Carl Theodor Dreyer Special Edition Box Set (Day of Wrath, Ordet, Gertrud, and Carl Th. Dreyer - My Metier) - Criterion Collection

Starring:Nina Pens Rode, Bendt Rothe, Ebbe Rode, Baard Owe, Axel StrÃ¸bye, Karl Gustav Ahlefeldt, Vera Gebuhr, Lars Knutzon, Anna Malberg, Edouard Mielche, William Knoblauch, Ole Sarvig, Carl Johan Hviid, ValsÃ¸ Holm, Gurli Plesner, Sophie Knudsen, Emanuel JÃ¸rgensen, Kirsten Andreasen, Preben Neergaard, Olaf Ussing
Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
When asked to describe his work, Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer said that film should present "truth filtered through an artist's mind, truth liberated from unnecessary detail." This collection of Dreyer's three major sound features demonstrates the director's rigorous commitment to that idea.

Day of Wrath (1943)--filmed during the Nazi occupation of Denmark--is set in a 17th-century village where the fear of witchcraft and the repression of human passions lead to tragedy. Ordet (1955) is considered by many to be Dreyer's masterpiece. This complex family drama is both moving and challenging, and the ending is one of cinema's greatest moments. Gertrud (1964) tells the story of a woman's search for fulfillment. Nina Pens Rode gives an extraordinary performance, heightened by Dreyer's peerless pacing and composition.

Accompanying the three films is a documentary by avant-garde filmmaker Torben Skjodt Jensen. Dreyer claimed to be surprised that anyone would want to make a film about him, but a greater understanding of the personality and the craft that went into the making of these films only enhances their impact. In spite of a career characterized by as many setbacks as successes, Dreyer's uncompromising commitment to his art (he once suspended filming because the clouds were moving in the wrong direction) resulted in work that continues to enthrall audiences and inspire filmmakers to this day.

Amazon.com

When asked to describe his work, Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyer said that film should present "truth filtered through an artist's mind, truth liberated from unnecessary detail." This collection of Dreyer's three major sound features demonstrates the director's rigorous commitment to that idea.

Day of Wrath (1943)--filmed during the Nazi occupation of Denmark--is set in a 17th-century village where the fear of witchcraft and the repression of human passions lead to tragedy. Ordet (1955) is considered by many to be Dreyer's masterpiece. This complex family drama is both moving and challenging, and the ending is one of cinema's greatest moments. Gertrud (1964) tells the story of a woman's search for fulfillment. Nina Pens Rode gives an extraordinary performance, heightened by Dreyer's peerless pacing and composition.

Interviews with Dreyer's collaborators provide the backbone of My Metier, but it is Jensen's visual approach--building layered images from photographs, manuscripts, and film clips--that explores and responds to Dreyer's movies in subtle but powerful ways. Instead of a succession of talking heads and illustrative excerpts, Jensen offers an impressionistic portrait of Dreyer in a documentary that is often as beautiful as its subject's own work. --Simon Leake

Description

Following the release of Carl Th. Dreyer's The Passion of Joan of Arc, The Criterion Collection renews its commitment to this major director with a Special Edition box set of his sound films, Day of Wrath, Ordet, and Gertrud. Each is an intense exploration of the clash between individual desire and social expectations, with Dreyer's famously perfectionist attention to detail shining throughout. With brand new digital transfers supervised by Gertrud director of photography Henning Bendtsen, the Criterion Collection is proud to present these Dreyer masterpieces on DVD for the first time. The fourth disc in the set presents the masterful 1995 documentary on Dreyer by Danish filmmaker Torben Skødt Jensen, Carl Th. Dreyer-My Métier. Extensive interviews with collaborators and actors provide fresh insight into the life and work of one of cinema's great masters.

Customer Reviews:

Gertrud review.......2007-04-23

Slow, brooding and stagy, Dreyer's final film was very much a work swimming against the tide of contemporary cinema. But of course "with the times" means more than showing more, giving more, stripping more away to show more underneath; it means knowing when to stop dissembling in order to show the eternal flaws and raptures of humanness. And if anyone realised this, it was Dreyer, maker of films about peasant saints, witchery, and vampirism, yet ostensibly a possessor of a modernist aesthetic.

Arguably, his last two films -the other being "Ordet" (1955)- mark a departure from a rigorously reflexive technique. Old age or wisdom? Or two parts of the same side of a coin...whatever, age slows us all and along the way we realise the eternal things with more poise and thought than before.

"Gertrud" represents the slowing of a watch in order to show human nature strikes at every hour. There is the feeling when watching this film that something has been lost. We forget, however, it was always ours to lose. And so always ours to regain.

The greatest Danish filmmaker, Carl Dreyer..........2006-05-28

The fact that Criterion took 3 of the greatest movies ever made, and put them into a box set is truly something to be thankful for. The few Dreyer films that actually made it onto VHS were always poorly transferred copies. But their power and artistry still shone through. Now we have these masterpieces from our friends at Criterion. My personal favorite is Ordet, which is one of most uplifting, spiritual (NOT RELIGIOUS), and moving films ever made, with a truly stunning final scene. Gertrud is the 2nd best, with some of the most heartbreaking images and dialogue ever committed to celluloid. Day of Wrath is a good film, and the first film in which Dreyer's latter day style really took shape. All three films employ Dreyer's latter day filming style, very long takes, with meticulously composed and lit shots. The cinematography for these films is utterly gorgeous, especially the later two films. Gertrud reportedly contained only 57 shots in the entire film (always a good sign), and Ordet only took 5 days to edit (probably a record). The documentary is good, for the fact that the director frames his shots in interesting ways, as opposed to the usual, televisionesque ways documentaries are handled. This docu feels cinematic, unlike most modern documentaries which have a TV news feel to them. There is also a booklet included in this set with marvelous quotes from Dreyer on art, people, cinema, and directing. It's more informative about the cinematic/artistic process than four years at a film school. It was rather sad that Dreyer only made 5 features in the last 40 years of his life, but the films he did make were masterpieces. Despite the long periods in between films (Dreyer only made 5 feature films and a few shorts in the last 40 years of his life), Dreyer never lost his artistry. Gertrud, which was Dreyer's final film, is from that old man's cinema catalogue, the final film (or close to it) of great directors that is usually slow, doesn't hurry, and is usually very melancholy and sad. Several examples of this are Kurosawa's Madadayo, Wilder's Fedora, Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. This is a box set that is definitely worth having.

Excellent Selection Revealing Dreyer's Style With Wonderful Documentary........2006-02-11

This set gives us a great sampling of Dreyer's style, which might be described as "neorealism". Dreyer felt that his films should be entertaining and not just for artistic analysis, but you have to see them to begin to get a feel for his style. The documentary disc supplied with this set is truly wonderful. It is entertaining and covers just about everything you would want to know about Dreyer. It even shows photos of his mother and childhood. It discusses his approach to his art and life's work in great detail. Many interviews with his actors and staff are included. Most of his major films are discussed in all aspects. If you want to find out about the films of Carl Theodor Dreyer as well as his life and thoughts this is an excellent choice for you!

Excellent set.......2006-01-13

This set is a great revelation for me - I was only familiar with Dreyer's work on silent films - these three movies are such detailed and beautifully paced movies. 'Ordet' is a film which seems to be a spiritual statement - but it could also be interpreted as the power of believing (which does not necissarily have to be religous). It is also a statement on society - sometimes society is out of touch with reality or reason and it is only the crazy 'outcasts' who 'get it'. This, along with Bresson's 'Diary of a Country Priest' has become one of my favorite films on the subject of faith.
'Gertrude' is, in my opinion, an equally fascinating work. It is so beautiful to look at - there is one scene in a park where the water is shimmering in the background that made me just so startled at the possibilities of black and white cinema. The theme of Gertrude seems to be love and truth - but throughout the film the camera seems to take a neutral stance to what the characters are professing. 'Gertrude's' quest for love for example, is neither championed or denounced, it is simply observed. This is such an efffective way of telling a story - let the characters tell it.. I am so delighted and surprised by Dreyer's sound films - and I would highly recommend them!

Ignore the documentary.......2004-04-02

Watch out, cinema lovers! Carl Theodor Dreyer is a unique director, and his films require a special kind of patience. Day of Wrath, Ordet and Gertrude are fascinating and sometimes difficult (especially the last two) films, but rewarding if you allow yourself to get involved. But the documentary accompanying this terrific Criterion release is dull, overly "artistic", and frankly not very informative. Only buy the box set if you're willing to watch and then discard it. P.S. Also buy The Passion of Joan of Arc, and, if you can find it, Vampyr.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Phoenix

Ahmad Jamal - Live : DVD

Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: The Double-D Avenger

New Zealand - Coast To Coast