Edvard Munch – Special Edition 2-DVD Set (1976/New Yorker)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: B/B     Telefilm: B

 

 

New Yorker had so much success with Peter Watkins’ Edvard Munch (1976) on DVD that they have reissued it with 46 minutes of new footage and the limited text bio on Watkins and stills on the production are joined by 6 minutes of Munch himself from old 1927 9.5mm (French film format) film, the booklet has been expanded to 46 pages and there are three vintage documentaries:

 

Moments In The Life Of Edvard Munch

From Ekely: The City & The Artist

The Munch Museum In Oslo

 

 

Running about 10 minutes or so each, all are black & white except the final one in color, showing the works and history of the artist, leading up to the building of his museum.  They are what one might have hoped for on the first DVD version, but all the upgrades are welcome.  For more on the main program, try this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4077/Edvard+Munch+(1976)

 

 

The technical performance is the same and both transfers are High Definition.  As for the longer version, I liked the added exposition, yet it was a very long work to begin with and I only thought the addition was a marginal improvement.  Still, it is slightly better and the preferred version.

 

The Freethinker is the next Watkins DVD out, but be sure to also see War Game/Culloden, The Gladiators and Punishment Park elsewhere on this site.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo