Sunrise [Blu-ray]

(This review is for the Eureka! Masters of Cinema all-region Blu-Ray; the TCF disc does not come out until January 2014.) I have loved this film for years, ever since I saw a mute Standard 8mm print that a close friend loaned to me. Even with no music and not-that-great print quality, I fell in love with every frame of this film-I had first read about this film in the "Joe Franklin" book on silent movies (actually written by the great William K. Everson) and had wanted to see it for five years and was not disappointed one bit. I have also had a Super 8 sound print from Blackhawk Films (from the Killiam Collection), a VHS tape from Collector's Choice, the DVD from Fox, an R2 2-disc set from Eureka! and now this Blu-Ray.This simple story of a farmer, his wife and the woman from the city who has captivated him never fails to move me and dazzle me with the brilliance of Murnau's directorial flourishes (the incredible swamp scene, the trolley car ride into the vast city set, the wedding scene with the contrition of the man and the couple's renewal of their love, the amusement park sequence, the storm and the brilliant conclusion). Carl Meyer's poetic scenario, the still gorgeous photography of Charles Rosher and Karl Struss, Hugo Riesenfeld's lyrical score (incorporating Phil Spitalny's "The Enchanted Forest" for the love theme)-skip the new score, nowhere near as beautiful and powerful-and the performances from George O'Brien, Janet Gaynor and Margaret Livingston and all the rest of the cast-just wonderful.It looks like all the extras that are on the Eureka disc will be on the Fox one-do not miss the outtake reel-some nice alternate takes from the film and even a few brief flashes of Murnau on the set and what looks like a technical goof-up with the fireworks appearing to be moving out of position. There is also a look at a film that I would kill to see-the 4 DEVILS, Murnau's next film for Fox which, sadly, appears to have been lost for many years.This film did not fare very well commercially when it was originally released. The critics loved it but even some that did felt more dazzled by the film's technical achievements than the story and characters and were not shy to say the same in their reviews. One critic even awarded its acting award for the month "to the camera in SUNRISE," which probably made your average moviegoer feel that the film might be too artsy for them. Too bad-for this is one of silent cinema's and-I think-ALL cinema's most sweet, sincere and poetic love stories, and I am so glad that its reputation continues to grow as the years pass.

Is SUNRISE the greatest silent film ever made? Many polls consider it so but to me comparing it with a handful of other silents such as NAPOLEON or BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN or GREED (not to mention the comedies of Chaplin and Keaton) is like comparing apples and oranges. What is without question is that SUNRISE: A SONG OF TWO HUMANS (to give the film its complete title) is one of the greatest movies of all time sound or silent. The fact that we still have it is a miracle as the original negative was destroyed along with virtually all of the pre-merger Fox Films (except for Shirley Temple and Will Rogers) in a horrific warehouse fire in 1937. That is why there are so few Fox silents available. Fortunately more and more are being discovered in foreign archives like the John Ford film recently discovered in New Zealand.A simple story of love, betrayal, and redemption is transformed and elevated into a work of art captured on film thanks to director F.W. Murnau and cameramen Charles Rosher & Karl Struss. There are so many things to savor in this film, such as the breathtaking cinematography in the village scenes which is reminiscent of the 17th Century Dutch Masters, the Bauhaus influenced set designs of the City, or the remarkable performances by George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor (who won the first Best Actress Academy Award), that trying to compile a complete list of them here would take up too much space. It is the first film to officially feature a soundtrack (as opposed to sound on disc) and is the only movie to win an Oscar for "Unique & Artistic Production". The first Best Picture award went to WINGS.The new U. S. Fox Blu-Ray / DVD combo pack is a cause for celebration as it provides us with the best surviving American version which looks remarkable considering its age and history. It also comes with a Czech version of the European release (which is 79 minutes instead of 94) as well as valuable audio commentary and your choice of the original Fox Movietone soundtrack (which has been sonically remastered and sounds fantastic) or a newly recorded score by Timothy Brock and the Oympia Chamber Orchestra. There are also outtakes, the original script, and promotional materials as well. If you are truly a lover of cinema then you need to see SUNRISE and decide its status for yourself. Like all truly great films, it can be watched over and over again and that is the highest compliment I can bestow.

A fantastic, definitive version of the 1927 classic with DVD and BluRay editions of both existing versions of this film. It's 95 years old and was nearly lost altogether so accept that the small flaws in the image. But this is as good as it gets and the film is a treasure. The seller Chalky's was courteous and responsive.

Grán película, muy buena edición.

Janet Gaynor won the Best Actress Oscar in 1927 and is the highlight of the film, although Margaret Livingston as the temptress from the city is also very good. There's not a lot of story, and Janet Gaynor's wife might just be a bit too quick to forgive her husband, but the beauty of the film is in its stellar cinematography, imaginative sets and its overall atmosphere. The quality of this Blu-Ray is quite superior to the Warner Brothers Studio Classics four movie set I bought years ago. This edition has both DVD and Blu-Ray, and I would highly recommend it.

Other reviewers have remarked what a fine film this is, so i'll add a few comments on this edition. We probably won't see a better restoration of this 1927 classic, since the negative was lost in a fire, and it's more than watchable on both Blu-ray and DVD. The Movietone version -- one of the first films produced with an actual soundtrack (music and sound effects, not dialogue) -- can also be viewed with a new score which sounds excellent and is musically at least as good as the original soundtrack. The European version (shorter and with no soundtrack) is also included. This new edition is worth the money.

Great classic silent movie!!! Great characters, cinematography, and camera work.