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

 

ADDITION: Flicker Alley - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (May 2017):  We were extremely excited about this release as soon as it was announced. We have 14 early female directors with a, broad, selection of their works in 1080P. It amounts to over 11 hours of film content - spread over 3 dual-layered Blu-rays. We have many Silent Era works, foreign films, 'silhouette' animation, talkies, shorts with psychological symbolism, a propaganda film directed by Leni Riefenstahl and so much more. They range from 1902 - 1943, from a few minutes to 1.5 hour features.

 

There is a brief text screen description, providing background, of each director followed by a description of each film with the music/composer utilized (see samples below). Obviously, the quality varies with mild to moderate damage in most of the very early films. We accept this as appreciating the ability to be able to see the film, in these conditions, or not at all. The damage for some can have segments of being quite extensive but I found them all watchable without undue effort to determine what was transpiring in the plot of dialogue (there are, mostly original, intertitles for the silents - with English subtitles for the foreign films - this covers signs, letters text etc.). The higher resolution tends to being out more detail - even in light marks or scratches. The quality will be indicative of the captures posted below. Some silent films have tints, one of the animations is in color... overall I was thrilled with my viewing. Unique, poetic, brilliantly realized cinema from an across-the-board variety of themes, storylines, emotions, adventures etc. Many of these films have magical qualities and deserve a modern audience.

 

NOTE: Yes, that is Chaplin, as a derivation of 'The Little Tramp' from 1914... and Lucille Ball, being slapped from behind in, an excerpt from, Dorothy Arzner's Dance, Girl, Dance.

 

The audio is just as varying with new, and old, scores, singing - transferred in linear PCM. Some imperfections, but acceptable and the later films sound quite clean and even. The subtitles only seem to be for foreign language scenes, and the discs are coded region 'A' (that is stated on the disc labels.)

 

Extras include an audio commentary for Lois Weber's, 1.5 hour, The Blot by Shelley Stamp, author of Lois Weber in Early Hollywood, and Reclaiming the Archive: Feminism and Film History. Its extremely detailed - a pleasure to listen to someone who really knows their topic. The package has two transparent keep cases inside a cardboard box - each case has 3 discs (one with 3 Blu-rays, the other 3 DVDs with the same content as the BDs) and there is a liner notes booklet with photos and an essay by film historian and Women Film Pioneers Project Manager Kate Saccone.

This is, obviously, unconventional cinema and not for all tastes but for those keen on the historical significance and who are open to unique film expressions - relevant beyond their era, this set has immense value. To the right individuals this is a 'must-own' but to everyone else it is still strongly recommended! A set to keep, and watch the rest of your lives, I guarantee you'll find something appealing and new here... go for it!

 Gary W. Tooze