Revisiting Hollywood legends Marlene Dietrich, Boris Karloff on DVD

November 4, 1:14 PMLA/OC Theatre ExaminerJordan Young

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the LA/OC Theatre Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 

Marlene Dietrich and Boris Karloff were both launched to stardom in the early 1930s, at the start of the movies’ sound era, and maintained their unique positions in the Hollywood firmament well into the ‘60s. Now both have reappeared on DVD in offbeat one-of-a-kind documentaries.

Actor Maxilimilian Schell got more than he bargained for when his Judgement at Nuremberg co-star agreed to a series of on-camera interviews for Marlene. Dietrich played the diva to the hilt, refusing to be photographed for the Oscar-nominated 1984 film, but discussed her public and private life in surprisingly intimate detail. There are rare clips from her silent films (“rubbish”), and candid comments about everything from her celebrated celluloid image (“I wasn’t erotic, I was snotty”) to Fritz Lang and Ernest Hemingway. As for The Blue Angel, which made her a star: “I really can’t stand it anymore… I mean, really, it’s ridiculous.” (Available from Kino).

Kreating Karloff documents the making of a high-end screen test, produced by actor Conor Timmis in hopes of stimulating interest in a biopic about the horror film legend. Timmis and makeup artist Norman Bryn take us behind the scenes of their dedicated attempt to recreate scenes from a pair of Karloff epics in appropriate black and white. The Mummy comes off best, thanks to Timmis’ eerie mimicry of the actor’s voice and Bryn’s impressive makeup job. Rebirthing the Frankenstein monster, an effort burdened by the collective memory of Karloff’s iconic, once-seen-never-forgotten performance, is less successful. (Available from oldies.com).

More from Jordan:

Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’ sparkles on Blu-ray; new format still subject of debate
Murnau’s German classics shine in new Kino DVD box set
Charley Chase’s silent comedies jump back to life on DVD


Follow me on twitter.
 

Like a heads up when I post a new article? Just click where it says "subscribe" at the top. (Not getting the emails? Keep in mind I post about 3 times a week). You can also share this article with your facebook / myspace friends by clicking—here’s where it gets tricky—“share this” below.