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Early Bergman
Torment (1944)
Crisis (1946) Port of Call (1948)
Thirst (1949) To Joy (1949)
Before The Seventh Seal and Wild Strawberries established him as one of the great masters of cinema, Ingmar Bergman created a series of less well known, devastating psychological character studies, marked by intricate, layered narratives, gritty environments, and haunting visuals. These early films, which show the stirrings of the genius to come, remain the hidden treasures of a European cinema on the cusp of a golden age.
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Titles
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Torment (1944) |
Posters
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Theatrical Releases: 1944 - 1949
DVD Review: Eclipse Series One from the Criterion Collection (5-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC
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DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution | Eclipse / Criterion Collection - Region 1 - NTSC | |
Time: | Respectively - 1:41:15, 1:32:51, 1:37:21, 1:24:21 and 1:38:57 | |
Bitrate: Torment |
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Bitrate: Crisis |
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Bitrate: Port of Call |
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Bitrate: Thirst |
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Bitrate: To Joy |
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Audio | Swedish (original mono) NOTE: There is some German in Thirst. | |
Subtitles | English, None | |
Features |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• one page (for each film) of liner notes in the
transparent case
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Comments: |
NOTE: The 5 main features of this boxset are housed in individual slim transparent keep cases (see images above) they are not sold separately at this time. These NTSC editions can only be obtained in Criterion's Eclipse Series One package at present. All five DVDs are dual-layered and are NOT pictureboxed transferred (see our full description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review). Each are coded for Region 1 in the NTSC standard. The transfers are progressive and in the 1.33 aspect ratio. The audio is in original Swedish mono and there are optional English subtitles. Bitrates are very strong ranging from from 7.96 MPS to 8.35 MPS. Aside from one page liner notes for each film (visible on the inner case sleeve through the transparent case cover) there are no supplements. All 5 of these films have been previously available on DVD from Tartan in the UK. We have only compared one still below, from 'Crisis', but if that is any indication - the Eclipse image transfers are a significant improvement. We may add more to this review as we become in possession of the PAL editions. The sound is original mono but dialogue is clear and quite audible - I noted a couple of instances of softened pops, but overall it is good. The screen captures below are a good representation of the image quality. Torment, Crisis and To Joy look the best although still show some very infrequent damage (see last image of Torment) - mostly in the form of light scratches or speckles. Thirst has some minor issues with flickering contrast. I would say the Mission Statement description on the back of the boxset is very accurate: "Eclipse is a selection of lost, forgotten, or overshadowed classics in simple, affordable editions. Each series is a brief cinematheque retrospective for the adventurous home viewer." Having never seen an 'Eclipse' release I can tell you that my expectations were exceeded and I was very impressed with the package as a whole. The lack of supplements also help one realize and appreciate the, often painstakingly obtained, extras frequently included on Criterion DVDs. To get dual-layered DVD transfer of these masterwork films so competently rendered at a purchase price of about $10 each is indeed a ridiculous bargain. NOTE: I just looked at the Tartan R2 UK editions of To Joy, Crisis and Thirst (Three Strange Loves) on Amazon.UK. Each is selling new for £19.99 ($39 US X 3 = $117) and you can those three and two others for only $53 total at Amazon.com in this Eclipse Series One. |
DVD Menus
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Slim Transparent Keep Case Cover
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Screen Captures
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Slim Transparent Keep Case Cover
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Screen Captures
Crisis (1946) aka 'Kris'
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Starring Wiktor Andersson, Anna-Lisa Baude and Allan Bohlin
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Tartan Video (Bergman Collection) - Region 0 - PAL TOP vs. Eclipse (Early Bergman) - Region 1 - NTSC BOTTOM
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Slim Transparent Keep Case Cover
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Screen Captures
Port of Call (1948) aka 'Hamnstad'
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Starring Nine-Christine Jönsson, Bengt Eklund, Mimi Nelson and Berta Hall
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Thirst (1949) aka 'Törst ' or 'Three Strange Loves'
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Starring Eva Henning, Birger Malmsten, Birgit Tengroth and Hasse Ekman
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To Joy (1949) aka 'Till glädje'
Directed by Ingmar Bergman
Starring Maj-Britt Nilsson, Stig Olin, Birger Malmsten and John Ekman
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