Anna Christie (1930) from Warner Archive

[whiteberry]

Anna Christie Blu-ray

Coming to Blu-ray December 12th!

NEW 2023 1080p HD Master from 4K Scan of preservation elements

ANNA CHRISTIE (1930)
Run Time: 89 Minutes
Subtitles: ENGLISH SDH
Audio Specs: DTS HD-MA 2.0
Aspect Ratio 16x9 1.37:1 with Side Mattes
Product color: B&W
Disc Configuration-BD 50
Directed by Clarence Brown

Cast : Greta Garbo, Marie Dressler, Charles Bickford

Special Features: 1930 German Language version directed by Jacques Feyder starring Garbo (HD); M-G-M Parade television episode #30 with Walter Pidgeon on Greta Garbo’s career; Classic Warner Bros. cartoon “THE BOOZE HANGS HIGH” (HD); Audio-only Lux Radio Theater (2/7/1938) ANNA CHRISTIE broadcast with Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy.

When it was learned that Greta Garbo, was cast as a disillusioned prostitute in Anna Christie, even her most devoted admirers were skeptical. Not only was it an unglamourous role for the 24-year-old actress, but it was also to be her first talking picture. Garbo’s answer was to play it with superbly. With her first, and now famous spoken line (“Gimme a whiskey, ginger ale on the side. And don’t be stingy baby”) Garbo conquered the world of sound films.. Based on Eugene O’Neill’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Garbo give a fascinating performance as an embittered prostitute who returns home to her father, a barge captain. She finds sympathy in the gruff, but kindly Marthy (Marie Dressler), but when a sailor (Charles Bickford) falls in love with Anna, she is forced to reveal her tarnished past to both him and her father, leading to a riveting climax. Among the Special Features on this new Warner Archive Blu-ray disc is the German-language version of the scenario, starring Garbo with a different cast and director. Filmed on the same sets after the original English version was completed, this alternate version is a uniquely different take of the source material, one which Garbo allegedly preferred to the more-widely-known English language version.

[dvdmrp]

I asked In the wac forum, what aspect ratio should this be? Being 1930 and a non Warner production, shouldn’t this be 1:20 as only Warner films were vitagraph sound on disc? Weren’t all other early sound sound on film movie tone ratio? Or did other studios use the Warner method and create sound on disc?
Or were some movies just later preserved as sound on disc?
Older formats can get confusing.
Either way, excited to have both English and German versions in HD!

[Gacivory]

Never saw this but my mom had a poster for this when growing up, so I’m gonna check it out.

[Dave Bannion]

Ohh yes, fingers crossed the audio is improved. Nice that the German version is included, hopefully restored too.

[Mackattack57973]

Can finally toss that flipper DVD in the trash!!

[BluPat]

More Greta Garbo on Blu-ray! Yes please.

[SanCarolina59]

Originally Posted by dvdmrp

I asked In the wac forum, what aspect ratio should this be? Being 1930 and a non Warner production, shouldn’t this be 1:20 as only Warner films were vitagraph sound on disc? Weren’t all other early sound sound on film movie tone ratio? Or did other studios use the Warner method and create sound on disc?
Or were some movies just later preserved as sound on disc?
Older formats can get confusing.
Either way, excited to have both English and German versions in HD!

Update on WAC's FB page relating to that - Anna Christie will be presented in the Movietone ratio after all:

Coming to Blu-ray December 12th!
NEW 2023 1080p HD Master from 4K Scan of preservation elements
ANNA CHRISTIE (1930)
Run Time: 89 Minutes
Subtitles: ENGLISH SDH
Audio Specs: DTS HD-MA 2.0
Aspect Ratio 16x9 1.19:1 with Side Mattes
Product color: B&W
Disc Configuration-BD 50
Directed by Clarence Brown
Cast : Greta Garbo, Marie Dressler, Charles Bickford
Special Features: 1930 German Language version directed by Jacques Feyder starring Garbo (HD); M-G-M Parade television episode #30 with Walter Pidgeon on Greta Garbo’s career; Classic Warner Bros. cartoon “THE BOOZE HANGS HIGH” (HD); Audio-only Lux Radio Theater (2/7/1938) ANNA CHRISTIE broadcast with Joan Crawford and Spencer Tracy.

[bonehica]

Pre-order is live on Amazon:

Anna Christie Blu-ray

[manicsounds]

For anyone that has this, does the German release have lossless audio and are the subtitles optional or burned-in for it?

[Mackattack57973]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

For anyone that has this, does the German release have lossless audio and are the subtitles optional or burned-in for it?

Lossless 2.0 and subtitles are off by default. Although the audio on the German you can still hear a hiss and pops. Maybe the sound elements for the German are in very poor shape. But my player says it’s DTS HD MA 2.0

[jokercard]

Guessing this wasn’t a big seller. This is currently $8.99 at Amazon and I have a 25% coupon… thinking of blind buying it at that price