Eternal Love (1929) (Movietone version, UCLA restoration)

Ernst Lubitsch directs: Eternal Love (US 1929), starring John Barrymore (Marcus). Oliver Marsh at the camera.

 

UCLA restored Movietone version viewed at Cinema Orion, Helsinki, 4 Nov 2008.

Excellent restoration from probably very difficult materials, it looks like a very well made dupe. The image is a little on the soft side, and there are contrast questions in some scenes. The overall impact is consistent and pleasant.

See entry 20 March 2008, when we screened the silent (not-Movietone) version.

The Hugo Riesenfeld score is a good example of a music score of a late silent film. It is interesting to notice how the most important sound elements (the bells, the gunshots, the door knockers) work perfectly even as silent film images.

"My gun is my life. Who will dare take it away from me?" Ciglia steps forward.

The heavy make-up is distracting.

The influence of Murnau's Faust both in the choice of Camilla Horn and in the final visionary image, so untypical for Lubitsch.

I feel this is an important Lubitsch film, although it is not fully accomplished and although he himself disowned it.