Distribution

Criterion Collection - Spine # 383

Region 1- NTSC

Wild Side Video
Region 2 - PAL

Distribution

Image Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

Image Entertainment

Region 0 - NTSC

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.83 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.2 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Image Entertainment

Film Prestige

English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), Russian DUB (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

Chapters 28

Chapters 12

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Filmographies (text screens)
• Stills and Pressbook Gallery (slideshow)

DVD Release Date: July 6, 1999
Keep Case

Chapters 16
 

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Filmographies/biographies (text screens in Russian)
• Stills and Pressbook Gallery (slideshow)
• Info about titles in Jules Dassin Collection (in Russian)
• Original U.S. trailer for Rififi
• Original U.S. trailer for Topkapi
 

Chapters 15

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - March 07':

NOTE: This Criterion transfer is again pictureboxed (see our description of 'pictureboxing' in our Kind Hearts and Coronets review). Criterion have included a thick black border around the edge of the frame to counter overscan on production television sets.

The Criterion looks great but I think I might give the edge to the Wild Side DVD for straight image appearance. Criterion have boosted the black levels a bit (and brightness at times) and the print used looks just a shade dirtier. To me the Wild Side looked smoother and more film-like while the Criterion was a notch grittier. One big difference is that, although I did notice some artifacts on the single-layered French DVD - the dual-layered Criterion was very crisp and totally free of them. Viewers on higher end systems will probably appreciate this more.

Where Criterion vaults ahead is in the supplements. Alain Silver and James Ursini give a full length commentary highlighting key points of the production that may have been lost to your average viewer including the anti-fascist sentiment of the film and some less noticeable homo-erotic moments. I won't say it was a stale commentary but certain points were unnecessarily repeated - like Burt Lancaster's body language ala Lon Chaney and Emil Jannings (stated 3 separate times). For the most part it was very good and the two of them work very well together. One can appreciate the hard work and preparation exemplifying the duo's adept and thorough understanding of period piece noir films like this. As with Eddie Muller I could listen to these guys all day. There is also an interesting interview with Paul Mason, author of Capturing the Media: Prison Discourse in Popular Culture - it is about 15 minutes long and well worth watching. There is an unrestored trailer and a stills gallery. The liner notes booklet included in the package is 36 pages long with some beautiful black and white photos. It includes an essay by Michael Atkinson and another by Pete Martin plus a correspondence letter between Hellinger and Production Code administrator Joseph Breen over the film's content.

With the artifact deficiency and Criterion excellent extras - it is surely the way to go for this essential Film Noir. A true gem of a package!       

***

ADDITION: Wild Side Video - Region 2- PAL Nov 06' - The Wild Side  (Pocket version) has a far superior image to the other two releases. No contrast boosting and it has film-like detail. It is also transferred progressively. The Wild Side shows far more information on the top and bottom of the frame.

The French subtitles are player generated and mandatory on most DVD playback units, but easily removable on all computers with DVD burners (see HERE). So you will be able to remove the French forced subs and burn without compression on a blank DVD5 (single layered) - see example - last capture.

It doesn't have any English friendly extras (except the Stills/poster gallery) but the menus are extensive. This is one of my favorite Film Noirs and I am thrilled to finally have a decent version. I'm going to watch it again tonight!  

****

On the Film Prestige:

In Russia, films made before 1970's (I'm not sure the exact year) are public domain. It looks like exact port of U.S. disc with added Russian material. It's recommended since it can be found for less than O.O.P. U.S. edition until Universal (or, perhaps, even Criterion) release their own version.

***

On the Image Entertainment:

-Gregory Meshman