Rossellini & Bergman Collection (Limited Edition Numbered Blu-ray Box Set) Blu Ray – Ingrid Bergman, George Sanders 

Collection of films by Roberto Rossellini starring Ingrid Bergman. In the Second World War drama ‘Stromboli’ (1950), Lithuanian refugee Karen (Bergman) marries an Italian fisherman named Antonio (Mario Vitale) to escape from a prison camp. She is filled with romantic notions as her husband takes her to his home on the island of Stromboli but her dreams of an idyllic paradise are shattered by the reality of a barren, desolate landscape. She finds herself frowned upon by the local women who are suspicious of the foreigner and decides to leave the island, but her plan to raise enough money for her departure involves seducing the local priest (Renzo Cesana). In ‘Journey to Italy’ (1954) wealthy English couple Katherine Joyce (Bergman) and her husband Alex (George Sanders) travel to Italy to sell a villa they have inherited. Far from their London home, Katherine confesses to having had a secret lover and finds her husband becomes even more distant with her; to such an extent that they decide to finish their holiday apart. Whilst Alex enjoys the company of other expatriates on the island of Capri, Katherine tours around the sights of Naples and Pompeii. However, the different events they experience begin to bring the couple back together. In ‘Fear’ (1954) Irene Wagner (Bergman) has an affair with Erich Baumann (Kurt Kreuger) while her husband, the prominent German scientist Professor Albert Wagner (Mathias Wieman), is out of town. Despite her infidelity, she is still madly in love with her husband and is tormented by guilt and fears him discovering her illicit affair. Her increasing anxiety is compounded when Erich’s jealous ex-lover Johann (Renate Mannhardt) discovers their secret and blackmails her, sending Irene into a suicidal rage.

In 1950 one of Italy’s most celebrated filmmakers Roberto Rossellini and one of Hollywood’s greatest screen stars Ingrid Bergman came together to make the classic Stromboli Land of God. On the production of that film they embarked not only on an extraordinary artistic collaboration but also on an affair which would send shockwaves throughout the film world. By 1954 their real-life relationship was crumbling and films such as Journey to Italy seemed to echo this change. This numbered limited edition brings together three of Rossellini and Bergman’s greatest collaborations –Stromboli Land of God Journey to Italy and Fear – in new digital restorations and presents extensive extra features including Rossellini’s rare 1952 feature film The Machine That Kills Bad People Francesco Patierno’s 2012 documentary The War of the Volcanoes and Isabella Rossellini’s and personal My Dad is 100 Years Old (2005 dir. Guy Maddin). Stromboli Land of God Italy USA | 1950 | 1.33:1 | black and white | Italian language with English subtitles | 100 mins Journey to Italy Italy France | 1954 | 1.33:1 | black and white | English language | 86 mins Fear Germany Italy | 1954 | 1.33:1 | black and white | English language | 83 mins