Search - The Diary of Anne Frank [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

The True Story Brilliant, This Movie its Own Special History

Stephen | Brawley, US, Canada | 09/09/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The true story of Anne Frank and her family is brilliant, if not heartbreaking.

Anne's diary takes the reader through her life in Amsterdam through the eyes of a teen girl. Every entry is powerful, interesting, and adds to the story.

This 1959 film has earned its own special piece of history. To be perfectly honest, it feels different than the diary. There are some significant differences while retaining the concept of an everyday family, forced to hide for over two years, an incredible girl in the middle of it all, and the realization of the horror that followed.

Truly, I recommend the diary more than the film for someone new to Anne's story. However, the film is still one of my favorites in movie history. The diary is just one of those once in a lifetime unbelievable treasures of recorded history. This film is an additional element and special on its own. Indeed, the film now being more than fifty years old itself is a historic story itself.

One benefit that this film did have was that it was produced only about thirteen years after the end of the war. Otto Frank, Anne's father, actually visited the set of the film and the director, George Stevens, visited Otto Frank in Amsterdam. This gives a significance to the film. The storytellers involved had a connection to the real story even if the film has some differences. The actors who played Anne and Margot met with Otto Frank too. While Mr. Frank assisted in these ways, he chose to never watch the play or film.

One of the most striking differences in the movie is the role of the dentist. Anne often had disputes with the dentist in her diary. However, he was not made to be a complete fool in the diary, they simply didn't get along and shared a room. In the film, the dentist becomes a comedic role and a character who knew little of his religion. The real dentist was perhaps the most devoted to his religion in the diary. Nevertheless, this comedic role actually works exceedingly well in the film. It may not follow reality, but it's a strong point of the film making.

There are some other differences. Meip, for example, after the family's capture, kept Anne's diary in her desk waiting for her return. In the film, it is kept in the attic. Peter's family didn't arrive on the same day to the annex as depicted, but a few days later.

There were many more helpers in reality than depicted in the film.

The cat did not go missing permanently in reality, but does in the film.

The bread scene where Peter's father is caught steeling bread didn't specifically happen either. Meip specifically pointed this out, the bread scene, in her analysis that no play/film were ever completely accurate.

Therefore, there are many many differences. However, as a whole, it carries much of the spirit of the diary. Furthermore, one must remember it is a 1959 film. Nevertheless, the scenes outside the "windows," of the Annex were filmed on location in Amsterdam by George Steven's son, so those scenes are very authentic indeed.

The Blu-Ray is what I really wanted to rave about here! This blu-ray is an exceptional production. The film is of course included in beautiful quality black and white as original in full length. However, there are so many bonuses. Commentary by Stevens' son and Millie Perkins (the actor who played Anne). This commentary is from a 2004 release, but still a wonderful listen. There are lots of videos extras too. Interviews with George Stevens Jr., Millie Perkins, a documentary about the film that is 90 minutes, etc. etc. There is so much material!

I highly recommend this Blu-Ray. If there is ever a reason to recommend the possibilities and benefits of blu-ray, this is a great example. There are so many bonuses you'd never get on a DVD or an online video on demand service.

A 2009 dramatic production of Anne Frank's diary made for television is also available on DVD & Blu-Ray. While this is a scaled down TV production and much shorter in length, it follows the diary a bit more closely. I recommend viewing both.

Highly recommended story, film, and blu-ray!"