Originally released under the title One Arabian Night, Sumurun was among Lubitsch’s early triumphs and helped secure his invitation to Hollywood. This exotic spectacle stars Jenny Hasselqvist (The Saga of Gosta Berling) as Sumurun, a rebellious member of a harem who has committed the greatest of sins: she has rejected the old sheikh (Paul Wegener, The Golem) and fallen in love with a charming cloth merchant. Pola Negri co-stars as a traveling dancer who is drawn to both the harem and to the sheikh’s handsome son, and Lubitsch himself appears as a hunchbacked clown in love with the dancer. Sumurun was based on a pantomime that had been a popular success for Lubitsch’s mentor, theater director Max Reinhardt. The New York Times labeled the film “an exceptional production,” and film historian Lewis Jacobs wrote that Sumurun “not only revealed Lubitsch as an ingenious director of comedy, but introduced a risqué wit that killed the heavy-handed American sex and style displays.”
For thoughts on Sumurun, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:
Video Quality
Sumurun makes its Blu-Ray debut thanks to Kino Classics with a pretty great transfer from a restoration by the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung completed in 2014. This film is over a century old, but that does not mean that modern tools cannot pull off some minor miracles. The pleasing color-tinted photography pops in high definition with the natural grain intact and resolved well. The contrast holds up well with flicker at a manageable level and significant damage to the print not rearing its ugly head. There are pretty consistent nicks and scratches, but nothing too egregious was spotted.
The transfer reveals an amazing amount of depth and enhanced detail within the film’s composition. For the first time, you are able to experience all-new details with palpable textures on the outfits and within the setting. Black levels could be a bit more robust, but there are no major signs of black crush or compression artifacts. Kino Classics has rescued this ancient film and given it an ideal presentation.
Audio Quality
This Blu-Ray presents the film with a perfectly good DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that captures what is needed from a silent film. The film is provided with an original score composed and conducted by Javier Perez de Azpeitia from 2000 that is very inviting at all points. The music is the only element at play here, and it maintains perfect fidelity with no wear and tear. Silent film fans should enjoy the strength and consistency of this track. Optional English subtitles are provided to complement the German intertitles.
Special Features
- Marguerite and Faust Screen Tests: A 12-minute featurette which shows the 1923 screen tests of Lubitsch’s unrealized American production of Marguerite and Faust.
Final Thoughts
Sumurun is a slight disappointment from the great Ernst Lubitsch. The director was not yet at the height of his powers, and much of this film is hampered by over-acting and one-dimensional characters. Beyond that, though, is just the general sense of disinterest that surrounds this dull plot. There are moments that work, but the length for this one starts to wear down your patience. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray with a top notch A/V presentation and an intriguing supplemental feature. This one is only recommended if you are a Lubitsch superfan looking to have a complete collection.
Sumurun is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD 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.