{"product_id":"the-arrival-from-the-darkness-st-wenceslas-czech-silent-films-by-director-jan-s-kolar-blu-ray","title":"Czech Silent Films by Director Jan S. Kolár (The Arrival from the Darkness \/ St. Wenceslas) (Blu-ray) PREORDER","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThis set features 2 rare Silent Films from Czech director Jan S. Kolár, occult thriller THE ARRIVAL FROM THE DARKNESS and medieval epic ST. WENCESLAS\u003c\/h1\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eCzech Silent Films by director Jan S. Kolár: The Arrival from the Darkness + St. Wenceslas\u003c\/i\u003e presents the first-ever Blu-ray release devoted to two landmark silent features by pioneering Czech filmmaker Jan S. Kolár. Produced in collaboration with the Národní filmový archív in Prague and Comeback Company, this deluxe collection showcases Kolár's remarkable range through the occult fantasy \u003ci\u003eThe Arrival From The Darkness\u003c\/i\u003e (1921) and the sweeping medieval epic \u003ci\u003eSt. Wenceslas\u003c\/i\u003e (1929), accompanied by an exceptional collection of rare archival material.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Arrival From The Darkness\u003c\/i\u003e follows a rare-book collector who revives his sixteenth-century ancestor through an ancient manuscript, unleashing an extraordinary tale involving alchemy, black magic, the Elixir of Life, ruined castles, time travel, and the Black Plague. \u003ci\u003eSt. Wenceslas\u003c\/i\u003e chronicles the struggle between paganism and Christianity in tenth-century Bohemia through the life of Prince Wenceslas, combining political intrigue, betrayal, warfare, and lavish historical spectacle in what became the most expensive Czech film produced during the silent era. Both features include newly commissioned musical scores, with \u003ci\u003eThe Arrival From The Darkness\u003c\/i\u003e accompanied by Neuveritelno and \u003ci\u003eSt. Wenceslas\u003c\/i\u003e receiving a new score by acclaimed silent film composer Ben Model.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe extensive bonus features include four ultra-rare Jan S. Kolár silent shorts including \u003ci\u003ePolykarp's Winter Adventure\u003c\/i\u003e (1917), \u003ci\u003eThe Oriental Languages Teacher\u003c\/i\u003e (1918), and two additional films, the 1953 documentary \u003ci\u003eHow We Used To Make Movies\u003c\/i\u003e, the surviving fragment of the lost silent horror film \u003ci\u003eThe Wedding Shirt\u003c\/i\u003e (1925), new music by Ben Model for all five bonus shorts, a 48-page illustrated booklet with essays by Jan-Christopher Horak and Walter Chaw, an audio commentary by Peter Hames and Irena Kovarova, and Stephen Broomer's new visual essay \u003ci\u003eFace of Centuries: Jan S. Kolár and the Afterlives of History\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReleased by Deaf Crocodile, this Region 1 Blu-ray presents approximately 165 minutes of silent cinema with original Czech intertitles and optional English subtitles, creating an essential archival edition of early Czech filmmaking.\u003c\/p\u003e    \u003ch2\u003eBonus Materials\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 ultra-rare early Jan S. Kolar Silent short films including 'Polykarp's Winter Adventure' (1917), 'The Oriental Languages' Teacher' (1918) and  2 more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“How We Used To Make Movies” (1953, 23 min.) a compilation of behind-the-scenes footage from Czech Silent Films assembled in the 1950s\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“The Wedding Shirt” (1925) the only surviving 4 min. fragment from this Czech Silent Horror film co-directed by one of the actors from THE ARRIVAL FROM THE DARKNESS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew music for ST. WENCESLAS and all 5 bonus shorts by acclaimed Silent Film composer \u0026amp; historian Ben Model\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e48-page booklet featuring new essays by film historian Jan-Christopher Horak and film critic Walter Chaw.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew audio commentary by film historian Peter Hames and Czech film expert Irena Kovarova of Comeback Company.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew visual essay “Face of Centuries: Jan S. Kolár and the Afterlives of History” (2026, 18 min.) by experimental filmmaker and film scholar Stephen Broomer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCast \u0026amp; Crew\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eActors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e      Theodor Pištěk\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e      Karel Lamač\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e      Anny Ondra\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e      Zdeněk Štěpánek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDirector:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jan S. Kolár\u003c\/p\u003e  \u003ch2\u003eAdditional Details\u003c\/h2\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deaf Crocodile\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mystery\/Thriller\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e silent  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e 165 mins\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1       \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10\/13\/26\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC:\u003c\/strong\u003e 850066568804\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"DEAFCROC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48608620052729,"sku":"DC-059CD","price":26.21,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0815\/4889\/files\/DC-059CD.jpg?v=1782761334","url":"https:\/\/mvdshop.com\/products\/the-arrival-from-the-darkness-st-wenceslas-czech-silent-films-by-director-jan-s-kolar-blu-ray","provider":"MVD Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}