(aka "The Blue Angel" )

 

directed by Josef von Sternberg
Germany 1930
 One of the earliest "talkie" films, Director Josef von Sternberg’s The Blue Angel introduced American audiences to German femme fatale Marlene Dietrich. Actually, the film was released right after Dietrich’s Hollywood debut in Morocco, also directed by Josef von Sternberg and featuring a young Gary Cooper.

Ironically, veteran German actor and Academy Award winner Emil Jannings’ was the "star" of The Blue Angel, however the German bombshell stole the picture right out from under him. Clearly, Jannings had nothing to offer compared to the sight of Dietrich adjusting her panties on camera.

On the surface the story is a simple one — about the ruin and degradation of a respected high school professor by an erotic but disreputable cabaret singer, Lola Lola, but there is more: Subsequent history has shown The Blue Angel to be a fascinating documentary of the decadence of the fast-evaporating post-WWI Weimar Republic that would come crashing down with the advent of Adolph Hitler in 1933. Professor Rath (Emil Jannings) represents the staid German tradition while decadent Lola Lola represents the perilous forces that will bring Germany to her knees in the not-too-distant future. For another look at this interesting time period, the viewer is directed to the excellent Cabaret starring Liza Minelli.

Excerpt from George Chabot's review located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 1 April 1930

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Kino (USA) (German + English versions) - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German + English versions) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman and Pavel Borodin for the Screen Caps!

(Kino (USA) (German + English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German + English Version) - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

 

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)

  GERMAN VERSION ENGLISH VERSION
Distribution

Kino (USA)

Region 0 - NTSC

 BMG Video (Germany)
Region 2 - PAL		 Kino (USA)
Region 0 - NTSC		 BMG Video (Germany)
Region 2 - PAL
Runtime 1:42:09 1:42:20 1:40:03 1:40:12
Video

1.19:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.71 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.19:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.76 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.19:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.57 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.19:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.57 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes
Bitrate:

Kino  (German Version)

.

Bitrate:

 

BMG Video  (German Version)

 

Bitrate:

 

Kino  (English Version)

 

Bitrate:

 

BMG  (English Version)

 

(Kino (USA) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BMG Video (Germany) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT )

Audio German (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) on German version

English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) on English version

German (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) on German version

 

English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono) on English version
Subtitles English, none (on German version)

None on English version

 German, none (on German version)

None on English version
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino (USA)

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.19:1

Edition Details:
• Two-disc set
• Original and restored German version of the feature with English subtitles
• Commentary by Werner Sudendorf of the Berlin Film Museum
• Original and reissue trailers
• Marlene Dietrich's 1930 screen test for The Blue Angel
• Concert footage from two different Dietrich performances, including three songs
• Filmed interview (2 min.)
• 41 biographies of all key cast and production staff
• Chronicles about the history of the production by Werner Sudendorf
• Photo gallery, including behind-the-scenes stills, costume illustrations, and posters

DVD Release Date: November 27, 2001
Keep Case

Chapters 21

Release Information:
Studio: BMG Video (Germany)

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.19:1

Edition Details:
• Two-disc set
• Original and restored German version of the feature with English subtitles
• Commentary by Werner Sudendorf of the Berlin Film Museum
• Original and reissue trailers
• Marlene Dietrich's 1930 screen test for The Blue Angel
• Concert footage from two different Dietrich performances, including three songs
• Filmed interview (2 min.)
• 41 biographies of all key cast and production staff
• Chronicles about the history of the production by Werner Sudendorf
• Photo gallery, including behind-the-scenes stills, costume illustrations, and posters
 

DVD Release Date: 26. November 2001
Keep Case

Chapters 21

 

Comments These two editions are almost identical. Both include same special features (except for the commentary by Werner Sudendorf, which is in German on BMG disc and in English on Kino disc) and have same menus (except for their language). Also, the Kino edition is subtitled in English, while BMG has German subtitles.

Both editions include two discs with the German and English versions of the movie, which are very similar, but not identical, since many scenes were shot separately in German and English languages.

Both German discs seem to be very slightly sharper and contrast. The runtimes on PAL discs are almost the same as the ones on the corresponding NTSC discs, which could be an evidence of PAL to NTSC transfer.

In Britain Eureka has published the 2xDVD set with exactly the same features.

 - Pavel Borodin

Associated Reading  (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

 
German Version DVD Menus

(Kino (USA) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BMG Video (Germany) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT )
 

 

 

 
English Version DVD Menus

(Kino (USA) - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. BMG Video (Germany) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT )

 

 

 

Screen Captures

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)
 

 

 

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

 

(Kino (USA) (German Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. BMG Video (Germany) (German Version) - Region 2 - PAL - 2nd vs. Kino (USA) (English Version) - Region 0 - NTSC - 3rd vs. BMG Video (Germany) (English Version) - Region 2 - PAL BOTTOM)

 

 

 

DVD Box Covers

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

 

Image:

BMG Video (slightly)

Sound:

same
Extras: same
Menu: same




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Many Thanks...he Blue Angel - Der Blaue Engel DVD Review