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ALRAUNE + THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE: GERMAN SILENT GENRE RARITIES FROM DIRECTOR HENRIK GALEEN (1926-27)
Deaf Crocodile is thrilled to collaborate with the Filmmuseum München to release these two exceptionally rare and wonderful German silent genre treasures from pioneering director/writer Henrik Galeen (1881-1949). Galeen wrote and directed the original, recently reconstructed 1915 version of THE GOLEM starring Paul Wegener (as well as writing the 1920 remake), and scripted two of the most acclaimed silent horror films of the decade: NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR (1922) and WAXWORKS (1924). Restored by the Filmmuseum München, ALRAUNE and THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE show Galeen’s flair for delirious, Expressionist horror / fantasy.
ALRAUNE (A WOMAN OF DESTINY), 1927, Filmmuseum München,131 min. Dir. Henrik Galeen. Deranged Weimar Era erotic sci-fi / horror starring Brigitte Helm (METROPOLIS) as the unholy offspring of a genetics experiment conducted by her scientist “father” Paul Wegener, who implants the semen of a hanged man in the womb of a prostitute. As an adult, the lithe, sinuous Helm drives men to suicide and madness – including her own pseudo-father Wegener who succumbs to incestuous obsession with her. Beautifully shot by cinematographer Franz Planer with gorgeous restored color tinting. Score by Sabrina Zimmermann and Mark Pogolski.
DER STUDENT VON PRAG (THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE), 1926, Filmmuseum München, 133 min. Dir. Henrik Galeen. Conrad Veidt (THE CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, CASABLANCA) stars as a hellraising student who sells his soul to the Devil. But Veidt hasn’t bargained on meeting his own evil doppelgänger who literally steps out of a mirror, Cocteau-like, and starts to take over his life. Galeen’s eerily compelling FAUST-like fantasy / horror is driven by Veidt‘s impressive dual performance as the student and his strange, unsettling twin. Score by Stephen Horne.
Both films feature German intertitles with English translations.
SPECIAL FEATURES
- An excerpt from AUF GEFÄHRLICHEN SPUREN (DANGEROUS PATHS), 1924, Filmmuseum Düsseldorf, 15 min. This clip from the 1924 crime film is a rare opportunity to see Galeen’s work as both writer and actor, alongside frequent collaborator, director Harry Piel
- New video interview with Stefan Drössler of the Filmmuseum München about the preservation of ALRAUNE and THE STUDENT OF PRAGUE, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile (90 min., in English)
- New audio commentaries by film historian Jan-Christopher Horak, former director of the UCLA Film & TV Archive and the Filmmuseum München
- New reversible artwork by Beth Morris
- Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie of Fidelity In Motion
DELUXE EDITION BONUS CONTENT
- Slipcase featuring new artwork by Dave McKean
- 80-page illustrated book with:
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Newly translated essays by Hanns Heinz Ewers (1913), Henrik Galeen (1926), and Felix Panten (1926)
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Reprinted essays by Erich Hellmund-Waldow (1928), Oswell Blakestone (1929), and Michael Farin (1993)
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New essay by Stefan Drössler
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New essay by Walter Chaw
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New essay by Stephen Bissette
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Plus rare original photos and artwork
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LIMITED EDITION OF 1250
