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(aka "Whirlpool of Fate" )
Whirlpool of Fate (1925) is Jean Renoir’s debut feature, a lyrical tale of the tragic life of an orphan girl. An independent feature shot on family friend Paul Cézanne’s property, La Nicotiere, it is a dreamy episodic melodrama that follows the poor girl as she endures the loss of her father, the abuse of her alcoholic uncle, and a perilous fall down a well that erases her memory and triggers surreal dreams. *** Jean Renoir's directional debut and first silent film stars his wife, Catherine Hessling, as a young girl who manages to turn her tragic family life into one of joy and happiness. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: March 20th, 1925
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Lionsgate (Jean Renoir - 3-Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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Distribution | Lionsgate - Region 1 - NTSC | Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:11:06 | 1:23:12.416 |
Video |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.86 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,559,141,290 bytes Feature: 22,468,202,496 bytes Video Bitrate: 32.46 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Audio | Dolby Digital 2.0 |
DTS-HD Master
Audio English 1018 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1018 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 /
48 kHz / 384 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 720 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 720 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 384 kbps / 16-bit) |
Subtitles | English, None | English, None |
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Release
Information: Studio: Studio Canal, Lionsgate Aspect Ratio: Edition Details:
none Chapters 20 |
Release Information: Studio: Kino
1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 24,559,141,290 bytes Feature: 22,468,202,496 bytes Video Bitrate: 32.46 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: • Audio commentary by film critic Nick Pinkerton
Chapters 10 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (July 2021): Kino have transferred Jean Renoir's Whirlpool of Fate to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Presented in a beautiful new 4K restoration". An opening text screen states "The elements which were used for the restoration of this film are preserved by the Cinémathèque française." We commented in the DVD review about the boosting and lack of extras. The heightening of the contrast of the SD transfers (see the third matched capture below) don't do the visuals any favors losing detail. It is also significantly cropped as compared to this new 1080P. The Blu-ray is duller but is a notable improvement with almost 8 X the bitrate. This looked wonderful on my system - consistent, still occasional marks (albeit fewer), frame-rate adjustment, but a stronger, 4K-restored, transfer - far more worthy of Jean Renoir's first-released film Whirlpool of Fate. NOTE: We have added 18 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master stereo track (24-bit) with music composed and performed by Antonio Coppola. This sounds excellent adding to Whirlpool of Fate's impressions as cinema. Kino offer optional English subtitles, over French intertitles, on their Region 'A' Blu-ray. The Kino Blu-ray offers a commentary by film critic Nick Pinkerton. He is, as usual, excellent drawing upon sources like Andre Bazin's books on Renoir, Pascal Merigeau's biography of the director as well as Renior's biography My Life and My Films. It is essential listening and will advance understanding and appreciation. Jean Renoir's Whirlpool of Fate is fascinating. It's a film starring his wife Catherine Hessling. As Dave Kehr describes "...that follows the dreams and adventures of an orphan who escapes the advances of her uncle by hiding in a Gypsy camp. The results are more pictorial than most of later Renoir—he saw the film largely as an opportunity to experiment with various visual effects—but full of charm and poetry". It extends beyond Silent Era fans and the Kino Blu-ray with Pinkerton commentary should be considered mandatory for keen cinephiles everywhere. Strongly recommended! |
Menus / Extras
Lionsgate - Region 1 - NTSC
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Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Lionsgate - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Lionsgate - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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1) Lionsgate - Region 1 - NTSC TOP 2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
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Distribution | Lionsgate - Region 1 - NTSC | Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
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