Unboxing the Silents: Pudovkin’s Bolshevik Trilogy on Bluray from Flicker Alley

Unboxing the Silents by Movies Silently

Well, this is a treat! Vsevolod Pudovkin is a great favorite of mine and I am exciting to see his most famous works receive an HD release, so let’s dive in.

A huge thanks to Flicker Alley for providing a review copy.

I had been eagerly anticipating this release in particular because Pudovkin’s films deserve to be seen in the highest resolution possible. His audacious style and cheeky sense of humor make his films immortal.

This set includes Mother (1926), The End of St. Petersburg (1927) and Storm Over Asia (1928). It also includes Chess Fever (1925), a short comedy that showcases the clever stylishness that would mark Pudovkin’s feature work. (You can read my review of the film here.)

The films come in a two-Bluray set and can be purchased here. (Disclosure: Affiliate link, I earn a small commission on sales.)

Now, let’s dive into the look!

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I have cropped out the pillarboxes but have otherwise left the screencaps untouched.

Mother

Mother has English intertitles and is accompanied by a piano score by Antonio Coppola. It also includes a commentary track by historian Jan-Christopher Horak.

The End of St. Petersburg

The film has Russian intertitles with optional English subtitles and is accompanied by an orchestral score by Vladimir Yurovsky.
The film has Russian intertitles with optional English subtitles and is accompanied by an orchestral score composed by Timothy Brock. It also includes a commentary track by historian Peter Bagrov. This is a new remaster from Lobster Films.

Chess Fever

Chess Fever is quite stunning, isn’t it? I am glad to see this little film being shown some tlc because it is one of the more delightful comedies of the silent era.

This set is a fine showcase for Pudovkin’s unique style and message. I have to admit that this unboxing took a bit longer than I intended because I kept pausing and rewinding to observe some particularly innovative bit of editing or design. These films are rich and rewarding to anyone willing to dive in and with such a handsome presentation, this is an ideal time to do so.

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