Wooden Crosses [Les croix de bois] (Dual format)

Director: Raymond Bernard

1932 France

War

#105

This product has been discontinued.

OUT OF STOCK

TECHNICAL DETAILS

TECHNICAL DETAILS
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Year: 1932
  • Runtime: 115
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.19:1
  • Colour: Black & White
  • Certificate: PG
  • Subtitles: English (optional)
  • Genre: War
  • SKU: EKA70156
  • 2 Discs
  • Release Date: Mar 30, 2015
Format:
Region: B

SYNOPSIS

The film that most firmly established the talent of French director Raymond Bernard before his epic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les misérables, Wooden Crosses [Le croix de bois] was widely hailed at the time of its release in 1932 for its searing depiction of the horrors of the European front during World War I; subsequently, Bernard was named soldier of honour of the 39th Infantry Division.

Adapted from a novel by Roland Dorgelès (a former corporal of the 39th), Wooden Crosses offers a kaleidoscope of cinematographic technique to present a visceral, enveloping recreation of one regiment’s experience of battlefield hell. (Its entire cast is comprised of war veterans.) It is an epic tapestry that rivals John Ford’s Four Sons and Lewis Milestone’s All Quiet on the Western Front in both its poetry of trauma and steadfastness of conviction that war must be held in contempt.

From a gorgeous new Pathé restoration carried out for the centenary for the start of the Great War, Raymond Bernard’s Wooden Crosses retains a ferocity that continues to reverberate across generations. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present this new 4K restoration of the film in a special Dual Format (Blu-ray + DVD) edition.

Reviews:

“Raymond Bernard’s answer to All Quiet on the Western Front is remarkable and powerful ***** ” – Home Cinema Choice

“Masterpiece…one of the most relentless war movies ever made *****” – Total Fim

SPECIAL FEATURES

  • New HD 1080p presentation of the film from Pathé’s astonishing 2014 4K restoration
  • Optional English subtitles
  • Video interview with historian Marc Ferro and film historian Laurent Veray
  • A short documentary on the new restoration
  • Wooden Crosses: A Sonic Adventure, documentary exploring early sound design
  • Archival interview with Roland Dorgelès
  • Archival interview with director Raymond Bernard
  • Vintage 1914 newsreels
  • Documentary piece on early 20th century poster artist Adrien Barrère
  • The Absent Battle, the Omnipresent War, a collection of photography from WWI taken by André Schnellbach who served with Dorgelès in the 39th
  • Booklet featuring a new and exclusive interview by film critic Emmanuel Burdeau, and rare archival material

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