Reviews of silent film releases on home video.
Copyright © 1999-2024 by Carl Bennett
and the Silent Era Company.
All Rights Reserved. |
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Mr. Robinson
Crusoe
(1932)
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This comedy-drama, directed by Edward Sutherland, stars Douglas Fairbanks and Maria Alba, with William Farnum and Earle Browne.
Doug is out to prove how manly he is by betting he can go all Robinson Crusoe on a South Sea island. If you believe that Fairbanks could do everything documented in this film, I have a deserted South Seas island I can sell you for cheap.
Originally released in a full-sound version and in a dialogue-less version with intertitles, overactive music and sound effects, other home video editions of this film (and there are many) present the full-sound film version exclusively.
— Carl Bennett
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 Grapevine Video
2010 DVD edition
Mr. Robinson Crusoe (1932) [sound version], black & white, 69 minutes, not rated, with Mr. Robinson Crusoe (1932) [silent version], black & white, 69 minutes, not rated.
Grapevine Video, no catalog number, UPC 8-42614-10416-9.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD-R disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at 4.2 Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to 60 fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 mono sound encoded at 224 Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; 12 chapter stops (each version); standard DVD keepcase; $16.95.
Release date: 2010.
Country of origin: USA
Ratings (1-10): video: 4 / audio: 4 / additional content: 3 / overall: 4.
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This DVD-R edition has been mastered from 16mm reduction prints. The sound version fares better visually than the silent version, which is actually an odd hybrid synchronized sound film with music and sound effects and dialogue removed (what’s the point?). The silent print is only fair in quality (3 rating), with blurry picture details and blasted-out highlights. The sound print is good in quality (4 rating), with a substantial amount of dust, schmutz, vertical scratches, timing marks, and other print flaws.
The films are accompanied by their original synchronized soundtracks in glorious low-fi mono sound.
Not that this is a great-looking disc but, for now, this is our recommended home video edition of the film.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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This
Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is also available directly from . . .
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 Alpha Video
2024 DVD edition
Mr. Robinson Crusoe (1932) [sound version], black & white, ? minutes, not rated, with Mr. Robinson Crusoe (1932) [silent version], black & white, ? minutes, not rated.
Alpha Home Entertainment, distributed by Oldies.com,
ALP 8620D, UPC 0-89218-86209-9.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD-R disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 mono sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $8.98.
Release date: 27 August 2024.
Country of origin: USA
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This DVD-R edition has likely been mastered from 16mm or 8mm reduction prints (sound and silent versions).
The films are likely accompanied by their original synchronized soundtracks.
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USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
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This
Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is also available directly from . . .
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Other silent era DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS films available on home video.
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Douglas Fairbanks filmography in The Progressive Silent Film List
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