Schlock-Wire: Synapse Doubles Up On WWII History With TRIUMPH OF THE WILL And STALINGRAD On Blu-Ray
History fanatics, take note: Synapse will be delving deep into World War II with a pair of their December blu-ray releases. The first is Triumph Of The Will, the infamous Nazi propaganda documentary helmed by Leni Reifenstahl. This title has long been a part of Synapse catalog as a DVD but this blu-ray will feature a brand-new HD transfer plus extras. The other release is three-part documentary mini-series Stalingrad, about the Russian battle that signaled the end of Nazi dominance in World War II. The new disc will present the uncut version of this triptych with additional footage and other supplements. Read on for all Reich-revealing details, including cover art and a list of extras...
Witness the Horrors of WWII with
TRIUMPH OF THE WILL
and
STALINGRAD
on Blu-ray from Synapse Films this December
Two of the most acclaimed films in the Synapse Films library come to Blu-ray in exemplary new editions coming December 8th, 2015.
TRIUMPH OF THE WILL
“This Synapse disc of Triumph of the Will is an eye-opener and a significant DVD release… Adds a dynamic to the movie that makes this disc more 'useful' than seeing Triumph of the Will projected on a screen.” – Glenn Erickson, DVD Savant
To some, it is a work of art, an example of cinematic genius of the highest order. To others, it is perhaps the most dangerous and heinous piece of propaganda ever produced. TRIUMPH OF THE WILL, Leni Riefenstahl's classic piece of historical filmmaking, filmed during the 1934 Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg, Germany, is considered by many to be one of the most important and notorious films ever made. In 2001 and 2006, Synapse Films released TRIUMPH OF THE WILL on DVD to equal parts acclaim and controversy and now, in 2015, Synapse revisits TRIUMPH with the definitive Blu-ray that shows thismotion picture milestone in a whole new light.The film, realized by Paul Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Reich Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, was created to influence all of Germany to support the "power" of the Nazi Party. All during World War II, in every theatre in Germany, either part of, or all of, TRIUMPH OF THE WILL was shown.An historically significant and, at times, horrifyingly manipulative exercise in propaganda for the Nazi regime, TRIUMPH OF THE WILL continues to be controversial over seventy years after its original release. This historical document has been unavailable in Germany for many decades and Leni Riefenstahl has since come under fire for her personal relationship with Adolph Hitler, spending her life in the shadow of collaborating with the Nazi Party.This title continues to be one of Synapse Films' top selling titles and is a hit with schools, universities, and libraries. History buffs and film scholars have celebrated Synapse’s DVD as the best quality version of this film available anywhere. This all-new remastered version of TRIUMPH OF THE WILL is derived from a new 2K scan, digitally corrected and restored under the supervision of film historian and preservationist, Robert A. Harris (LAWRENCE OF ARABIA; VERTIGO; MY FAIR LADY). From obscure cult films to film classics, Synapse Films is dedicated to the art of film restoration and we are proud to say that our Blu-ray edition of TRIUMPH OF THE WILL is one of our finest and most significant achievements yet.BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:- All-new 2015 high-definition 2K remaster of TRIUMPH OF THE WILL from a duplicate 35mm fine grain master- Original German language with all-new on screen identifications and newly translated removable English subtitles for the speeches- Leni Riefenstahl’s short film DAY OF FREEDOM, remastered in high-definition- Audio Commentary by Dr. Anthony R. Santoro, specialist on National Socialist German history- Liner NotesNOT RATED – 1935 – 111 Minutes – B&W – 2.0 Mono – 1.19:1 – SFD0153TRIUMPH OF THE WILL BLU-RAYITEM NUMBER: SFD0153UPC CODE: 654930317693SUGGESTED RETAIL: $34.95FILE UNDER: DOCUMENTARYBLU-RAY SPECIFICATIONS:VIDEO: High-Definition 1080p (1.19:1) Presentation / AVC CodecAUDIO: DTS-HD MA German 2.0 MonoSUBTITLES: EnglishREGION: A/B/C (ALL)
STALINGRAD
“Extremely well-produced, thought-provoking, and offering a unique look at events that have been discussed over and over again STALINGRAD is an enormous achievement” – DVD Talk
It has been called the deadliest battle in the history of all wars, with almost 4 million casualties. Lasting over 6 months, a major Soviet city was decimated and most of its citizens killed, ordered not to flee by Stalin himself. It is a monumental story that has never been told like this before, and this December, Synapse Films is proud to present the Blu-ray premiere of STALINGRAD, the critically acclaimed WWII documentary nominated for the 2003 International Emmy Award for Best Documentary.The Eastern Front experienced the viciousness of war on a scale of unimaginable horror and brutality. The bloodiest and most savage fighting took place in Stalingrad between August 1942 and February 1943. Stalin's city on the Volga had military significance for Hitler: It carried the name of his enemy and therefore had to be destroyed. The ensuing battle sealed the fates of hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians and marked the turning point of World War II. It was the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. In their three-part HD documentary, internationally recognized award-winning documentary filmmakers Sebastian Dehnhardt, Christian Deick and Jörg Müllner reveal new historical facts while touching the emotions of their audience with new, moving eyewitness accounts and confessions from some of the last survivors.Filmed from both the German and Russian perspective, the series contains footage shot by soldiers during the siege. The Russian archives opened their doors to the filmmakers, granting them exclusive access to previously unreleased material. The series also contains digitally restored archive film as well as 3-D animation to recreate the city of Stalingrad and plot the course of its destruction.Originally broadcast in both Germany and Russia in truncated editions, this special edition DVD contains all three STALINGRAD documentaries including THE ATTACK (54 min.), THE KESSEL (56 min.) and THE DOOM (55 min.) in their original uncut forms and a wealth of extra supplementary materials.BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:– High-definition presentation of the original three-part 2003 mini-series– English language dubbed version featuring footage not seen in the original broadcast– Deleted interview segments– Video interview with Dr. Guido Knopp (Professor and Historian)– “Stalingrad Today” – Views of the City of VolgogradNOT RATED – 2003 – 165 Minutes – Color & B&W – 2.0 Stereo – 1.78:1 –SFD0154STALINGRAD BLU-RAYITEM NUMBER: SFD0154UPC CODE: 654930317792SUGGESTED RETAIL: $34.95FILE UNDER: DOCUMENTARYBLU-RAY SPECIFICATION BOX:VIDEO: High-Definition 1080p (1.78:1) Presentation / AVC CODECAUDIO: DTS-HD MA English 2.0 StereoREGION: A/B/C (All)