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Sappho
(1921)

The feature drama, directed by Dimitri Buchowetski, stars Pola Negri and Alfred Abel, with Johannes Riemann, Albert Steinrück, Helga Molander, Otto Treptow and Elsa Wagner.

Grapevine Video
2009 DVD edition

Ladies of the German Cinema (1921), color-tinted and color-toned black & white and black & white, 132 minutes total. not rated, including Sappho (1921), color-tinted and color-toned black & white, 82 minutes, not rated.

Grapevine Video, no catalog number, UPC 7-53182-25450-0.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD disc; 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to 60 fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; 16 chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $19.95.
Release date: September 2009.
Country of origin: USA

Ratings (1-10): video: 7 / audio: 7 / additional content: 6 / overall: 7.

This DVD edition, replicated on a standard DVD disc (not a DVD-R), has been mastered from an analog video master (possibly VHS videotape) that appears to have been transferred from either very-good 35mm materials or an above-average 16mm reduction print. The source print itself features a broad range of greytones, with the video transfer contributing to some deep shadows and some loss of highlight detail. The source print is lightly speckled, with dust, frame jitters, and some light emulsion damage present, but the viewing experience is quite acceptable.

The film is accompanied by an orchestral music score smoothly compiled from existing recordings. The score is far better than usually found on budget video releases, and often enhances the viewing experience.

This DVD of Sappho is recommended until a higher-quality home video edition is released.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD edition is available directly from . . .

Bright Shining City Productions
2011 DVD edition

Pola Negri: The Iconic Collection “The Early Films” (1917-1921), black & white and color-tinted black & white, 240 minutes total, not rated, including Sappho (1921), black & white, 80 minutes, not rated.

Bright Shining City Productions,
no catalog number, UPC 7-93573-89802-9.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD disc (three DVDs in the set); 1.33:1 aspect ratio picture in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan image encoded in SDR MPEG-2 format at ? Mbps average video bit rate (capable of progressive scan upscaling to ? fps); Dolby Digital (AC3) 2.0 stereo sound encoded at ? Kbps audio bit rate; English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; standard three-disc DVD keepcase; $39.98.
Release date: 2011.
Country of origin: USA