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Wild Side Vidéo

Region 2 - PAL

4:3 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.95 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 4:3

Edition Details:
• Disc 1: Restored longer cut originally released in 1948
• Restoration Demo, Orson Welles Filmography.
• Disc 2: 1950 re-release version redubbed and with shorter running time.
• Disc 3: Extensive supplements including analysis of the differences between the two versions ( 26:47
• Analysis of scenery design (13:43)
• A look at the cinematography (3:00)
• Analysis of the use of music in Macbeth (3:39)
• A discussion of Macbeth with actor Stuart Seide (13:50)
• A 4 min. film clip of the 1936 Harlem stage production of Macbeth directed by Welles featuring
• an African-American cast, introduced by Welles scholar Francois Thomas.
• 1940 Mercury Theatre radio adaptation of Macbeth (78:27).
• Production Stills and Promotional Art
• * All of the commentary is in unsubtitled French.
• 80 page illustrated booklet by Jean-Francois Buire in French

DVD Release Date: December 7, 2005
Fold out Slipcase

Chapters 14

Note: All captures in this review are from the longer restoration cut.

I was not aware that this set was available until I read about it in Jonathan Rosenbaum's article recently posted HERE.

The material is presented in a clean interlaced transfer and spread out over three discs. The DVD containing the shorter version is single layered. The other two discs are dual-layered.

The listed running time for the short version is 85 minutes. My player displayed a running time of 81:31 which could be explained by 4% PAL speedup.  I'm having a harder time evaluating the true running time of the longer cut. The package and my player list this version at 114 minutes. The running time of the restoration is said to be 107 or 103 minutes, depending on whose account one reads. There is a bit over eight minutes of overture music prior to the opening sequence and around three minutes of exit music. This leaves 103 minutes for the feature. If the 4% PAL speed up is present then this may represent a 107 minute feature. But then, why is the actual running time listed correctly as 114 minutes while the shorter version has a 4% difference in it's running time from what is stated on the package? I know I'm splitting hairs here but I find it puzzling.

The video looks pretty good for a film that has undergone extensive digital restoration. The minor digital noise that is evident is preferable to the way the film looked prior to being restored as the comparison demo makes clear.

The audio is also very decent, a bit tinny at times, but not overly distracting.

The extras are rich and extensive but it would have been nice if Wild Side Video had included English subtitles. There is a lot of information being related that is no doubt worth hearing. I particularly enjoyed seeing the four minute clip of Welles "Voodoo Macbeth" from an old newsreel.

My only real complaint with the set is that you cannot turn off the French subtitles even though they are not burned in. Between this and the French only supplements it's apparent that Wild Side Video did not produce this DVD with the overseas market in mind.

Still, it's a great buy for a serious fans of Orson Welles. I am grateful to Mr. Rosenbaum for bringing it to my attention. out of  

 - Gregg Ferencz

CLICK to order from:

Wild Side Vidéo

Region 2 - PAL