A Few Words About A few words about...™ Faust (1926) -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

I love the fact that Kino Lorber sees fit to release some of the great silent motion pictures, and to do it, wherever possible with style and quality.

F.W. Murnau is probably best known here a few of his later productions, Nosferatu (1922), The Last Laugh (1924), and Sunrise (1927).

Faust was his final German production, and has all of the incredible dynamism and style for which the UFA studio was known.

The Kino Lorber Blu-ray, which is the 1926 version (the later and longer 1930 cut is on an accompanying DVD) is a very good looking restoration, albeit analogue.

If I might be just a tad picky, it needed some digital help -- not a great deal, mind you -- but just a bit, to remove some wear, but mostly toward the removal of obvious splices.

Grain structure is gorgeous, and gives a hint of what original prints might have looked like.  Shadow detail is adequate, but understandably, as the film has been taken from duplicates, is not where it might be.

I'm happy to have what we've been given.

Faust is one of the great silent films, and Kino Lorber's new Blu-ray fills a void beautifully.

Image - 3.5

 

Audio - N/A

4k Up-rez - 4

 

Pass / Fail - Pass

 

Recommended

 

RAH

 

[bigshot]

I just ordered the UK version. It has three music tracks (vs Kino's two) and includes both the Domestic and Export versions (Kino just has the Domestic).

 

[EddieLarkin]

Comparisons appear to show that the Kino is squashed compared to the UK version, like Diary of a Lost Girl was:


http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-ray_reviews_62_/faust_blu-ray.htm


More importantly, grain and black levels appear superior on the UK too.