KRIMIS IN BLACK & WHITE On Blu-ray From Vinegar Syndrome

 

The last few years I've been watching a number of films belonging to the Krimi genre--the mostly German series of movies that mix together mystery, suspense, gangster, horror, and science fiction elements. I've often mentioned how more of these titles deserve official North American home video releases. Vinegar Syndrome has filled the gap a bit with a two-disc set called KRIMIS IN BLACK & WHITE. 

The set contains three films from Rialto, the German production company that was responsible for the so-called "official" Edgar Wallace series. The three films are THE INDIAN SCARF (DES INDISCHE TUCH), THE SQUEAKER (DER ZINKER), and ROOM 13 (ZIMMER 13). 

All three films were made during the classic period of the Krimi--the early 1960s. As the title of the set mentions, all three are in black & white, and they are presented uncut and in their original aspect ratios. Each film has German and English dub tracks, with English subtitles available, and according to Vinegar Syndrome each has been remastered from their original negatives. All of the films look outstanding--the sharp and expressive black & white photography in this set is a true example of the Krimi style. 

I had not seen any of these films, so I plan on writing posts on each of them--I have plenty of thoughts to share about them individually. Each of the movies has a brand new audio commentary. 

The second disc in this set contains all the extras, which I have viewed. The original German and English trailers for all three films are included, along with a few special programs. Two of these programs deal with Peter Thomas, the composer who provided unique music for a vast number of Krimi features. One of them is a talk with his son Philip, and the other is a 40 minute interview with Peter Thomas himself, from 2011. In it Thomas comes off as quirky as his music. 

There's also an interview with Joachim Gitt, who worked as a camera assistant on a number of the Rialto Krimi films. The experiences and thoughts that Gitt relates sound very much like the remembrances of various Hammer crew members (Hammer and Rialto had a lot in common as film production companies). 

Also included is a half-hour discussion of the entire Krimi genre by Kim Newman and Nicholas Schlegel (who has written an excellent book on the Rialto Edgar Wallace series). The two men give an informative and thorough summary of the history of the Krimi films. 

Alexandra Heller-Nichols contributes an essay on how the "male gaze" affects ROOM 13 and the Krimi genre in general. (Anyone who has seen ROOM 13 will know that this essay is somewhat ironic.) Finally Samm Deighan gives a short presentation on directors Alfred Vohrer and Harald Reinl, the two major filmmakers most identified with the Krimi. 

When the set is ordered direct from Vinegar Syndrome, it comes in a wraparound case with special artwork (see above and below). 

The Rialto Edgar Wallace series is desperately underrepresented on North American home video. This fine Vinegar Syndrome set alleviates that to an extent, but it also just whets my appetite for more. Perhaps Vinegar Syndrome has plans for more Krimi sets in the future--these are a group of films that deserve more attention and more fans.