The film that most firmly established the talent of French director Raymond Bernard before his epic adaptation of Victor Hugo s Les misérables, Wooden Crosses [Le croix de bois] was widely hailed at the time of its release in 1932 for its searing depiction of the horrors of the European front during World War I; subsequently, Bernard was named soldier of honour of the 39th Infantry Division.
Adapted from a novel by Roland Dorgelès (a former corporal of the 39th), Wooden Crosses offers a kaleidoscope of cinematographic technique to present a visceral, enveloping recreation of one regiment s experience of battlefield hell. (Its entire cast is comprised of war veterans.) It is an epic tapestry that rivals John Ford s Four Sons and Lewis Milestone s All Quiet on the Western Front in both its poetry of trauma and steadfastness of conviction that war must be held in contempt.
From a gorgeous new Pathé restoration carried out for the centenary for the start of the Great War, Raymond Bernard s Wooden Crosses retains a ferocity that continues to reverberate across generations. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present this new restoration of the film in a special Dual Format (Blu-ray + DVD) edition.
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Supplements
- Video interview with historian Marc Ferro and film historian Laurent Veray
- A short documentary on the new restoration
- Wooden Crosses: A Sonic Adventure, documentary exploring early sound design
- Archival interview with Roland Dorgelès
- Archival interview with Raymond Bernard
- Vintage 1914 newsreels
- Documentary piece on early 20th century poster artist Adrien Barrère
- The Absent Battle, the Omnipresent War, a collection of photography from WWI taken by André Schnellbach who served with Dorgelès in the 39th
- Booklet featuring a new and exclusive interview by film critic Emmanuel Burdeau, and rare archival material