Murnau’s German classics shine in new Kino DVD box set

May 22, 10:02 AMLA/OC Theatre ExaminerJordan Young

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When a movie buff hasn’t seen a favorite film in a long time, it’s always a dilemma. Should you revisit it? Will it hold up? I hadn’t seen F. W. Murnau’s The Last Laugh in two decades or more when I ordered Kino International’s Murnau, a 6-DVD box set devoted to the work of the great German filmmaker.

 The 1924 German Expressionist masterpiece not only holds up to scrutiny in the 21st century, it looks better than ever. As well it should—it’s been lovingly restored and reconstructed, using elements from a negative in a Berlin archive and three prints. This parable about the importance of a uniform, and what happens when a man is stripped of it, stars Academy Award-winning actor Emil Jannings in the crowning achievement of his career. He conveys more with his eyes alone than most actors of his era could with their entire bodies.

The 40-minute documentary that accompanies the feature is a revelation. Karl Freund’s innovative camera work is discussed in detail, along with the film’s clever special effects and visual illusions. There’s also a fascinating segment on the three different camera negatives that were made, illustrating the discrepancies between them.

The six silent films in the Murnau set have all been digitally restored from 35mm archival materials, and not in name only as with so many DVD releases these days. Three titles are new to DVD: the extraordinary Faust (a German version never seen in the US), The Haunted Castle and The Finances of the Grand Duke. Faust stars Jannings as Mephisto; he plays the title role in Tartuffe.

The granddaddy of vampire movies, Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror—arguably the best-known title in the collection—derives from a new high-def transfer and simply sparkles. It’s enhanced by an orchestral performance of its 1922 score (recorded in 5.1 stereo surround) and a documentary on the making of the film. Released in March at the suggested retail price of $99.95, the box set is currently available at a 25% discount. A complete catalogue of Kino titles is available by calling 800-562-3330.

More from Jordan:

Moliere on DVD and LA area stages
‘Snow White’ on its way in Blu-ray and deluxe DVD
Irving Brecher’s memoir of Hollywood’s golden age
 

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