Which version of the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is Better?

[metternich1815]

I am currently working on expanding my horror movie collection further and I want to acquire the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Unfortunately, there are two separate versions on the Amazon website, so I was not sure which to get. The Special Collector's Edition (Link here: http://www.amazon.com/Cabinet-Dr-Cal...f+dr.+caligari) or the Restored Authorized Edition (Link here: http://www.amazon.com/Cabinet-Caliga...0027539&sr=1-3). Which is the better version? Note: I am an American and have a region specific player. Versions from other regions will not work on my player, therefore. Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

[neverending]

Well, the first review says to get the KINO version, which makes sense. They're a very reputable company that has been in the business for decades.

[metternich1815]

Originally Posted by neverending

Well, the first review says to get the KINO version, which makes sense. They're a very reputable company that has been in the business for decades.

I had not really heard of that company and the next review said to go with the opposite. Now that I know they are a respected company, I will probably go with them. I just wanted to be sure because this is an important film, so I wanted the best version. I think that version is actually cheaper too.

[Sculpt]

The second review on the list makes a very compelling case, specifically, that the Image Version is superior to the Kino Version. Whereas the first review is just warning against bad companies, and isn't addressing that criticism at Image, and not comparing Kino to Image.

168 of 175 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Edition selection tips January 12, 2006
By J. Porter
Format:DVD
I'm not going to spend time raving about the movie, because I'm going to assume that if you've got this far you already know how wonderful it is. What I think could be far more useful (as this is an area where I have been burned) is some comparison between the two DVD editions I know of.

I have copies of both the Kino Video edition and the Image Entertainment edition. My preference is for Image Entertainment for the following reasons:

(1) The print seems slightly cleaner (and most helpfully, the DVD packaging warns you about the horizontal line across the top of some scenes which is a defect on the original film)

(2) The intertitles on Image use the correct expressionistic style as per the 1920 release. from what I recall, Kino's are the 'normalised' printed intertitles from 1923.

(3) The Kino version has possibly the most insensitive layer transition location I have ever come across. For reasons of their own Kino put an intertitle before the final sequence in the asylum, and it would have been a natural place for a layer transition. Instead they put it a few seconds into the final sequence (and only a couple of minutes before the end of the film!). Image has no layer transition.

(4) Both scores on the Kino version are dreadful. One consists of strange electronic noises, while the 'orchestral' one is pretty inappropriate. Instead Image chose a very nice specially composed score by Timothy Brock which is a remarkably effective pastiche in the style of Alban Berg (very appropriate for an expressionist film).

(5) Image has a commentary track; it's not clear that Kino does (I can't remember, but certainly it isn't mentioned in the blurb on the back).

Just about the only plus of Kino is that there is considerably more bonus material (43 minutes from 'Genuine: the tale of a vampire' as compared to about 3 on Image). However, if the price for that is the awful layer transition, then I know which I prefer.

So that's why I prefer the Image version and wish I hadn't bought the Kino version.

[metternich1815]

I think I am going to just buy the Kino version. I have tried searching and people go back and forth, but more people favor the Kino version than the Image version. So, i'll just go with that. Honestly, it probably won't make a great deal of difference to me.

[ferretchucker]

When I read the title of this I thought you meant



or...



or...



Was about to deliver a serious can of whoopass (as the kids these days say)

[metternich1815]

Originally Posted by ferretchucker

When I read the title of this I thought you meant



or...



or...



Was about to deliver a serious can of whoopass (as the kids these days say)

Yeah, after I posted this thread, I was like I hope there are not different film versions. Then, I found there was and I was like, yeah that might be a little confusing. Good thing I explained...lol.