 "Death disguised as love" | 2008-09-21 |
| - Reviewed By bernie-at-nationwide-net |
| I have owned and watched several versions of this film. I even have the film script. I would say that the Kino two DVD versions is the best presentation so far. I watched both the English and German versions I find the story depressing but the telling of it and the acting fascinating.br /br /A real added plus is the commentary by German Film Historian Werner Sedendorf. He brought up information directly relating to the film at the time it was relevant. Then he left some berating room so you could absorb and experience the information. To many commentaries turn into soap-box discussions or rill in slow times with useful information that however is irrelevant to the film at the time. The film has so much hidden death and lost culture that after the commentary you will have to watch it again.br /br /The English version is not really entirely English. Enough English is presented that the German in-between is clear enough to follow the story. However the German version is spoken clear without mumbling and lacks any slang that would force the casual follower to rush for a dictionary.br /br /The basic story is as Federico Garcia Lorca describes in his play, "The butterfly's Evil Spell", death in disguise of love. Prof. Immanuel Rath (Emil Jannings), a person afraid of life, starts out to save his students, who want to embrace life, from a fate worse than death. In the process he meats an entertainer, Lola Lola (Marlene Dietrich). She inadvertently is the instrument of the Professors downfall from grace.br /br /The magic of the film is more in the telling of the story through acting, sound, and symbolism than the story its self. br /br /The Ufa Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company 1918-1945br /br /Blue Angel, The (Class. Film Scripts S) |
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| "WOW" | 2008-04-12 |
| - Reviewed By multafortuna |
The film like Citizen Kane, way ahead of its time.
To get an idea of Dietrich's performance, think
Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire, but it's 1930!!
Truly an unforgetable piece.
Millenia will come, yet this piece of art will still
shine with fresh luster. |
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| "One of the great German films" | 2008-02-10 |
| - Reviewed By mcdevster |
The Blue Angel is one of the most complex movies I have ever seen... It plays very well as an intellectual story line as well as hitting you as a fine visual treat.. this is combined with the fine acting of emil jannings and marlene dietrich in her first sternberg film...
It is the story of two completely different ways of life coming together... The professor 'unrat', played marvelously by Jannings, enters the world of his students' fantasy the Blue Angel nightclub at first to find and scold the kids.. Then somehow he comes under the spell of the main attraction - Lola Lola (dietrich).. and the story takes off from there...
To me it is not so much the story of a woman destroying a man as a man destroying himself... Jannings enters into this strange relationship like a charmed sleepwalker and loses touch with himself in the same way his students did.. However analysis and interpretation can lead you in many directions with this film..
All I know is von Sternberg's world he created particularly the dicotomy of the quaint looking village and classroom to the smokey nightclub is one of the greatest accomplishments of his career.. and the great performances once again can't be overstated..
Note - it could be argued that Sternberg was American and therefore this is an American film... but I think anyone who watches this movie will catch the truly German flavor.. |
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| "A rare gem" | 2008-01-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1QHFWE5KOYGTE |
| The plot is simple enough: Conservative, well-respected Gymnasium professor(Emil Jannings)falls for tawdry showgirl(Marlene Dietrich) who has become the latest sensation of his(all male)students, which in short order ends up becoming his undoing. Jannings and Dietrich are both fantastic in their roles in this wonderfully pathos-laden film of humiliation and downfall. It is worth noting that the DVD package consists of 2 discs, both the English-language version and the(superior) German version. Editing seems this film's only considerable flaw, so you might want to watch both versions to fill in any gaps. Also, it's been recently remastered, and the German version's subtitles -- albeit in white not yellow -- are much easier to read. In all, this classic from 1930 must be counted as one of the best films of the 20th century. |
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| "great value for the money" | 2008-01-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: AYENIO4X71GCT |
| Here you get both the German language and English language versions. What a perfect role for Marlene, great music. A great classic at a good price! |
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 "Superb Edition of Weimar Classic" | 2008-01-09 |
| - Reviewed By bryanp4167 |
The Kino DVD of Sternberg's Blue Angel is one of the finest editions that I have seen in a long time. In fact it is close to if not better than the packages put out by Criterion. Kino needs to keep up the good work.
The film, presented in both its 106 minute German version and its 94 minute English version is pristine in picture quality. The sound, while a little tinny and brittle at times is quite understandable asa are the white on black subtitles presented on the German version.
There is little to be said about the film itself. It offers excellent portrayals by both Emil Jannings as Professor Rath and Marlene Dietrich, in her breakthrough role as Lola Lola. The story of one man's downward spiral roughly matches the political free fall that Germany was in between the two world wars. It is important to note that Jannings received the first performance Oscar for this performance. He later went on to continue to support National Socialist policies during the war. Dietrich, however, left Berlin for Hollywood and spoke vehemently against the Nazi seizure of power.
The film also features Kurt Gerron as troupe leader and magician, Kiepert. Gerron a Ufa regular in the Twenties and Thirties would be killed in the Nazi death camps a few years later.
The film was one of Germany's first sound films for the Ufa Corporation and it was one of the Weimar Republics biggest features. It is a shame that the film is so little seen today because it is surprisingly good. Dietrich's performance is a joy to watch and she exudes sexuality even if the cabaret songs are a little dated. The costume with the top hat is pure Hollywood icon.
The package features a commentary track by Werner Sudendorf of the Berlin Film Museum, interviews and performances by Dietrich through the years, a surprising screen test, photo gallerys, a text history of the production and one of the best cast and crew biography sections that I have seen.
This is a must see classic for any student of cinema and is well worth the purchase price. |
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| "Great music and performance" | 2007-12-17 |
| - Reviewed By rcappuccio |
| I do wish some tech wiz would clean up these recordings. It's the 21st century, and we all know it's possible. I'd even pay regular price for such a product. |
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| "Von Sternberg's The Blue Angel" | 2007-06-21 |
| - Reviewed By jfarr02 |
| Von Sternberg's breakthrough vehicle for Marlene Dietrich was a smoldering drama in the Weimar era, and still packs some heat now (especially in the superior German version). While veteran Emil Jannings hams it up a bit, Dietrich is mesmerizing. She appears a shade darker and plumper than in later roles, since she'd yet to receive the Hollywood treatment, but a luminescent star quality shines through. Lola's rendition of what would become Dietrich's signature song, "Falling In Love Again," is a highlight. A piercing study of obsessive love. |
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| "Suprisingly good quality DVD for one of the best 30's German flicks." | 2007-05-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: AWFLB7K2R237F |
Deitrich's first and best, Sternberg's best. Jennings second best, after Greed. One of the first sound German movies. If all this arouses your interest...I strongly advise you to not hesitate and add to your library this DVD. Excellent: cinematography, editing, casting, costumes, sets and screenplay. The Deitrich screen test is a terrific bonus, really. The quality of the DVD is one of an excellent restoration. You get two DVD's. I never watched the second, the dubbed version for America. This is the one included in the "Famous Stars Collection" DVD, and it is pale in comparison to the German version.
Hey, maybe more extras on the second DVD. I should look, but as long as I have the Blue Angel to watch once a year, I am happy.... and you will be also. |
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| "DVD of Blue Angel" | 2007-03-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A5V1OYEI5HWOT |
A classic film from the 1930's in both English and the original German language, with subtitles.
By modern standards the plot may seem a little tame but the film is a vivid insight into the era of pre war Germany.
The quality may seem poor and the production techniques limited but again, this enhances the film's ability to portray life is it was some 70 years ago in a mid European country. |
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