BIG DVD News from Kino! (1 Viewer)

[Roderick Gauci]

An insider of Kino on Video, who also happens to be a regular poster on the “Alt.Movies.Silent” Forum, has just disclosed that they will be releasing the following three great movies on DVD in late 2003:

· THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (Paul Leni, 1928) – which she also names as her all-time favorite film
· APPLAUSE (Rouben Mamoulian, 1929)
· LOVE ME TONIGHT (Rouben Mamoulian, 1932)

A few weeks back she had also mentioned that Kino will also be issuing these two classics on DVD later on this year, only this time she had the specific street date:

07/22/03: IT HAPPENED TOMORROW (Rene` Clair, 1944)
09/02/03: MUNCHHAUSEN aka THE ADVENTURES OF BARON MUNCHAUSEN (Josef von Baky, 1943)

I have only ever watched the last two once in Italian but I’ll surely be purchasing all five of them. I’m especially eager to watch THE MAN WHO LAUGHS which has always be one of my cinematic “holy grails” having only read about (and saw stills from) it on movie books so far! Besides, I also have Luis Bunuel’s L’AGE D’OR (1930) to look forward to, which is slated for a November release!

Furthermore, she also mentioned some minor but intriguing films which will also find their way on DVD via Kino later on this year:

08/12/03: DER HEILIGE BERG aka THE HOLY MOUNTAIN (Dr. Arnold Fanck, 1926)
07/22/03: ST. MARTIN’S LANE (Tim Whelan, 1938)/WINGS OF THE MORNING (Harold D. Schuster, 1937)
07/22/03: A SCANDAL IN PARIS (Douglas Sirk, 1946)
07/22/03: THEY MADE ME A FUGITIVE (Alberto Cavalacanti, 1947)

Unfortunately, however, in one of her posts, she also states that the three Fritz Lang movies which were scheduled for release on 09/02/03 i.e. SPIONE aka SPIES (1928), FRAU IM MOND aka THE WOMAN IN THE MOON (1929) and LILIOM (1934) have been postponed until early 2004 due to the extensive restoration work involved.

In none of these cases did she offer any indication of what possible supplements might be included on these DVDs but, judging from the many Kino discs I own, we can be sure that they will be doing an excellent job!

P.S. Apart from all this, one should not forget that Kino will also be unveiling in two weeks’ time “The Erich von Stroheim Collection” made up of these three separate discs:

06/10/03: BLIND HUSBANDS (Erich von Stroheim, 1919)/THE GREAT GABBO (James Cruze, 1929)
06/10/03: FOOLISH WIVES (Erich von Stroheim, 1922)/THE MAN YOU LOVED TO HATE (Patrick Montgomery, 1980)
06/10/03: QUEEN KELLY (Erich von Stroheim, 1928)

 

[James Reader]

Excellent news about THE MAN WHO LAUGHS, I too have been waiting for this on DVD.

Can't wait.

 

[Jim Peavy]

Very much interested in The Man Who Laughs as well. Also have never seen it!

Would like to see Munchausen also.

What is going on with the competing Kino and David Shepard restored DVD releases of the '25 Phantom of the Opera? Heard they were both coming out later this year. Are one or both still on?

Edit: Oops. I believe it is Kevin Brownlow's restoration, not David Shepard's.

 

[AndrewR]

Munchausen AND The Man Who Laughs!!?!?!

I think I've gone to Heaven!!!!


Andrew

 

[Joe Caps]

Love me Tonight is great news, but isn't that title still owned by Universal. And is Love Me tonight the rare uncut version.
St. Martins Lane is great as it has a very young Vivien Leigh.

 

[Rich Malloy]

Besides, I also have Luis Bunuel’s L’AGE D’OR (1930) to look forward to, which is slated for a November release!

Do you happen to have a link?

I've been not-too-patiently awaiting this title, and was really hoping for that July release date that we first heard about last January, February or so. Since then, it's disappeared right off the radar, and I was really worried it was off the production list... but November? Are you fairly certain? (I hope! I hope!)

 

[oscar_merkx]

I have never seen these movies, so which one should I purchase outright of all of these ?

Cheers

Oscar

 

[James Reader]

Oscar, based on it't reputation (I've never seen it) The Man Who Laughs is a sure fire purchase!

 

[oscar_merkx]

okay but what is so special about this ?

 

[Claude North]

Great news about THE MAN WHO LAUGHS! I was supposed to attend a screening of the recently restored version at the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema earlier this year, but transportation problems caused me to miss it. I've wanted to see this film since I was a child and read that the main character inspired Bob Kane to create The Joker. I assumed that a DVD release was inevitable since the film had been restored, but it's still exciting to know it's really going to happen.

 

[Roderick Gauci]

Quote (originally posted by Rich Malloy):

“Do you happen to have a link?

I've been not-too-patiently awaiting this title, and was really hoping for that July release date that we first heard about last January, February or so. Since then, it's disappeared right off the radar, and I was really worried it was off the production list... but November? Are you fairly certain? (I hope! I hope!)”


The following quote, taken from a thread on another Discussion Board, is actually the only “proof” I have so far, however tenuous, that Kino will still be releasing L’AGE D’OR (1930) this year:

“Kino has delayed WOMAN IN THE MOON and SPIES for further restoration, which I am not surprised, especially with SPIES, which I like to see in its complete 183 minutes. L'AGE D'OR is also delayed until November I believe. I read somewhere that they do not have the rights to UN CHIEN ANDALOU.”

I concede that all this is merely hearsay at this point but I will try to get in touch with Mr. Donald Krim (Kino’s president with whom I have corresponded several times via e-mail) or with that Kino insider over at “Alt.Movies.Silent”.

Don’t worry, Rich: I’m as impatient as you are about L’AGE D’OR’s eventual DVD release, if not more so, given that Luis Bunuel is my all-time favorite film director!

 

[James Reader]

Re The Man Who Laughs

okay but what is so special about this ?

Oscar see http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/man_who_laughs.html (and the attached Film Notes)

 

[oscar_merkx]

Thanks James for that link

 

[Jefferson]

LOVE ME TONIGHT, is one of the most innovative
and enjoyable musicals on film.
I am really looking forward to its release.

 

[kim_ski]

After glancing at the notes for "The Man Who Laughs" (and thanks for the link) and noting the comment about Bob Kane using Conrad Veidt's Gwynplaine as a model for The Joker, I just have to yammer a bit: first off, this critter is in its heart of hearts a ROMANCE. A big, shameless romance. Veidt and Mary Philbin (as the blind girl Dea) are all over each other like a coat of paint in every one of their scenes, in the sweetest, weirdest, aww-shucks, G-rated way possible. Second off, "The Man Who Laughs" is in no way a monster flick (which might have been one of the things that kept it out of Universal's "Classic Monsters" lineup). I always flinch a little at the Joker connection, because Gwynplaine, who has every reason to be a bitter, hateful guy, is anything but. (I sometimes like to think of ways in which a modern remake would trash this show, and the first thing that comes to mind is a Joker-style freakout for our hero. And believe me, a number of characters in the film deserve a good freakouting!) Thirdly, the DVD goodies: John Soister, author of the wonderful "Conrad Veidt on Screen," is providing an essay; the DVD will include home movies of Conrad Veidt and other European-to-Hollywood actors of the twenties, a making-of featurette, an art gallery, and comparison excerpts from the Italian release. Heckaboo, I am thrilled about this!

 

[Claes Ljunghorn]

Read more and preview 2 short sequences from TMWL here.

 

[SteveP]

From what I understand, Paramount cut the negative of LOVE ME TONIGHT for a 1938 re-release to conform with the then strongly-enforced Production Code.

In her autobiography in the 1980's, Myrna Loy expressed deep disappointment that her verse of "Mimi" was no longer in the film (apparently her belly button was visible).

I would be VERY surprised if any negative elements of the cut sections survived--and I have NEVER heard of any uncut Romanian print turning up.

ST. MARTIN'S LANE, which received a major U.S. release in 1940 as SIDEWALKS OF LONDON to capitalize on Vivien Leigh's sudden international stardom, is like an unsolicited screen test for Scarlett O'Hara.

 

[Jack Theakston]

I think that most silents fans and anyone who enjoys a good film will be pleased with MAN WHO LAUGHS. It is in no way (as stated above) a horror film, so don't go into it thinking that it will be. It is very odd though, comparable to some of Tod Browning's films, yet with a majestic style only Universal could have produced at the time.

The extras will be quite a bonus too, as the score on the Vitaphone disks is lovely (except for a few vocals which I don't care for). The Italian intertitles are probably some of the most beautiful that were made.

As for earlier in the thread, someone mentioned PHANTOM. I don't know what Kino has in plan, but the Milestone/Kevin Brownlow DVD should be the final word on the reissue cut of the film. So unless Kino can resurface some new print of the film or are going to release UCLA's restoration of the 1925 cut, don't hold your breath for anything that we've not already seen.