The Garden of Eden (1928)
Starring: Corinne Griffith, Louise Dresser, Lowell Sherman,
Maude George, Charles Ray, Edward Martindel
Company: Flicker Alley
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
This Blu-ray has been brought out by one of the great
companies that pick and choose and restore forgotten pieces of cinema. Flicker
Alley is a one of a kind company that creates dynamic products that showcase the world of cinema and honor it with beauty. They put into the product and represent that film as
something bold and new. Many of there choices are old, vintage, silent or
forgotten movies in this modern world of cinema. The Garden of Eden has been taken,
refreshed, cleaned to the best available prints, and brought out as a
masterpiece product. It has never looked any better or sounded any better or
graced the world of movie lovers until now. To see this film in this Flicker
Alley (Made on Demand Blu-ray) is to experience a new, fresh experience that only
masterly companies like Flicker Alley can do.
This black and white silent Comedy Drama is a total
experience of product perfection. The movie itself is a wonderful film to
experience. The product, this enhanced cleaned up Blu-ray creates a whole new
film. Flicker Alley has brought an old lost dried up morsel, and created a
vibrant piece of perfected clarity.
Starring the one and only Corinne Griffith. The goddess of
silent cinema. An icon sadly forgotten by time. She started performing in 1916 in silent and
worked her way to a vast career up into the late 1960’s. But it would always be her
shining beauty, and brilliance in the many Silent Films she graced, that truly
stands out. Her role in The Garden of Eden is no different. If your ever out
in Hollywood and get a chance, honor this amazing beauty by visiting her Star
on the Walk of Fame at 1560 Vine Street. The Garden of Eden also stars one of
the emotional performers in film of all time, another forgotten powerhouse, Louise Dresser. She could create a part, make you believe that part, and make
you sense her emotional strong willed performance. She might have been a secondary character actor, but she was as if the main star. She worked alongside so many
greats of cinema history, including the one and only, sexy, handsome, masterly
actor Rudolph Valentino in 1925’s The Eagle. It was wonderful seeing her in The
Garden of Eden. Always a priceless experience to watch her perform.
Next you must
mention the iconic performer Lowell Sherman. Another forgotten master talent of the silent film world. Started performing all the way back in 1914 and worked up
until 1932. He is another one I look for when watching classic silent cinema.
He knew his parts. He performed excellent in The Garden of Eden. Next you must
mention the goddess Maude George. Another golden ticket of the silent film
world. Started in 1915 and in less than 15 years, she starred in over 60
productions. It was a true treat seeing her in The Garden of Eden. Doing a review,
you can’t not mention Charles Ray and Edward Martindel, two iconic performers
that graced The Garden of Eden. Charles ray had a vast career in the cinema world,
often playing a one style of character, and in his later years of acting, in the
40’s, he was often uncredited. Sometimes a side line character, sometimes in the back
ground, but his career of over 170 performances is extraordinary. He graced the
cinema world from 1911 until his death in 1943. He was a constant performer no
matter how small the part was. He was and will always be remembered in my movie
loving heart. He was one of the great Silent Film Actors to ever grace the
cinema world, and I don’t say that lightly. He had his flaws. It is said he was
hard to get along with, but what he gave in front of the camera sticks out as
pure brilliance. If you ever get out to Hollywood, pay him some amazing respect
by visiting his Star on the Walk of Fame at 6355 Hollywood Blvd. He was a
master talent need I say more.
The Garden of Eden was directed by one of the greatest directors of all time. Lewis
Milestone. He brought forth visionary cinema. The amazing one of a kind,
masterpiece 1930’s All Quiet on the Western Front, which he won an Academy Award
for best Director for. He also mastered other fantastic pieces of cinema, 1927’s Two
Arabian Knights and The Front Page, also 1939’s Of Mice and Men. He was a
crafted visionary that was able to create imagery and flawless story. He was able to use
his actors and actresses in believable moments on screen. Many will know him
for directing the original 1960 classic Ocean’s 11. He was not only a director,
but a screen writer, producer, actor, editor. He not only directed Feature films,
but he also directed TV features and shorts. He started in the cinema world in
1918 as director and worked all the way to 1964 as director.
Audio/Video:
My Rating: 5 out of 5
This lost masterpiece of silent cinema is digitally mastered
from the best surviving elements. It has never looked any better. I have seen
other versions of this film and comparing them to this Made on Demand Blu-ray,
there is no comparison. This Blu-ray is excellent in all the best ways
possible. I mean come on, why would you pick apart, or nitpick an old, silent gem. Just
having it makes it, all the more fantastic.
Also, on this silent classic, it is paired with a musical
score arranged and performed by Robert Israel. Israel is a master Film Score
Composer that really needs no introduction to the cinema world, or the music world.
He has worked on so many wonderful, old silent films. He has refreshed and
created so many iconic scores for iconic films of the Silent Era. From 1926’s
masterpiece The General, to the one and only masterpiece 1915’s Les Vampires.
You can go on and on mentioning his brilliance in the cinema world. He has well
over 130 productions under his belt as composer for cinema and TV production. Having
Israel do the score for The Garden of Eden is just another priceless example of
why you should own this
Blu-ray.
Language: Silent (with English Subtitles)
Screen Aspect: 1.33:1
Audio: Mono
Color/BW: B/W
Extras:
My Rating: 3 out of 5
Now the golden ticket to this product is not only the
wonderful creation of this forgotten gem of film, but it comes with some great
extras that Flicker Alley has thrown in. Some small wonderful special features
that any lover of cinema would appreciate.
Hollywood the Unusual (1927 / 10 min.) – (From Flicker Alley
Description) Newly restored, Hollywood the Unusual is a previously unknown
travelogue of Los Angeles area vernacular architecture produced in the late
1920's that promotes the community of Hollywood as a land of make-believe. The
film is a remarkable portrait of a lost age, and a fascinating historical
glimpse at architectural landmarks.
Pressbook Slideshow – Lobby cards, text excerpts, and other
promotional materials from the film’s original 1928 press book.
Production Slideshow - Production stills from the estate of
Director Lewis Milestone
Overall:
What else needs to be said other than, this is a solid
product. A forgotten film by time. A wonderful new product on Blu-ray. This
film has never looked any better or sounded any better. A priceless gem. If you’re
a cinema buff, movie lover, film guru, then what are you waiting for, buy this Blu-ray.
It’s Highly Recommended.
INFO: