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The
Last Command

(1928)

 

This superb film was directed by Josef von Sternberg and stars Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent and William Powell, with Jack Raymond, Nicholas Soussanin, Michael Visaroff and Fritz Feld.

It’s 1928 in Hollywood and an emigré Russian film director (Powell) is casting his next picture, a war drama. Not happy with his options, he happens upon the photo of an old man with a white beard (Jannings). Obviously taken with the picture, he instructs that the actor report to the studio the next day and be fitted with a general’s uniform.

After a trying bout with cattle-call extras, we learn that the old actor has brought with him a medal he says was given to him by the Czar himself. Next, we flashback to 1917 Russia and witness an entirely different man as the old actor is revealed to be a high-ranking general in the Czar’s army. From a window, Lev Andreyev (the film director, in 1917, a revolutionist posing as a stage director) and Natalie Dabrova (Brent), spy upon the general, vowing that his days are numbered. However, the couple are arrested and brought before the general for interrogation. Arrogantly sure of himself, the general imprisons the director and takes a shine to the woman he knows to be a revolutionary leader.

Now a kept woman, Dabrova is courted by the general and begins to see into his heart. Confused but determined to continue her freedom-fighting work, she plans to assassinate the general but is overcome by her new feelings for him.

The revolutionists make their move and attack a train on which the general is travelling. In the face of overwhelming numbers, the people around him turn on the general including Dabrova, who seizes the opportunity to spur on the revolution. Humiliated by the unbelieveable and massive betrayal of his lover, the general goes into debilitating shock. Chaos ensues.

In a twist of fate, the general is given the means to escape retribution. Having been freed from prison, Andreyev escapes to America. Back to the present day, Andreyev is face-to-face with the general on his set. The tables are turned, from the military advantage the general once had over the revolutionary to the economic advantage the film director now holds over him. While filming a military scene, the general is caught up in the moment — flooded with the torturing memories of his Russian defeat — and collapses having given his last command.

Confidently directed and exquisitely paced, Sternberg utilizes a number of interesting camera angles and tracking shots to tell his story. Brent is her usual chilly self and Powell fills his role with intensity. This film is another reason why 1928 was the greatest year of silent film achievement. It is highly recommended.

Carl Bennett

coverThe Criterion Collection
2019 Blu-ray Disc edition

Three Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg (1927-1928), black & white, 244 minutes total, not rated,
including The Last Command (1928), black & white, 88 minutes, not rated.

The Criterion Collection, CC3077BD, collection number 528,
UPC 7-15515-23571-6, ISBN 978-1-68142-646-3.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region A Blu-ray Disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame and pillarboxed 4:3 (1920 x 1080 pixels) progressive scan AVC (MPEG-4) format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Mbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles; chapter stops; three plastic BD trays in cardboard wrap with 96-booklet in cardboard slipcase; $99.95.
Release date: 8 October 2019
Country of origin: USA
This Blu-ray Disc collection of three late silent era films directed by Josef von Sternberg features new, restored high-definition digital transfers of each of the films.

The film is presented with two optional music scores: one full orchestral score by Robert Israel and an alternative music score by The Alloy Orchestra. We are impressed with both scores but prefer the Israel orchestral accompaniment.

The collection’s supplemental material includes visual essays by UCLA film professor Janet Bergstrom and film scholar Tag Gallagher, a 1968 Swedish television interview with Sternberg, and a 96-page booklet featuring the original film treatment for Underworld by Ben Hecht, essays by film critic Geoffrey O’Brien, film scholar Anton Kaes, and author Luc Sante, and an excerpt on actor Emil Jannings from Sternberg’s autobiography, Fun in a Chinese Laundry.

 
USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region A Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
 
Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region A Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
 
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coverEureka Entertainment
2016 Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition

The Last Command (1928), black & white, 88 minutes, BBFC Classification PG.

Eureka Entertainment,
EKA70211 (MoC 146), unknown UPC number.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region B Blu-ray Disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) progressive scan AVC (MPEG-4) format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, LPCM 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops; one single-sided, dual-layered, Region 2 PAL DVD disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 576 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles; chapter stops; standard two-disc BD keepcase, 32-page insert booklet; £19.99.
Release date: 16 May 2016
Country of origin: England
This Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition features a new, restored high-definition digital transfer of the film from a very-good to excellent 35mm source print.

The film is presented with an original theatre organ score performed by Gaylord Carter (in uncompressed audio on the Blu-ray Disc).

The supplemental material includes a new video interview with critic Tony Rayns; “Sternberg Till ’29”, a video essay by scholar Tag Gallagher; and a 32-page booklet featuring an excerpt from von Sternberg’s autobiography Fun in a Chinese Laundry, two original reviews from 1928, a 1929 profile of Jannings, and archival images.

 
USA: Click logomark to purchase this Region B Blu-ray Disc / Region 2 PAL DVD edition from Amazon.co.uk. Support Silent Era.
 
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coverThe Criterion Collection
2010 DVD edition

Three Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg (1927-1928), black & white, 244 minutes total, not rated,
including The Last Command (1928), black & white, 88 minutes, not rated.

The Criterion Collection, CC1911D, collection number 528,
UPC 7-15515-05951-0, ISBN 978-1-60465-290-1.
Three single-sided, dual-layered, Region 1 NTSC DVD discs, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), 8.0 Mbps average video bit rate, 192 Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 8-bit 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles; 16 chapter stops; 96-page insert booklet; three cardboard wrapped plastic trays in cardboard slipcase; $79.95.
Release date: 24 August 2010
Country of origin: USA

Ratings (1-10): video: 8 / audio: 9 / additional content: 7 / overall: 9.

This DVD edition features a 4k high-definition scan from a very-good to excellent 35mm duplicate negative. The visual results are very-good, with print scuffing, a few scratches, speckling and dust showing up from time to time.

The film is presented with two optional music scores: one full orchestral score by Robert Israel and an alternative music score by The Alloy Orchestra. We are impressed with both scores but prefer the Israel orchestral accompaniment.

The collection’s supplemental material includes visual essays by UCLA film professor Janet Bergstrom and film scholar Tag Gallagher, a 1968 Swedish television interview with Sternberg, and a 96-page booklet featuring the original film treatment for Underworld by Ben Hecht, essays by film critic Geoffrey O’Brien, film scholar Anton Kaes, and author Luc Sante, and an excerpt on actor Emil Jannings from Sternberg’s autobiography, Fun in a Chinese Laundry.

 
USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
 
Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.
 
United Kingdom: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.co.uk. Support Silent Era.
 
This Region 1 NTSC DVD edition is also available directly from . . .
Other silent era JOSEF VON STERNBERG films available on home video.

Other silent film music scores by THE ALLOY ORCHESTRA available on home video.

Other silent film music scores by ROBERT ISRAEL available on home video.
Josef von Sternberg filmography in The Progressive Silent Film List
 
 
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