Reviews of silent film releases on home video.
Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett
and the Silent Era Company.
All Rights Reserved. |
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He Who
Gets Slapped
(1924)
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Lon Chaney stars in this circus drama directed by Victor Sjöström (under his Americanized moniker, Victor Seastrom). Chaney is supported by Norma Shearer, John Gilbert and Tully Marshall.
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 Warner Archive Collection
2010 DVD edition
He Who Gets Slapped (1927), black & white, 72 minutes, not rated.
Warner Home Video,
no catalog number, UPC 8-83316-28981-5.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD-R disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at 7.6 Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to 60 fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 mono sound encoded at 192 Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; 7 chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $19.95 (reduced to $12.99).
Release date: 2010.
Country of origin: USA
Ratings (1-10): video: 7 / audio: 4 / additional content: 0 / overall: 6.
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This DVD-R edition is available directly from the Warner Home Video website, as originally prepared for broadcast on Turner Classic Movies. The older analog video transfer has been made at sound speed of 24 frames per second, which means that the action runs a little faster than a normal pace and accounts for the film’s short running time here. The source material appears to be a 35mm duplicate print, as the image is darker with grey highlights and the shadow areas a little plugged up. The image could have used some digital stabilization as the bouncy picture is a distraction — a little like watching the film during an earthquake.
The film is accompanied by a music score compiled from preexisting sound film library recordings and sound effects that are clumsily edited together — a disappointment when Turner Classic Movies normally engages young composers for their silent film presentations, which are commonly sourced for Warner Archive discs. The music, which may originate from the source print’s soundtrack, is cloying at worst and serviceable at best.
This is not the best-looking disc and the soundtrack is a negative, but we still think that this is our recommended home video edition of this film. Note to Warner Archive: There are plenty of reasons to upgrade this home video product — you’re not making any friends here.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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 Bach Films
2010 DVD edition
He Who Gets Slapped (1927), black & white, 68 minutes, not rated.
Bach Films, unknown catalog number, unknown UPC number.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 2 PAL DVD disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; unknown suggested retail price.
Release date: 2010.
Country of origin: France
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This DVD edition may have been mastered from 35mm print materials.
The film is likely to be accompanied by a custom music score.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 2 PAL DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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 Colección Cine Mudo
201? DVD edition
He Who Gets Slapped (1927), black & white, ? minutes, not rated.
Llamentol SL, LL1321, UPC 8-436022-305885.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 2 PAL DVD-R disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, optional Spanish language subtitles; chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; unknown suggested retail price.
Release date: 201?.
Country of origin: Spain
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This DVD edition may have been mastered from 35mm print materials.
The film is likely to be accompanied by a custom music score.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 2 PAL DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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 Alpha Video
2020 DVD edition
He Who Gets Slapped (1927), black & white, 72 minutes, not rated.
Alpha Home Entertainment, distributed by Oldies.com,
ALP 8368D, UPC 0-89218-83689-2.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD-R disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 mono sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $7.98 (raised to $8.98).
Release date: 3 November 2020.
Country of origin: USA
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This DVD-R edition has likely been mastered from reduction print source materials.
The film is likely accompanied by a music score compiled from preexisting recordings.
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This Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is available directly from . . .
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Other silent era VICTOR SJÖSTRÖM films available on home video.
Other silent era LON CHANEY films available on home video.
Other silent era JOHN GILBERT films available on home video.
Other silent era NORMA SHEARER films available on home video.
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