Max Ophuls is one of those filmmakers, whose style is generally, instantly recognizable.
His use of extraordinarily fluid camera movements, and stylized lighting set him apart from the pack.
Should there be readers of this site unfamiliar with his work, grab copies of The Earrings of Madame De, and Lola Montes, and educate yourselves.
Mr. Ophuls moved around the world. From Germany to France, the Netherlands, Italy, to America, in 1941, directing his first film here, The Exile (with Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) in 1947.
The following year, he created a magnificent work, Letter from an Unknown Woman, with Joan Fontaine and Louis Jourdan.
I’ll not discuss the film, as that would rob first time viewers of one of the great pleasures of cinema.
I’ve been waiting for someone — anyone — to bring out a quality copy of this film on home video for many years.
There’s good news, and good news.
The good news is that I can now retire my 16mm print.
The other good news is that Olive, by virtue of their Signature collection, has anointed us with one of the great Christmas gifts of 2017.
This is a magnificent reproduction of the original film, on Blu-ray, for which the terms new 4k restoration take on proper meaning.
Trust me on this one.
Purchase a copy, and find yourselves viewing the wonder of Franz Planer’s magnificent cinematography.
As to other credits, take note of the involvement of John Houseman as producer, Howard Koch as screenwriter, and then there are the actors.
Ignore this film, at your peril.
Image – 5
Audio – 5
Pass / Fail – Pass
Upgrade from original Blu-ray – Yes
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.
His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.
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