Treasures from a Swedish master

Kino’s new three-film tribute to Mauritz Stiller ($30 each) vividly illustrates why the director, one of the dominant figures of Sweden’s Golden Age of Silent Cinema, is so well-regarded among historians and directors.

Produced in 1919, “Sir Arne’s Treasure” is considered Stiller’s masterwork. The 16th century story finds three Scottish mercenaries murdering a family and taking their treasure -- their escape thwarted by frozen lakes and seas.

Beautifully photographed by Julius Jaen, “Treasure” features haunting performances from Axel Nilsson and Bror Berger among others. Restored by the Swedish Film Institute, the new version includes an evocative new score by Matti Bye and Fredrik Emilson. Extras include a dry introduction by historian Peter Cowie.

Far different in tone and style is “Erotikon,” the saucy 1920 sex romp director Ernst Lubitsch cited as one of his inspirations. It deals with the triangular shenanigans of the bored wife of an aging entomologist. The film also features one of Sweden’s superstars of the era, Lars Hanson, who would come to Hollywood in the mid-1920s to star in the classics “The Wind” and “The Letter.”

Hanson also stars in Stiller’s final Swedish film, the 1924 epic “The Saga of Gosta Berling,” as the title character, a defrocked priest. Greta Garbo, then 19, shines as the beautiful Elisabeth with whom Berling finds love and solace. Among the astounding sequences is Berling and Elisabeth’s trek by sled across a frozen lake with ravenous wolves in pursuit. After “Berling,” Stiller and Garbo left Sweden and went to MGM, where the actress became one of cinema’s most enduring legends. Stiller, however, couldn’t fit into the American studio system -- he was removed from his first American film with Garbo, 1926’s “The Temptress.”

Extras include footage of Garbo’s early commercials and her first film role in 1922.

Also new this week

“Dazed & Confused -- The Criterion Collection” ($40): Absolutely too cool for school two-disc DVD of Richard Linklater’s 1993 teen comedy -- sort of an “American Graffiti” filtered through a marijuana haze. “Dazed” features numerous actors at the beginning of their careers including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Rory Cochrane, Parker Posey, Adam Goldberg and Anthony Rapp. The Criterion edition features laid-back commentary with Linklater; Kahana Corn’s documentary “Making Dazed,” which premiered last year on AMC; audition footage; deleted scenes; clips from the 10-year anniversary celebration; interviews; and behind-the-scenes footage.

“The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada” (Sony, $27): Tommy Lee Jones made his feature directorial debut with this elegiac modern-day western drama. Jones also won best actor at the Cannes Film Festival last year for his multilayered turn as a Texas ranch hand who is determined to bury his murdered friend (Julio Cedillo) in his Mexican hometown. Unfortunately, commentary supplied by Jones and co-stars Dwight Yoakam and January Jones is a snooze.

“Glory Road” (Disney, $40): Josh Lucas plays Texas Western college basketball coach Don Haskins, who, in 1966, made history when he put in an all-African American starting lineup in the NCAA national championship. Well-produced extras include interviews with players and colleagues of Haskins, highlights of his career, a look at his training regimen and serviceable commentary with director James Gartner.

“I Wake Up Screaming” (Fox, $15): This nearly forgotten 1941 murder-mystery was the first film noir produced by 20th Century Fox. Betty Grable -- in a rare non-musical role -- plays a stenographer whose glamorous sister (Carole Landis) is murdered. The main suspect is a handsome, fast-talking sports promoter (Victor Mature) who had transformed Landis from a waitress into a celebrity. Creeping around the dark, murky corners is a no-nonsense inspector (a scene-stealing Laird Cregar). The digital edition includes the discarded opening credits with the film’s first title “Hot Spot,” and snappy commentary with film noir historian Eddie Muller.

“House of Strangers” (Fox, $15): Gripping 1949 noir from writer-director Joseph Mankiewicz starring Richard Conte, Edward G. Robinson and Susan Hayward. Film historian Foster Hirsch supplies commentary.

“Mommie Dearest -- Hollywood Royalty Edition” (Paramount, $15): The unintentionally campy 1981 adaptation of Christina Crawford’s controversial memoir about the abuse she endured as the adopted daughter of Joan Crawford. Extras include production featurettes and naughty commentary from John Waters.

“Cheyenne -- The Complete First Season” (Warner, $40): This ABC series was the first western produced by Warner Bros. Airing from 1955 to 1963, the hourlong sagebrush saga made a star of Clint Walker, a former security guard who played Cheyenne Bode, a no-nonsense adventurer in the West.

“The Wild Wild West -- The Complete First Season” (Paramount, $50): Robert Conrad plays James T. West, sort of a post-Civil War James Bond, in this enjoyable 1965-69 CBS series. Ably supporting Conrad was Ross Martin as Artemus Gordon, a master of disguises and accents.

And: “Dumbo -- Big Top Edition” (Disney, $30); “Firewall” (Warner, $29); “Underworld: Evolution” (Sony, $29): “Running Scared” (New Line, $28); “Sarah Silverman -- Jesus Is Magic” (Interscope, $27); “NCIS -- The Complete First Season” (Paramount, $65); “A Nos Amours” (Criterion, $40).

What’s coming

June 13: “ “The World’s Fastest Indian,” “Aquamarine,” “Dave Chappelle’s Block Party,” “Neil Young: Heart of Gold.”