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Berlin Alexanderplatz (TV) (1980)
Fassbinder's epic follows the hulking, violent, yet strangely childlike ex-convict Franz Biberkopf as he attempts to "become an honest soul" amidst the corrosive urban landscape of Weimar-era Germany.Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder
OVERALL: Draw-
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Extras:DISC ONE
Episodes: (with Play All option)
- "Die Strafe beginnt" (The Punishment Begins) (85 mins)
- "Wie soll man leben, wenn man nicht sterben will" (How Is One to Live if One Doesn’t Want to Die?) (61 mins)
DISC TWO
Episodes: (with Play All option)
- "Ein Hammer auf den Kopf kann die Seele verletzen" (A Hammer Blow to the Head Can Injure the Soul) (61 mins)
- "Eine Handvoll Menschen in der Tiefe der Stille" (A Handful of People in the Depths of Silence) (61 mins)
- "Ein Schnitter mit der Gewalt vom lieben Gott" (A Reaper with the Power of Our Lord) (61 mins)
DISC THREE
Episodes: (with Play All option)
- "Eine Liebe, das kostet immer viel" (Love Has Its Price) (60 mins)
- "Merke: Einen Schwur kann man amputieren" (Remember: An Oath Can Be Amputated) (60 mins)
- "Die Sonne wärmt die Haut, die sie manchmal verbrennt" (The Sun Warms the Skin, But Burns It Sometimes Too) (60 mins)
DISC FOUR
Episodes: (with Play All option)
- "Von den Ewigkeiten zwischen den Vielen und den Wenigen" (About the Eternities Between the Many and the Few) (61 mins)
- "Einsamkeit reißt auch in Mauern Risse des Irrsinns" (Loneliness Tears Cracks of Madness Even in Walls) (61 mins)
- "Wissen ist Macht und Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund" (Knowledge Is Power and the Early Bird Catches the Worm) (61 mins)
DISC FIVE
Episodes: (with Play All option)
- "Die Schlange in der Seele der Schlange" (The Serpent in the Soul of the Serpent) (61 mins)
- "Das Äußere und das Innere und das Geheimnis der Angst vor dem Geheimnis" (The Outside and the Inside and the Secret of Fear of the Secret) (61 mins)
DISC SIX
Episode:
- "Mein Traum vom Traum des Franz Biberkopf von Alfred Döblin - Ein Epilog" (My Dream of the Dream of Franz Biberkopf by Alfred Döblin, An Epilogue) (117 mins)
"Berlin Alexanderplatz - A Mega Movie and Its Story" documentary (in German, with English subtitles - 65:11)
DISC SEVEN
"Notes On the Making of Berlin Alexanderplatz" documentary (by Hans-Dieter Hartl, from 1980; in German, with English subtitles - 44:10)
"Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz - Notes About the Restoration" documentary (in German, with English subtitles - 32:00)
"Berlin - Alexanderplatz (1931)" early film version by Phil Jutzi (in German, with English subtitles - 83:48)
Peter Jelavich video interview (in English, no subtitles - 23:53) -
Subtitles:English (optional)
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Aspect Ratio:1.33:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):German Dolby Digital 1.0
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Case type:Special Case
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Notes:Comes with a 72-page book containing:
- 22-page essay by Tom Tykwer
- 12-page essay of Fassbinder: "The Cities of Humanity and The Human Soul: Some Unorganized Thoughts on Alfred Doblin's Novel Berlin Alexanderplatz"
- 8-page essay by Thomas Steinfeld: "You've No Right To exist, You Shall Not Be: On Alfred Doblin and His Novel Berlin Alexanderplatz"
- 10-page essay "Black and White in Color: A Conversation With Director of Photography Xaver Schwarzenberger"
- Photos/Cast & Crew credits
The entire series is pictureboxed, and the bonus 1931 film is reportedly of poor A/V quality.
Packaged in a 7-disc digi-pack (three 2-disc pages, one 1-disc page) along with the 72-page book inside a slipcase. -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:DISC ONE
Episodes:
- "Die Strafe beginnt" (The Punishment Begins) (82 mins)
- "Wie soll man leben, wenn man nicht sterben will" (How Is One to Live if One Doesn’t Want to Die?) (60 mins)
- "Ein Hammer auf den Kopf kann die Seele verletzen" (A Hammer Blow to the Head Can Injure the Soul) (59 mins)
DISC TWO
Episodes:
- "Eine Handvoll Menschen in der Tiefe der Stille" (A Handful of People in the Depths of Silence) (59 mins)
- "Ein Schnitter mit der Gewalt vom lieben Gott" (A Reaper with the Power of Our Lord) (59 mins)
- "Eine Liebe, das kostet immer viel" (Love Has Its Price) (59 mins)
DISC THREE
Episodes:
- "Merke: Einen Schwur kann man amputieren" (Remember — An Oath Can Be Amputated) (58 mins)
- "Die Sonne wärmt die Haut, die sie manchmal verbrennt" (The Sun Warms the Skin, But Burns It Sometimes Too) (59 mins)
- "Von den Ewigkeiten zwischen den Vielen und den Wenigen" (About the Eternities Between the Many and the Few) (59 mins)
DISC FOUR
Episodes:
- "Einsamkeit reißt auch in Mauern Risse des Irrsinns" (Loneliness Tears Cracks of Madness Even in Walls) (59 mins)
- "Wissen ist Macht und Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund" (Knowledge Is Power and the Early Bird Catches the Worm) (59 mins)
- "Die Schlange in der Seele der Schlange" (The Serpent in the Soul of the Serpent) (59 mins)
DISC FIVE
Episodes:
- "Das Äußere und das Innere und das Geheimnis der Angst vor dem Geheimnis" (The Outside and the Inside and the Secret of Fear of the Secret) (59 mins)
- "Mein Traum vom Traum des Franz Biberkopf von Alfred Döblin - Ein Epilog" (My Dream of the Dream of Franz Biberkopf by Alfred Döblin, An Epilogue) (112 mins)
DISC SIX
"Notes On the Making of Berlin Alexanderplatz" documentary (by Hans-Dieter Hartl, from 1980; in German, with English subtitles - 43:59)
"Berlin Alexanderplatz - A Mega Movie and Its Story" documentary (in German, with English subtitles - 65:00)
"Fassbinder's Berlin Alexanderplatz - Notes About the Restoration" documentary (in German, with English subtitles - 31:57)
"The Restoration - Before and After" featurette (7:27)
Photo Gallery (36 images)
"The Original Recaps" (deleted scenes) (in German, with English subtitles - 4:19)
Cast and Crew Restoration Credits (4:23)
Berlinale 2007 Trailer (6:59) -
Subtitles:English (FORCED)
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Aspect Ratio:1.33:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):German Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
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Case type:Special Case
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Notes:Packaged in a 6-disc digi-pack inside a slipcase.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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OVERALL: Draw
The R1 Criterion release has optional subtitles and the following exclusive extras:
- "Berlin - Alexanderplatz (1931)" feature film
- Peter Jelavich video interview
- 72-page Book
The R2 UK release has forced subtitles and the following exclusive extras:
- "The Restoration - Before and After"
- Photo Gallery
- "The Original Recaps" (deleted scenes)
- Berlinale 2007 Trailer
Note that, since the film was originally shot in 25fps, the audio is actually sped down 4% on the Criterion-release (the same compromise - in reverse - as the one that is made when a 24fps theatrical film is mastered at 25fps for a PAL broadcast or DVD release). The Criterion video is also pictureboxed.
Before you make the final decision, please see an image-comparison from the link below: -
CUTS:
- R1 Berlin Alexanderplatz Set America- Criterion Collection - No cuts.
- R2 United Kingdom- Second Sight - No cuts.
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Comparison added by Jari_Kovalainen on 11/11/07
Comparison last updated by Rob_Hunt on 30/01/18UPDATE LOG:
11/11/07: Initial entry.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
30/01/18: Added breakdowns, ASINs, corrected US listing and updated overall.
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