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*****
John Cassavetes’ directorial debut revolves around an interracial relationship between Lelia (Lelia Goldoni), a light-skinned black woman living in New York City with her two brothers, and Tony (Anthony Ray), a white man. Their relationship crumbles when Tony meets Lelia’s brother Hugh (Hugh Herd), a talented dark-skinned jazz singer who struggling to find work, and discovers that Lelia is actually black. Shot on location in Manhattan with an amateur cast and crew, Cassavetes’ Shadows is a visionary work and a landmark in the history of American independent film.
Posters
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Theatrical Release: November 11th, 1959 - USA
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Optimum (6-disc - The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion Boxset (8 discs - Cassavetes- 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC
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Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC LEFT vs. Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Criterion (Cassavetes 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)| DVD Box Covers |
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![]() Only available in the Boxset listed below: |
Only available in the Boxset listed below: |
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The 6 - disc John Cassavetes Collection from Optimum includes: Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
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The 8 - disc Criterion John Cassavetes - Five Films includes - Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
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| Distribution |
Pioneer Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Optimum Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion Collection - Boxset- Spine # 250 / Individual Spine # 251 Region 0 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 1:21:09 | 1:18:31 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:22:03 |
| Video |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.10 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s |
1.33:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Pioneer |
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Bitrate:
Optimum
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| Bitrate:
Criterion
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| Audio | English (Dolby Digital mono) | 2.0 Dolby Digital English |
English (Dolby Digital Mono) |
| Subtitles | None | None | English, and none |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Pioneer Video
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 10
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Release Information: Studio: Optimum Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details: Boxset has
THESE
LISTED EXTRAS. Chapters 12
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Release Information: Edition Details:
• Part of Boxset that also includes 'A
Constant Forge' (Documentary on Cassavetes by Charles Kiselyak) , 'A Woman
Under the Influence', 'Faces', 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie', 'Opening
Night', and includes
THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
| Comments: |
ADDITION: Optimum -
Cassavetes Collection (September - 05) -
We disregard the early Pioneer disc. It is Open Matte. It has boosting but is not fatally poor (well, not as bad as the others). No digital extras but the included liner notes essay by Ray Carney is, again, excellent. In direct comparison the Optimum looks very good - almost a duplicate of the Criterion. It is impossible to say which is most accurate but they both look strong. The Optimum has the commentary track, but each boxset is stacked with extra features (see listing above). The Optimum has no subtitles, where the Criterion does (optional). As both only come with the entire collection, one should judge by looking at all the comparisons and possibly price may be a factor. **** Optimum:
"Shadows" (Cassavetes' release version, 1959) has been restored from the
original 16mm negative, a 35m duplicate negative and a 35mm positive
print. **** The Criterion is brighter, sharper and shows a lot of film grain. Easily the better of the two discs. It is really quite striking, but its hard to fault the early Pioneer discs, at least they put the Cassavetes films on DVD before superior technology and high-level standardization had set-in. The Pioneer is cropped most significantly on the sides. The Criterion contrast is exceptional. Obviously the Extras of the Criterion outweigh not only the Pioneer version (which had none) but most DVDs produced today. We don't have to tell you to buy the Criterion Boxset... |
CRITERION BOXSET - CLICK TO ENLARGE
DVD Menus
Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC only has one menu screen - BELOW
(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Criterion
(Cassavetes 5-Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)
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Subtitle Sample
(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - NOTE: Pioneer/Optimum editions has no subs)
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Screen Captures
(Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Criterion (Cassavetes 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC -
BOTTOM)
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(Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Criterion (Cassavetes 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC -
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(Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Criterion (Cassavetes 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC -
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(Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Criterion (Cassavetes 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC -
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NOTE: This is a close-up of Tony Ray, the son of Nicholas Ray, who would marry his ex-stepmother Gloria Grahame.
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(Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Criterion (Cassavetes 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC -
BOTTOM)
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(Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC TOP vs. Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL MIDDLE vs. Criterion (Cassavetes 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC -
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Recommended Reading on Cassavetes (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
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|
Cassavetes on Cassavetes by John Cassavetes |
Where Does It Happen: John Cassavetes and
Cinema at the Breaking Point by George Kouvaros |
The Films of John Cassavetes : Pragmatism,
Modernism, and the Movies (Cambridge Film Classics)
by Raymond Carney |
John Cassavetes: The Adventure of
Insecurity (Studies in Contemporary Film) by Ray Carney, Sam Shaw |
Shadows by Raymond Carney |
John Cassavetes: Lifeworks by Tom Charity |
Accidental Genius : How John Cassavetes Invented the
Independent Film by Marshall Fine |
Check out more in "The Library"
| DVD Box Covers |
|
![]() Only available in the Boxset listed below: |
Only available in the Boxset listed below: |
![]() |
The 6 - disc John Cassavetes Collection from Optimum includes: Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
||
![]() |
The 8 - disc Criterion John Cassavetes - Five Films includes - Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
||
| Distribution |
Pioneer Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Optimum Region 2 - PAL |
Criterion Collection - Boxset- Spine # 250 / Individual Spine # 251 Region 0 - NTSC |
Report Card:
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Image: |
Criterion / Optimum |
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Sound: |
- |
| Extras: | pick'em |
| Menu: | Criterion |
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Many Thanks...
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