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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (April 2020): Kino have transferred F. W. Murnau's Tartuffe to Blu-ray. They are offering both the German and US versions in 1080P.

The US version is preceded by this text "Four separate negatives of Tartuffe were assembled. One negative was used to strike prints for German release and the remaining three were used for the international markets. Not one of these original negatives survives. A photochemical restoration of the U.S. release version was performed in 2002 by Luciano BerriatUa on behalf of the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung,Wiesbaden. Its basis was a tinted nitrate print preserved by the Library of Congress and donated to the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv in Berlin. Labwork was performed by L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna. The preservation negative was the basis of this 2K restoration, performed in 2013. "

The German version has this preface text screen: "Four separate negatives of Herr Tartuff were produced for the German and international markets. One of the export versions survives in its entirety, a duplicate copy preserved by Gosfilmofond, Moscow. It contains German intertitles of unknown origin. For this digital restoration, the image was tinted orange, as usual for export versions. The inserts are tinted yellow, while the intertitles remain black and white. Some insert shots were added from a fragment of the Swiss version, preserved by the Cinematheque Suisse in Lausanne. Additional shots were sourced from a nitrate print of the U.S. version preserved by the Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv in Berlin. ".

The Masters of Cinema and Kino DVDs were compared HERE. The Masters of Cinema Blu-ray was from their Early Murnau Blu-ray Boxset is reviewed HERE. There are differences between the US and German release that can make some exact frame matches not possible, but the 'book' text capture for the MoC and Kino German version is exact and can highlight significant yellow tint differences with the Kino being much bolder (as stated in the preface text.) Anyway, I appreciate that there are differences and I enjoy my viewing of the new Kino HD presentation.   

On their Blu-ray for the restored German release version there is an orchestral score by Robert Israel in 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master (16-bit) of a 2.0 channel transfer and for the U.S. release version - the score is via a linear PCM (16-bit) with music by Giuseppe Becce, adapted by Javier Perez De Azpeit. It is lively and crisp. As the US version has English intertitles,  Kino offer optional English subtitles on the German version (only) for their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by Troy Howarth (on the German version only) who states how Tartuffe is underrated as it is flanked by such strong masterpieces by the director (released after The Last Laugh and before Faust and Sunrise.) He goes on to provide salient information, in a relaxed tone - and although Troy might be more associated with Giallo, Horror and Hammer Studios as a commentarist and supplement contributor - I thought he did an excellent job here. Really very good! I hope he partakes in future silent-era film commentaries, further enriching his repertoire. Bravo!

F. W. Murnau is a master of mood through camera movements. It's easy to immerse yourself. Tartuffe shouldn't be neglected. I think it's an incredible film adaptation of Moliere's famous play. The Kino Blu-ray offers both US and German versions in 1080P from extensive restorations and offer a valuable commentary. This is top shelf 'Silent Era' digital library content, imo. Absolutely recommended!

Gary Tooze