The Ancient Law Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

The Ancient Law Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 16, 2018

Ewald André Dupont's "The Ancient Law" (1923) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Flicker Alley. The bonus features on the disc include a rare excerpt from an archival documentary feature; rare production stills and original archival materials; and featurette on the recent restoration and reconstruction of the film. The release also arrives with a 20-page illustrated booklet featuring two brand new essay and technical credits. With German intertitles, and optional English, Russian, and French subtitles. Region-Free.

Perhaps the astonishing thing about this classic German film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont is that ninety five years after it was made its subject matter does not feel at all dated. In fact, if one ignores the period mise-en-scene virtually all of the social contrasts and ethical dilemmas that it highlights become current. It really is a perfect reminder that the more things change, the more they stay the same.

In a remote corner of Russia, young Baruch (Ernst Deutsch) finds the courage to announce before his elderly father, Rabbi Mayer (Avrom Morewski), that he wishes to become an actor. The unexpected confession stuns the Rabbi and he instantly scolds Baruch, hoping that he would abandon the wild idea and like every other young man in the Jewish village will begin to think about starting a family with a proper girl. But much to the Rabbi’s dismay, Baruch quickly gathers his most valuable possessions and leaves.

In the Austrian countryside, Baruch approaches the leader of a traveling troupe who hires him as a cleaner but promises to transform him into a professional actor. Soon after, Baruch is asked to replace one of his principal actors in a small play that is being staged for the hopelessly romantic archduchess Elisabeth Theresia (Henny Porten). The young man’s authentic performance makes such a strong impression on the archduchess that she requests to see him and then vows to help him get a position at the imperial theater company. In Vienna, the esteemed theater director Heinrich Laube (Hermann Vallentin) reluctantly welcomes the young man, but his flawless audition instantly transforms him into an admirer of his talent and he decides to use him in an upcoming production of Hamlet. Baruch’s performance is received so well that before the end of the night Laube declares that he has earned a permanent position in the theater company. After the euphoria of the quick success, however, Baruch begins wondering whether he has sacrificed too much while following his heart.

A fairly big portion of The Ancient Law is dedicated to the evolution of Baruch’s relationship with the romantic archduchess. There is an obvious spark between them, but the young man also remains fully aware that she comes from a completely different world where most likely he would always be viewed as an outsider. Also, the quick success opens plenty of new doors for Baruch and through his interactions with various strangers he begins to recognize the many social and cultural barriers that divide people. This is where the film is most effective as it forces its protagonist to ponder the value of identity and success. There is a price that needs to be paid if one wishes to be successful, but where does one draw a line and walks away because the ‘success’ is no longer worth it.

This recent release from Flicker Alley offers an excellent reconstruction of The Ancient Law that can be viewed with two different scores. The first is an ensemble score by Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals with some wonderful violin and piano solos that imitate traditional Jewish music themes. While viewing the film with it, it definitely feels like there is an authentic connection between the music and the visuals. The second is an orchestral score from French composer Philippe Schoeller and it has a more diverse contemporary harmonic structure.

*The original negative for The Ancient Law no longer exists. In 1984, Lothar Schwab completed a black-and-white reconstruction of the film. This brand new restoration and reconstruction reintroduces the original wording of the German intertitles as well as the narrative sequence of the original German version. A 3K scan of surviving elements was completed at ARRI in Munich and L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna in 2017.

The Ancient Law Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Ewald Andre Dupont's The Ancient Law arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Flicker Alley.

The release is sourced from a brand new restoration and reconstruction of the film completed after surviving elements were scanned in 3K at ARRI in Munich and L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna in 2017. (The original camera negative no longer exists). Also, the reconstruction reintroduces the original wording of the German intertitles as well as the narrative sequence of the original German version.

I think the work that was done to present the best version of the film is of exceptionally high quality. Stability, in particular, is fantastic, and at times it is really quite difficult to tell that this film was made in 1923. Furthermore, the different tinted sequences boast the type of depth that some of the top restorations of films from the same period convey. (There are sequences that actually look every bit as strong as what you would see in The Loves of Pharaoh). Even grain exposure remains quite steady, despite the fact that there is content that comes from multiple sources. A few small drops in quality occurs where the surviving elements were not in optimal condition, but overall this is indeed a wonderful organic presentation of the film. Impressive. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

The Ancient Law Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two LPCM 2.0 audio tracks on this Blu-ray release, one for Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals' ensemble score, and another for Philippe Schoeller's orchestral score. Optional English, French, and Russian subtitles are provided for the German intertitles.

I viewed the entire film with Donald Sosin and Alicia Svigals' score and only tested different parts with the second score. Obviously, both are studio recordings and the basic audio characteristics that we typically scrutinize in our reviews are replicas of the studio characteristics. Clarity and depth are wonderful and during the solos the sound had a very nice rounded quality.

The Ancient Law Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Der Film Im Film (1923) - presented here is the only surviving excerpt of a documentary on film production in Weimar Germany, featuring the different personalities of several famous directors of the era at work on set including Fritz Lang, Robert Weine, and Ewald Andre Dupont. With music by Donald Sosin. With text German and optional English subtitles. (17 min, 1080p).

• Insight Into the Restoration - this documentary highlights some of challenges that the team of experts faced while restoring and reconstructing The Ancient Law. Before-and-after comparisons are provided. With music by Donald Sosin. With text German and optional English subtitles. (17 min, 1080p).

• Image Slide Show - a gallery of rare production stills and original archival materials.

• Booklet - 20-page illustrated booklet featuring two essays: an appreciation of the film and its historical context, written by film historian and scholar, Cynthia Walk; and an overview of the restoration process by Daniel Meiller, Head of Audiovisual Collections, Deutsche Kinemathek.

The Ancient Law Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing of The Ancient Law. I thought that many of the social contrasts and ethical dilemmas it highlights as it follows young Baruch's journey from his village in Russia to the lavish concert halls in Austria have not aged at all. Pretty incredible, really, as Ewald André Dupont completed it in 1923. The film has been fully restored and also brilliantly reconstructed -- even though its original camera negative no longer exists, the current presentation actually reintroduces the narrative sequence of the original version that premiered in Germany 95 years ago. Wonderful release. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.