Product Details

• Directors: Ted Remerowski, Marrin Canell
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Shanachie
• DVD Release Date: March 7, 2006
• Run Time: 210 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CSUNTI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,463 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Legendary Sin Cities - Paris, Berlin & Shanghai" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

LEGENDARY SIN CITIES - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sexual Freedom = Artistic/Literary Expression, July 5, 2006

By 

Gerard D. Launay (Berkeley, California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Legendary Sin Cities - Paris, Berlin & Shanghai (DVD)

The thesis of this documentary is that the extraordinary

sexual freedom and license in the 1920-1930's in three cities

(Berlin, Paris, & Shanghai) became a draw to the great artists

and literary figures of Europe. It is without doubt that Paris and Berlin did generate a renaissance of artistic creation during these decades but there were other factors such as

the flood of Russians from the excesses of communism, the

liberal attitudes of the Weimar republic, and the end of World War I so that artists did have an oppostunity to create without being engulfed in violent conflict. Nevertheless, the two DVD

set is thought provoking. For example, I learned that Berlin

waas the birthplace of the first film that dealt with the topic of homosexuals' struggling for acceptance in a hostile world. I also learned that Shanghai was totally ruled by gangsters so that even the police were hired from the ganster world. Overall,

a worthwhile documentary of a unique time in world history.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sin across the World, September 3, 2007

By 

Walter Meyer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Legendary Sin Cities - Paris, Berlin & Shanghai (DVD)

A two-DVD set for those interested in at least one form of entertainment flourishing in Berlin, Paris and Shanghai between the two world wars. Apparently sin and debauchery really knew few borders during that time. Much of the contents is illustrated commentary and I, for one, would have wished for more illustration and less commentary, e.g., more of entertainers like Josephine Baker in the Paris portion and of Claire Waldoff and Marlene Dietrich in the Berlin portion. Just about totally absent were routines by the Berlin cabaret comedians but perhaps they weren't considered sufficiently sinful and maybe there isn't much film footage about them.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tries too hard to emphasize the "creativity" of Paris and Berlin, March 13, 2009

By 

James D. Crabtree "Doc Crabtree" (Fort Leavenworth, Kansas) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Legendary Sin Cities - Paris, Berlin & Shanghai (DVD)

The creators of this documentary about Shanghai, Berlin and Paris in the 1920s did an excellent job, using period footage (and some 1930s footage as well, if you know what you're looking for) to portray the decadence and depravity which took hold there. While only lightly touching on the human cost of prostitution, alcoholism and drug use (and even then primarily in the Shanghai episode) it emphasized the "creativity" known to be generated there... as if no great art was done outside these three cities or in the decades following. Also, outside "costs" were not addressed. The program discusses how the Nazis (they practically used the word "hicks") swept away the liberal life of Berlin, when I would make the argument that it was the very existence of Berlin's decadence which caused a backlash, one the fascists were able to ride into power. In Paris the decadence led to a lack of moral fiber when invaded by Germany. Overall, a good (and graphic) depiction of decadence but take the PC excuses with a grain of salt.