The Cabinet of Caligari [DVD] [1962]

The DVD edition of Robert Kay's The Cabinet of Caligari (1962) has treated the movie exceptionally well, with a pair of superb transfers, one letterboxed in the original release's 2.35:1 aspect ratio and the other fullscreen pan-and-scan (1.33:1). Each features crisp, vivid details and a sharp black-and-white image from start to finish. The letterboxed version will, of course, be preferred by most viewers as it captures the original theatrical release's compositions, which were very important to the mood of suspense -- the sense of isolation experienced by Glynis Johns' character as she walks from her stricken car is much more pronounced when seen in this manner, and those viewers with screens larger than 20 inches should savor that aspect of the release. Both transfers have been given the same 24 chapters, which is nicely generous for the 105-minute picture. The audio is also nicely vivid, giving full play to Gerald Fried's score. The only major bonus feature is the original trailer, which makes The Cabinet of Caligari seem to resemble Hitchcock's Psycho -- which which this film shares that same author, Robert Bloch -- more than it actually does. Given the relatively obscure nature of the movie, we can be grateful that The Cabinet of Caligari has been released at all, much less in this satisfying a manner, on DVD.