SIGNALS: A SPACE ADVENTURE (SIGNALE – EIN WELTRAUMABENTEUER), 1970, DEFA, 86 min. The first and most ambitious of two epic space operas that prolific East German genre director Gottfried Kolditz (1922-1982) made for the state-run DEFA film studios, Signals was DEFA’s cheeky attempt to outdo Kubrick’s 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY behind the Iron Curtain. The film used many of the same tricks: expansive, visually stunning shots of the cosmos … gorgeous Futurist space-design with ergonomic chairs, IBM lookalike computers, Mod mini-dresses and “STAR TREK” space uniforms … even a copycat free-floating in tunnel sequence with a wild electronic Perry-Kingsley type score. Featuring breathtaking 70mm cinematography, recently restored in 6K from the original camera negative by the DEFA Foundation in Berlin for its first-ever world Blu-ray release by Deaf Crocodile. In German with English subtitles.

IN THE DUST OF THE STARS (IM STAUB DER STERNE), 1976, DEFA, 95 min. Who could possibly resist an insanely groovy mid-1970s East German space opera with an Ennio Morricone-like theme song, a nonstop underground disco where partygoers spritz hallucinogenic mouth-spray, scantily clad super-models voguing in an abstract sculpture garden, tons of silver glam-rock boots and glittery eyeshadow and red leather space-suits, and dialogue like “Thob, I’ll upload them to the Lambda channel” and “The Temians are fun people – fun and a little crazy”?! Director Gottfried Kolditz’s delirious gem of Socialist eye-candy ranks alongside Mario Bava’s PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES as one of the most eye-popping genre treats of the era, with generous helpings of ZARDOZ, “SPACE: 1999,” and “BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25th CENTURY” thrown in for good measure. In German with English subtitles.

For thoughts on Signals: A Space Adventure and In The Dust Of The Stars, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

Video Quality

Signals: A Space Adventure debuts on Blu-Ray in its original 2.20:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p master derived from a 6K scan of the 70mm Original Camera Negative restored in 4K by the DEFA Foundation in Berlin. This transfer is one of the finest looking live-action Blu-Ray presentations released by Deaf Crocodile to date. The new transfer showcases a magnificent amount of depth and enhanced detail within the futuristic production design and costumes. The frame is crisp with an unbelievable exploration of this material. In The Dust Of The Stars arrives on Blu-Ray in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio with a 1080p master stemming from a 2K scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative restored in 2K by PostFactory GmbH. The picture does not quite reach the glorious heights of its companion, but the results are nonetheless exceptional with plenty of detail to observe and enjoy.

These restorations clean up any potential damage for a remarkably clear viewing experience outside of some fleeting lingering blemishes on In The Dust Of The Stars. The natural film grain of the original photography remains intact while unveiling so much texture in the sci-fi environments. There is a marvelous amount of detail present with appreciable textures on the clothing and the production design. Colors are deep and bold when on Earth or when deploying specific lightning schemes. Black levels are deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. Deaf Crocodile has made a herculean effort to bring these films to Blu-Ray, and the results will knock you sideways.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray set comes with an expansive DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track for Signals: A Space Adventure and a strong DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio split mono track for In The Dust Of The Stars in the original German (with optional English subtitles). These films delight in some futuristic sound effects that are given the appropriate presence within the mix. Any instances of music emanate through the room well in relation to the competing sounds. There are no indications of weakness or fragility in any of the noises. The tracks deploy everything with precision and robust fidelity, free of damage and other unwanted issues. The utilization of the surround sound speakers helps Signals approximate the scale of such an ambitious narrative. Each film balances unique sonic characteristics with the expected qualities you need from the track. Dialogue flows through clearly without anything overwhelming important information. Deaf Crocodile delivered on all fronts.

Special Features

The Deluxe Edition Blu-Ray of Signals: A Space Adventure and In The Dust Of The Stars arrives in a hard slipcase package that is a beauty in person. The release also includes an 80-page, bound book featuring writing by film historians Rolf Giesen, Jennifer Barker, and Walter Chaw. There is also a new written interview with the director’s son, Stefan Kolditz. All of this provides great insight into the film, the themes, the creatives, and the behind-the-scenes details in a thoughtfully written style. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Signals: A Space Adventure

Audio Commentary: Film historian and comics artist Stephen R. Bissette provides a commentary track with excerpts from Dr. Mariana Ivanova of the DEFA Film Library which provides great context for sci-fi cinema of the time, the inspirations for the narrative, the production of the film, and much more. This is a well-rounded and informative listen for fans.

Other Worlds, Strange Dreams – The East German Space Operas of Director Gottfried Kolditz: An 18-minute visual essay by film historian Evan Chester that takes a look at the work of the director, how it differs from American science fiction, the tone of the features, and more.

Original 1970 Theatrical Trailer (3:15)

In The Dust Of The Stars

Audio Commentary: Film historian and comics artist Stephen R. Bissette provides a commentary track that provides the background of the ensemble, the inspirations for the narrative, the production of the film, and much more. This is a well-rounded and informative listen for fans.

Other Worlds, Strange Dreams – The East German Space Operas of Director Gottfried Kolditz: An 18-minute visual essay by film historian Evan Chester that takes a look at the work of the director, how it differs from American science fiction, the tone of the features, and more.

Original 1976 Theatrical Trailer (3:02)

Final Thoughts

Signals: A Space Adventure and In The Dust Of The Stars are two overlooked yet impressive feats of science fiction filmmaking that coax out a ton of production value thanks to sheer creativity and ingenuity. There is a sly sense of cheesiness to certain aspects of these films, but they never allow the material to feel foolish or like an afterthought. We appreciate a big creative swing, and both of these connect in a fun way. Deaf Crocodile has released a Blu-Ray set which sports a fantastic A/V presentation and a valuable assortment of special features. Fans of the label will not be disappointed with their latest curatorial efforts. Recommended

Signals: A Space Adventure and In The Dust Of The Stars is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Deluxe Edition Slipcase exclusively through Deaf Crocodile and DiabolikDVD.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Deaf Crocodile 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.