Product Details

• Actors: Charlton Heston, Betty Hanisee, Mrs. Hubert Hyde, Lucielle Powell, Sue Straub
• Directors: David Bradley
• Writers: David Bradley, Henrik Ibsen
• Producers: David Bradley
• Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, Silent, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Vci Video
• DVD Release Date: January 30, 2007
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000LXGXXY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,902 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Peer Gynt" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

This is the 1941 amateur 16mm film adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's famous play Peer Gynt, featuring 17-year –old Charlton Heston in his film debut. Furthermore a young David Bradley was the director of this silent film being created for a Northwestern University project. It was filmed in the Midwest on the northern shores of Lake Michigan. Bonus Features: Scene Selection| Trailers| Bios| Photo Gallery| Enhanced Sound Track. Specs: DVD5; Silent; 100 minutes; B&W; 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA – NR; Year – 1942; SRP - $19.99.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Peer Gynt (1941) ... Charlton Heston ... VCI Home Video", January 27, 2007

By 

J. Lovins "Mr. Jim" (Missouri-USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Peer Gynt (DVD)

VCI Entertainment presents "PEER GYNT" (1941) (100 min. B/W)...under David Bradley (Director/Producer), Henrik Ibsen (the play), Edvard Grieg (Original Score), David Bradley (Cinematographer), Robert Cooper (Cinematographer), Richard Roth (Cinematographer), Sally Hyde (Costume Design) ------ the cast includes Charlton Heston (Peer Gynt), Betty Hanisee (Aase), Mrs. Hubert Hyde (Old Woman), Lucielle Powell (Kari), Sue Straub (Old Woman), Katharine Bradley (Solveig), Charles Paetow (Aslak), Morris Wilson (Haegstad), George B. Moll (Drunk/Bedouian Chief), Betty Barton (Ingrid), Rose Andrews (Anitra), Alice Badgerow (Cowherd Girl), Anty Ball (Cowherd Girl), Thomas A. Blair (Button Moulder/Thin Person), David Bradley (Herr Trumpeterstraale/Bailiff), Francis X. Bushman (1965 rerelease) (voice), Robert Cooper (Man in Mourning), Alan Eckhart (Mads Moen), Roy Eggert Jr. (Dovre-King/Mons. Ballon/Priest), Alan Heston (Ugly Urchin), Rod Maynard (Lad), Warren McKenzie (MacPherson), Sarah Merrill (Woman in Green, as a Hag), Audrey Wedlock (Woman in Green), Jane Wilimovsky (Old Woman), John Jerrard (Troll) ... In 1941, upon being drafted into the Army, Bradley had to hurriedly wrap post-production ... the film had its premiere in its rough version in Aug 1941, it was not until 1965 that Bradley was able re-edit the film the way he desired and add new material, including the voice of silent movie star Francis X. Bushman as "The Boyg." ... the credits for the 1965 version, which was released by The Willow Corporation, also include Katherine Bradley, Anty Ball, Alice Badgerow, Robert Cooper, Rod Maynard and Jane Willanovsky, but it has not been determined if these actors appeared in the 1941 version without credit, or appeared for the first time as part of the new footage added to the 1965 version. The 1965 version also names Thomas A. Blair and Roy Eggert, Jr. as associate producers ... Bradley shot the film entirely in black and white, except for the section in the kindgom of "The Boyg," which is tinted first green, then blue, and finally red when "Peer" is under attack ... Director/Producer David Bradley was only 21 years old when he made this movie ... also note this was the feature film debut of Charlton Heston.

Special footnote, Peer Gynt is a play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was written in 1867, and first performed in Oslo (then called Christiania) on 24 February 1876, with incidental music by the composer Edvard Grieg. Ibsen wrote Peer Gynt while traveling in Rome, on Ischia and in Sorrento. It was first published on November 14, 1867, in Copenhagen. The first edition comprised 1,250 copies. It was followed by a re-print of 2,000 copies after 14 days. The large sales were mostly due to the success of Ibsen's previous play, Brand. Unlike Ibsen's other later plays, Peer Gynt is written in verse. This is because it was originally intended to be a written drama, not for stage performance. Difficulties due to rapid and frequent change of scene (including an entire act in pitch darkness) render the play troublesome to perform. It is also unlike Ibsen's later plays in that it is a fantasy rather than a realistic tragedy ... (as noted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

SPECIAL FEATURE BIOS:

1. Charlton Heston (aka: John Charles Carter)

Birth Date: 10/04/1924 - Evanston, Illinois

Died: Still Living

2. David Bradley (Director/Actor/Producer/Cinematographer)

Birth Date: 4/06/1920 - Winnetka, Illinois

Died: 12/19/1997 - Los Angeles, California

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing the "Peer Gynt" (1941) - Charlton Heston , digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '50s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment, stay tuned once again with the classics that only VCI Entertainment (King of the Serials) can deliver...just the way we like 'em!

Total Time: 100 mins on DVD ~ VCI Home Video 8390 ~ (1/30/2007)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, November 18, 2007

By 

Film Lover (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peer Gynt (DVD)

What a rare opportunity to view a glimpse of the young Heston, not yet affected by Hollywood. Also, David Bradley's talent is apparent in this early classic. Beautiful performance by Anitra. A wonderful film and an important piece of film history!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Peer Gynt - Charlton Heston, David Bradley, April 6, 2010

By 

Fredric Pierce (Huntington Beach, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Peer Gynt (DVD)

Easily the best zero-budget, amateur film I have ever watched.

The photography is quite nice. The director and cameramen were obviously learning their craft, and doing very well. Lighting is very good. There are very few gratuitous camera moves, and no active zooming (they probably could not afford a zoom lens.) Some of the camera moves are quite effective, although, obviously hand-held.

The amateur acting is largely cornball, but, some performances show promising talent. Of course Heston shows great potential. Betty Hanisee plays Aase, Peer's mother, with energy and expression. Betty Barton does a really commendable Ingrid, with a range of believable emotions from pitiful begging to deep anger and resentment. Well done! Katherine Bradley's part (Solveig) was a little sappy, but she carries it off without cracking, which I would find very hard to do.

Given that the budget was undoubtedly zero, it is understandable that Bradley should make it a silent film. I have a feeling that recording dialogue would have lowered the overall quality, so I don't fault him for it. The music is not the best recording quality, though, perhaps, the best available at the time. The script follows the play fairly closely, although Peer doesn't make it to the Cairo asylum in this version. The rest of the major plot elements and much of the dialogue are correct. I am a silent film fan, so I am not disturbed by the the dialogue cards. You can also clearly read the actors' lips.

The one weak spot that I found disappointing was the Boyg. I think this was one of the bits added in 1964. It is the only item with sound and this special effect clearly exceeds the zero budget. It breaks the flow of the rest of the film. I wonder what the original scene was like. There are several large-scale location shots that are obviously lifted from other films. These add to the story telling, but are discontinuous with the amateur production values. The DVD conversion is not quiet top drawer, but adequate.

The viewer must try to keep in mind the limitations under which Bradley made this Peer Gynt. Within that scope, it is really quite excellent. I would highly recommend it to film history buffs, Hestonites, and film students. Just do not buy it expecting a Technicolor, Panavision, epic production. Take it for what it claims to be, and you will, I think, be pleased.