Monday, February 26, 2018

Arrow Video Restores French-Language Version Of G.W. Pabst’s L'Atlantide For Blu-ray Release On Apr. 24


DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey
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.

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph TribbeyArrow 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.

DVD & Blu-ray Release Report, Ralph Tribbey


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