"Tenebre (Tenebrae)" A Film - Region 2- PAl vs. Anchor Bay R1 NTSC vs R2 PAL

(aka "Shadow" or "Sotto gli occhi dell'assassino" or "Tenebre" or "Under the Eyes of the Assassin" or "Unsane" )

directed by Dario Argento
Italy 1982

Posters

Theatrical Release: October 22nd, 1982 - Italy

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Recommended Books on Italian Cinema (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


Italian Cinema: From Neorealism to the Present by Peter E. Bondanella	Fellini on Fellini by Federico Fellini, Isabel Quigley	Italian Film in the Light of Neorealism by Millicent Marcus	Vittorio De Sica: Contemporary Perspectives (Toronto Italian Studies) by Howard Curle, Stephen Snyder	Italian Film (National Film Traditions) by Marcia Landy, David Desser	Italian Movie Goddesses: Over 80 of the Greatest Women in Italian Cinema by Stefano Masi, Enrico Lancia	Italian Cinema by Maggie Gunsberg	I, Fellini by Charlotte Chandler, Billy Wilder	Vittorio De Sica: Director, Actor, Screenwriter by Bert Cardullo

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Comparison:

A Film (Holland) - Region 2- PAL vs. Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Sazuma - Region 0 - NTSC

Thanks to Ole of DVDBasen and Jayson Kennedy for the Screen Captures

(A Film - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Sazuma - R0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

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Distribution

A film (Holland)
Region 2 - PAL

Anchor Bay

Region 0 - NTSC

Sazuma (Austria)
Region 0 - NTSC

Runtime

1:36:53

1:40:24

1:36:41

Video

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 4.80 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.91:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.38 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.91:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.94
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

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

Bitrate:

A Film

Bitrate:

Anchor Bay

Bitrate:

Sazuma

Audio

English Dolby Surround 2.0

English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

English Dolby Digital (5.1) English Dolby (2.0) or German Dolby (2.0).

Subtitles

Dutch, None

English, French and none

English, Danish, Dutch, Finish, German, Norwegian, Swedish and none.

Features

Release Information:
Studio: A film (Holland)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Dario Argento Filmography
• Trailers for Evil (Maléfique), Bride of Re-Animator, The Evil Dead
• Animated Menus

DVD Release Date: June 5, 2004
Keepcase (Amaray)
Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Anchor Bay Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterbox - 1.91:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by director Dario Argento, Composer Claudio Simonetti and Jounalist Loris Curci (in English)
• Widescreen non-anamorphic Theatrical trailer (3:13)
• Two behind-the-scenes segments Special Camera (4:15), Sound Effects (2:04)
• Alternate End Credits Music
• Widescreen letterbox format

DVD Release Date: March 16, 1999
Keep Case

Chapters 20

Release Information:
Studio: Sazuma Productions (Austria)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen - 1.91:1

Edition Details:
• Interview with Dario Argento (Munich 1991) (15:30).
• 3 Deleted Scenes WS - Nonanamorphic 1.75:1(0:28, 0:13, 0:23)
• Trailer WS: Nonanamorphic 1.75:1 (3:04)
• Biographies and filmographies of cast and director.

DVD Release Date: May 31st, 1999
Keep Case

Chapters 19

Comments:

ADDITION: - A Film (Holland) (Aug -04) - I think this is the best image - no artificial contrast boosting and the colors seem more accurate. It shows how reddish/orange the skin tones are in the other 2 versions. Also it is anamorphic for widescreen and HTPC viewers. No real extras and no English subs, but the English audio is acceptable.

*************

The picture quality is pretty much the same as Anchor Bay and Sazuma both took their print from the Roan Group LD. If I was forced to lean one way I think the Anchor Bay is slightly sharper as I can notice a touch of contract boosting in the Sazuma. Both have noticeable scratches.

The Austrian DVD is shorter as there are missing scenes and are treated as deleted scenes ( and shown in the Extras ) : ex. the end of the scene where Nicolodi and Franciosa enter his hotel room and a quick insert shot of a stab -under 10 seconds in total. The Anchor Bay shows the film with t6hese scenes and adds about 4 minutes to the total time.

The Extras, I gave to Anchor Bay for the commentary, but the Sazum ahs some nice additions as well including the 15:00 minute interview with Argento. I suppose the bottom line is that you should make your won determinations. If you want the so-called "deleted scenes", if you want the Argento commentary, but basing it solely on sound and image it is a toss-up. - Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(A Film - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Anchor Bay - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Sazuma - R0 - NTSC - RIGHT)