Customer Reviews

German Horror Classics (Nosferatu (1922) / The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari / Waxworks / The Golem)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Silence is golden, and no one proves that more that Kino, the most important leader in silent films on video. Now available are these German greats, masterpieces of the German Expressionism that have been digitally remastered from 35mm archival materials and that feature new period subtitles. "Caligari" (our fave here) is color-tinted and contains the rarely-seen thriller "Genuine: A Tale of a Vampire." Art doesn't get more genuine than these.

Cannot wax too profusely about this unique collection - it's for the sserious film student to behold - and perhaps for the not too serious - just to see 'how it was all done' with minimum effect.

Numerous extras including choice of soundtracks, etc. Absolutely a 'must have' - especially since it contains rarely viewed "The Golem" [strangely pertinent today] and the original "Waxworks".

Pity that this landmark studio is now potentially marked for destruction - ah progress!

I am not going to comment on the films individually here, other than to mention that I was ecstatic to find that Kino made Art Zoyd's "Nosferatu" soundtrack available as an alternative on the "Nosferatu" DVD. I have had the Art Zoyd "Nosferatu" CD since it was first released, and found it to be quite a chilling musical score. It is very satisfying now to finally see it as an *actual* score along with the movie.

All of the discs seem to have very clean transfers. I do not have the luxury or experience to do a first-hand comparison of the various releases and transfers, but watching these DVDs the image is as clean as one could expect from films from the 1920's. It seems evident to me that care and not insignificant research was put into each DVD. I have very much enjoyed viewing all of the movies in the set. (Now, onto Murnau's Faust! And the soon-to-be-re-released Metropolis, also from Kino.)