Nov 2008
SIGHT & SOUND DVD OF THE YEAR 2008
One of the first end of year polls for 2008 has been published and it contains a large number of votes for MoC Series titles released this year. We’re very humbled. Sight & Sound polled its contributors for the best DVD release of 2008. Thanks to all those who voted for us, and all who bought our releases so far in 2008.
Nov 2008
Reintroducing Marcel L'Herbier's L'ARGENT (1928)
Our final release for 2008 is a sumptuous 80th anniversary 2 x DVD special edition released on November 24th. Adapted from Emile Zola’s novel, Marcel L’Herbier’s L’Argent [Money], filmed in 1928, is an opulent classic of late silent-era cinema. Filmed in part on location at the Paris stock exchange, it reveals a world of greed and decadence.
This most recent restoration of the film — a pristine transfer from a fine grain print struck from the original negative — is the director’s cut fought for by L’Herbier over many years, at the speed projected in the late 1920s, in its original aspect ratio.
Featuring an introduction by French pianist Jean-Francois Zygel (who also provides the improvised score); Jean Dréville’s 1928 film About L’Argent, arguably the very first ‘making-of’ documentary; a new documentary about L’Herbier; archival footage of Brigitte Helm; archival screen-tests; a video piece on the musical accompaniment to the film; a demonstration of L’Herbier’s innovative sound techniques; and a lavish 80-page perfectly-bound booklet.
Earlier in November we released our first ever Blu-ray (also available on DVD) — Johnnie To and Wai Ka Fai’s Mad Detective.
Our new 2009 Catalogue will be back from the printers in early December and we hope to simultaneously announce a swathe of new titles here at the website sometime before Christmas. Please check here soon for more details.