Robert J. FlahertySilent Avant-Garde [Blu-ray]

I had some trepidation about buying this because vintage films don't always translate well to HD. Maybe Blu-ray makes the grain too apparent, but some HD films of the 1930s, even from major studios, look better on DVD (at least, on a big screen). I just watched White Woman (1933) and the DVD-R from Universal looked much better than Kino's Blu-ray, sad to say. However, I was blown away by the quality of these films, many of which I have seen in real theaters. I doubt they have looked this good since their first screenings. Flaherty's Twenty-four Dollar Island (one of four films about NYC) is gorgeous, and flawless. The brief footage from Eisenstein's Que Viva Mexico project is so exquisite you feel like you're standing next to the villagers. Half the films are 10 minutes or less in duration; the proto-psychedelic Escape (1938), a visualization of Bach's Toccata & Fugue in d, is only 4 min. and I wished it were much longer. I have two caveats: the disk really needs a booklet about the pieces and their restorations; the restorations of just a few films are incomplete, esp. Ballet Mechanique, a true masterpiece. I have never seen a better copy of that film, but there are a lot of glitches in the color sequences and towards the end. Nevertheless, this is an excellent and unexpected gift for lovers of film history. All honors to Bruce Posner for putting it together.

I own several avant-garde film collections put out by Kino and others; so 2/3 of this collection I was familiar with. The upgrade to Blu-ray was worth it. NY, NY and Manhatta both were worth the price of this disc. For those into this genre either artistically or historically or both, this collection is worth owning.

The selection and quality of the films is excellent. Many of the works were new to me. Other works I am familiar with were beautifully restored, with some accompanied by new musical scores. A gift and treasure to film historians, filmmakers, film study courses, and film lovers.

This is a really fun video for those who like the beauty of black and white movies. Historical shorts and others quite mesmerizing. Definitely a DVD worth watching again and again.

Fabulous restorations of old avant garde shorts. Not one word of background on these mostly obscure titles.

Unfortunately the title is more exciting than the movies that are part of this Blu-ray. There are a couple of short films that are interesting but, for the most part, this entire blu-ray is, at least for me, a disappointment. I'm sure that there are all sorts of other experimental silent movies or pieces of music for silent movies, that could have made a much interesting to watch disc. Not a complete waste of time though.

Which is not a silent movie. So, I’m confused as heck.

I would rate this bluray at a strong 9.It is a mastering job at its best.Remember most of thesefilms old,old black and white.