DVD Comparison:
Carlotta Films (4-Disc Limited Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Tartan (3-Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL
Thanks to Gregory Meshman and Henrik Sylow
Paul Morrissey was introduced to Andy Warhol in 1965. He had by then
already for a few years made short independent films, and Warhol asked him
to contribute ideas and bring new direction to the film experiments he had
been recently begun presenting. Morrissey then signed a contract with
Warhol putting him in charge of all operations at the Warhol studio with
the exception of the sales of artwork.
Morrissey would control more and more elements of the creative process and
after "Lonesome Cowboys" (1967), he would take total control of all
subsequent films presented by Andy Warhol, beginning with the classic
trilogy, simple called "The Trilogy", "Flesh" (1968), "Trash" (1970) and
"Heat"
(1972). Andy Warhol's only contribution was to add his name after
it was done.
After working with Carlo Ponti and Jean-Pierre Rassam on "Flesh for
Frankenstein" (1974) and "Blood for Dracula" (1974), Morrissey parted with
Warhol, who had begun to concentrate on his painting and business
activities instead of film. Morrissey went on to be one of the very few
American directors who remained completely independent.
Joe Dallesandro was only 15 when he in 1963, as an already then
professional car thief, was shot by the police and send to prison. It was here at Camp
Cass he would get his famous "Little Joe" tattoo. After prison he
supported himself partly as nude model for Physique Pictorial, before he,
by accident, met Warhol and Morrissey in 1965.
Morrissey would become Dallesandro's mentor, teach him to express himself,
and the central work for the two of them became "The Trilogy". Dallesandro
had a stunning beautiful face, which both female and gay male were very
attracted to, and Morrissey tapped into that face.
The first openly eroticized male sex symbol, Dallesandro became an icon of
the milieu and the period, amongst others posing for Rolling Stone's
"Sticky Fingers" cover. He would later go to Europe and work with amongst
others Louis Malle, Jacques Rivette and Serge Gainsbourg, before returning
to the US to work with Francis Ford Coppola, John Waters and Steven
Soderbergh. He did underwear commercials with Kate Moss for Calvin Klein,
and in 2004, the New York Times reported, that the Joe Hustler haircut was
back in style.
Dallesandro was and still is the icon for natural male beauty, Morrissey
was the key underground director, and "The Trilogy" is their legacy.
(aka "Andy Warhol's Flesh" )
directed by Paul Morrissey
USA 1968
"Flesh" is the first installment in Morrissey's "The Trilogy". When
Warhold and Morrissey learned that "Midnight Cowboy" was being shot, they
simply made their film about a male hustler, and according to Morrissey
beat Schlesinger to it.
Joe Dallesandro plays Joe, a heroin addicted hustler, who tries to raise
$200 for an abortion for this wife's lesbian lover.
One of the key films of the sixties underground films, "Flesh" is a
portrait of the wild side of New York, with its hustlers, its
transvestites, its Johns and Joes. It broke ground in the way it framed
the body and face of Dallesandro, ways normally only used to shoot women
in pornography, but also by attacking the code directly, by being the
first non-pornographic film ever to display an erected penis.
The stars of "Flesh" was immortalized in Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild
Side"; Little Joe never once gave it away (Joe Dallasandro), Jackie is
just speeding away (Jackie Curtis), Candy came from out on the island
(Candy Darling).
Posters
Theatrical Release: September 26, 1968 (New York City, New York)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
Carlotta Films Region 2 - PAL |
Tartan Region 2 - PAL |
Runtime | 1:25:48 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:29:31 |
Video |
1.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.80 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. |
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Bitrate:
Carlotta Films (Flesh)
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Bitrate
Tartan (Flesh) |
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Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital English Mono | 2.0 Dolby Digital English Mono |
Subtitles | French, None | No subtitles |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Carlotta Films Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
extras on the 4th bonus
disc: Chapters 6 |
Release Information: Studio: Tartan Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
• 20 page booklet:
‘All Fixed Up – The story of Trash and the BBFC’ by Craig Lapper
(Chief Assistant, BBFC) Chapters 16 |
Comments | Bottom
line: The most important image comparison attribute can be
identified by two pieces of information - the running times and the
last capture of each separate film/DVD comparison. The Tartan is from
an NTSC source and will have all the associated deficiencies of that
less expensive transfer process - ghosting in motion sequences, more
artifacts etc. At times the Carlotta looks a little red but I have no
idea of how it is supposed to have looked theatrically. The Tartan
shows some minor cropping in spots especially on the left edge. The
NTSC->PAL issue is enough to determine that the Carlotta has the
better image quality. Audio is the same in both: Original English mono. The Carlotta has optional French subtitles and the Tartan offer none. Extras: Those who enjoy audio commentaries will definitely lean towards the Tartan as they have ones included in both Flesh and Heat. There are other features including a liner notes booklet (please see list for complete inclusions). The Carlotta disc has an entire 4th Bonus disc of extras including Morrissey and Warhol interview and featurettes about each film. I enjoy commentaries so the Tartan would be my choice but fans will want that bonus disc of the Carlotta as it is loaded with valued information. So, those concerned with the purity of the image will want the Carlotta, Extras is a personal choice but the true fans will want both releases to own the commentaries and all the goodies on the Carlotta's bonus disc. Gary W. Tooze
Henrik says about the Tartan:
The audio commentary is by filmmaker Penny Woolcook and her friend, a
Kleineian psychoanalyst, Nicole Abel Hirsch. It is a very strange
commentary track. On one side Woolcook talks about the films history,
its technical aspects and so on, on the other, she and especially
Hirsch talks about psychological aspects of players, on the other yet
again, Hirsch interprets some scenes some a psychoanalyst point of
view. The disturbing element is Hirsch, as Woolcook really comes with
some good points, but obviously doesn't want to go into arguments with
Hirsch's at times naive observations. |
DVD Menus
(Carlotta Films - Region 2
- PAL - LEFT vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)
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Screen Captures
(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(aka "Andy Warhol's Trash" )
directed by Paul Morrissey
USA 1970
The second film in "The Trilogy", "Trash" is sort of a sequel to
"Flesh", where Joe plays Joe the Junkie, who with his trash collecting
transvestite girlfriend Holly (Holly Woodlawn) try to get thru each day.
Contra to his virility in "Flesh", Joe is here impotent. But the film
deals more directly with sex than "Flesh", in a grotesque way, like when
showing Holly masturbating with a beer bottle.
It is the most improvised and the funniest of the three film. Take the
entire middle section with Jane Forth (who has to be the most annoying and
stupid woman not a blond ever to hit the screen) who just cannot shut up
while Joe is shooting heroin and continues to talk about stupid things
even while helping the wasted Joe on his feet. It is here you really sense
the spontaneity and strength of Morrissey's film.
Posters
Theatrical Release: October 5, 1970 (New York City, New York)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Tartan (3-Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!
DVD Box Cover |
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|
Distribution |
Carlotta Films Region 2 - PAL |
Tartan Region 2 - PAL |
Runtime | 1:44:52 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:49:36 |
Video |
1.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.87 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. |
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Bitrate:
Carlotta Films (Trash)
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Bitrate
Tartan (Trash) |
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|
Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital English Mono | 2.0 Dolby Digital English Mono |
Subtitles | No Subtitles | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Carlotta Films Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
extras on the 4th bonus
disc:
DVD
Release Date: April 16, 2003 Chapters 9 |
Release Information: Studio: Tartan Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
• 20 page booklet:
‘All Fixed Up – The story of Trash and the BBFC’ by Craig Lapper
(Chief Assistant, BBFC) Chapters 16 |
Comments |
Bottom line: The most important image
comparison attribute can be identified by two pieces of information -
the running times and the last capture of each separate film/DVD
comparison. The Tartan is from an NTSC source and will have all the
associated deficiencies of that less expensive transfer process -
ghosting in motion sequences, more artifacts etc. At times the
Carlotta looks a little red but I have no idea of how it is supposed
to have looked theatrically. The Tartan shows some minor cropping in
spots especially on the left edge. The NTSC->PAL issue is enough to
determine that the Carlotta has the better image quality. Audio is the same in both: Original English mono. The Carlotta has optional French subtitles and the Tartan offer none. Extras: Those who enjoy audio commentaries will definitely lean towards the Tartan as they have ones included in both Flesh and Heat. There are other features including a liner notes booklet (please see list for complete inclusions). The Carlotta disc has an entire 4th Bonus disc of extras including Morrissey and Warhol interview and featurettes about each film. I enjoy commentaries so the Tartan would be my choice but fans will want that bonus disc of the Carlotta as it is loaded with valued information. So, those concerned with the purity of the image will want the Carlotta, Extras is a personal choice but the true fans will want both releases to own the commentaries and all the goodies on the Carlotta's bonus disc. Gary W. Tooze
Henrik says about the Tartan:
There is no audio commentary on "Trash", which really is a shame. So
Morrissey's introduction has to stand alone. |
DVD Menus
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Screen Captures
(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
|
(aka "Andy Warhol's Heat" )
directed by Paul Morrissey
USA 1972
The final installment in "The Trilogy", "Heat" is a camp reversion of
"Hollywood Boulevard", starring Sylvia Miles (of "Midnight Cowboy" fame)
as the washed-up movie star Sally Todd, who tries to help out former child
star Joey Davis (Joe Dallesandro), while fighting with her insane lesbian
daughter (who has the hots for Joe) and her agent for small TV game shows.
Even though the star obvious is Joe Dallesandro, and the camera once again
is in love with his face and body, Sylvia Miles completely steals the
show. She improvised all her lines and gives a performance far better than
her Oscar nominated performance in "Midnight Cowboy".
Posters
Theatrical Release: October 5, 1972 (New York City, New York)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Review: Tartan (3-Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL
Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the Review!
DVD Box Cover |
|
|
Distribution |
Carlotta Films Region 2 - PAL |
Tartan Region 2 - PAL |
Runtime | 1:36:21 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:40:32 |
Video |
1.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.30:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.80 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. |
||
Bitrate:
Carlotta Films (Heat)
|
|
|
Bitrate
Tartan (HEAT) |
|
|
Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital English Mono | 2.0 Dolby Digital English Mono |
Subtitles | French, None | No Subtitles |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Carlotta Films Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: extras on the 4th bonus
disc:
DVD
Release Date: April 16, 2003 Chapters 10 |
Release Information: Studio: Tartan Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
• 20 page booklet:
‘All Fixed Up – The story of Trash and the BBFC’ by Craig Lapper
(Chief Assistant, BBFC) Chapters 16
|
Comments |
Bottom line: The most important image
comparison attribute can be identified by two pieces of information -
the running times and the last capture of each separate film/DVD
comparison. The Tartan is from an NTSC source and will have all the
associated deficiencies of that less expensive transfer process -
ghosting in motion sequences, more artifacts etc. At times the
Carlotta looks a little red but I have no idea of how it is supposed
to have looked theatrically. The Tartan shows some minor cropping in
spots especially on the left edge. The NTSC->PAL issue is enough to
determine that the Carlotta has the better image quality. Audio is the same in both: Original English mono. The Carlotta has optional French subtitles and the Tartan offer none. Extras: Those who enjoy audio commentaries will definitely lean towards the Tartan as they have ones included in both Flesh and Heat. There are other features including a liner notes booklet (please see list for complete inclusions). The Carlotta disc has an entire 4th Bonus disc of extras including Morrissey and Warhol interview and featurettes about each film. I enjoy commentaries so the Tartan would be my choice but fans will want that bonus disc of the Carlotta as it is loaded with valued information. So, those concerned with the purity of the image will want the Carlotta, Extras is a personal choice but the true fans will want both releases to own the commentaries and all the goodies on the Carlotta's bonus disc. Gary W. Tooze
Henrik says about the Tartan:
The extras begin with an audio commentary by producer director Don
Boyd and what a commentary. Boyd really is into this film and his love
for the film and admiration for Morrissey as director shines thru.
Boyd talks about Warhol and Morrissey, about the construction of
scenes, about the legacy and impact of the film. Simply a great
commentary. |
DVD Menus
(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL
- RIGHT)
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|
Screen Captures
(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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(Carlotta Films - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Tartan - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
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DVD Box Cover |
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Distribution |
Carlotta Films Region 2 - PAL |
Tartan Region 2 - PAL |
Report Card:
Image: |
Carlotta Films
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Sound: |
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Extras: |
Tartan have commentary on two discs / Carlotta has 4th Bonus disc |
Menu: | Tartan |