"Director: Raymond Bernard"

• LES MISÉRABLES | DVD | (08/12/2014) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The most thorough of all film adaptations of Victor Hugo's immortal novel Les misérables [The Wretched] was a triumph for director Raymond Bernard one of the more overlooked filmmakers of the early French cinema. Originally released in quick succession as three separate features in 1934 Bernard's film recounts the story of the ex-convict Jean Valjean (Harry Baur) harried by the wicked Inspector Javert (Charles Vanel); of the virtuous Fantine (Florelle née Odette Rousseau) who sells herself into prostitution for the welfare of her daughter Cosette (Gaby Triquet as the young girl Cosette and Josseline Gaël as the young woman); and of intersections of these threads and more in an impressive rendering of Hugo's stately tapestry. Newly restored in 4K at its original length by Pathé Les misérables is a major accomplishment on the level of storytelling and a major component in the history of French film. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Raymond Bernard's magnum opus for the first time on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK. Special Features: New presentation of the film in its complete length from the new Pathé 4K digital restoration 40-PAGE BOOKLET with new and vintage writing rare archival material and more! A host of additional extras to be announced

• LES MISÉRABLES | Blu Ray | (08/12/2014) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The most thorough of all film adaptations of Victor Hugo's immortal novel Les misérables [The Wretched] was a triumph for director Raymond Bernard one of the more overlooked filmmakers of the early French cinema. Originally released in quick succession as three separate features in 1934 Bernard's film recounts the story of the ex-convict Jean Valjean (Harry Baur) harried by the wicked Inspector Javert (Charles Vanel); of the virtuous Fantine (Florelle née Odette Rousseau) who sells herself into prostitution for the welfare of her daughter Cosette (Gaby Triquet as the young girl Cosette and Josseline Gaël as the young woman); and of intersections of these threads and more in an impressive rendering of Hugo's stately tapestry. Newly restored in 4K at its original length by Pathé Les misérables is a major accomplishment on the level of storytelling and a major component in the history of French film. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present Raymond Bernard's magnum opus for the first time on Blu-ray and DVD in the UK. Special Features: New presentation of the film in its complete length from the new Pathé 4K digital restoration 40-PAGE BOOKLET with new and vintage writing rare archival material and more! A host of additional extras to be announced

• Wooden Crosses | Blu Ray | (30/03/2015) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  The film that most firmly established the talent of French director Raymond Bernard before his epic adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les misérables Wooden Crosses [Le croix de bois] was widely hailed at the time of its release in 1932 for its searing depiction of the horrors of the European front during World War I; subsequently Bernard was named soldier of honour of the 39th Infantry Division. Adapted from a novel by Roland Dorgelès (a former corporal of the 39th) Wooden Crosses offers a kaleidoscope of cinematographic technique to present a visceral enveloping recreation of one regiment’s experience of battlefield hell. (Its entire cast is comprised of war veterans.) It is an epic tapestry that rivals John Ford’s Four Sons and Lewis Milestone’s All Quiet on the Western Front in both its poetry of trauma and steadfastness of conviction that war must be held in contempt. From a gorgeous new Pathé restoration carried out for the centenary for the start of the Great War Raymond Bernard’s Wooden Crosses retains a ferocity that continues to reverberate across generations. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present this new restoration of the film in a special Dual Format (Blu-ray + DVD) edition. Bonus Features: New HD 1080p presentation of the film from Pathé’s astonishing 2014 restoration Video interview with historian Marc Ferro and film historian Laurent Veray A short documentary on the new restoration Documentary Wooden Crosses: A Sonic Adventure Archival interview with director Raymond Bernard Archival interview with Roland Dorgelès Vintage 1914 newsreels Documentary piece on early 20th century poster artist Adrien Barrère Documentary The Absent Battle the Omnipresent War 36-PAGE BOOKLET featuring a new and exclusive interview by film critic Emmanuel Burdeau and rare archival material