Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Amazon.ca
For director Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich it all began with The Blue Angel, one of the masterpieces of Germany's Weimar cinema. This landmark film thrust the sultry and unrestrained Dietrich on an unsuspecting international film audience. She plays the prototypical role of Lola, the singer who tempts repressed professor Emil Jannings (the king of expressionist actors) into complete submission night after night at the Blue Angel nightclub. The film perfectly captures the masochism and degradation of the Weimar Republic, just before the rise of Adolf Hitler. And yet the moral confusion exhibited by Jannings is really due to his own torment. Dietrich is merely an instrument of his innermost desires, standing on stage in top hat, stockings, and bare thighs singing "Falling in Love Again." This is the original German version, newly remastered and subtitled. --Bill Desowitz
Special Features
Kino's two-disc set features both the restored 106-minute German-language version and the trimmed 94-minute English-language version, which was shot simultaneously for the American market (with the actors clumsily performing in English). Historian Werner Sudendorf of the Berlin Film Museum provides an informative and well-researched commentary track (on the German version) steeped in production history and background detail, and he contributes "The Blue Angel Chronicles," a historical timeline illustrated with production stills. Marlene Dietrich fans will love the concert clips of Dietrich revisiting three songs from the film in that smoky, throaty nightclub voice of her mature years. Other features are Dietrich's 1929 screen test, a two-minute interview clip from 1963 in which she discusses The Blue Angel, a stills gallery with behind-the- scenes photos, costume illustrations and posters, bios of 41 key cast and production staff members, and original and reissue trailers. --Sean Axmaker
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Hans
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Great quality movie and sound considering age of film. Also nice to have English subtitle option. Blue Ray format also great.
By ysi.
Format:DVD
This movie (the German version) is one of my favourite films of all time, and I can't say enough good things about it. Simply put, it's very well directed, acted, shot, and edited, it is both humorous and tragic, and it does a good job of walking the fine line between realism and morality play (though it leans more toward the latter). It also makes excellent use of sound for a relatively early "talkie".
Kino's 2-disc set is fantastic. The film has been remastered, so it looks and sounds great, and the Kino release has both versions of the film plus tons of supplementary material. I highly recommend this film, and this product.
Kino's 2-disc set is fantastic. The film has been remastered, so it looks and sounds great, and the Kino release has both versions of the film plus tons of supplementary material. I highly recommend this film, and this product.
By bernie
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
I have owned and watched several versions of this film. I even have the film script. I would say that the Kino two DVD versions is the best presentation so far. I watched both the English and German versions I find the story depressing but the telling of it and the acting fascinating.
A real added plus is the commentary by German Film Historian Werner Sedendorf. He brought up information directly relating to the film at the time it was relevant. Then he left some berating room so you could absorb and experience the information. To many commentaries turn into soap-box discussions or rill in slow times with useful information that however is irrelevant to the film at the time. The film has so much hidden death and lost culture that after the commentary you will have to watch it again.
The English version is not really entirely English. Enough English is presented that the German in-between is clear enough to follow the story. However the German version is spoken clear without mumbling and lacks any slang that would force the casual follower to rush for a dictionary.
The basic story is as Federico Garcia Lorca describes in his play, "The butterfly's Evil Spell", death in disguise of love. Prof. Immanuel Rath (Emil Jannings), a person afraid of life, starts out to save his students, who want to embrace life, from a fate worse than death. In the process he meats an entertainer, Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich). She inadvertently is the instrument of the Professors downfall from grace.
The magic of the film is more in the telling of the story through acting, sound, and symbolism than the story its self.
The Ufa Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company 1918-1945
Blue Angel, The (Class. Film Scripts S)
A real added plus is the commentary by German Film Historian Werner Sedendorf. He brought up information directly relating to the film at the time it was relevant. Then he left some berating room so you could absorb and experience the information. To many commentaries turn into soap-box discussions or rill in slow times with useful information that however is irrelevant to the film at the time. The film has so much hidden death and lost culture that after the commentary you will have to watch it again.
The English version is not really entirely English. Enough English is presented that the German in-between is clear enough to follow the story. However the German version is spoken clear without mumbling and lacks any slang that would force the casual follower to rush for a dictionary.
The basic story is as Federico Garcia Lorca describes in his play, "The butterfly's Evil Spell", death in disguise of love. Prof. Immanuel Rath (Emil Jannings), a person afraid of life, starts out to save his students, who want to embrace life, from a fate worse than death. In the process he meats an entertainer, Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich). She inadvertently is the instrument of the Professors downfall from grace.
The magic of the film is more in the telling of the story through acting, sound, and symbolism than the story its self.
The Ufa Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company 1918-1945
Blue Angel, The (Class. Film Scripts S)
Want to see more reviews on this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 77 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Falling Too Hard
This memorable, iconic film stars Marlene Dietrich as the showgirl Lola Lola, Emil Jannings as the Professor, and is directed by Josef von Sternberg. Read more
Published on July 1 2004 by Polkadotty
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Kino's best packages. A must for Marlene Fans!!!!!!!!
I like most the DVDs that Kino makes but I must say that this is their most impressive package. A two disk set, the features are marvelous, including both versions of the film... Read more
Published on April 21 2004 by J. A. Stankunas
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic of world cinema
A German cinema classic from the late Weimar-era, and the film debut of super-sexy Marlene Dietrich, who is stunning in her role as a flirtatious, heartless cabaret singer whose... Read more
Published on Sep 21 2003 by DJ Joe Sixpack
5.0 out of 5 stars
Never Fall in Love Again
A stunning film made famous by Marlene Dietrich but carried largely by the fantastic performance of Emil Jennings. Read more
Published on Jun 8 2003 by James Ferguson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great For Dietrich Fans
"The Blue Angel" tells the classic story of how the life of a college professor (Emil Jannings) is changed forever after he encounters a showgirl (Marlene Dietrich). Read more
Published on May 12 2003 by Ibochild
4.0 out of 5 stars
Maybe not a masterpiece . . .
This, no doubt, is the way to go if you're looking to buy The Blue Angel. The two-disc set has both the original film - with English subtitles - and the remake of the film for... Read more
Published on July 3 2002 by Sean Gill
5.0 out of 5 stars
The "Stepping Stone" for Marlene Dietrich's World Conquest
Joseph von Sternberg 'packaged' his muse, Marlene Dietrich to become a world star with "The Blue Angel". Read more
Published on Dec 25 2001 by Michael Mathena
5.0 out of 5 stars
Falling in Love Again, Can't Help It!
I was thrilled to find out that The Blue Angel was to be released on DVD. I own a couple of copies on VHS, and while they're not the best quality, I figured they were the best I... Read more
Published on Dec 23 2001 by C. Tolley
4.0 out of 5 stars
Restored classic
The story, while interesting, features a very abrupt transition. One day, the protagonist is a rigid, somewhat sadistic professor, the next he's in a state of complete ruin and... Read more
Published on Dec 20 2001 by Culbert Laney
4.0 out of 5 stars
Kino's 2-disc DVD version
Relative newcomer Marlene Dietrich's electrifying performance in the 1930 sound film THE BLUE ANGEL overshadows the perhaps even greater performance by Emil Jannings as a... Read more
Published on Dec 12 2001 by keviny01
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
