NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (January 2024): Indicator have transferred Josef von Sternberg's An American Tragedy to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "2019 restoration from a 4K scan". The image quality looks remarkable considering the 90+-year age of the film. There are speckles and frame-specific marks but rich grain and highly pleasing contrast in the 1080P. The aspect ratio clocks in at 1.20:1. Certain outdoor scenes are surprising in their appealing visual appearance. I was impressed with the video and, especially the film.

NOTE: We have added 44 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Indicator use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the original English language. An American Tragedy has few aggressive moments and suffers from its early production roots. It sounded fairly clear with easily discernable dialogue. The score was by John Leipold (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dangerous to Know, King of Chinatown, Christmas in July, The Devil is a Woman, The Flying Deuces, Duck Soup.) and Ralph Rainger (Torch Singer, City Streets, 1932's A Farewell to Arms) sounding a bit tinny but clean in the uncompressed transfer. Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B' Blu-ray.

The Indicator Blu-ray offers a new commentary by film historian Josh Nelson. He discusses the films being made in the transition of silent to talkie, the Hayes Code - being banned in certain locations, von Sternberg's collaborations with Marlene Dietrich, he mentions content from Josef von Sternberg’s memoir Fun in a Chinese Laundry - which he strongly recommends, as well as reads reviews of the day, discusses the opening text; "Dedicated to the army of men and women all over the world who have tried to make life better for youth" as a concession to the censors, comments on Sternberg art director Hans Dreier (whose last film was A Place in the Sun) and much more... There is 1.5 hours of audio from 1958 or Lee Garmes Oral History playing to the film - it is a rare archival audio recording of the cinematographer in conversation with George Pratt. An American Picture is a new (2023) 1/2 hour discussion of An American Tragedy by the writer and film programmer Tony Rayns. Nurture & Nature is a new 8-minute video essay by un-retired film historian Tag Gallagher - great job Tag! The disc has Indicator's usual image gallery of promotional and publicity materials and the package has a limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Imogen Sara Smith, Jeff Billington on Sergei Eisenstein’s proposed Hollywood adaptation of An American Tragedy, extracts from Josef von Sternberg’s memoir Fun in a Chinese Laundry, an archival article on Theodore Dreiser’s response to the film, and film credits.

Josef von Sternberg's An American Tragedy was based on the 1925 novel by American writer Theodore Dreiser which, in turn, was based on the notorious murder of Grace Brown in 1906 and the trial of her lover, Chester Gillette. Dreiser strongly disapproved of the 1931 film with von Sternberg's adaptation rejecting attributing protagonist Clyde Griffiths' scheming behavior to a capitalist system and a strict religious upbringing. Dreiser's book was banned in certain locations due to its sexual content, abortion, murder element and adult themes. The 1951 Paramount Pictures film A Place in the Sun, directed by George Stevens and starring Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, and Shelley Winters, was also based on this novel, or more the Patrick Kearney play adapted from the novel. While considered a Pre-Code film, there was acquiescence to the censors but it still deals with taboo topics of the era infused with crime, romance and social climbing. I really enjoyed it. Sylvia Sidney (Roberta) gives and memorable performance. The Indicator Blu-ray is at their usual high standard - an excellent presentation, commentary, video essay, Rayns, booklet and more. Strongly recommended!

Gary Tooze