Hear ye, Hear ye! I’m
interrupting this theme month to bring you a special announcement. The fine
folks at Flicker Alley, purveyor of rediscovered classics* and underrated gems
from yesteryear, are celebrating the April 4th Blu-ray/DVD release
of Behind the Door (1919). You can
join in the celebration by entering to win a copy or purchasing it for a
discounted price.
*If you’re really bored, check out my review of the Soviet
sci-fi oddity Aelita: Queen of Mars(1924), available from (you guessed it) Flicker Alley.
But don’t take my word for it, here’s what the Flicker Alley
people have to say:
Flicker
Alley and a group of amazing sites for fans of silent and classic film are
proud to bring you this giveaway for Behind the Door
(1919) on Dual‑Format Edition Blu‑ray/DVD.
Legendary producer Thomas H. Ince and director Irvin V. Willat
made this—“the most outspoken of all the vengeance films” according to film
historian Kevin Brownlow—during the period of World War I‑inspired American
patriotism.
Hobart Bosworth stars as Oscar Krug, a working-class American, who
is persecuted for his German ancestry after war is declared. Driven by
patriotism, Krug enlists and goes to sea. However, tragedy strikes when his
wife (Jane Novak) sneaks aboard his ship and is captured following a German U‑boat
attack. Krug’s single‑minded quest for vengeance against the sadistic German
submarine commander (played with villainous fervor by Wallace Beery) leads to
the film’s shocking and brutal climax.
This newly restored edition represents the most complete version
of the film available since 1919, thanks to the collaboration of the San
Francisco Silent Film Festival, the Library of Congress, and Gosfilmofond of
Russia.
Sourced from the only two known remaining prints and referencing a
copy of Willat’s original continuity script, this edition recreates the
original color tinting scheme and features a new score composed and performed
by Stephen Horne. Flicker Alley is honored to present Behind the Door on Blu-ray and DVD for the first time ever.
Bonus Materials Include:
·
Original
Russian version of Behind the Door: The re-edited and re-titled
version of the film that was distributed in Russia, with musical accompaniment
by Stephen Horne.
·
Original
Production Outtakes: Featuring
music composed and performed by Stephen Horne.
·
Restoring
Irvin Willat’s Behind the Door: An inside look at the restoration process with
the restoration team.
·
Kevin
Brownlow, Remembering Irvin Willat: Directed by Patrick Stanbury, an in-depth interview with
renowned historian and honorary Academy Award® winner Kevin Brownlow on the
career of director Irvin Willat.
·
Slideshow
Gallery: Original lobby cards, production stills, and
promotional material.
·
12-page
Booklet: Featuring rare photographs and essays by film historian Jay
Weissburg, film restorer Robert Byrne, and composer Stephen Horne.
Official Release
Date: April 4, 2017
Giveaway Hosted By:
Flicker Alley
Co-Hosted By:
One lucky winner will receive a copy of Behind the Door (1919) on Dual Format Edition Blu ray/DVD from Flicker Alley! Giveaway is open to residents of U.S./Canada and ends on April 12, 2017.
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