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USA 1974
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John Cassavetes has been called a genius, a visionary, and the father of independent film. But all this rhetoric threatens to obscure the humanism and generosity of his art. The five films included here represent his self-financed works made outside the studio system of Hollywood, on which he was afforded complete control. While about beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, and children, all of them are beautiful, emotional testaments to compassion. Cassavetes has often been called an actor's director.
*****
John Cassavetes’ devastating drama details the emotional breakdown of a suburban housewife and her family’s struggle to save her from herself. Starring Peter Falk and Gena Rowlands (in one of the greatest and most harrowing screen performances of the 1970s) as a married couple, deeply in love, yet unable to express their love in terms that the other can understand, A Woman Under the Influence is an uncompromising examination of mental illness and an honest portrayal of domestic life. A benchmark film of the American independent cinema—a heroic document from a true maverick director.
Posters
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Theatrical Release: October 12th, 1974 - New York Film Festival
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
DVD Comparison:
Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC (*DVD10) vs. Criterion Boxset (8 discs) - Region 0 - PAL
* A DVD10 is DVD with two-single layered sides
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Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL LEFT vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)| DVD Box Covers |
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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 |
Optimum Region 2 - PAL |
Pioneer Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Boxset- Spine # 250 / individual spine # 253 Region 0 - NTSC |
| Runtime | 2:20:26 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:23:09 + 1:02:36 = 2:25:45 | 2:26:50 |
| Video |
1.85:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio |
1.85:1
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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Bitrate:
Optimum |
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| Bitrate:
Pioneer (side 1) |
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| Bitrate:
Criterion
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| Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital English | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
| Subtitles | None | None | English, and none |
| Features |
Release Information: Studio: Optimum Aspect Ratio:
Edition
Details:
Boxset has
THESE
LISTED EXTRAS. Chapters 16
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Release Information: Studio: Pioneer Video
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 7 + 4 = 11 in total |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• Part of Boxset that also includes 'A
Constant Forge' (Documentary on Cassavetes by Charles Kiselyak) , 'Shadows', 'Faces', 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie', 'Opening
Night', and includes
THESE EXTRAS. |
| Comments: |
ADDITION: Optimum - Region 2- PAL (September 05') -
Again we pass on the early Pioneer disc. It is Open Matte. It is much duller. No digital extras but the included liner notes essay by Ray Carney is a great read. The image quality of the two are very similar. Criterion has removable subs, the Optimum doesn't. Obviously those sensitive to PAL speed-up will have this as an issue in the Optimum. The Criterion extras here are very strong and exceed the Optimum's. ***** This film has been shown theatrically at both aspect ratios and we can only conclude that the 1.85 Criterion is correct. Close observers can see boom microphones in the Pioneer version giving us cause to believe it was the Open Matte print. It is sharper than the Pioneer and it should be noted that the Pioneer is a DVD10 with two single layered sides. NOTE: There is a French Release out of this film Reviewed HERE, but it is also in 1.33 Open Matte... |
CRITERION BOXSET - CLICK TO ENLARGE
DVD Menus
Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL
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DVD Menus
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Subtitle Sample
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NOTE: Pioneer or Optimum editions have no subtitles
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Screen Captures
(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
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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 |
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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 |
Optimum Region 2 - PAL |
Pioneer Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Boxset- Spine # 250 / individual spine # 253 Region 0 - NTSC |
Report Card:
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Image: |
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Sound: |
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| Extras: | pick'em |
| Menu: | Optimum |
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Many Thanks...
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