Rating summary
| Movie |  | 4.0 |
| Video | | 4.0 |
| Audio | | 4.0 |
| Extras |  | 3.0 |
| Overall | | 4.0 |
The Love of Jeanne Ney Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Neil Lumbard April 6, 2021
The Love of Jeanne Ney is a compelling German silent film based on the novel by Ilja Ehrenburg. The film stars Edith Jehanne in the
leading role. The German production is explored in a compelling way with elements of traditional Hollywood filmmaking on display alongside the style
of German film (circa 1927).
An evocative romantic-drama of the golden age of the silent-era, The Love of Jeanne Ney explores the quest for love by the beautiful and
kind-hearted Jeanne Ney (Edith Jehanne) while living in a post-war world. A drama with great romantic interludes, the piece features striking imagery
and mesmerizing filmmaking by famed filmmaker Georg Wilhelm Pabst (Don Quixote). With surprises in store, the drama of The Love of
Jeanne Ney unfolds and delights.
Edith Jehanne steals the show. The actress manages to imbue the filmmaking with a sense of romantic wonderment that carries on throughout
the entire production. The performance has plenty of wonder and the role was perfect for the talented actress. A great showcase for her talents,
The Love of Jeanne Ney is all the better for the involvement of Jehanne.
The filmmaking manages to be reminiscent of classic Hollywood filmmaking through the well-done production aesthetics. The art direction by Otto
Hunte (Woman in the Moon, Metropolis) and Victor Trivas (The Stranger, Song of the Streets) impresses and seems
effective for the storytelling to soar. Likewise, the cinematography by Robert Lach (The Joyless Street, The Cross-Patch) and Fritz
Arno Wagner (M, Spies) gives the production a nice black-and-white aesthetic that is surprisingly potent.
One of my favorite elements of The Love of Jeanne Ney is the music score composed by Bernd Thewes (Berlin: Symphony of a Great
City). The score is charming and classical in the best ways. The music helps tell the story with heart, humor, and depth. The score adds a sense of
wonder that charms in spades. A great effort for a silent-film score.
Directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst (Don Quixote, The Comedians) from a screenplay by Rudolf Leonhardt (Diary of a Lost
Girl) and Ladislaus Vajda (White Hell of Pitz Palu), The Love of Jeanne Ney is hypnotic and entertaining. The imagery and stylistic
flourishes are exceptional. Some scenes are especially powerful – such as a sequence in the rain. Pabst is a beloved German filmmaker for a
reason: the filmmaker had a knack for the language of cinema. Fans of classic silent-era cinema should check out The Love of Jeanne Ney
as it has plenty to offer. There is something magical about The Love of Jeanne Ney that is truly exceptional.
The Love of Jeanne Ney Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Love of Jeanne Ney is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original
aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame. The The Love of Jeanne Ney received a new 2K scan and restoration. The print comes from a
"B" negative which was from the print released in European territories. The print was preserved by the Museum of Modern Art.
The print is impressive. The scan looks exceptional at times. Though there are examples of some wear and print damage, the transfer is generally a
strong one without too much damage and plenty of detail retained in the high-definition scan. For a classic silent-era production, it's marvelous how
good the film looks with the restoration effort.
The Love of Jeanne Ney Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. The music-only score audio track sounds impressive throughout. The
audio is crisp,
clear, and engaging to listen to. The musical backdrop is so lively and energetic that it greatly helps the experience.
The Love of Jeanne Ney is presented with German intertitles (with English subtitles).
The Love of Jeanne Ney Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
Audio Commentary by Eddy Van Mueller
The Love of Jeanne Ney: U.S. Release Version (HD, 1:26:26) is a shortened version of the feature-film for U.S.
markets.
The Love of Jeanne Ney Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
The Love of Jeanne Ney is a compelling experience. The film is highlighted by a great performance by Edith Jehanne. Directed by Georg
Wilhelm Pabst (Don Quixote), The Love of Jeanne Ney is well worth checking out. The Blu-ray
release features a strong video-audio presentation. Highly recommended.
