Faust (1926)

[ponderingtheuniverse]

God and Satan war over earth; to settle things, they wager on the soul of Faust, a learned and prayerful alchemist.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

Once again, I was surprised to see no "official" thread for these releases, so I made this thread.

I watched it for the first time tonight, from Kanopy. It was the Kino export version. It was quite a film! Some shots gave me chills and others brought tears to my eyes. I really can't wait to get my hands on the MOC version to see the domestic cut.

Also, is it just me or did Gosta Ekman (young Faust) look like Gene Wilder?

http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film4/blu-r...__blu-ray_.jpg

[JackSkellington]

I think this was one of Murnau's best films. When I first watched Faust, it was the alternate version with the Timothy Brock score. The scene flight scene absolutely blew me away! I never expected to see something so epic in a silent film.

I have the Kino edition, but every time I watch it I'll choose the alternate cut (on the DVD) simply because Brock's score lines up better to make that flight scene magical.

[koberulz]

Unquestionably my favorite Murnau.

[ponderingtheuniverse]

I was shocked to find out today that Gösta Ekman acted as both young and old Faust. I thought for sure that they used two different actors. The fact that they made him look so realistically like an old man is beyond impressive. Ekman played an older man so convincingly.

You can't complete with the magic of silent cinema.

[karsten]

Originally Posted by JackSkellington

I have the Kino edition, but every time I watch it I'll choose the alternate cut (on the DVD) simply because Brock's score lines up better to make that flight scene magical.

Agreed. I think that it (the "the "international version"/"export version") is far better than the HD-remastered "domestic cut" in every regard, and the fact that Brock's (excellent) score was cued to the former cements its superiority.

It's the cut that I wish had been released in HD and I was quite disappointed that it wasn't.

[JackSkellington]

Originally Posted by karsten

Agreed. I think that it (the "the "international version"/"export version") is fat better than the HD-remastered "domestic cut" in every regard, and the fact that Brock's (excellent) score was cued to the former cements its superiority.

It's the cut that I wish had been released in HD and I was quite disappointed that it wasn't.

Ditto. I believe you can watch the Domestic Cut on Blu-ray with Brock's score on the Eureka MoC release, but the timing is waaaay off, unfortunately, and the flight scene is not synced with it. Total mood killer.

But yeah, the Export version with Brock's score on DVD is the way to go.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by JackSkellington

Ditto. I believe you can watch the Domestic Cut on Blu-ray with Brock's score on the Eureka MoC release, but the timing is waaaay off, unfortunately, and the flight scene is not synced with it. Total mood killer.

But yeah, the Export version with Brock's score on DVD is the way to go.

Which DVD release is the one to get?

[JackSkellington]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

Which DVD release is the one to get?

The DVD I have came with the Kino Blu-ray, and it's the export version with Timothy Brock's score (highly recommended). I believe the stand-alone DVD from Kino is just the domestic cut with regular score.

[karsten]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

Which DVD release is the one to get?

Surprisingly, the export/international version of Faust (the one for which Brock's score was composed and is correctly cued, and is IMO a better version of the film regardless) exhibits significantly superior picture quality (clearer and better contrast) in its presentation on this DVD release . . .



. . . than it does in the DVD containing the same version that is included with this blu-ray/DVD two-disc set:



Believe me, I've carefully compared the two (especially because I was so disappointed that the export/international version didn't get the HD treatment).

Those are the two Faust discs that I own; I can't speak for any other releases.

Therefore, my recommendation would be to get that Kino DVD shown above.

[karsten]

Originally Posted by JackSkellington

Ditto. I believe you can watch the Domestic Cut on Blu-ray with Brock's score on the Eureka MoC release, but the timing is waaaay off, unfortunately, and the flight scene is not synced with it. Total mood killer.

Agreed. Brock's score becomes just random music when played with the domestic cut. All of the cues are completely off, to the point that the music becomes nonsensical (well, it's still good music, but it no longer has anything to do with the film).

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by karsten

Surprisingly, the export/international version of Faust (the one for which Brock's score was composed and is correctly cued, and is IMO a better version of the film regardless) exhibits significantly superior picture quality (clearer and better contrast) in its presentation on this DVD release . . .



. . . than it does in the DVD containing the same version that is included with this blu-ray/DVD two-disc set:



Believe me, I've carefully compared the two (especially because I was so disappointed that the export/international version didn't get the HD treatment).

Those are the two Faust discs that I own; I can't speak for any other releases.

Therefore, my recommendation would be to get that Kino DVD shown above.

Isn’t that the same DVD included with the Kino Blu?

[karsten]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

Isn’t that the same DVD included with the Kino Blu?

It might be; logically it would be. But I don't own that particular issue. Only the two that I showed with my post.

But it is curious that a DVD was included with the MoC release, and there, the PQ of the export Faust is significantly worse.

[HundredYearLurker]

Faust is on sale right now, and just wanted to see if I understand this:

The Kino 1080p transfer is no good, stretched, otherwise inferior to Eureka's 1080p.

However, the version of Faust preferred by many is the international/export cut with the correctly cued Timothy Brock score. We think the Kino DVD included in the 2-disc Kino set contains this version in superior quality to the Eureka DVD.

[KubrickKurasawa]

This movie is too good to not have a full conversation about the details on the discs contents or any extras etc.

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by KubrickKurasawa

This movie is too good to not have a full conversation about the details on the discs contents or any extras etc.

That is exactly why I got the Eureka instead of Kino. It is packed with extras.

[KubrickKurasawa]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

That is exactly why I got the Eureka instead of Kino. It is packed with extras.

I ordered the Kino. I don't have Region B playback capability.

Anyway next year this is 100. Seems like there should be an Ultimate Edition for hardcore fans but really old silents just don't get anything like that maybe.

[koberulz]

Still no sign of a decent version of the Export Cut? I don't recall, but I assume I watched the Domestic last time as that was the one in HD...gave the Export a bit of a spin tonight and it looks rough. I was so taken by the visuals last time and between the SD video and lacking restoration it really ruins the look of the film. The subtitles are also rather difficult to read, and of course are burned-in so if I ever do get my German up to scratch they'd just be in the way...