Josef von Sternberg, with and without Dietrich

Here you can read about the splendid box of JvS silents that Criterion put out today:

http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/2183

You're being so circumspect.

http://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/review/3-silent-classics-by-josef-von-sternberg/1797

i havent seen anything in this box. but i want to .

The Last Command is pretty good. Emil Jannings perfected this nodding tick thing with his head once he goes bananas.

xpost - what s1ocki said so I need to review my Xmas wish list...

Here, too: http://www.notcoming.com/features/vonsternberganddietrich/

The link was already in Auteurs, Eric.

Also, there were these screencaps a few days ago ... there are some amazing shots of seas of faces, like in the Docks of NY tavern wedding when the parson asks for objections and everyone raises their hands.

http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/2119

von Sternberg's chapter about Jannings in the box booklet is acidic.

How many people on this thread own a copy of Fun in a Chinese Laundry?

also, this:

i havent seen anything in this box. but i want to .

― piranha karenina (s1ocki)

I've seen The Last Command because for years a shitty VHS transfer was available in most video stores (foreign film tokenism)

foreign film tokenism

(didn't really need use the qtag there, sorry)

Haven't read the box booklet, but I seem to remember eye opening but ultimately not surprising revelations from FiaCL about Jo's complicated carrot and stick dealings with his tortured, chunky prima donnas Emil Jannings and Charles Laughton.

Wow, Morbius gets top billing and Geoffrey O'Brien is an afterthought.

I already have and love Docks Of New York but am gonna buy the box anyway.

The Scarlet Empress is overly praised I think, but I recently saw his version of Crime and Punishment (with Peter Lorre as Raskolnikov) and was very impressed.

yeah, I remeber liking C&P

and The Shanghai Gesture, of course.

has anyone here seen anatahan?

yes, of course. in many ways, the ultimate Sternberg. very difficult film but worth anyone's time.

as much as I love this box's existence (and Morbs' review of it), my very fave Sternberg remains largely unseeable (unless you caught a gorgeous copy of it on French TCM a few months ago) - Thunderbolt (1929), a remake of Underworld (included on the box) but infinitely superior. most Sternberg films dazzle the eyes; this one dazzles the ears as well.

French TCM!

Better French TCM than Finnish TMI.

But yeah: French TCM! Jonathan Rosenbaum better watch his back, KJB is gunning for him.

Tom Gunning (of 'cinema of attractions' and 'minor cinema' fame)? (another idol)

Jannings, having assured himself of the acting ability of a basket of eggs by opening one and noting its evil sulphurous content, handed the basket to me, and said, "Surely you will not forego the pleasure of smashing a few of these eggs on my head so that I know exactly how you wish me to play this

Never heard of that Gunning, but judging by google images, he could be one of ILX's Big Beard Boys.

I was not bothered with all this during the prenatal period, and I was neither a psychoanalyst nor an obstetrician, but a film director and heretofore every conceivable whimsy on the part of an actor had somehow been digested

where did you see French TCM?

My review of Underworld.

where did you see French TCM?

oh that special project!

Alfred, you & Orson ... need to reconsider.

Rolls Royce is only "gay" in the '20s sense, ie, he's played by an English character actor.

how do you explain the performance and dialogue?

I didn't dislike Underworld! Its grit and command of the American vernacular was just unexpected. I expected smoke, mirrors, and bizarre fade-outs.

anyway, Brook's more like Eric Blore than Franklin Pangborn.

The intertitles also have RR and Feathers overcoming a mutual attraction. They can be ignored when it's convenient.

Watched Underworld last night. Not as atmospheric as I had expected but it was compelling, especially the last half-hour or so.

Anatahan on the way

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=20605

re the very first post itt, i met Dave Kehr the other night!

Kinda looks like the CC box of Marlene/JvS is irresistible, half-price at B&N.

I couldn’t resist, at any rate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_exvKnrK6g
but I still might need to get that box

Completely overwhelmed by Morocco and Dishonored - like rediscovering cinema

I revere every single one of his Dietrich movies, except The Blue Angel.

The box set was revelatory in my part of town at the beginning of the year. I may check it out of the uni library again.