http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/ DVDTalk's monthly look at early cinema and silent films. en-us johnsinnott@napalmproductions.com Fri, 11 Apr 2008 06:53:26 -0500 http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/lost_and_found.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/german_expressi.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/the_jazz_singer.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/treasures_iii_a.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/lenis_the_cat_a.html Silent DVD returns this week with another look at the some of the classics of early cinema. First off is a double feature where pioneering director D. W. Griffith was involved in both halves: True Heart Susie with Hoodoo Ann. Next up is the classic haunted house film, The Cat and the Canary. Directed by Paul Leni, this films influence is still being felt today. Finally we have a look at the 1925 version of The Lost World. Is the often discussed but rarely seen Eastman House restoration finally available on DVD? It looks like it could be. In case you missed them, be sure to check out recent Silent DVD columns: Reel Baseball and the 2007 SF Silent Film Festival, The General, Romance of the Western Chamber and Pandora's Box.]]> http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/reel_baseball_a.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/the_general.html This month Silent DVD takes a look at one of the great comedies from the silent era, Buster Keaton's The General. This hilarious civil war epic has been released once again with a new score by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, and it is the best sounding version of this classic currently available. That, along with the beautifully restored image makes this a must-have disc. Be sure to check out Silent DVDs previous installments including reviews of Romance of the Western Chamber, Pandora's Box, The Films of Jacques Feyder, Criterion's King of Kings and Lubitsch in Berlin.]]> http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/romance_of_the.html It's been an extremely slow year for Silent films on DVD this year. After a bit of a hiatus our Silent DVD returns with a round up of recently released silent DVDs. Included in this installment of Silent DVD are overviews of Smiles & Spectacles - The Harold Lloyd Treasury and Kino's Reel Baseball. In addition we have an extended review of Romance of the Western Chamber - a rather rare item to DVD; a silent movie from China. Romance of the Western Chamber was made in Shanghai in 1927, and is based on the play of the same name that dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1234-1368). It's short, lasting only 42 minutes, but has some interesting aspects including some martial arts fighting and a large scale battle. Read this installment of Silent DVD. In case you missed them be sure to check out our past Silent DVD columns including a look at Pandora's Box, Criterion's King of Kings and Lubitsch in Berlin.]]> http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/pandoras_box.html Silent DVD takes a look at a classic of early cinema this week when it reviews G. W. Pabst's 1929 classic Pandora's Box. This film made an international star out of Louise Brooks and is still as powerful and emotional today as it was 75 years ago. As usual, the folks at Criterion have put out an excellent package and they've included many rare bonus items including a 1974 interview with the reclusive Ms. Brooks. Pandora's Box is a set that should be tracked down by any silent film afficianado. Be sure to check out our review of Criterion's King of Kings as well as our recent look at the Lubitsch in Berlin series of films.]]> http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/lubitsch_in_ber.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/the_films_of_ja.html Silent DVD has a look at a nearly forgotten filmmaker this week: Jacques Feyder. This talented French director was responsible for a wide range of films, and three of them have been released in Rediscover Jacques Feyder: French Film Master. This three disc set released by Image has beautifully restored versions of Queen of Atlantis (1920) a classic adventure story in the same vein as H. Rider Haggard's works, Crainquebille (1922) a social commentary and lampoon of French bureaucracy, and Faces of Children (1925) a quiet and touching film that is filled with authentic emotion and easily the best film in the set. There's also news of upcoming silent releases including several discs that are scheduled to be released in the last months of 2006. Be sure to check out our previous columns including ones on the 2006 San Fransisco Silent Film Festival, Leni Riefenstahl's The Blue Light, and the restored edition of Chaplin's Mutual Comedies.]]> http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/leni_riefenstah.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/the_chaplin_mut.html Image has released some of Charlie Chaplin's most important films, the 12 shorts he made for Mutual in 1916-17, and this week's Silent DVD has a review. With a newly scored orchestral audio track, digitally cleaned image, and boasting longer versions than were previously available, this new set is the best available version of these funny and entertaining shorts. This week's installment also has a look at the new Kino release of Dr. Mabuse, the Gambler an impressive film by Fritz Lang that has finally been released with the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung. This is the most complete edition of this film, it runs four and a half hours, and looks better than the previous release. Be sure to check out Silent DVDs previous issues including our coverage of The Fritz Lang Epic Collection and The 2006 San Francisco Silent Film Festival.]]> http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/the_2006_san_fr_1.html http://www.dvdtalk.com/silentdvd/electric_edward_1.html