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A Throw of Dice
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| Genre | Classics/Silent Films, Action & Adventure |
| Format | Multiple Formats, Black & White, Dolby, NTSC, Silent |
| Contributor | Charu Roy, Franz Osten, Seeta Devi, Himansu Rai |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 14 minutes |
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Product Description
A lavish silent super-production comprising 10,00 extras, a thousand horses, and scores of elephants, a Throw of Dice is the climax of German film pioneer Franz Osten's richly cinematic sojourn in India. In this "fairy tale for adults" (BBC) inspired by the ancient Sanskrit epic poem the Mahabharata, royal cousins and rulers of adjoining kingdoms King Sohat (producer/star Himansu Rai) and King Ranjit (Charu Roy) share a reckless passion for gambling, the perilous jungle tiger hunt, and the beautiful maiden Sunita (Seta Devi). After a tiger nearly claims Ranjit's life, Sunita nurses the handsome young king back to health and becomes his bride. Knowing that the only thing stronger than love in Ranjit's heart is a compulsive fascination with games of chance, jealous Sohat challenges his cousin to a winner-take-all contest where the stakes are freedom, marriage, and life itself.
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.33:1
- Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
- MPAA rating : NR (Not Rated)
- Product Dimensions : 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 Ounces
- Item model number : 3925399
- Director : Franz Osten
- Media Format : Multiple Formats, Black & White, Dolby, NTSC, Silent
- Run time : 1 hour and 14 minutes
- Release date : July 15, 2008
- Actors : Seeta Devi, Himansu Rai, Charu Roy
- Language : Unqualified
- Studio : Kino Lorber films
- ASIN : B0017OLUV6
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #212,580 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #19,519 in Action & Adventure DVDs
- #34,150 in Drama DVDs
- Customer Reviews:
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The British Film Institute restored the film in 2006 and asked composer Nitin Sawhney to compose a new score for it. The work was premiered outdoors in London in 2007 and made quite an impression. Now Kino International and the BFI have released it on DVD for a wider audience to see. Filmed in sharp black and white with no color tints, THROW OF DICE looks great although you can tell that it's been conflated from at least a couple of prints. The new score by Sawhney is lavish and it sounds great. It's an East-West amalgam (mostly West) that on occasion I found at odds with what was going on during the film. I would have liked a more fully Indian sounding score to help keep me focused on what's happening and to keep me emotionally involved. There's a lengthy interview with the composer on the DVD and he explains his reasons for his choices. I understand them but the Hollywood portions of the score took me out of the movie and that's too bad. The beauty of a silent film though is you can turn down the volume and create your own soundtrack.
Despite my reservations concerning the new score, I found the film a joy to watch especially actress Seeta Devi who is classically beautiful. If you're a silent film buff then here's a real touch of the exotic. The Germans were interested in Indian settings for years during the silent era (Joe May's THE INDIAN TOMB for example) but this is the real thing. Another high quality release from Kino International who's been on quite a silent film roll this year (THREE'S A CROWD, THE EXTRA GIRL) with more good stuff (2 Victor Sjostrom films) just around the corner.
Set in the past, much effort was put into the elaborate traditional costumes which grab the viewer's attention, as well as impressive scenes involving wild and dangerous animals and other fine details such as the Indian game with stick-like dice which can be rigged. Viewers familiar with, and fond of, Indian culture will not be disappointed, and those who have been to Udaipur in Rajasthan will recognize the setting and know that everything is authentic. With so much already going for it, a good story with some intrigues, twists and turns make this film stand out even more, and the perfect picture quality makes it visually delightful. The musical accompaniment deserves special mention because it also combines elements of traditional Indian music and the Western orchestral scores we are familiar with, making it perfectly suited to this particular film. The Indian musical sounds often add an airy and even surreal feeling to some scenes while also adding that extra exotic, Indian flavour to the film. The half-hour interview with Anglo-Indian composer Nitin Sawhney in the bonus features on this disc will enhance the viewer's appreciation of the music and how it is `the language of emotion' which he uses like a painter uses colours to express the mood of each scene. For a rare and special cinematic experience full of exotic overtones, and a sample of a good quality foreign silent film, "A Throw of Dice" should not be missed.
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