5/5 SPELLBINDIING
  by Enrique Hernandez (Miami, FL)
I mostly knew Dreyer as a silent film director, but this box set contains three of Dreyer's most powerful films, all talkies. Criterion has done an excellent job with the transfers, and the subtitles are excellent.

DAY OF WRATH. An old woman is accused of being a witch; what follows is harrowing. After she is tortured, just before being burned at the stake (in a truly disturbing scene that shocked me to the core), she implicates the wife of the very man who ordered her death. The movie is an unforgettable experience.

ORDET is about religious bigotry and the tragedy that results when two different interpretations of Christianity stand in the way of true love. The movie contains a very difficult scene in which a so-called partial birth abortion is performed. Watching this, I realized that the point of the procedure is not to kill the baby but to save the mother's life, and I have totally rethought my position on the issue based on this film. Ultimately, the movie is about the power of faith and divine love. The ending is miraculous.

GERTRUDE, an opera singer, is in a loveless marriage with a somewhat bland lawyer/politician. She's having an affair with a much younger man, a composer. She decides to leave her husband (who still wants to be with her) for her young lover, who Gertrude believes is completely devoted to her. But at a reception, she hears from a third party (an old flame of hers, no less) that the young man publicly (and vulgarly) bragged about several of his affairs, mentioning Gertrude by name as one of his several conquests. Meanwhile, her old flame still wants to recapture what they once had. Gertrude becomes weary of life and love--she must choose. There are three men in her life--which will she pick? Or will she choose none and instead strike a different course, on her own? The movie reminded me of the Strauss opera "Der Rosenkavalier."

Note: Dreyer's movies proceed at what might at first seem quite a slow pace. People move slowly and even speak slowly. There's no "action," and in fact there's barely any physical movement. Often, they just sit and talk. Characters don't exchange snappy dialog; instead, they often stare off to the side into space and exchange long reflections. At times, these movies can seem a bit static, but if you manage a little bit of patience they are amply rewarding. The box set also includes an interesting documentary on Dreyer's life and work that, I think, is not otherwise available. Highly recommended, but it's not Hollywood-style cinema.


5/5 The greatest Danish filmmaker, Carl Dreyer...
  by Grigory's Girl (NYC)
The fact that Criterion took 3 of the greatest movies ever made, and put them into a box set is truly something to be thankful for. The few Dreyer films that actually made it onto VHS were always poorly transferred copies. But their power and artistry still shone through. Now we have these masterpieces from our friends at Criterion. My personal favorite is Ordet, which is one of most uplifting, spiritual (NOT RELIGIOUS), and moving films ever made, with a truly stunning final scene. Gertrud is the 2nd best, with some of the most heartbreaking images and dialogue ever committed to celluloid. Day of Wrath is a good film, and the first film in which Dreyer's latter day style really took shape. All three films employ Dreyer's latter day filming style, very long takes, with meticulously composed and lit shots. The cinematography for these films is utterly gorgeous, especially the later two films. Gertrud reportedly contained only 57 shots in the entire film (always a good sign), and Ordet only took 5 days to edit (probably a record). The documentary is good, for the fact that the director frames his shots in interesting ways, as opposed to the usual, televisionesque ways documentaries are handled. This docu feels cinematic, unlike most modern documentaries which have a TV news feel to them. There is also a booklet included in this set with marvelous quotes from Dreyer on art, people, cinema, and directing. It's more informative about the cinematic/artistic process than four years at a film school. It was rather sad that Dreyer only made 5 features in the last 40 years of his life, but the films he did make were masterpieces. Despite the long periods in between films (Dreyer only made 5 feature films and a few shorts in the last 40 years of his life), Dreyer never lost his artistry. Gertrud, which was Dreyer's final film, is from that old man's cinema catalogue, the final film (or close to it) of great directors that is usually slow, doesn't hurry, and is usually very melancholy and sad. Several examples of this are Kurosawa's Madadayo, Wilder's Fedora, Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. This is a box set that is definitely worth having.

5/5 Excellent Selection Revealing Dreyer's Style With Wonderful Documentary.
  by J. M WILINSKY (teaneck, NJ United States)
This set gives us a great sampling of Dreyer's style, which might be described as "neorealism". Dreyer felt that his films should be entertaining and not just for artistic analysis, but you have to see them to begin to get a feel for his style. The documentary disc supplied with this set is truly wonderful. It is entertaining and covers just about everything you would want to know about Dreyer. It even shows photos of his mother and childhood. It discusses his approach to his art and life's work in great detail. Many interviews with his actors and staff are included. Most of his major films are discussed in all aspects. If you want to find out about the films of Carl Theodor Dreyer as well as his life and thoughts this is an excellent choice for you!

5/5 Excellent set
  by Stalwart Kreinblaster (Xanadu)
This set is a great revelation for me - I was only familiar with Dreyer's work on silent films - these three movies are such detailed and beautifully paced movies. 'Ordet' is a film which seems to be a spiritual statement - but it could also be interpreted as the power of believing (which does not necissarily have to be religous). It is also a statement on society - sometimes society is out of touch with reality or reason and it is only the crazy 'outcasts' who 'get it'. This, along with Bresson's 'Diary of a Country Priest' has become one of my favorite films on the subject of faith.
'Gertrude' is, in my opinion, an equally fascinating work. It is so beautiful to look at - there is one scene in a park where the water is shimmering in the background that made me just so startled at the possibilities of black and white cinema. The theme of Gertrude seems to be love and truth - but throughout the film the camera seems to take a neutral stance to what the characters are professing. 'Gertrude's' quest for love for example, is neither championed or denounced, it is simply observed. This is such an efffective way of telling a story - let the characters tell it.. I am so delighted and surprised by Dreyer's sound films - and I would highly recommend them!

4/5 Ignore the documentary
  by bruther (Canada)
Watch out, cinema lovers! Carl Theodor Dreyer is a unique director, and his films require a special kind of patience. Day of Wrath, Ordet and Gertrude are fascinating and sometimes difficult (especially the last two) films, but rewarding if you allow yourself to get involved. But the documentary accompanying this terrific Criterion release is dull, overly "artistic", and frankly not very informative. Only buy the box set if you're willing to watch and then discard it. P.S. Also buy The Passion of Joan of Arc, and, if you can find it, Vampyr.