THE SONG OF SONGS - LE

(Rouben Mamoulian, 1933)
Release date: 24 July 2023
Limited Edition Blu-ray (UK premiere)

Marlene Dietrich (Blonde Venus) took a break from her classic run of films with Josef von Sternberg to make The Song of Songs, an atmospheric romantic drama co-starring Brian Aherne (A Bullet Is Waiting) and Lionel Atwill (The Devil Is a Woman).

Peasant girl Lily (Dietrich) moves to Berlin, where she falls in love with sculptor Richard (Aherne), for whom she poses. When Richard gets cold feet, Lily enters into an unhappy marriage with a wealthy Baron (Atwill), but longs to return to her true love.

Ravishingly shot by director Rouben Mamoulian (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde), and co-written by Samuel Hoffenstein (An American Tragedy), The Song of Songs is an exquisite and daring pre-Code melodrama.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES

• High Definition remaster
• Original mono audio
• Audio commentary with film historian David Del Valle (2020)
• The Mamoulian Touch (2023, 33 mins): writer and critic Geoff Andrew assesses The Song of Songs and its place within the career of director Rouben Mamoulian
• Lux Radio Theatre: ‘The Song of Songs’ (1937): radio play adaptation of the film’s screenplay, featuring returning cast members Marlene Dietrich and Lionel Atwill, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr
• Original theatrical trailer
• Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Rick Burin, an archival profile of Rouben Mamoulian, an archival interview with Mamoulian conducted by film critic and author Andrew Sarris discussing the director’s pre-cinema career, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
• UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited edition of 3,000 copies for the UK

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BBFC cert: U
REGION B
EAN: 5060697923667