Berlin, die Sinfonie der Grossstadt (Ruttmann) (2DVD)

Walther Ruttmann is a pioneer of modern multimedia art. His first short films are unique experiments with forms, colors, and rhythm, his innovative commercials connected abstract animation art with concrete messages.
The symphonic documentary 'Berlin, die Sinfonie der Großstadt' is one of the most famous silent classics, the travelogue 'Melodie der Welt' became the first German sound feature film. With the radio play 'Weekend' Ruttmann created the first "sound film without images" while his short 'In der Nacht' transforms music to images and is a prototype of modern music videos.

The 2DVD edition combines for the first time all surviving works by Walther Ruttmann from 1920-1931 in newly restored and reconstructed versions, often with original scores. It also includes lobby cards, posters, programs and text documents as well as little known paintings and drawings by Ruttmann.




DVD 1
Berlin, die Sinfonie der Großstadt (1927), 65'
Original orchestral score by Edmund Meisel
Lichtspiel Opus 1 (1920), 11'
Original orchestral score by Max Butting
Opus 2 (1922), 3'
Piano score Joachim Baerenz
Opus 3 (1924), 3'
Original orchestral score by Hanns Eisler
Opus 4 (1925), 4'
Orchestral score by Helga Pogatschar
Der Sieger (1922), 3'
Piano score by Joachim Baerenz
Das Wunder (1922), 3'
Piano score by Joachim Baerenz
Das wiedergefundene Paradies (1925), 6'
Piano score by Joachim Baerenz
Der Aufstieg (1926), 4'
Piano score Joachim Baerenz
Spiel der Wellen (1926), 3'
Piano score by Joachim Baerenz
Dort wo der Rhein... (koloriert) (1927), 3'
Piano score by Joachim Bärenz

Paintings and drawings by Walther Ruttmann (1911-1920)


DVD 2
Melodie der Welt (1929), 48'
Weekend (1930), 11'
In der Nacht (1931), 7'

Radio feature Walther Ruttmann, der Visionär bewegter Rhythmen (1987), 86'
Unrestored version of Lichtspiel Opus 1 (1921), 7'
Different digital transfers of Dort wo der Rhein..., 3'
Side-by-side comparison of the existing prints of Melodie der Welt, 48'

Photos from the Congress of the Independent Film in La Sarraz 1929

Texts by and about Walther Ruttmann, program booklets and original scores as ROM features 20-page booklet with essays about Walther Ruttmann

Edited by: Filmmuseum München, Arte, Bundesarchiv-Filmarchiv and Goethe-Institut

4:3 (PAL) / 1.33:1 / Music score: Dolby Digital 2.0 (Stereo) & Dolby Digital 2.0 (mono)