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They're yet to release anything under the terms of a new distribution deal (that I know nothing about). So they're probably having to put a production team in place or something -- no idea.

Well thanks for the update anyhow. I hope we get this soon!

The Metropolis blu is comming soon in germany, maybe Niebelungen is following soon.
here

HD restored version will be broadcast on Arte tomorrow for those who don't want to wait 6+ months to check :)

starts @ 20h40, and the movie is followed by a documentary @ 1h15am

The HD restauration of the 2 films starts at 8:15pm MEZ on Arte Germany, it is televised on Arte France at 8:40pm MEZ.

What an surprising highlight. My digital videorecorder is programmed!

...and later substituted by the MoC BRs!

Cinema showing with live piano was already on 21.09.2011 in Strasbourg, France:

the first 4 shots after credits (live dsl capture, cropped black/jpg 90% compression with shotwell) :)

Holy smokes. That is beautiful.

Any update on this?

It's coming in time for Christmas, I believe.

Out in October in separate 2-disc Blu-Ray and 2-disc DVD editions.

Gosh damn, finally. Feels like it's been waiting all my life to come.

Now, if they will only include the Gaylord Carter organ score, I will be forever content. (Pssst, MOC, just include it, you know you want to).

My most anticipated release of the year! Cannot wait for this! MoC and Weimar cinema is a great combination.

Martha wrote:SPECIAL FEATURES

• Long-awaited HD restoration of the film by Friedrich-Wilhelm-Murnau-Stiftung, with its original frame-rates and in its original aspect-ratio, in 1080p on the Blu-ray
• Newly translated optional English subtitles for the original German intertitles
• New one-hour documentary on the restoration of the film
• Lavish 56-page booklet with new and vintage writing, rare archival stills, and more!

Well, that's rather disappointing. Perhaps it was the years of hype, but I expected a lot more of this release. I know the booklet will be excellent, but only a restoration documentary? No interviews or discussions on the film (one could have a field day with the Nazi links)? What about that missing scene that was uncovered (where Brunhilde shows up at the end with a spear)? Yeah, I know it was a longshot, but no Carter organ score? (he uses a more Wagner rendition, which makes for an interesting issue - especially in regards to its' later implications a few years later - still it's sad to see the man get continuously shafted over the years. Yeah, original score exists, but Criterion included the Glass score on Beauty and the Beast, and it seems most silents have several scores - one could even look to the latest dvd release of Metropolis).

Last complaint- it does seem odd to not give any special edition to this release. I mean, Testament of Dr. Mabuse gets a steelbook, but nothing here? Sure, this film doesn't have the popularity of Metropolis, but I would have at least expected something.

Yeah, I should be happy with the new restoration and the booklet, but this hardly seems to be the release we were all waiting for.

/ranting

And yes, I'll still buy several copies of this thing, cause I love the film enough.

In a way, the fact that it is finally coming out is the special edition.

Yes, can't wait for this, this will be glorious. One of the biggest releases this year.
The 1 hour docu is more then enough for me. I just want this baby in HD.
Thanks MOC

I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

Especially given the length of the main feature (or rather features).

I don't even think they've announced the score for this yet? So I don't see why someone could be angry about that.

MichaelB wrote:I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

I guess because it doesn't come in a steelbook, you know packaging is more important than content these days.

I know what Minkin is getting at. It's nice to have the film at last but it's not exactly a stacked package in terms of extras. Not too many MoCs seem to be though nowadays. I would love to get some interviews or video essays, which don't seem to be as frequent anymore.

Like with "Metropolis", FWMS/Transit may have more extra material than they were willing to give to MoC. That one hour documentary is a good one, though. It has already been shown on German TV, and apart from the "Nibelungen" material there were tantalising excerpts from the unreleased resto of Gerlach's "Grieshuus"...

MichaelB wrote:I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

Especially given the length of the main feature (or rather features).

I think Minkin would be happy with an hour long documentary if it was about the film and its content rather than the restoration effort. I'm not that concerned about extras personally (I'll watch them, but it's never make-or-break and they just seem like a bonus rather than a necessity), but I don't think a long video about restoring the film is of much interest to lots of people.

HJackson wrote:

MichaelB wrote:I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

Especially given the length of the main feature (or rather features).

I think Minkin would be happy with an hour long documentary if it was about the film and its content rather than the restoration effort. I'm not that concerned about extras personally (I'll watch them, but it's never make-or-break and they just seem like a bonus rather than a necessity), but I don't think a long video about restoring the film is of much interest to lots of people.

I would have thought that the chaps at MoC wouldn't give us an hour long mix of lab technicians in white coats scrubbing nitrate stock interspersed with self congratulatory talking heads but I have been wrong before.
Maybe the different provenance of the elements and the story of how it was all pieced together might be as epic as the film itself?

MichaelB wrote:I can't fathom how someone could regard a one-hour documentary and a 56-page booklet as short change.

Especially given the length of the main feature (or rather features).

Since we can't have a Kalat commentary on everything Lang from MOC, these features sound promising especially as I've been disappointed rarely by the booklets.

NABOB OF NOWHERE wrote:I would have thought that the chaps at MoC wouldn't give us an hour long mix of lab technicians in white coats scrubbing nitrate stock interspersed with self congratulatory talking heads but I have been wrong before.

Yes, I'd be very surprised if it was exclusively about the restoration. I suspect it's more likely to be one of those combined pieces that deals with the film in depth before discussing the restoration quite briefly towards the end.

If it's the film called "Das Erbe der Nibelungen" which they showed on TV together with the broadcast of the resto, then it's a general documentary on "Die Nibelungen" and its influence on silent filmmaking in Germany in the 20s. Of course there's something on the new resto as well, but certainly not exclusively. The running time of 60 minutes makes me strongly suspect it will be that documentary. And it's a good one.