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

ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (July 2023): Indicator have also transferred Rouben Mamoulian's The Song of Songs to Blu-ray. The 1080P image quality is a duplicate of the Kino - although on a single-layered disc with a more modest bitrate. Likewise there is not much disparity in the audio. At least, not that I can discern. The extras are where the two Blu-ray packages differ the most.

The Indicator Blu-ray repeat Kino Lorber's David Del Valle audio commentary from 2020 (see below.) But they add much more. New (2023) we get 1/2 hour of Geoff Andrew on ‘The Song of Songs’ as the writer and critic assesses the film and its place within the career of director Rouben Mamoulian. Indicator include a 54-minute Lux Radio Theatre: ‘The Song of Songs’ from 1937 - a radio play adaptation of the film’s screenplay, featuring returning cast members Marlene Dietrich and Lionel Atwill, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. There are both the original theatrical trailer and an image gallery of promotional and publicity materials and the package includes a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Rick Burin, archival articles, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and full film credits.

For lovers Pre-Code The Song of Songs is essential. Dietrich is at her hypnotic best (a level she would maintain for decades) and this Indicator Blu-ray is the best package with the bonus extras. For many this will be worth the double dip.

***

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (March 2020): Kino have transferred the Pre-Code gem, Rouben Mamoulian's The Song of Songs, with the great Marlene Dietrich, to Blu-ray. I have no details on the transfer source or rendering, but it looks strong on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. There is still plenty of light scratches and marks (see below) but it is mostly frame-specific. The grain is abundant and a few times its clunki-nee made the visuals look thin.

NOTE: We have added 50 large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. It is another advancement in the film's audio (no PAL speed-up) and score uncredited to four composers; Karl Hajos (Supernatural, Summer Storm, Werewolf of London,), Herman Hand (A Farewell to Arms), Bernhard Kaun (The Story of Temple Drake, Dangerous, 1931's Frankenstein) and Milan Roder (Murnau's Tabu.) Also is Franz Schubert's Heideroslein and Jonny by Friedrich Hollaender (A Foreign Affair, aught, Berlin Express, Background to Danger, The Verdict) - both sung by Marlene Dietrich plus Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No.6 in B Minor, Op.74. It all sounds clean - carrying minor depth considering the production era almost 90-year age. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray has an audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle who gushes over Dietrich and I'm sure there are many who listen, including myself who share his admiration. He talks about some of the Pre-Code sexuality boundaries that wouldn't have been tolerated a year later, he references his own interview with Rouben Mamoulian and many details on Marlene Dietrich's career and life including her incredible work ethic and later alcohol abuse... plus stories from her daughter and how the statue in the film was made by the same guy, George Stanley, who did the one for the Academy Award's (yes, Del Valle mentions those nipples a few times) - and that it was supposed a replica of Dietrich's body - not just her face - characterized by broad shoulders and a small waist. Also a lot of von Sternberg. I thought he did a great job and it definitely adds value to the Blu-ray package. There is also an SD theatrical trailer and trailers for other films.

Gary Tooze

ON THE DVD: Perhaps the grainiest of the Dietrich Collection from Universal France it still looks very consistent and fairly clean - they were some speckles infrequently noticed throughout. It is a shade dark at times. Unlike others in this set - this has an optional German DUB. I still very high on these DVDs - all that I have seen so far. I'm sure if any of us had been able to obtain these discs prior to voting they would have made some noise in our 2005 DVD of the Year poll. The DVDs are produced with region-coding to sell in Europe, Middle East, Russia and Australia and enough removable subtitle options have been added to help their universality. No extras and a very no frills package but its the films that many cineastes have craved for years... and they are here. Dietrich is so good in this you almost forget the plot - a pretty risqué film for the time period.

Gary W. Tooze