Reviews of silent film releases on home video.
Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett
and the Silent Era Company.
All Rights Reserved. |
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Casanova
(1927)
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This historical drama, directed by Alexandre Volkoff, stars Ivan Mosjoukine and Suzanne Bianchetti, with Diana Karenne, Jenny Jugo, Rina de Liguoro, Nina Koshetz, Bouamerane and Rudolf Kleine-Rogge.
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 Flicker Alley
2022 Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition
Casanova (1927), black & white, and color-tinted black & white, 160 minutes, not rated.
Flicker Alley, FA0080, UPC 6-17311-68809-6.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Regions ABC Blu-ray Disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) 24 fps progressive scan image encoded in SDR AVC format at 35.6 Mbps average video bit rate; DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo sound encoded at 1.8 Mbps average audio bit rate; French language intertitles, optional English and Italian language subtitles; 10 chapter stops; and one single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at 8.4 Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to 60 fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at 192 Kbps audio bit rate; French language intertitles, optional English and Italian language subtitles; 10 chapter stops; 24-page insert booklet; standard two-disc BD keepcase; $39.95.
Release date: 14 October 2022.
Country of origin: USA
Ratings (1-10): video: 8 / audio: 8 / additional content: 6 / overall: 8.
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This Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition has been mastered from the Renée Lichtig restoration conducted by La Cinémathèque française utlizing a 35mm fine-grain safety positive struck from the nitrate camera negative and from an original diacetate stencil-colored reel held by the Cinémathèque française. Dust, speckling, emulsion scrapes, and other print flaws have been allowed to remain.
The film is accompanied by an orchestral music score composed by Günter A. Buchwald and performed by the San Marco Orchestra.
Supplementary material includes an interview with Günter A. Buchwald discussing his career and the film score (9 minutes); an image gallery (59 images); and a 24-page insert booklet with an essay by Lenny Borger, excerpts from contemporary reviews, principal biographies, notes on the score by Buchwald, and production photographs.
This is the best home video edition of the film that is available.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Regions ABC Blu-ray Disc / Region 0 DVD edition from Amazon.com. Support Silent Era.
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This
Regions ABC Blu-ray Disc / Region 0 NTSC DVD edition is available directly from . . .
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 Silent Hall of Fame Enterprises
2018 DVD edition
Casanova (1928), black & white, 133 minutes, not rated.
Silent Hall of Fame Enterprises, 189, unknown UPC number.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD+R disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 mono sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, permanent Japanese language subtitles; chapter stops; slimline CD jewelcase; $34.99.
Release date: 2018.
Country of origin: USA
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This DVD-R edition has likely been mastered from a 35mm English language print that has apparently been shamelessly copied from a Japanese home video release.
The film is likely accompanied by a soundtrack compiled from preexisting recordings.
This edition is not recommended as the value received is quite low for the cost being charged. Spend wiser money on the Flicker Alley edition noted above.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD+R edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Other silent era IVAN MOSJOUKINE films available on home video.
Other FRENCH FILMS of the silent era available on home video.
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