Mesmerizing silent film icon Pola Negri stars as Jeanne Bécu, Countess of Barry, who rises from humble origins to become a plaything of the rich and powerful during the firestorm of the French Revolution. But it is her romance with King Louis XV, (Emil Jannings, The Last Laugh) that ends her ascent to power, and brings her into the shadow of the guillotine. Though he would later be associated with visually inventive (and sexually suggestive) romantic comedies, Ernst Lubitsch was a master of the historical epic during his years working in Germany. Released in the United States as Passion, Madame Dubarry was produced on an extraordinary scale, with enormous sets and literally thousands of extras. Yet Lubitsch’s mastery of the psychological complexities of romance keeps the human drama from being overwhelmed by the visual spectacle, cementing his reputation as one of the great directors of Europe and earning him an invitation to Hollywood.
For thoughts on Madame Dubarry, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
[youtube https://youtu.be/T7jBM3kHH9s?si=XRvQpEkLbJBvP-r0&t=3190]
Video Quality
Madame Dubarry makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a striking transfer from a restoration performed by Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung in 2001. This film is over 100 years old, and it is always awe-inspiring to see the wonders of a proper preservation effort. Some stray, faint vertical lines make a quick appearance without intruding on the overall aesthetic of the film. The contrast is capably defined with no significant flicker or specks of damage to the print, especially compared to many films of this era.
The lovely color-tinted photography impresses in high definition with consistent natural grain intact. You can discern a surprising amount of detail with subtle textures on the clothing and within the setting. The transfer captures an inviting amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. The lighting in this effort is consistent so that nothing ever looks washed out. Black levels present some good depth with no major occurrence of black crush or compression artifacts. Kino Classics has treated this with the utmost respect.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray presents the film with a special DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that translates everything to perfection. As is the case with silent films, the film is graced with an original score. This one comes from Carsten-Stephan Graf von Bothmer and is exciting throughout to establish a mood. The music is the only element to worry about with this track, and it sounds bright and pleasing with no clipping or other such anomalies. Silent film fans will cheer the sound quality of this track, as the score seems to accompany the thematic elements well. Optional English subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Joseph McBride, author of How Did Lubitsch Do It?, provides an insightful commentary track in which he gives rich details on this feature including some analysis of the adaptation of this historical figure, the known behind-the-scenes details and history of key figures in the production, the filmmaking techniques, how this fits into the career of Ernst Lubitsch, the film’s legacy, and much more.
Final Thoughts
Madame Dubarry is a fine early effort from the masterful Ernst Lubitsch, who shows confidence in his filmmaking at an early stage. Lubitsch continues to work well with Pola Negri, who completely commits to her role. Even when the film can lean a bit tedious, there is typically something around the corner to rouse the audience. This is worth seeking out if you have enjoyed other films in this line from Lubitsch. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray with a strong A/V presentation and an informative commentary track. If you are a Lubitsch fan looking to round out your collection, this disc is a technical marvel. Recommended
Madame Dubarry is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
