Sunrise (F.W. Murnau)

[pro-bassoonist]

Sunrise Blu-ray REVIEW



Coming very soon from Masters of Cinema. Winner of three Oscar Awards (1929) -- Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Janet Gaynor), Best Cinematography (Charles Rosher and Karl Struss).


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[McCrutchy]

Has anyone seen this film? Is it any good or is it mainly of historical value?

Either way I'm very interested...

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Has anyone seen this film? Is it any good or is it mainly of historical value?

Either way I'm very interested...

Yes, of course, I own the UK DVD. I strongly recommend that you consider adding it to your library. The story is beautiful, and I certainly hope that there would be plenty of supplemental features on the disc.

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[Alex DeLarge]

SUNRISE on Blu-ray? Oh my, the format is here to stay (as if we had any doubts). Now how about NOSFERATU?

[keenan_investigates]

I was looking for information on this release and couldn't find any. Where did you get this news? couldn't find it on the Masters of Cinema website. has a release date been confirmed? I have the DVD so probably won't buy this but it's good to know that classics such as this are coming. I'd love to see some Mizoguchi or Naruse from Masters of Cinema next.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by keenan_investigates

I was looking for information on this release and couldn't find any.

Good morning,

I will make sure to update the thread when we can post more.

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[rezpekt]

In September:

In Sept, a new edition of SUNRISE with a newly-found Czech print of the film, utilising different shots. Both versions in HD on the Blu-ray!

http://twitter.com/mastersofcinema/statuses/2037012018

[HumanMedia]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Has anyone seen this film? Is it any good or is it mainly of historical value?

Either way I'm very interested...

I know exactly what you mean and Sunrise rises above merely being important in its time (like for me, Metropolis). Its still holds up very well and is my favorite film from its era.

[rezpekt]

It'll be a Blu-ray + DVD combo.

The long-awaited 3rd MoC Series Catalogue will debut inside our new edition of SUNRISE in Sept (a futureproof DVD+Blu-ray combo pack w/book)

http://twitter.com/mastersofcinema/statuses/2108497336

[pandemonium]

any word on region coding yet?

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by pandemonium

any word on region coding yet?

Quote from one guy at Eureka/MoC:

We only ever intend to release non-crippled, region-free Blu-rays

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by pandemonium

any word on region coding yet?

Originally Posted by rezpekt

Quote from one guy at Eureka/MoC:

I'm pretty sure Fox isn't crying over the perspective millions in royalties they could lose out on, considering how popular silent film is in the USA.

[rezpekt]

Originally Posted by http://twitter.com/mastersofcinema/statuses/2158047203

Packaging pretty much locked down for our forthcoming Blu-ray/DVD combo edition of SUNRISE (out in September) -- see twitbackground!

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by rezpekt

THAT IS AWESOME!

[pro-bassoonist]

This new 2009 reissue of Sunrise (for the first time anywhere in the world in 1080p HD on Blu-ray, in addition to a newly mastered 2 x DVD set) contains two versions of the film: the previously released Movietone version, and an alternate silent version of the film recently discovered in the Czech Republic. The Blu-ray edition includes both versions in 1080p HD.

The culmination of one of the greatest careers in film history, F. W. Murnau’s Sunrise blends a story of fable-like simplicity with unparalled visual imagination and technical ingenuity. Invited to Hollywood by William Fox and given total artistic freedom on any project he wished, Murnau’s tale of the idyllic marriage of a peasant couple (George O’Brien and Janet Gaynor) threatened by a Machiavellian seductress from the city (Margaret Livingston) created a milestone of film expressionism.

Made in the twilight of the silent era, it became both a swan song for a vanishing medium and one of the few films to instantly achieve legendary status. Winner of three Oscars for Best Actress (Gaynor), Cinematography, and a never-repeated award for “Unique and Artistic Picture”, its influence and stature has only grown with each passing year. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present a new 2xDVD and Blu-ray special edition of the film, including an all-new alternate version recently discovered in a Czech archive of a higher visual quality than any other known source.

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[pro-bassoonist]

Blu-ray.com Review

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[Matt865]

Thanks for the review. I have to admit I was stunned when I popped it in my PS3 this morning and had a quick look at the Czech version. For a film that is more than 80 years old and with the complex and sometimes unfortunate history of the various prints (as explained in the accompanying booklet) it looks incredible. I can't wait for the weekend when I'll have time to watch.

[nazdar]

Murnau goes Hollywood!
Sunrise instantly became a favorite film before I finished my first viewing some time ago. The DVD looked great and I can't wait to experience the BD. You can google it; but for me the classic story is framed in a production as visually opulent as Metropolis or Blade Runner. The Futurist architecture and design is an explosion of German Expressionism and Art Deco. Truly, a real chance to get into a time machine and experience the stylish past. Not dry nor boring; it's a blast!

Thanks for the review and facts, Svet!

[Gordon Thomas]

Just a question about the screen captures appended to the Sunrise Blu-ray review. You list 20 of them, and say that 2-15 are from the Czech version, with the rest being from the Movietone issue, yet the first screencap (showing the bad girl with her shoe upheld for the peasant woman to attend to) seems, in resolution and comparative ratio to be from the Czech version. Are 1-14 actually from the Czech edition and 15-19 from the Movietone, and no. 20 a capture of the menu screen?

Thanks,
Gordon

[pro-bassoonist]

Hello Gordon,

A senior moment - I usually take a capture of the menu first, so I should have adjusted the numbers as you have noticed. With other words, your observation is correct: captures 1-15 are indeed from the Czech version, and 16-19 from the Movietone version.

Pro-B