|
|
Raymond Bernard - Eclipse Series 4
Wooden Crosses (1932) Les misérables (1934)
One of the greatest and least-known directors of all time, Raymond Bernard
helped shape French cinema, at the dawn of the sound era, into a truly
formidable industry. Typical of films from this period, Bernard's dazzling
dramas painted intimate melodrama on epic-scale canvases. These two
masterpieces—the wrenching World War I tragedy Wooden Crosses and a
mammoth, nearly five-hour Les misérables, widely considered the greatest
film adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel—exemplify the formal and narrative
brilliance of an unjustly overshadowed cinematic trailblazer.
Titles
 |
 |
 |
|
Wooden Crosses (1932) -
Hailed by the New York Times on its Paris release as "one of the great films in
motion picture history," Raymond Bernard's Wooden Crosses, France's answer to
All Quiet on the Western Front, still stuns with its depiction of the
travails of one French regiment during World War I. Using a masterful arsenal of
film techniques, from haunting matte paintings to jarring documentary-like
camerawork in the film's battle sequences, Bernard created a pacifist work of
enormous empathy and chilling despair. No one who has ever seen this technical
and emotional powerhouse has been able to forget it. |
Posters
 |
 |
Theatrical Releases: 1932 - 1934
DVD Review: Eclipse Series Four from the Criterion Collection (3-disc) - Region 1 - NTSC
|
DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
| Distribution | Eclipse / Criterion Collection - Region 1 - NTSC | |
| Time: | Respectively - 1:53:32, 1:49:52, 1:25:21 + 1:26:36 | |
| Bitrate: Wooden Crosses |
 |
|
| Bitrate: Les misérables (part 1) |
 |
|
| Bitrate: Les misérables (part 2 + 3) |
 |
|
| Audio | French (original mono) | |
| Subtitles | English, None | |
| Features |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• one page (for each film) of liner notes in the
transparent case
|
|
|
|
|
| Comments: |
NOTE: The 2 feature films of this boxset are housed in individual transparent keep cases (slim for Wooden Crosses and a double for Les mis) they are not sold separately at this time. These particular editions can only be obtained in Criterion's Eclipse Series Four - Raymond Bernard package at present.All three DVDs are dual-layered and, unfortunately for some, 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 original 1.33 aspect ratio. The audio for all is original mono French and there are optional English subtitles. The Pathé logo starts each film so we can assume that is the transfer source.
Wooden Crosses (1932) - Although it is the older of the two films it looks surprisingly strong. There is some contrast flickering and damage marks, but detail and grey scale are excellent. The image is on the dark side. If I have a complaint it would be about the audio which is not as consistent as we have been accustomed to from Criterion - there are many instances of background hiss and I'll assume that it was unavoidable from the source. There are optional English subtitles and the film is a genuine masterpiece. Comparisons to All Quiet on the Western Front are accurate. A fabulous cinema experience that I am so glad to have been able to see.
Les misérables (1934) - Firstly - everything you may have heard about this film version of Hugo's novel is true; it is awe inspiring. I was riveted for the entire, nearly, 5 hours. It is filled with beauty and depth - almost hard to believe it was made over 70 years ago.
The transfer looks very professional and although the image and audio quality is not perfect by any means - it was adept enough for me to swoon over the film. Criterion's hallmark remains their contrast. I'll assume there was some black level boosting which brings out detail to a higher standard. It has some damage but none extensive enough to impinge upon viewing, and the digital noise is fine enough to resemble grain. I watched it on a plasma television and it appeared quite wonderful considering the films age.
As standard for Eclipse there are no digital supplements but some liner notes readable through the keep case cover (for Wooden Crosses) and a 4 page leaflet in the Les mis box. For the price I consider this a must-own DVD package. I don't know where you will see these films, looking this good, for the total price of less than $25 (currently 37% off at the time of this writing). Really - it is a ridiculous bargain in my mind. Les Mis fans maybe especially be keen for much more from just a historical viewpoint - this film eclipses (no pun intended) any version, live, musical or other, that I have seen. Highly recommended! |
DVD Menus
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Slim Transparent Keep Case Cover
|
|
Directed by Raymond Bernard
Starring Gabriel Gabrio, Charles Vanel, Raymond Aimos and Antonin Artaud
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Double Transparent Keep Case Cover
|
|
Les Misérables (1934)
Starring Harry Baur, Charles Vanel, Paul Azaïs, Max Dearly, Charles Dullin and Émile Genevois
Disc 1 (Part 1)
Subtitle Sample
|
|
Screen Captures
|
|
|
|
|
|
Les Misérables (1934)
Disc 2 (Part 2 and 3)
Subtitle Sample
|
|
Screen Captures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| DVD Box Cover |
|
CLICK to order from:
|
| Distribution | Eclipse / Criterion Collection - Region 1 - NTSC | |
DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive and advertisement free:
Mail cheques, money orders, cash to: or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!
|
Gary Tooze 1775 Rowntree Court Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 4V3 CANADA |
|
Thank You!
