The Woman One Longs For Blu-ray

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(aka "The Three Lovers" or "The Woman One Longs For" or "Three Loves" or "The Woman Men Yearn For")

Directed by Curtis Bernhardt (as Kurt Bernhardt)
Germany 1929

Marlene Dietrich for years insisted that The Blue Angel (1930) was her screen debut, when in fact she was catapulted to fame by this silent drama of 1929, which fits neatly among the visually dynamic and emotionally dark melodramas of Josef von Sternberg and G.W. Pabst. Uno Henning stars as a young businessman whose plans of marriage are interrupted when he becomes entranced by a haunting young woman (Dietrich) who seems to be the victim of a monocled sadist (Fritz Kortner). Like Dietrich, director Kurt Bernhardt would emigrate to the United States and enjoy a long career making films based around strong female characters, including Possessed (Joan Crawford), A Stolen Life (Bette Davis), and Miss Sadie Thompson (Rita Hayworth).

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After a chance meeting at a train station, Henry and Stascha, unhappy with their circumstances, are determined to leave and be together.

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 29th, 1929

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:17:47.041
Video	1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 18,370,684,319 bytes Feature: 18,226,400,448 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.63 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit DTS-HD Master Audio English 1981 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1981 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 1.33:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 18,370,684,319 bytes Feature: 18,226,400,448 bytes Video Bitrate: 25.63 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • New Audio commentary by film historian Gaylyn Studlar Blu-ray Release Date: June 8th, 2021 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 10

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (May 2021): Kino have transferred Curtis Bernhardt's 1929 Marlene Dietrich film The Woman One Longs For to Blu-ray. It is cited as being "Restored in 2012 by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Stiftung". It looks quite impressive. Only a smattering of marks, some fluctuation of contrast, but there is pleasing detail in the close-ups. Generally we have a fairly consistent 1080P image and Dietrich is, predictably, hypnotic!

NOTE: We have added 72 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino give the option of a DTS-HD Master 5.1 surround or a linear PCM stereo track - both 16-bit and with the original German intertitles. Both tracks are exporting a diverse orchestral score by Pascal SchumacherIt - which sounds wonderfully dramatic and unique. It suits the film exceptionally well with a more modern vibe. Kino offer optional English subtitles for both the text (papers and in in the train station signage) and the intertitles (see samples below) on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Kino include a commentary by Professor Gaylyn Studlar of Washington University. She wrote Precocious Charms: Stars Performing Girlhood in Classical Hollywood Cinema. She shares her knowledge of the film while narrating quite a bit explaining less noticeable details of the plot. She talks about the montages, Theda Bara, a lot on cinematographer Curt Courant, Marlene an enigma as a vamp and plenty of Dietrich before and after the USA, she discusses actor Fritz Kortner and his exposure to anti-Semitism, writer Max Brod - the famous administrator of Franz Kafka's estate in 1924 and much more. Many fascinating details. It got better as it ran along - great stuff Gaylyn! There are no other extras.

There are a few wonderful things about The Woman One Longs For. The obvious is that it has Marlene Dietrich, the second is that there is so much regarding the characterizations and plot that are left to our imagination. I loved the suggestions and distractions; sinister ne'er-do-wells, compromised women, corporate arranged marriages, deceit, infatuation... it's almost Noir-ish. The Kino Blu-ray restored by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Stiftung not only looks great and has a super score, but is an arresting film experience. I doubt I ever would have seen this without this package and the Gaylyn Studlar commentary adds even more value. Certainly recommended!

Gary Tooze