6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
After his colleague and a mentor, Prof. Achenbach dies in a set-up accident, while trying to produce gold from the lead, Werner Holk seeks revenge. Meanwhile, a British millionaire suggests that Holk work on him on a similar project.
Starring: Hans Albers, Brigitte Helm, Friedrich Kayßler, Michael Bohnen, Lien DeyersForeign | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Crime | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.32:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
German: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Directed by Karl Hartl, 1934’s “Gold” has plenty to say about the state of the union in Germany. A critique of greed and abuses of science, the feature is careful to support its commentary with human interests, including the possibilities of love. “Gold” is broadly defined but competently managed by Hartl, who blends striking visual elements with melodrama, creating a somewhat slack but effective offering of entertainment that hopes to rattle moviegoer minds with its depiction of a financial apocalypse.
The AVC encoded image (1.32:1 aspect ratio) presentation does significant battle with age, coming to Blu-ray without an extensive restoration. Source material is in rough shape at times, with scratches, skipped frames, and general wear and tear on view throughout the viewing experience -- intensity fluctuates, along with flicker. Contrast isn't troubling, but blacks tend to look diluted. Detail is surprisingly strong, capturing expressive performances largely showcased in close-up, exploring facial textures with clarity, and set design achievements are also open for inspection when focus issues are solved.
The 2.0 LPCM sound mix also struggles with age-related issues, offering continuous hiss and pops. However, dialogue exchanges aren't completely overwhelmed, finding dramatics relatively secure, just not precise. Emotional movements are easy to track. Scoring also lacks definition, but intention is understood. Sound effects have their moments, including the pronounced hum of the gold machine.
There is no supplementary material on this disc.
The big draw of the film is the gold machine, which emerges as a major visual in a picture that's generally strong with design elements (footage of the machine was recycled for use in 1953's "The Magnetic Monster"), with Hartl getting his money's worth by having his characters climb all over it for extended amounts of screen time. While "Gold" threatens mayhem, occasionally indulging action, it mostly resides in a position of concern, trying to clarify its message of caution when messing with the elements for profit. It's a science fiction tale, but the feature maintains attention on real-world ills, identifying great divides in class and purity of progress.
2002
2017
ギターを持った渡り鳥 / Guitar wo Motta Wataridori
1959
1970
Adéla ještě nevečeřela / Adele's Dinner / Nick Carter in Prague | Adele Has Not Had Her Supper Yet | Standard Edition
1977
Black Statement Book
1963
1990
Ruusujen aika / Slipcover in Original Pressing
1969
1970
Voyage to the End of the Universe
1963
沖縄10年戦争 / Okinawa jû-nen sensô
1978
La Femme Bourreau | Limited Edition
1968
1957
Tômei ningen arawaru
1949
Kafti ekdikisis | Standard Edition
1969
Daikaiju Baran
1958
Limited Edition
1970
Gokudô heiki
2011
La polizia brancola nel buio
1975
1968