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Reviews of silent film releases on home video.
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The Informer
(1929)

This film adaptation of Liam O’Flaherty’s play was directed by Artur Robison, and stars Lars Hanson and Lya de Putti, with Warwick Ward, Carl Harbord, Dennis Wyndham and Janice Adair.

Kino Classics
2019 Blu-ray Disc edition

The Informer (1929) [silent version], color-tinted black & white, 99 minutes, not rated, with The Informer (1929) [sound version], black & white, 84 minutes, not rated.

Kino Lorber, K23663, UPC 7-38329-23663-2.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region A Blu-ray Disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) progressive scan AVC (MPEG-4) format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, DTS 5.1 surround sound and 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; standard BD keepcase; $29.95.
Release date: 23 April 2019.
Country of origin: USA

This Blu-ray Disc edition has been produced from the British Film Institute’s restoration.

The film is presented with a music score composed and orchestrated by violinist Garth Knox.

The supplementary section of this edition includes the rare synchronized-sound version of the film, which was produced at the same time as the silent release (presented here in black & white), and a restoration demonstration (5 minutes).

This is our recommended home video edition of The Informer.

USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region A Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.

Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region A Blu-ray Disc edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.

British Film Institute
2017 Blu-ray Disc / DVD edition

The Informer (1929) [silent version], color-tinted black & white, 99 minutes, BBFC Certificate U, with The Informer (1929) [sound version], black & white, 84 minutes, BBFC Certificate U.

BFI Home Video, BFIB1242, unknown UPC number.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region B Blu-ray Disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (1920 x 1080 pixels) progressive scan AVC (MPEG-4) format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, PCM 2.0 stereo and 2.0 mono sound, English language intertitles, optional English language subtitles, chapter stops; and one single-sided, dual-layered, Region 2 PAL DVD disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3? (720 x 576 pixels) progressive? scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, PCM 2.0 stereo and 2.0 mono sound, English language intertitles, optional English language subtitles; chapter stops; standard two-disc BD keepcase; £19.98.
Release date: 24 April 2017.
Country of origin: England

This British dual-disc edition of The Informer has been mastered from a new high-definition video transfer of the British Film Institute restored version.

The film is presented with a music score composed and orchestrated by violinist Garth Knox.

North American collectors will need a region-free Blu-ray Disc player capable of outputting a signal compatible with their HD system to view this edition.

United Kingdom: Click logomark to purchase this Region B Blu-ray Disc / Region 2 PAL DVD edition from Amazon.co.uk.

This Region B Blu-ray Disc / Region 2 PAL DVD edition is also available directly from . . .

Kino Classics
2019 DVD edition

The Informer (1929) [silent version], color-tinted black & white, 99 minutes, not rated, with The Informer (1929) [sound version], black & white, 84 minutes, not rated.

Kino Lorber, K23662, UPC 7-38329-23662-5.
One single-sided, dual-layered, Region 1 NTSC DVD disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in pillarboxed 16:9 (720 x 480 pixels) anamorphic interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 48 kHz 5.1 surround sound and Dolby Digital 48 kHz 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no subtitles; 10 chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $19.95.
Release date: 23 April 2019.
Country of origin: USA

This DVD edition has been produced from the British Film Institute’s restoration.

The film is presented with a music score composed and orchestrated by violinist Garth Knox.

USA: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.com. Your purchase supports Silent Era.

Canada: Click the logomark to purchase this Region 1 NTSC DVD edition from Amazon.ca. Your purchase supports Silent Era.

Grapevine Video
2007 DVD edition

The Informer (1929), black & white, 83 minutes, not rated.

Grapevine Video, no catalog number, UPC 8-42614-10265-3.
One single-sided, single-layered, Region 0 NTSC DVD-R disc, 1.33:1 aspect ratio image in full-frame 4:3 (720 x 480 pixels) interlaced scan MPEG-2 format, SDR (standard dynamic range), ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? Kbps audio bit rate, PCM 2.0 mono sound, English language intertitles, no subtitles; chapter stops; standard DVD keepcase; $16.95 (reduced to $14.95).
Release date: 2007.
Country of origin: USA

This DVD-R edition has likely been mastered from a 16mm reduction print.

The film is likely accompanied by a soundtrack compiled from preexisting recordings.

This Region 0 NTSC DVD-R edition is available directly from . . .