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Carl Theodor Dreyer Collection Blu-ray (4-disc/ 3 BDs - one DVD)
Master of the House (1925) Good Mothers (1942) Day of Wrath (1943) The Fight Against Cancer (1947)
The Village Church (1947) They Caught the Ferry (1948) Thorsvaldsen (1949) Storstrom Bridge (1950)
A Castle Within a Castle (1955) Ordet (1955) Gertrud (1964)
Denmark 19
| Carl Theodor Dreyer is one of world cinema's most enduringly praised filmmakers. His visually arresting, intensely austere style has been a major influence on Lars von Trier, amongst others. This strictly limited edition 3-disc Blu-ray box set, (plus a bonus DVD of extra material) presents a number of his most revered films alongside some of his lesser-known works, and an extensive selection of extra features. |
BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
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I will try to make individual comemnts below, but as the package is already available I will start with this OVERVIEW:
This Dreyer Collection package from the BFI is amazingly deep! I have compared/reviewed each individual disc below with disc technicals and screen captures. The boxset consists of:
Blu-ray Disc 1 has both an alternative English and the Danish inter-title versions of Master of the House both in 1080P at 24 frames-per-second (the Criterion is in 1080i). I had a devil of a time comparing to the Criterion Blu-ray because I *think* the Criterion may be a mix of the two versions. I can't be sure - but certain scenes are different and on the BFI dual-layered Blu-ray are two different versions (not seamlessly-branched), I can't be 100% but this is my impression. The only supplement on disc 1 is a 3.5-minute restoration demonstration.
Blu-ray Disc 2 has Day or Wrath and Ordet - and an alternative English version of Day of Wrath - although in this case in appears to be seamlessly branched with opening titles (and language) the only difference. Extras includes the previousa commentary by Casper Tybjerg on Day or Wrath (with optional English subtitles - sample below) found on the older BFI DVD as well as a revealing 20-minute video essay on Day of Wrath by film critic Tag Gallagher entitled The Cross and recorded in 2009. Lastly on this BD disc is Ordet Og Lyset the 1/2 hour, 2001, Helga Theilgaard documentary about cinematographer Henning Bendtsen and the making of Ordet - also found on the 2006 BFI DVD.
Blu-ray Disc 3 has Gertrud in 1.66:1 (dual-layered - max'ed out bitrate) and seven other Dreyer films; Good Mothers (1942), The Fight Against Cancer (1947), The Village Church (1947), They Caught the Ferry (1948), Thorsvaldsen (1949), Storstrom Bridge (1950) and A Castle Within a Castle (1955.) All 'shorts' are in HD (either 1080i or 1080P). This last of the three Blu-rays also included an 8-minute interview with Carl Th. Dreyer by Julian Jebb from 1965. It is in English and, hence, quite rare. We also get the 1/2 hour 1994 documentary on the making of Gertrud entitled Carl Th. Dreyer und Gertrud by Christine Habich, Reinhard Wulf.
The PAL DVD is a doozy - it has so much on it. See if I can get all this in. We get the full 1.5 hour My Métier documentary plus a trailer for the film. Then some great interview outtakes (about 1 1/4 hour) from that documentary. 8 in-depth interviews with Dreyer collaborators Henning Bendesten, Birgitte Federspiel, Preben, Lendorff Rye, Jorgen Roos, Helene Falconetti, Lisbeth Movin, Baard Owe and Axel Strebye. Then from DR Danish television archive (1965-68) we get 15-minutes worth of rare Dreyer footage and interviews with Henning Bendtsen, Brigitte Federspiel and Preben Lerdorff Rye plus Jørgen Roos archive (1949-65, 7 mins) which include a selection of Dreyer related archival material (Dreyer Visits America, Shooting Gertrud, Gertrud Paris Premiere and outtakes of a Jørgen Roos interview with Dreyer from 1965.) Lastly, are some audio extras and a stills gallery with an 8-minute discussion from Ove Brusendorff of the Danish Film Museum (audio only) and an archival recording in which the manager of the Danish Film Museum appraises Dreyer. The gallery is 11-minutes long entitled An Introduction to the Films of Carl Th. Dreyer by Henning Camre where the director of the Danish Film Institute discusses Dreyer to a backdrop of film posters and stills.
All the Dreyer-film HD transfers are in 1080P and have lossless audio and optional English subtitles. The Blu-rays are region 'B' and the DVD is PAL region 2, 7 and 8 with English subtitles for the Danish dialogue. |
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Title (above) 1) Blu-rays - TOP 2) BFI - English Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
(aka 'The Master of the House')
Denmark 1925
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In Master of the House, the failure of his small business turns Victor
(Johannes Meyer) into a household tyrant, constantly complaining and criticizing
his long-suffering family and eventually driving out his saintly wife Ida
(Astrid Holm) to stay with relatives. His elderly Nanny Mads (Mathilde Nielsen)
assumes control and, under her firm tutelage, he comes to fully appreciate the
value of his wife. This is a charming, richly detailed tragi-comedy of domestic manners. By turns funny, intensely emotional and deeply affecting it clearly still enjoys considerable contemporary relevance. Dreyer compressed and clarified the stage play by Svend Rindom on which he based his film, making it a definitively cinematic rather than theatrical work. Master of the House was particularly successful in France where it was widely admired. It resulted in Dreyer being invited to work there and in the eventual commission of his first large budget film, The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928). As well as directing feature films, Dreyer was involved in 13 state-commissioned documentaries and short films up to 1956, on subjects ranging from art and architecture to road-safety. Two of his rare short films are featured on this DVD; Good Mothers, a documentary about the Mothers' Aid Institution and They Caught the Ferry, which was financed by the Road Safety Council and contains superb action sequences. |
Theatrical Release: October 5th, 1925
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
BFI - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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1) BFI - Region 2- PAL - LEFT 2) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT
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| Distribution | BFI Video - Region 2 - PAL | Criterion Collection, spine # 706 - Region 'A' - Blu-ray | BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
| Runtime | 1:33:09 | 1:47:11.525 |
Danish: 1:51:20.041 English: 1:51:52.416 |
| Video | 1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.4 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
Disc Size: 41,452,325,015 bytes Feature Size: 31,310,671,872 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.89 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080i |
Disc Size: 48,341,081,422 bytes Danish Feature Size: 23,866,792,320 bytes Average Bitrate: 24.95 Mbps
Dual-layered
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MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps English: Feature Size: 24,010,488,384 bytes
Average Bitrate: Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps |
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| Audio | Silent film - musical score in Dolby Digital 2.0 | LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit | Both: LPCM Audio Undetermined 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
| Subtitles | Intertitles are in English - no subtitles | Intertitles are in English - no subtitles |
Intertitles are in Danish on Danish version with
optional English subtitles Intertitles are in English on the English version with optional English subtitles |
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Release Information: Studio: BFI Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • My
Metier (Torben Skjødt Jensen, 1995, 94 mins) - a documentary on Dreyer's
life and work, including rare archival footage, film clips, interviews
with key actors and associates, stills, scripts, newspaper clippings,
letters and Dreyer's own words |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Disc Size: 41,452,325,015 bytes Feature Size: 31,310,671,872 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.89 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video 1080iEdition Details: • New
interview with Carl Theodor Dreyer historian Casper Tybjerg (15:27)
Blu-ray
Release Date:
April 22nd,
2014
Chapters 19 |
Release Information:
Disc Size: 48,341,081,422 bytes Danish Feature Size: 23,866,792,320 bytes Average Bitrate: 24.95 Mbps
Dual-layered
Blu-ray
MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps English: Feature Size: 24,010,488,384 bytes
Average Bitrate: Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps
Edition Details on Master of the House disc: • Restoration Demo (3:35)
Blu-ray Release Date: April 20th, 2015Custom Blu-ray Case Chapters 1 2 + 12
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NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' Blu-ray - April 2015: Please see our comments at the top of this page and view the screen captures for yourself. *** ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - March 2014': Criterion's new transfer (2K digital restoration) appears to be from a very different source than the BFI - there are a couple of DVD captures I could not match on the Blu-ray (see un-match-able example below.) The running time is different (beyond simple PAL speed-up) and according to IMDb the Criterion is the correct length. There is also the issue of information in the frame where the 1080i (interlaced, due to frame rate conversion?) shows significantly more. The textured Criterion also shows far less damage although flickering contrast still exists although not as noticeable as the UK SD. While easily indicating that the Criterion has superior video, the captures should indicate that the, almost 90-year old, image still has issues. I expect this is the very best I will ever see this Dreyer film!Criterion include a reconstructed score by composer Gillian B. Anderson, performed by pianist Sara Davis Buechner and presented in uncompressed stereo (linear PCM 2.0 channel at 2304 kbps.) It sounds excellent with apparent depth. Criterion have also retranslated the intertitles more completely and kept three original visuals of handwriting (in Danish) and given them English subtitles. The title (above) is also original Danish unlike the BFI. The Criterion Blu-ray is region 'A'-locked. Criterion provide a new, 15-minute, interview with Carl Theodor Dreyer historian Casper Tybjerg. He discusses how Master of the House went from being a popular stage play to a film, one that was a major stepping-stone in director Carl Theodor Dreyer's career. There is also a new, 23-minute, visual essay on Dreyer’s innovations by film historian David Bordwell where he examines the cinematic techniques Dreyer was experimenting with when he made Master of the House. The dual-format package contains a liner notes booklet with an essay by film scholar Mark Le Fanu. This is another dual-format set with a DVD included containing all the features of the Blu-ray. I was very surprised at how much better the image looked on Master of the House. Fans of Dreyer and Silent Era films will definitely want this Blu-ray in their library. Absolutely recommended! ***
ON THE BFI DVD: The film is in very bad shape, but thanks to BFI's DVD it is at least watchable. There is extensive damage and due to frame rate conversion (I assume) I notice many instances of combing. Dreyer fans may be aware of My Metier as it is on the extra disc of Criterion's Dreyer Boxset. The title cards and credits have been redone/restored in English and I think I would have preferred the original no matter how poor the condition - as they would have been translated, subtitle-wise, anyway. As part of the Dreyer canon it is essential viewing and I'll assume that it will probably never look any better on digital - I've heard of no extensive (and it would need extensive) restoration planned. Two other Dreyer shorts are included - Good Mothers and They Caught the Ferry. There is another excellent liner notes booklet included. We, of course, recommend but purchasers should be aware of the deplorable condition the print is in - possibly the worst I have ever seen (this includes those many damaged Ozu films). It is regrettable but it was very expected! |
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1) Criterion Collection - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP2) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM
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Recommended Film reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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NO COVER POSTED |
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NO COVER POSTED |
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My Only Great Passion: The Life and Films
of Carl Th.Dreyer (Hardcover) by Jean Drum |
The Cinema of Carl Dreyer (The
International film guide series)
by Tom Milne |
The Films of Carl-Theodor Dreyer
David Bordwell |
Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson,
Dreyer by Paul Schrader |
Speaking the Language of Desire : The Films
of Carl Dreyer by Ray Carney |
DREYER IN DOUBLE REFLECTION edited with commentary by Donald Skoller |
Carl Theodor Dreyer's Jesus: A Great
Filmmaker's Final Masterwork
(Hardcover) by Carl Theodor Dreyer |
(aka 'Day of Anger' or 'Day of Wrath')
Denmark 1943
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Filmed during the Nazi occupation of Denmark, Carl Dreyer’s Day of
Wrath (Vredens dag) is a harrowing account of individual
helplessness in the face of growing social repression and paranoia. Anna, the
young second wife of a well-respected but much older pastor, falls in love
with her stepson when he returns to their small 17th-century village. Stepping
outside the bounds of the village’s harsh moral code has disastrous results.
Exquisitely photographed and passionately acted, Day of Wrath remains
an intense, unforgettable experience.
*** Day of Wrath is generally regarded to be one of Dreyer's greatest works.
Its mood is sombre and intense; the narrative pace is steady and deliberate,
presenting horrific events with chilling restraint; and it deals with all his
prime concerns: religious faith, the supernatural, social intolerance,
innocence and guilt, and the clash between society and the individual –
especially the individual woman. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: November 13th, 1943
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BFI Region 2 - PAL vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. BFI Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)
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| Production | Criterion Collection - Spine # 125 - Region 0 - NTSC | BFI - Region 2 - PAL | BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
| Runtime | 1:37:27 | 1:33:03 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:37:19.208 |
| Video | 1.33
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.1 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.84 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
Disc Size: 48,098,242,701 bytes Feature Size: 19,519,464,576 bytes Average Bitrate: 23.50 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps |
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Criterion |
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| Audio | Danish (Dolby Digital 2.0) | Danish (Dolby Digital 2.0) | LPCM
Audio Danish 768 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
| Subtitles | English, None | English, None | English, None |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details:
• Deleted footage of interviews from Torben Skjødt Jensen’s documentary
Carl Th. Dreyer—My Metier, with actors Lisbeth Movin and Preben Lerdorff
Rye |
Release Information: Studio: BFI Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details:
• Feature commentary by Danish Dreyer expert Casper Tybjerg (University of
Copenhagen) Chapters: 7 |
Release Information:
Disc Size: 48,098,242,701 bytes Feature Size: 19,519,464,576 bytes Average Bitrate: 23.50 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps
Edition Details on
Ordet / Day of Wrath disc: • Ordet Og Lyset (Helga Theilgaard, 2001, 34:54): documentary about cinematographer Henning Bendtsen and the making of Ordet
Blu-ray Release Date: April 20th, 2015Custom Blu-ray Case Chapters 13 |
| Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' Blu-ray - April 2015: Please see our comments at the top of this page and view the screen captures for yourself. *** ADDITION: BFI - March 06': The new BFI release looks very much like the Criterion image - both have the same damage marks and we can assume they are from the same print/negative. The major differences are that the Criterion has richer black levels (probably minutely boosted) and there are more visible damage marks on the BFI release (they are quite prevalent at times) - we assume Criterion have done a cleaning for dirt and dust. The Criterion is also unfortunately cropped on all 4 edges. The black-boosting gives the Criterion a leg-up in perceived sharpness but I can't see the damage factor being too cumbersome for normal viewing of the BFI disc although beware that the scratches, marks and speckles are much more visible at times. In minor points the subtitles are a shade less intrusive on the BFI and the translation is negligibly different at times. Where the BFI should be given wide acknowledgement are in the extras - A commentary by Dreyer expert Casper Tybjerg is excellent although he occasionally tends to focus on explaining obvious plot details a shade more than I would appreciate... but he still intensely discusses Dreyer in a slow clear tone pointing out details such as his use of the 5-act structure (defining them as we watch) and the obviousness of the denunciation of the Christian Church in Day of Wrath. Very much appreciated in this are the optional subtitles for the commentary - Casper's English is excellent but it is a BFI feature that they have used in the past that I find very valuable - I wish more DVD producers would adopt it. The Fight Against Cancer and A Castle Within a Castles are infrequently seen shorts from Dreyer that are also added supplements to the BFI package. The included booklet is nicely done with photos and essays marking it as another fine and noble touch by BFI. Seeing the film with some slight earmarks but in such an exceptional package is like watching it for the first time. I strongly recommend this DVD for fans of Dreyer and all cineastes worldwide - like the original Criterion Boxset - I will treasure it for years. NOTE: 'I think the BFI
audio commentary by Casper Tybjerg makes getting the BFI disc worth it,
and the uncropped image is the clincher even though the print is not
cleaned up. The Criterion subtitles are much better, however. The BFI
leaves some lines un-translated (like the children's song!) and also
mistranslates other lines. **** About the Criterion: Although the 'lesser' transfer in the Boxset and noting its history (shot in wartime over 60 years ago) we really couldn't ask for it to be any better represented on DVD. Minor flickering - relative sharpness - infrequent speckling damage - excellent contrast (deepest black levels I can remember) and shadow detail! Wonderful grain shows through and being picky I much prefer Criterion's current choice of subtitle font - grayish with a black border and slightly smaller to this bolder and brighter one. The deleted footage from the Jensen documentary is interesting and a great build for the final disc. |
(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. BFI
Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)
BFI
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
NOTE: Not exact frame
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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Recommended Film reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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NO COVER POSTED |
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NO COVER POSTED |
|
My Only Great Passion: The Life and Films
of Carl Th.Dreyer (Hardcover) by Jean Drum |
The Cinema of Carl Dreyer (The
International film guide series)
by Tom Milne |
The Films of Carl-Theodor Dreyer David Bordwell |
Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson,
Dreyer by Paul Schrader |
Speaking the Language of Desire : The Films
of Carl Dreyer by Ray Carney |
DREYER IN DOUBLE REFLECTION edited with commentary by Donald Skoller |
Carl Theodor Dreyer's Jesus: A Great
Filmmaker's Final Masterwork
(Hardcover) by Carl Theodor Dreyer |
(aka 'The Word')
Denmark 19
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Carl Theodor Dreyer made only 14 full-length feature films in a
career spanning almost 50 years, but they are among the most
intensely wrought works in the history of the cinema. Dreyer's films
have always been much admired by critics, theorists and filmmakers
for the way in which they generate a luminous beauty with artfully
constructed sets, deep respect for period detail and a masterly
ability to conjure up an empathy for physical and emotional
suffering. Ordet (The Word), one of Dreyer's most liked and admired films, is one of the most beautifully photographed films ever made. It contains just 114 shots, averaging 65 seconds each (its spellbinding simplicity enabled it to be edited in just five days.) Based on a 1932 play by Danish playwright and Lutheran country priest Kaj Munk (1898-1944), Ordet is a tale of miraculous resurrection brought about by human love. It is an extraordinary expression of spiritual optimism that is neither sentimental nor pious. Religious intolerance and family tensions within a Danish farming family lie at the heart of the film, which explores the clash between orthodox religions and true faith. Dreyer achieves its powerful effects in deceptively simple ways, and has produced, in its closing moments, one of the most extraordinary scenes in all cinema. **** A farmer’s family is torn apart by faith, sanctity, and love—one child believes he’s Jesus Christ, a second proclaims himself agnostic, and the third falls in love with a fundamentalist’s daughter. Putting the lie to the term “organized religion,” Ordet (The Word) is a challenge to simple facts and dogmatic orthodoxy. Layering multiple stories of faith and rebellion, Dreyer’s adaptation of Kaj Munk’s play quietly builds towards a shattering, miraculous climax. |
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Theatrical Release: January 10th, 1955
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BFI Region 2 - PAL vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT |
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| Production | Criterion Collection - Spine # 126 - Region 0 - NTSC | BFI - Region 2- PAL | BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
| Runtime | 2:05:48 | 2:00:08 | 2:05:31.041 |
| Video | 1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.64 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
1.33:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.4 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
Disc Size: 48,098,242,701 bytes Feature Size: 24,910,456,896 bytes Average Bitrate: 23.50 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Criterion |
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BFI |
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BFI Blu-ray |
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| Audio | Danish (Dolby Digital 2.0) | Danish (Dolby Digital 2.0) | LPCM Audio Danish 768 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit |
| Subtitles | English, None | English, None | English, None |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion / Home Vision Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details:
• Deleted footage of an interview from Torben Skjødt Jensen’s documentary
Carl Th. Dreyer—My Métier, with actress Birgitte Federspiel |
Release Information: Studio: BFI Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details:
• Ordet Og Lyset (Helga Theilgaard, 2001, 33 mins) - a documentary about
cinematographer Henning Bendtsen and the making of Ordet Chapters: 12 |
Release Information:
Disc Size: 48,098,242,701 bytes Feature Size: 24,910,456,896 bytes Average Bitrate: 23.50 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps
Edition Details on
Ordet / Day of Wrath disc: • Ordet Og Lyset (Helga Theilgaard, 2001, 34:54): documentary about cinematographer Henning Bendtsen and the making of Ordet
Blu-ray Release Date: April 20th, 2015Custom Blu-ray Case Chapters 1 2 |
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NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' Blu-ray - April 2015: Please see our comments at the top of this page and view the screen captures for yourself. *** ADDITION: BFI - March 06': Great to see such a masterpiece treated so well on both sides of the pond. The new BFI release looks very solid. The major differences from the Criterion are the richer black levels (probably minutely boosted) by the Criterion and the extra damage marks that one can very infrequently see on the BFI release. This gives the Criterion a slight edge in sharpness but only the most intrepid of viewing systems will notice the marginal difference. In minor points the subtitles are a shade less intrusive on the BFI and the translation is negligibly different at times. Where the BFI has shown a marked improvement are in the extras - Ordet Og Lyset is a great documentary with keen footage of Ordet's production - quite interesting. Also included are two shorts by Dreyer - Thorvaldsen and Storstrom Bridge but I was quite enamored with the included booklet - beautifully done with photos and essays. Seeing the film with some slight earmarks but in such an exceptional package is like watching it again for the first time. I strongly recommend this DVD for fans of Dreyer and all cineastes worldwide - like the original Criterion Boxset - I feel like locking it in my safe at night. ****
Most of us could never
have dreamt that Ordet would look this perfect on DVD.
It again makes me
thankful that the Criterion company exist. Sharp, piercing blacks,
moderate grain. I can't say enough. It defines the Dreyer Box as a
must-own DVD for everyone who loves and understands film! It will one
day go out of print, so don't wait.
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(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. BFI
Region 2 - PAL RIGHT)
BFI
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 2 - PAL - MIDDLE3) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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Recommended Film reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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NO COVER POSTED |
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NO COVER POSTED |
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My Only Great Passion: The Life and Films
of Carl Th.Dreyer (Hardcover) by Jean Drum |
The Cinema of Carl Dreyer (The
International film guide series)
by Tom Milne |
The Films of Carl-Theodor Dreyer David Bordwell |
Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson,
Dreyer by Paul Schrader |
Speaking the Language of Desire : The Films
of Carl Dreyer by Ray Carney |
DREYER IN DOUBLE REFLECTION edited with commentary by Donald Skoller |
Carl Theodor Dreyer's Jesus: A Great
Filmmaker's Final Masterwork
(Hardcover) by Carl Theodor Dreyer |
(aka 'Cradle of Fear')
Denmark 1964
| Carl Dreyer’s last film neatly crowns his career: a meditation on tragedy, individual will and the refusal to compromise. A woman leaves her unfulfilling marriage and embarks on a search for ideal love—but neither a passionate affair with a younger man nor the return of an old romance can provide the answer she seeks. Always the stylistic innovator, Dreyer employs long takes and theatrical staging to concentrate on Nina Pens Rode’s sublime portrayal of the proud and courageous Gertrud. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: December 19th, 1964
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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Only available in Criterion's Carl Theodor Dreyer Special Edition Box Set which includes Day of Wrath, Ordet, Gertrud and Carl Th. Dreyer - My Métier available here:
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| Production | Criterion Collection - Spine # 127 - Region 0 - NTSC | BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
| Runtime | 1:56:32 | 1:56:21.500 |
| Video | 1.78:1
Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.89 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s |
Disc Size: 48,667,009,670 bytes Feature Size: 34,102,232,640 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Bitrate: Blu-ray |
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| Audio | Danish (Dolby Digital 2.0) | LPCM Audio Danish 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit |
| Subtitles | English, None | English, None |
| Features |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• Deleted footage of interviews from Torben Skødt Jensen’s documentary
Carl Th. Dreyer—My Metier, with actors Baard Owe and Axel Strøbye |
Release Information:
Disc Size: 48,667,009,670 bytes Feature Size: 34,102,232,640 bytes Average Bitrate: 34.99 MbpsDual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video: 1080P / 24 fps
Edition Details on
Master of the House disc: • Carl Th. Dreyer und Gertrud (Christine Habich, Reinhard Wulf, 1994, 28:51): documentary on the making of Gertrud
Blu-ray Release Date: April 20th, 2015Custom Blu-ray Case Chapters 1 2 |
| Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were obtained directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' Blu-ray - April 2015: Please see our comments at the top of this page and view the screen captures for yourself. *** ON THE Criterion DVD (2001): A definite blunder here by our heroes at Criterion. The original ratio of this film is 1.66 (Criterion even states it on the box!) but this DVD is in anamorphic 1.78 ratio. It is wonderfully sharp but must be cropped a significant amount - if we ever get a sampling of the proper AR of the film we will show here and compare. It would be idealistic to consider that they might re-release this in proper ratio, but it does mar an other wise monumentally perfect package. Aside from this we have a beautifully sharp image with tight lines, original audio and well-translated subtitles. o |
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BFI
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Extra Dreyer films included
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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Screen Captures
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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Theatrical ratio (taken from book Dreyers Filmkunst by Edwin Kau - thanks Henrik!):
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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1) Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP 2) BFI Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
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Recommended Film reading (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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NO COVER POSTED |
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NO COVER POSTED |
|
My Only Great Passion: The Life and Films
of Carl Th.Dreyer (Hardcover) by Jean Drum |
The Cinema of Carl Dreyer (The
International film guide series)
by Tom Milne |
The Films of Carl-Theodor Dreyer David Bordwell |
Transcendental Style in Film: Ozu, Bresson,
Dreyer by Paul Schrader |
Speaking the Language of Desire : The Films
of Carl Dreyer by Ray Carney |
DREYER IN DOUBLE REFLECTION edited with commentary by Donald Skoller |
Carl Theodor Dreyer's Jesus: A Great
Filmmaker's Final Masterwork
(Hardcover) by Carl Theodor Dreyer |
Carl Th. Dreyer: My Métier
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'Why make a film about me? I'm not interesting, it's my films that are interesting.' This documentary honours Dreyer's conviction that an artist's soul is expressed through his work. The result is an aptly dry but comprehensive tribute to the great Danish director (The Passion of Joan of Arc, Vampyr, etc). A steady, narrated progression along the timeline of his life and career is interspersed with plentiful clips from the films themselves (generally austere like most of Dreyer's cinema, these clips aren't going to catch your imagination if you're new to the films), with one of his old actresses offering the summary: 'I think he was the first Zen master I ever met.' |
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BFI Region 2,7,8 - PAL |
| Runtime | 1:33:54 (4% PAL speedup) |
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1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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| Audio | Danish/French Dolby 2.0 |
| Subtitles | English, none |
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Release Information: Studio: BFI Aspect Ratio - 1.66:1
Edition Details: • My Métier interview outtakes (1995, 76 mins, Standard Definition) : 8 in-depth interviews with Dreyer collaborators
• DR Danish television archive (1965-68, 15 mins, Standard Definition): rare Dreyer footage and interviews with Henning Bendtsen, Brigitte Federspiel and Preben Lerdorff Rye
• Jørgen Roos archive (1949-65, 7 mins, Standard Definition): a selection of Dreyer related archival material
Audio Extras and Stills Gallery • An Interview with Ove Brusendorff of the Danish Film Museum (UK, 8 mins, audio only): archival recording in which the manager of the Danish Film Museum appraises Dreyer • An Introduction to the Films of Carl Th. Dreyer by Henning Camre (UK, 2003, 11 mins, audio only): the director of the Danish Film Institute discusses Dreyer
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| Distribution | BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray | |
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Gary Tooze |
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Thank You!