Customer Reviews
Bogarde 'My little girl is back' - By: d-thinkerdotcom, 26 May 2008 
The night porter review
Many were initially drawn to the controversy of it; there is also the idea of a matinee star aging & quietly making these masterpieces. So what do we get on this DVD, except the bad film transfer - the film is better on the lighter scenes; which create some kind of dualityin the film. There is also the obvious duality between the nude Jews & the fully clothed & armed, especially Dirk Bogart with a camera - THIS IS EXTERME DUALITY.
There is also the glamour of the film; even the bad transfer has a DTS soundtrack - another duality. You may never hear his voice with better clarity, as his other films are mostlyin mono Dolby digital. Even Elvis is mostly donein Dolby digital, so this is not an Elvis film, but this is another duality, we have cuteness, & here we have extreme evil. A film about extremes works better with simplicities, rather than extreme moralising.
The glamour of the film is first given to the Nazi, contemplating getting away with it, & not really feeling guilty about the whole experience. Another dualityin the film is the little girl becoming a creature of glamour, & Nazisin greater fear, so the scene is reversed; the power has shifted it is also the only relief we getin the film, the tension is purposely held. So why does this film become a love story? The attraction is never explained; maybe it could not be explained. So there exists a feeling of comfortable declinein the film, & this resonates with life, there-there, here is the films merit. It does not play the moral story. The film chooses to have a mood (a cold warmth) or pathos, created through a great acting performance from Bogarde. Though it could have been made without the nudity & some conversations by the Nazi where they express guilt & shame; then it may have been about trying to make a clever art film, rather than making a clever art film.
We all try to forget about things from our past. It is difficult to admit we are wrong! And yet we are surprised that people who are more guilty find it harder to admit they are wrong, but that is life - it is a part of it.
Cinematic Art - By: Peaches, 16 Mar 2008 This is not really a film about Nazis, nor is it a film about sex. Although both are contained within it. The sex acts are not sensual or sexually provocative. Any sensuality is annulled by the harsh lighting & the circumstances. This is more a film about the depth of human depravity & an exploration of the morally perverse side of human nature. Bogarde & Rampling are extremely watchable. I do wonder how this film was ever made, but I'm glad it was. This is a very brave film.
No subtitles on this DVD - By: Kooba, 02 Feb 2008 
Information pour les français : contrairement à ce qui est marqué, il n'y a pas de sous-titres disponibles sur ce DVD (même en anglais), pas non plus de version italienne...
Nice extras but poor transfer - By: Connoisseur, 16 Aug 2007 
We have the Criterion DVD version of Night Porter, but this version got such good reviews that we thought we'd rent it to compare. We've just watched selected bits of this one (Starz, but apparently Anchor Bay) side-by-side with the Criterion edition on a big projection system.
First off: the Anchor Bay version is anamorphic & the Criterion version isn't. BUT anamorphic is only worthwhile if the underlying quality justifies it. In this case the non-anamorphic Criterion transfer knocks spots off the anamorphic Anchor Bay transfer. And Anchor Bay seem to have messed with the contrast & color balance horribly. I know I'm sounding like a DVD geek here: I never realized such things could matter so much. But, viewed side-by-side, the Anchor Bay version is MUCH flatter: the all-important facial expressions & emotions come over much better on the Criterion version.
There is a flip side. The Anchor Bay version has interviews with Liliana Cavani & the producer (I forget his name) which are quite interesting. But also it has an interview with Charlotte Rampling which is absolutely fabulous: she tells how Dirk Bogarde had had the script for years, but looked at it again after he saw one of Cavani's other films; how he told Cavani he'd like to do it, but only with Rampling as his co-star; & how she felt about many of the film's most iconic moments. This is unmissable stuff.
So there are swings & roundabouts here. On the whole I'd recommend doing what we did: buy the Criterion version, but rent the Anchor Bay one just for the interviews.
Quality problems - By: Pandora, 22 Sep 2006 I was pleased to find this film on DVD at last, & keen to replace my old VHS video of it. It is a stunning, powerful film,that evolves with every viewing.
It is a classic.
BUT...
This DVD is watchable but the picture quality is awfulin some areas.The film becomes very dark, brown & grainy till you can hardly see the actors faces.Sometimes the faces are a blur!
This does ruin the filmin places, for me...as I know the film so well.The dramatic power of the scenes is damaged by thisin my opinion.
I assume the film stock has decayed beyond repair? Why has it not been moved to DVD with care? Why has such a poor copy been selected for distribution?
And yet I have a video recorded from British television that is pristine! The film is crystal clear, full of light, with sharp contrasts between the reds, whites & blacks. The 'Reunion'scenein the hotel room instead of being a murky-black fog is visible again, the actors faces revealed.
If you love this powerful film I advise recording a TV copy for a good home copy.
As with 'The Dogs of War' & 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'(both edited before DVD release) It looks as if this film has not made its transition to a new format either. I shall be hanging onto my old old VHS copy again!!!!
