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The Tiger of Eschnapur    /     The Indian Tomb

(aka 'Tiger of Bengal" or "La Tigre di Eschnapur" or "Le Tigre du Bengale')

 

 http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/lang.htm

West Germany / France / Italy 1959

 

Fritz Lang returned to Germany on the eve of the 1960s to direct this enchanted penultimate work, a redraft of the diptych form pioneered in such silent Lang classics as Die Spinnen; Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler.; and Die Nibelungen. Although no encapsulating title was lent at the time of release to what is, effectively, a single 3-hour-plus film split in two, the work that has come to be referred to in modern times as “the Indian epic” (consisting of Der Tiger von Eschnapur and Das indische Grabmal) proved to be one of the legendary director’s most adventurous achievements. It was also one of the most popular successes Lang was to experience in his native land.

A German architect (Paul Hubschmid) is commissioned by an Indian maharaja (Walter Reyer) to construct a temple on his palatial grounds. After saving the life of a bewitching dancer (Debra Paget) on whom the maharaja has spousal designs, the hero is pulled ever deeper into a hazardous maze of traps, perhaps the purest realisation of Lang’s obsession with a labyrinthine ‘house of death’ – that is, Man challenging Fate.

Like Lang’s following final work Die 1000 Augen des Dr. Mabuse, the Indian epic charts new territory for the director, as it strikes out into the über-melodramatic tenor of his early silents while inciting the colours of the emulsion into adopting a lurid, sometimes gaseous palette. Arriving in the wake of The River (Renoir), India matri bhumi (Rossellini), and Black Narcissus (Powell & Pressburger), Lang’s Indian epic stands among the remarkable mid-century contributions of Western filmmakers who have contemplated India. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Lang’s films on DVD in the UK for the first time.

Posters

Theatrical Release: January 22nd, 1959

Reviews      More Reviews      DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC RIGHT

 

Dist. Image Entertainment / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC Masters of Cinema - Spine # 106-107 Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:40:33  1:40:36
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.92 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s		 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.12 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: Image

Bitrate: Masters of Cinema

Audio German (Dolby Digital 2.0) , DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  German (Dolby Digital 2.0) , DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0) 
Subtitles English, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Image Entertainment / Fantoma

Aspect Ratio:  1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Photo gallery

• 6-page liner notes with essay by Tom Gunning

DVD Release Date: February 11th, 2003
Keep Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Masters of Cinema

Aspect Ratio:  1.33:1

Edition Details:

• New and exclusive feature-length audio commentaries, for both Der Tiger von Eschnapur and Das indische Grabmal, by film scholar David Kalat
• 20-minute documentary on the making of the Indian epic
• Three minutes of vintage 8mm footage shot on location by actress Sabine Bethmann
• The original French trailers for both Der Tiger von Eschnapur and Das indische Grabmal
• A lengthy booklet containing an essay on the films by Lang scholar Tom Gunning (The Films of Fritz Lang: Allegories of Vision and Modernity); excerpts from interviews with Fritz Lang about the film; and more!

DVD Release Date: April 18th, 2011
Chapters: 16

 

Comments:

ADDITION: Masters of Cinema - (April 2011): We shouldn't have to say too much. There doesn't appear to be any differences in the, still, excellent video quality. It remains incredibly impressive visually - the top tier of the SD format showing excellent colors and even some depth uncharacteristic of that format.

Audio offers the original German (defaults to) and the English DUB made for overseas distribution. There are optional English subtitles - again, not DUB-titles. The English credit sequence is an option.

Aside from the fact that the out-of-print Fantoma is asking exorbitant prices by third party sellers - the MoC offers fabulous commentaries by David Kalat, a 20-minute documentary (German with English subtitles) on the 'Making of...' The Indian Epic, 3 minutes of vintage 8mm footage shot on location by actress Sabine Bethmann plus original French trailers for both Der Tiger von Eschnapur and Das indische Grabmal and lastly a lengthy booklet containing an essay on the films by Lang scholar Tom Gunning (The Films of Fritz Lang: Allegories of Vision and Modernity); excerpts from interviews with Fritz Lang about the film etc.

Magnificent! - Masters of Cinema have done it again - the easiest DVD purchase of the year!

***

ON THE FANTOMA: Admittedly my memory is not what it used to be, but I suggest to you that this is the best image of a film on DVD pre-1960 that I can recall in recent reviewing. It is flawlessly sharp with bursting colors (that tiger capture below looks like it might jump right off the screen!). Seamlessly branched after the initial credits to show the same film with optional original German or English dubbed audio. NOTE: the DUB and English subtitles do not match. We of course suggest the original (mostly) German audio. Extras include a digital photo gallery with behind-the-scenes shots and posters. out of

NOTE: This Boxset is 'unavailable' in many Online locations. I wouldn't delay - it will fetch big bucks very soon.

Gary W. Tooze

 

DVD Menus
Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC


 

Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

 

 

Dist. Image Entertainment / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC Masters of Cinema - Spine # 106-107 Region 0 - NTSC

(aka 'Il Sepolcro indiano" or "The Indian Tomb')

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/lang.htm
West Germany / France / Italy 1959

 

Fritz Lang returned to Germany on the eve of the 1960s to direct this enchanted penultimate work, a redraft of the diptych form pioneered in such silent Lang classics as Die Spinnen; Dr. Mabuse, der Spieler.; and Die Nibelungen. Although no encapsulating title was lent at the time of release to what is, effectively, a single 3-hour-plus film split in two, the work that has come to be referred to in modern times as “the Indian epic” (consisting of Der Tiger von Eschnapur and Das indische Grabmal) proved to be one of the legendary director’s most adventurous achievements. It was also one of the most popular successes Lang was to experience in his native land.

A German architect (Paul Hubschmid) is commissioned by an Indian maharaja (Walter Reyer) to construct a temple on his palatial grounds. After saving the life of a bewitching dancer (Debra Paget) on whom the maharaja has spousal designs, the hero is pulled ever deeper into a hazardous maze of traps, perhaps the purest realisation of Lang’s obsession with a labyrinthine ‘house of death’ – that is, Man challenging Fate.

Like Lang’s following final work Die 1000 Augen des Dr. Mabuse, the Indian epic charts new territory for the director, as it strikes out into the über-melodramatic tenor of his early silents while inciting the colours of the emulsion into adopting a lurid, sometimes gaseous palette. Arriving in the wake of The River (Renoir), India matri bhumi (Rossellini), and Black Narcissus (Powell & Pressburger), Lang’s Indian epic stands among the remarkable mid-century contributions of Western filmmakers who have contemplated India. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Lang’s films on DVD in the UK for the first time.

Posters etc.

NOTE: "Journey to the Lost City" (poster right) was the US condensed 90 minute version of the two films.

Theatrical Release: March 5th, 1959

Reviews         More Reviews       DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC RIGHT

 

 
Dist. Image Entertainment / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC Masters of Cinema - Spine # 106-107 Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:41:18  1:41:18 
Video 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.46 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s		 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 7.66 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: Image

Bitrate: Masters of Cinema

Audio German (Dolby Digital 2.0) , DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)  German (Dolby Digital 2.0) , DUB: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles English, None English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Image Entertainment / Fantoma

Aspect Ratio:  1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Photo gallery

• 6-page liner notes with essay by Tom Gunning

DVD Release Date: February 11th, 2003
Keep Case
Chapters: 16

Release Information:
Studio: Masters of Cinema

Aspect Ratio:  1.33:1

Edition Details:

• New and exclusive feature-length audio commentaries, for both Der Tiger von Eschnapur and Das indische Grabmal, by film scholar David Kalat
• 20-minute documentary on the making of the Indian epic
• Three minutes of vintage 8mm footage shot on location by actress Sabine Bethmann
• The original French trailers for both Der Tiger von Eschnapur and Das indische Grabmal
• A lengthy booklet containing an essay on the films by Lang scholar Tom Gunning (The Films of Fritz Lang: Allegories of Vision and Modernity); excerpts from interviews with Fritz Lang about the film; and more!

DVD Release Date: April 18th, 2011
Chapters: 16




DVD Menus

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC RIGHT

 

 

Subtitle Sample

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

1) Image / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC TOP
2) Masters of Cinema - Region 0 - NTSC BOTTOM

 

More Masters of Cinema Captures

 
Dist. Image Entertainment / Fantoma - Region 0 - NTSC Masters of Cinema - Spine # 106-107 Region 0 - NTSC




 

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Gary Tooze

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