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SILENT ERA FILMS ON HOME VIDEO
Reviews of silent film releases on home video.
Copyright © 1999-2009 by Carl Bennett.
All Rights Reserved.
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The Docks of
New York
(1928)
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This simple little tale of a brutish ship stoker who rescues a suicidal prostitute from death, with its fantastic cinematography and intelligent direction by Josef von Sternberg, is another reason why 1928 was one of the greatest years in the era of silent cinema. The viewer witnesses a wonderful slumming tour of the boiler room of a ship, with its deep shadows and bright glisening beads of stokers’ sweat; the smoky and raucous interior of a wharfside saloon, and the plain and crumbling interior of a sailor’s flophouse. Along the way we meet people who, despite their rough and callous lives, have an ember of humanity glowing in their dark hearts.
George Bancroft gives a tremendous performance as Bill Roberts, a confident and consciousless brute. Betty Compson is the object of his overnight affection, Mae, a disparing prostitute who has given up on herself and life. Olga Baclanova plays a hard-nosed but sympathetic party girl, all but abandoned by her sailor husband, portrayed by Mitchell Lewis. Clyde Cook provides light comedy relief and some story tension late in the film.
This film is one that viewers will return to time and again for its delicious grittiness and story of redemption. — Carl Bennett
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 1987 Paramount Pictures Home Video edition
The Docks of New York (1928), black & white, 60 minutes, not rated.
Paramount Pictures Home Video, 2807, UPC 0-37757-22807-4.
VHS videotape, full-frame 1.33:1 NTSC, SP, Hi-Fi Dolby Stereo sound, English language intertitles, $29.95.
VHS release date: 3 June 1987.
Country of origin: USA
Ratings (1-10): content: 8 / video: 8 / audio: 7 / overall: 8.
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The source materials used for the video transfer appear to be a 35mm first generation positive print or the original negative, with a few inset shot replacements from a rougher 35mm positive. Overall, the materials are in very good to excellent condition, with occasional print wear, scratches and light speckling. The transfer framing is open and generous, with intertitles always readable and heads are never cut off. The contrast levels of the video transfer are well-balanced, with a broad range of gray values.
A digital recording of the late Gaylord Carter performing on the Sargent/Stark Wurlitzer Theater Organ in Hollywood accompanies the film on stereo hi-fi audio tracks.
While the videotape has been available since the late eighties, it remains in print, and we recommend the film highly for your collection.
USA: Click the logomark at right to purchase
an NTSC VHS videotape of this edition from Amazon.com. |
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Canada: Click the logomark at right to purchase
an NTSC VHS videotape of this edition from Amazon.ca. |
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