Ingmar Bergman's - The Serpent's Egg - MGM Region 1 NTSC Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review Ingmar Bergman The Serpent's Egg DVD Review

(aka "Das Schlangenei")

USA / West Germany 1977

Ingmar Bergman comes very close to camp in this 1977 study of life (or lack thereof) in the decaying Berlin of the 20s--how else to take exchanges like "Go to hell!" "Where do you think we are?" David Carradine and Liv Ullmann suffer mightily and at length, but the unmitigated anguish has no shape or substance, apart from pointing out that Nazis and their progenitors were not nice people. To that extent, it's simply exploitative.

Excerpt of Dave Kehr's Chicago Reader comments located here

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Theatrical Release: October 28th, 1977 - Sweden

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DVD Review: MGM - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
	or buy the 6-disc Ingmar Bergman Special Edition DVD Collection (Persona / Shame / Hour of the Wolf / The Passion of Anna / The Serpent's Egg)
Distribution	MGM Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:59:12
Video	1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.38 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, French, Spanish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: MGM Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.66:1 Edition Details: Original English audio Commentary by David Carradine "Away from Home" featurette (19:32) "German Expressionism" featurette (5:35) Photo gallery (47 in click-thru slideshow) Original theatrical trailer (widescreen, unrestored 3:18) DVD Release Date: February 10th, 2004 Keep Case Chapters: 24

Comments:

It should be noted here the events that have transpired in regards to the MGM Boxset - originally scheduled for release on February 10th, 2004. Two of the 5 films, Shame and Hour of the Wolf, were not originally set in their proper aspect ratio of 1.37:1, but altered to 1.66:1. The Internet community banded together to voice their displeasure at this bastardization, and MGM have showed they were listening and are making amends by delaying the Boxset citing problems with "two of the films". More information can be found HERE. I am unsure if the other three films in the Boxset will be available individually, but I was fortunate enough to get my hands on this copy prior to the MGM announcement.

Although The Serpent's Egg DVD shows some good film grain, I don't think its quite as sharp as The Passion of Anna. This non-anamorphic image is acceptable, but not stellar. I found no instances of dirt or debris and the aspect ratio appears to be maintained. I am slightly concerned, as with Passion, in the redness of the skin tones which again appears to be present. Contrast is good and there is no visible signs of digital manipulation. There are some plentiful, if weak at times, Extras with two short featurettes, a commentary, a trailer and a photo gallery. out of

Gary W. Tooze

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DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
	or buy the 6-disc Ingmar Bergman Special Edition DVD Collection (Persona / Shame / Hour of the Wolf / The Passion of Anna / The Serpent's Egg)
Distribution	MGM Region 1 - NTSC

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Gary Tooze

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Mississauga, Ontario,

L4W 4V3 CANADA