Film International - Volume 7, Issue 6, 2009

The Threepenny Opera (1931) Germany Director G.W. Pabst Screenplay Bla Balzs, Lo Lania and Ladislaus Vajda From the play by Bertolt Brecht Songs composed by Kurt Weill Cinematography Fritz Arno Wagner Editor Hans Oser Art Direction Andrej Andrejew With Rudolf Forster (Mackie Messer), Carola Neher (Polly), Reinhold Schnzel (Tiger Brown), Fritz Rasp (Peachum), Valeska Gert (Mrs Peachum), Lotte Lenya (Jenny), Hermann Thimig (The Vicar), Ernst Busch (The Street Singer); French version Florelle (Polly), Albert Prjean (Mackie), Margo Lion (Jenny), Gaston Modot (Peachum), Jacques Henley (Tiger Brown) Runtime 110 minutes (German version), 102 minutes (French version) DVD United States, 2007 Produced and Distributed by The Criterion Collection (region 1, NTSC) Aspect Ratio 1.19:1 Extras New, restored high-definition transfer, made from a new film restoration element from the Bundesarchiv in Germany. Audio commentary by scholars David Bathrick and Eric Rentshler. Archival introduction by Threepenny stars Fritz Rasp and Ernst Busch. New, exclusive 50-minute documentary on Threepenny's controversial journey from stage to screen. New and improved English subtitle translation. L'Opera de quat'sous, Pabst's French-language version of the film starring Albert Prjean and Florelle. A multimedia presentation by film scholar Charles O'Brien on the difference between the English and French versions. Archival interview with Fritz Rasp. Galleries and production photos by Hans Casparius and production sketches by art director Andrej Andrejew. A new essay by film critic Tony Rayns.

Looking Past the Screen: Case Studies in American Film History and Method, Jon Lewis and Eric Smoodin (eds), (2008) Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 400 pp., ISBN 0822338076 (hbk), $89.95; ISBN 0822338211 (pbk), $24.95

Digital Storytelling: The Narrative Power of Visual Effects in Film, Shilo T. McClean, (2007) Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 303 pp., ISBN 0262134659 (hbk), $39.95; ISBN 0262633698 (pbk), $21.95

Evil Arabs in American Popular Film: Orientalist Fear, Tim Jon Semmerling, (2006) Austin: University of Texas Press, 303 pp., ISBN 9780292713413 (hbk), $55.00; ISBN 9780292713420 (pbk), $22.95

Interview with Jane Campion on Bright Star 30 July 2009, San Francisco Ritz Carlton

Film Happenings is a regular column in Film International, celebrating the achievements of our readers and contributors. Please e-mail your Film Happening to Liza Palmer, Review Section Editor: liza.palmerfilmint.nu.

The bathroom is the room in the house most likely to experience a crisis in liquidity: Garry Leonard on Psycho and the horror movie as economic indicator. Deirdre O'Neill and Mike Wayne went to Venezuela to teach filmmaking and study the revolution up close. They share with us their experiences and discuss their inspiring new feature documentary, Listen to Venezuela. Omar Kholeif looks at depictions of gay men in Egyptian cinema, past and present. Murray Pomerance traces the roots of M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening back to the Cold War era infection film. And Yi Zheng explains to us what exactly it is that makes a Chinese blockbuster good to look at. All this, as well as a full review section, in our next issue.