Fritz Lang's Indian Epic
by Fritz Lang, Joe May
List Price:
Our Price: $30.90
You Save: $4.08 (12%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Claus Holm, Debra Paget, Luciana Paluzzi, Paul Hubschmid, Walter ReyerDirector: Fritz Lang, Joe May
Cinematographer: Richard Angst
Writer: Fritz Lang
Producer: Joe May
Producer: Artur Brauner
Writer: Thea von Harbou
Writer: Werner Jörg Lüddecke
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); German (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Box set, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 201 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-10-28
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Fantoma
Movie Reviews of Fritz Lang's Indian Epic
Movie Review: An Indiana Jones type Indian Adventure, 1960 style
Summary: 5 Stars
As a silent film enthusiast who has enjoyed the German 1921 silent film "The Indian Tomb", written by Fritz Lang and his then-wife Thea von Harbou, I was curious to see this 1959 version of the same story, this time directed by Fritz Lang himself. Although the story is essentially the same and the characters and plots are recognizable, Fritz Lang obviously did a lot of re-writing of the old 1921 screenplay to suit a much different 1959 audience, and I think he succeeded very well. While the original 1921 film is 3 ½ hours long with a more complex and sinister plot, the story has been reworked into two separate films, namely "The Tiger of Eschnapur" and "The Indian Tomb", and has all the hallmarks of a late 1950s, early 60s adventure epic. The quality of these two DVDs is simply excellent, and visually the films are already a delight, being filmed on location in the state of Rajasthan, India - in particular the city of Udaipur, famous for its magnificent palaces which also featured in the James Bond classic, "Octopussy". With real-life Mogul palaces and other striking Indian settings, Lang did not have to go to any great lengths to create a fantasy-like adventure world, not unlike modern-day Indiana Jones movies. Unlike Indiana Jones, however, the story in Lang's Indian Epic is serious: love, jealousy, revenge, intrigues in the royal family, schemes, lepers and a holy man with words of wisdom. The story moves along at a comfortable, steady pace with a good measure of suspense and unexpected turns, along with a nice dose of exotic - and erotic - dancing by Debra Paget. And although fake tigers are always mentioned in connection with "The Tiger of Eschnapur", I would not have noticed if I hadn't heard about it before, as there are plenty of good shots of real, live tigers, and I don't think a one or two second scene of a stuffed tiger or fake cobra should ruin a viewer's overall enjoyment of these two films.
While I would give the story and film quality a 4 ½ - star rating, I was so pleased with this box set in general, the notes on each film inside, the bonus photo gallery and in particular the option of the English-dubbed or original German version (with or without English subtitles) that I'm giving it the full 5 stars. For anyone who speaks German as I do, I'd like to point out that the German language spoken in these two films is absolutely top-class quality and a delight to hear. I'm sure anyone who enjoys 50s and 60s movies will be delighted by this box set and the restored full-length versions of both films (they were previously released in a much condensed version entitled "Journey to the Lost City") and for anyone who has enjoyed the silent 1921 version, this set would surely also be of interest to compare and have a nice change.
Similar DVD Movies
The Complete MetropolisKNV; Release date: 2010-11-16; DVD
Best price: $16.64
Price in other shops:
Demetrius and the GladiatorsFOX Home Entertainment; Release date: 2001-02-27; DVD
Best price: $3.64
Price in other shops:
Vampires, Mummies And Monsters Collection: Roger Corman Cult Classics (Lady Frankenstein, Time Walker, The Velvet Vampire & Grotesque)Uni; Release date: 2011-09-27; DVD
Best price: $15.67
Price in other shops:
Laurel & Hardy: The Essential CollectionUni; Release date: 2011-10-25; DVD
Best price: $66.99
Price in other shops:
The Great Dictator (The Criterion Collection)IMG; Release date: 2011-05-24; DVD
Best price: $19.71
Price in other shops:
Island of Lost Souls (Criterion Collection)IMG; Release date: 2011-10-25; DVD
Best price: $16.27
Price in other shops:
Senso (The Criterion Collection)IMG; Release date: 2011-02-22; DVD
Best price: $15.67
Price in other shops:
Cleopatra's DaughterRelease date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $8.99
Die NibelungenKino International; Release date: 2002-11-19; DVD
Best price: $23.01
Price in other shops:
Journey To The Lost CityRelease date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $8.99