One of my long time favourite films, Carl T. Dreyer’s “Vampyr”, is being released on both Criterion and Eureka. Well, that should be a good thing. The problem is which one to pick? I have seen a few criterion and i own some eureka, and the quality of the films has always been awesome. At the moment, i am considering getting both. Which one do you think is the one to get? For reference:
Well, here’s a rundown (thank you Jonny from LLaL):
Shared features (both MOC + Criterion)
- Full-length audio commentary featuring film scholar Tony Rayns
- Carl Th. Dreyer (1966) a documentary by Jörgen Roos
-Visual essay by scholar Casper Tybjerg on Dreyer’s Vampyr influences
Criterion-exclusive
• A 1958 radio broadcast of Dreyer reading an essay about filmmaking
• A booklet featuring new essays by Mark Le Fanu and Kim Newman, Martin Koerber on the restoration, and an archival interview with producer and star Nicolas de Gunzburg, as well as a book featuring Dreyer and Christen Jul’s original screenplay and Sheridan Le Fanu 1871 story “Carmilla,” a source for the film.
MOC-exclusive
- Full-length audio commentary featuring Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro talking about one of his favourite films.
- Two deleted scenes, removed by the German censor in 1932.
- The Baron, a short MoC documentary about Baron Nicolas de Gunzberg
- Inspiration for the film - Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla - as an on-disc pdf.
- 80-page book featuring rare production stills, a facsimile reproduction of the 1932 Danish film programme, writing by Tom Milne (The Cinema of Carl Dreyer), Jean and Dale Drum (My Only Great Passion: The Life and Films of Carl Th. Dreyer), and Martin Koerber (film restorer)
Crap, I just wrote a long reply, and then my browser crashed. Now your update sort of renders my original reply moot, so I’ll just give the quick recap.
Rest assured of the following:
1/:
Both editions will be marvellous. If you love the film, buying both is not a bad (or mad) thing to do. 2/:
Whenever Criterion and Eureka go head-to-head on a title, the newest release generally wins. Both companies wouldn’t be bothered to release something that’s inferior to what is already out there. 3/:
The Eureka booklet will be absolutely amazing. I have yet to encounter the first one which is not. 4/:
On the V in A/V: if both companies have done their best, the Eureka PAL should be slightly sharper compared to the Criterion NTSC. Small difference though, maybe not even noticeable. 5/:
On both the A and the V in A/V: the Eureka might have a 4% speed-up because of PAL, while the NTSC has the proper speed. Never bothered me, but I know some people who can discern this better than me and it drives them nuts.
not interested in the Del Toro commentary. come to think of it, i hardly ever listen to any commentary, unless it’s a film i really, really, absolutely love and want to know how the heck they did this and that.
btw, my Criterion Vampyr arrived today. looks fabulous.
Uh, they are both so tempting… But i guess i’ll go for Eureka. If i enjoy the film as much as i did the first time i saw it, i’ll get the Criterion later..
Also:
- Inspiration for the film - Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla - as an on-disc pdf.
Does this mean you have to pop it into your computer to view the pdf?
- Inspiration for the film - Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla - as an on-disc pdf.
Does this mean you have to pop it into your computer to view the pdf?
Yes, and you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free.
Although you’ll probably will have that already or it will be on the disc (that program is almost like a virus, you see it everywhere!).
The novella runs for about 50 pages, so putting it on the disc as a DVD-Rom extra is nice. A (second) booklet would have been even nicer, though now you can print it yourself. It’s a nice addition and keeps the cost down. I think they saw some space left on the disc, and desperate to put on another extra “extra” to trump Criterion, they chose this as filler. Cheap, but it also keeps the cost down and it’s still a nice inclusion.
criterion includes Carmilla in a thick book together with the original Vampyr screenplay. Criterion also has a booklet with essays and an interview with the Baron.
the box and contents are non-glossy, so it’s appropriately archaic looking.
nice.
will watch it this weekend when i can have some relaxing time. it’s a film to savour late at night, in a comfy armchair, with the lights off, and when you’re in no rush.
