An undisputed master of melodrama, director Douglas Sirk is best known for the lavish, sweeping romances he made during the last decade of his career, including Magnificent Obsession, All That Heaven Allows, Written on the Wind and Imitation of Life. But by the time Sirk – born Hans Detlef Sierck – arrived in Hollywood, he had already made several films in his native Germany. The Masters of Cinema series is honoured to present this collection of Sirk’s earliest films, all of which established a blueprint for his later work: April, April!, The Girl from Marsh Croft and Pillars of Society.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Limited edition of 2000 copies | Limited edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Scott Saslow | HD presentations from new restorations supplied by the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation | Optional English subtitles on all features and shorts | Two Greyhounds (Zwei Windhunde) – 1934 short by Douglas Sirk | Three Times Before (3 x Ehe) [silent version] – 1934 short by Douglas Sirk | Alternate “sound” presentation of Three Times Before (produced at the same time as the “silent version,” unfortunately the original sound reel no longer exists – this version is presented with subtitles) | The Imaginary Invalid (Der eingebildete Kranke) – 1935 short by Douglas Sirk | New audio commentaries on all three features by Sirk expert David Melville Wingrove | Magnificent Obsessions – new interview with film historian Sheldon Hall on Sirk’s career from Germany to Hollywood | PLUS: Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring a new extended essay on Sirk’s early works by German cinema expert Tim Bergfelder
