"Flesh for Frankenstein" Criterion R1 NTSC vs R2 PAL

directed by Paul Morrissey
U.S. 1974

Shot back to back with "Blood for Dracula", this the first of the two Morrissey gothic horror films, "Flesh for Frankenstein" is just as much a spoof on the Frankenstein myth, as it is a socio-political comment, similar to "Blood for Dracula".

Shot in Arch Oboler's Spacevision, this 3-D version is about the aristocrat Baron Frankenstein, who seeks to create a Serbian master race. Failing to do so, he falls victim thru his children, just as Dracula does in "Blood for Dracula", here by them advancing towards him with scalpels. Sins of the Flesh is also a central theme here, most directly thru the infamous line, "You can't say that you know life, until you've fucked death in the gall bladder."

Italian sources suggest that both films were directed by Anthony Dawson, aka Antonio Margheriti.

Henrik Sylow

Posters

Theatrical Release: March 17th, 1974 - USA

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DVD Comparison:

Tartan - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. - Marketing Film - Region 0 - PAL

Big thanks to Ole of DVDBasen for the R2 - PAL Screen Caps! Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!

(Tartan - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Criterion - Region 01 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. - Marketing Film - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Tartan Region 2 - PAL	Criterion Collection Spine # 27 Region 0 - NTSC	Marketing Film Region 0 - PAL
Runtime	1:34:57	1:35:09	1:34:50
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.76 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 4.98 mb/s NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.92 PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Tartan
Bitrate: Criterion
Bitrate: Marketing Film
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital English	English (Dolby Digital 1.0)	German (Dolby Digital 5.1), German (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	No Subtitles	None	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Tartan Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Audio commentary by Paul Morrissey, Udo Kier and film historian Maurice Yacowar • Production Stills (23:47) • Screen Tests (4:15) • Booklet by Ben Cobb DVD Release Date: May 22, 2006 Keep Case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Home Vision Entertainment Aspect Ratio: Widescreen letterbox - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Paul Morrissey, star Udo Kier and film historian Maurice Yacowar • Stills Gallery of publicity and production photos (102 stills) • Widescreen letterbox format DVD Release Date: December 8, 1998 Keep Case Chapters 31	Release Information: Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Paul Morrissey, star Udo Kier and film historian Maurice Yacowar (In English). • German trailer (WS Anamorphic) (3:18). • Still slideshow (18:54). • Artwork-Galleries (DVD/VHS Covers, Posters, Lobbycards ect.). • About the 3D version (1 page of text in German). • Filmographies of cast and director. DVD Release Date: May 15th, 2003 Keep Case Chapters 9

Comments:

ADDITION: - Tartan - PAL - June 2006 - Newly restored and remastered in association with Paul Morrissey, the Tartan version looks stunning. No visible artifacts and a beautifully balanced color palette. It hasn't the same sharpness in detail as "Blood for Dracula", but the overall aspect of the new transfer is superior to others. The only negative comment is, that it is a NTSC to PAL, and has ghosting issues. The Tartan has significant cropping on the left edge.

The additional material is a port of the same audio commentary present on the Criterion DVD, and a series of production stills and screen tests with commentary by Paul Morrissey.

***

Another example of an anamorphic picture not equaling a non-anamorphic. The Criterion is certainly superior in the image department. The color on the two versions matches pretty evenly, but the Marketing Film PAL version is slightly redder with a bit more saturation. The commentary is the same for both editions, but the Marketing Film version has a few more features to peruse. Neither edition has sub-titles and the good thing about the PAL disc is that it is very cheap in comparison to the Criterion. For true devotees, there is no question but to get the Criterion, but just to see the film without more than a passing interest then go for the Marketing Film version ( which also includes Blood for Dracula! )

- Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

Tartan - Region 2- PAL

(Criterion - Region 01 - NTSC - LEFT vs. - Marketing Film - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures