Arrow Video, with
domestic sales and distribution support provided by MVD Entertainment Group,
will be bringing to market a Blu-ray edition on Apr. 24 of the original
French-language version of German filmmaker G.W. Pabst’s 1932 film adaptation
of Pierre Benoît's 1919 novel, “Atlantida,” which was released theatrically in
French-speaking territories as L'Atlantide.
Filmed during the early
days of sound, G.W. Pabst shot this sci-fi/fantasy/adventure tale in three
different languages, with Brigitte Helm (known to American audiences as Maria
from Fritz Lang’s 1927 film, Metropolis) in the starring role as Antinéa,
the Queen of the lost civilization of Atlantis, in all three versions of the
film — French, German and English.
If the English-language
version, which features John Stuart (Number 17, The House of Trent, Mayfair Girl,
etc.) as explorer Lieutenant Saint-Avit, could have found a domestic
distributor, The Mistress of Atlantis (the English-language version) would
have beaten King Kong to theatres by nearly nine months. However, it didn’t wash up on these shores
until 1939.
Arrow Video is presenting
Pabst’ French-language version for its Blu-ray debut, which stars Pierre
Blanchar as Capitaine de Saint-Avit (it appears our hero got a promotion in
rank for the French-language presentation).
Of note, the German language version featured Heinz Klingenberg as
Saint-Avit.
The bonus feature here is
a newly prepared video session with film critic and author Kim Newman, who
focuses on the work of French novelist Pierre Benoît and the various
film-adaptions of his novel (in addition to the three Pabst versions discussed
here, you have Siren of Atlantis, Journey Beneath the Desert and more).
L'Atlantide is presented in French with optional English
subtitles.
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