely worries me, especially as the German disc will have a different one (by the very reliable Aljosha Zimmermann). I have nothing against modern or minimalist soundtracks, but the way you describe it I can't help thinking of that horrible, horrible electronica experiment that makes divisa's old Ruttmann disc so unbearable. Also, the documentary "Der andere Blick" on the German release seems very interesting. Some brief details (in English) here.

Hmm...I've almost made my mind up to wait for the German release now...

[skuhn8]

Thank you, Skuhn!
The book seems to be very good, then. But what you say about the soundtrack definitely worries me, especially as the German disc will have a different one (by the very reliable Aljosha Zimmermann). I have nothing against modern or minimalist soundtracks, but the way you describe it I can't help thinking of that horrible, horrible electronica experiment that makes divisa's old Ruttmann disc so unbearable. Also, the documentary "Der andere Blick" on the German release seems very interesting. Some brief details (in English) here.

Hmm...I've almost made my mind up to wait for the German release now...

As I recall the soundtrack was all acoustic orchestra, possibly a performance before an audience (I don't have the DVD with me) and it consists of what might be called atmospheric sound effects. I thought it quite good actually....but for the first 20 minutes I wasn't entirely sure that there was even a soundtrack or if the kids were being weird in the next room

That being said, the German release looks excellent--I just happened to be in Vienna and it was on sale at the Kino cinema. Couldn't resist.

[Wombatz]

The book is very comprehensive, I must admit that I'm just not that interested in the details, but it should be splendid for academic purposes. I thought the music was a bit lazy, that said, I kept it on, and I usually have to turn down the volume when watching silents. It definitely allows the images to breath, but it doesn't go beyond that.

[Tommaso]

Not even mentioned as 'in preparation', but now suddenly on the 'next releases' list (No. 50):

Two silents by Boris Barnet: "Devushka s korobkoy" and "Dom na Trubnoy" (aka 'The Girl with the hat box' and 'The house on Trubnaya') (1927/28).

I've never seen any of the two, but I guess this is fantastic news in any case.

EDIT: I just noticed that "The Girl with the hat box" is already out on an Image disc (which apparently completely flew under my radar ), so this might be less exciting than I thought...

However,the ever unreliable imdb notes this for the running time;
"60 min | Belgium:98 min (Copy with French titles at Brussels Musée du Cinéma)" So which version is on the Image disc? I would very much assume that filmmuseum will go for the Belgian print in any case, but I'm just wondering whether it will be more complete than the one on the Image disc.

[Scharphedin2]

Barnet is an interesting director, and any new release of any of his films (especially from Filmmuseum) is exciting news.

Girl With the Hatbox was released in R1 by Image Entertainment quite a while ago. I have the disc, and remember the quailty of the presentation to be quite good. It is paired with another Barnet film entitled Outskirts. So, the second feature on the this set from Filmmuseum is new (to me, anyway).

EDIT: You get neither of the versions mentioned by IMDB. Instead you get a 68 min version of the film.

[Michael Kerpan]

House on Trubnaya Street was released by Bach Films (with French subs for the Russian intertitles). A pretty rough-looking print -- so maybe this will look better.

Both of these films are wonderful. But we really do need an English-subbed Bluest of Seas...

[jsteffe]

That's wonderful to hear about the Barnet silents!

Incidentally, as far as I know The House on Trubnaya Street only survives in an incomplete, 60 minute version that is missing a reel. It's still very much worth seeing, though.

[Jack Phillips]

Kluge box (with booklet) for the 15 double-disc set has arrived.

[tojoed]

Here are some further details on Die Freudlose Gasse that I was sent:

DVD 1
* "Die freudlose Gasse" 1925, 148' (minutes)
* Music by Aljoscha Zimmermann
* Chapters
* Press- and Photomaterial
DVD 2
* "Der andere Blick" 1991, 130'
* "Pabst wieder sehen" 1997, 20'
* CD ROM with screenplay drafts and documentation
* Booklet with film essays

[skuhn8]

Here are some further details on Die Freudlose Gasse that I was sent:

DVD 1
* "Die freudlose Gasse" 1925, 148' (minutes)
* Music by Aljoscha Zimmermann
* Chapters
* Press- and Photomaterial
DVD 2
* "Der andere Blick" 1991, 130'
* "Pabst wieder sehen" 1997, 20'
* CD ROM with screenplay drafts and documentation
* Booklet with film essays

Not much on imdb about Der andere Blick--is this a documentary specific to Pabst? I see that one of Pabst's sons is in it. Or is this more related to Weimar cinema? Pabst wieder sehen is listed as being 60 minutes on imdb; might this be a case of clips being cut due to rights issues? How many pages in the booklet? Damn, I just may have to double dip.

[tojoed]

Skuhn, here's a description from The New York Fim Festival of Der Andere Blick:

This breakthrough filmessay explores the strange case of G.W.Pabst, the Austrian Film Director who was considered a giant of early cinema before his reputation went behind a cloud. The film takes us through his work with Garbo and Louise Brooks, and his making of such classics as "Pandora's Box", "The Joyless Street", and "The Threepenny Opera". But this is no ordinary film tribute. For "The Other Eye", Johanna Heer and Werner Schmiedel, have evolved a rich visual language new to the documentary field, using an elaborate color structure that reflects not only various moods but different periods of time. The film's jazzy style and sophisticated narration probes unflinchingly the controversy surrounding Pabst: What possessed this liberal, cosmopolitan filmmaker to return to Austria in 1939 and direct movies for the Third Reich?

[HerrSchreck]

Skuhn, here's a description from The New York Fim Festival of Der Andere Blick:

This breakthrough filmessay explores the strange case of G.W.Pabst, the Austrian Film Director (...) For "The Other Eye", Johanna Heer and Werner Schmiedel, have evolved a rich visual language new to the documentary field, using an elaborate color structure that reflects not only various moods but different periods of time.

I cringe to imagine what form of embarassing specimen of Public Audition For Directorial Genius this will turn out to probably be. I scent the aura of the tracking shots and blaringly stylized closeps of Becoming John Ford.

Nine times out of ten, when directors try to "create the mood and atmosphere" of the subject they are trying to render, they wind up interfering with the natural effect transmitted thru the source material--the recountings via interviews, vintage footage and still photography. These techniques oftentime overpower the delicate nuances which would otherwise rise from an un-interfered-with subject matter... thereby obscuring the desired "moods & periods of time" and rendering a confused, muddled end-result that's more about the director.

I tend to find that documentaries are not the place for high-volume, high-handed cinematic stylizations. I'd truly enjoy being wrong in this case, but I rarely see this kind of stuff work.

[tojoed]

They are in the forthcoming releases (no exact date given) that I posted on the previous page of this thread. Could be May , could be October, who knows? That info was taken direct from EF's website.

[tojoed]

Not too surprisingly Joyless Street has been put back for a July release, but here are some further details.

The films
Die freudlose Gasse / The Joyless Street - Germany 1925 - Directed by: Georg Wilhelm Pabst - Written by: Willy Haas, based on the novel by Hugo Bettauer - Cinematography by: Guido Seeber - Cast: Asta Nielsen, Greta Garbo, Agnes Esterhazy, Werner Krauß, Karl Etlinger, Valeska Gert - Produced by: Sofar-Film-Produktion, Berlin - Premiere: May 18, 1925 (Mozartsaal Berlin) - Reconstruction: Filmmuseum München - Edited by: Jan-Christopher Horak, Gerhard Ullmann, Klaus Volkmer

Der andere Blick / The Other Eye - Austria/USA 1991 - Directed and written by: Hannah Heer, Werner Schmiedel - Photographed by: Hannah Heer - With: Rudolf S. Joseph, Jan-Christopher Horak, Michael Pabst, Harold Nebenzal, Hilde Krahl, Micheline Presle Produced by: Thalia-Film GmbH, Vienna / River Lights Pictures Inc., New York Premiere: September 25, 1991 (New York Film Festival)

Pabst wieder sehen / Reviewing Pabst - Germany 1997 - Directed by: Martin Koerber, Wolfgang Jacobsen, René Perraudin - Written by: Martin Koerber, Wolfgang Jacobsen - Photographed by: René Perraudin - With: Jan-Christopher Horak, Klaus Volkmer, Gerhard Ullmann, Nicola Mazzanti, Gian Luca Farinelli Produced by: Eikon-Film, Berlin / ZDF/arte, Mainz Premiere: February 22, 1997 (Berlin Film Festival)

DVD-Features (Doppel-DVD)

DVD 1
Die freudlose Gasse 1925, 148'
Score by Aljoscha Zimmermann
Chapter selection
Numerous lobby cards and production stills
Booklet with essays by Klaus Volkmer, Werner Sudendorf and Stefan Drössler

DVD 2
Der andere Blick 1991, 111'
Pabst wieder sehen 1997, 22'
Outtakes and Intakes 1925, 12'
Sound document with memories of the assistent director Mark Sorkin
Screenplay drafts, shooting script and documents as ROM features
Edited by: Filmmuseum München, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Munich and the Deutsche Kinemathek Berlin
DVD authoring: Ralph Schermbach
DVD supervision: Stefan Drössler

First edition July 2009

[Tommaso]

I've now received the latest disc from filmmusuem, containing Hanns Walter Kornblum's 1925 "Wunder der Schöpfung". As we've come to expect from them, this is another highlight in every way.

Kornblum's film can possibly be regarded as the grand-grandfather of modern-day 'scientific documentaries' of the sort you can see every day on your favourite channel today; and while a 90-minute, intertitle-heavy lecture on the time's knowledge about the solar system and the space beyond might sound perhaps a little dry, it actually is hugely entertaining and visually striking (the caps below don't tell the whole story). Kornblum makes use of practically every special effects technique known to him, often adopting stop-motion and animations that you'd rather expect from an avantgarde film of the time. The history of astronomy is also shown by short sequences played by actors, and the future comes alive with a space ship that seems to reference both Verne's Nautilus and Lang's "Frau im Mond" (which of course was made three years later, and the Kornblum film most likely was an influence on it). I was constantly amazed about how inventive the film generally is. A great find!

The transfer comes from a restored version made from two different source prints with mostly recreated German intertitles (as the more complete version had Finnish/Swedish titles) and looks striking. Occasionally the sources are battered, but not disturbingly so, but clarity and the beauty of the tintings are exceptional. This time filmmuseum didn't opt for English subs, but rather provided an optional voice-over track, which is perhaps irritating to some, but given that the titles usually contain a VERY large amount of text I guess this was still the best way to do it. The music is by the ever-reliable Aljosha Zimmermann and fits the film like a glove.

The extras are incredible, too. First we have what remains of Kornblum's earlier film about Einstein's theory of relativety. Once two hours long, all that exists of it now is a 30-minute American version which is shown here with English titles and two different soundtrack options. Also, Filmmuseum included a very informative audio interview with Kornblum, though unsubbed. But if you speak German: Kornblum, who was 90 years old at the time, has a lot of fascinating things to say. It seems as if this recording is now almost the only existing source about the man's personal life and unrealised projects. Finally, there's a ROM section which contains an abundance (!) of documents, programme texts etc. from the time, and a 20-page booklet with two essays (a shorter one in German, a longer one in English) which are highly informative, too.

I feel like a needle stuck in the groove, but I have to say it again: as with the Ruttmann set, it simply cannot get any better. The complete extant works (it seems) of an unknown, but important filmmaker presented in a manner which even CC or MoC couldn't improve on. This is an essential purchase, and cements filmmuseum's reputation as one of the very best labels around these days.

Here are some downsized caps.

Explaining the phases of the moon:


Some ladies from Ancient Rome being afraid of a solar eclipse:


The spaceship lifts off:


Inside the spaceship:


A view of Saturn from one of its moons:

[HerrSchreck]

Bootyfull!

[Tommaso]

Release date for "Ludwig II." (Dieterle) is now July 24. Pabst's "Joyless Street" has again been pushed back and is now scheduled for September....