Loves of a Blonde

(aka "Loves of a Blonde" or "A Blonde in Love")

directed by Milos Forman
Czechoslovakia 1965

With sixteen women to each man, the odds are against Andula in her desperate search for love—that is, until a rakish piano player visits her small factory town and temporarily eases her longings. A tender and humorous look at Andula’s journey, from the first pangs of romance to its inevitable disappointments, Loves of a Blonde(Lásky jedné plavovlásky) immediately became a classic of the Czech New Wave and earned Milos Forman the first of his Academy Award™ nominations.

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Theatrical Release: November 1965 - Czechoslovakia

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DVD Comparison:

Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Centrum českého videa - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman and Ole Kofoed for the Screen Caps!

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Centrum českého videa - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

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Recommend:

Distribution	Criterion Collection - Spine # 144 Region 0 - NTSC	Centrum českého videa Region 2 - PAL
(click titles for DVDBeaver reviews) Criterion (without any extras) also available in The Essential Art House - 50 Years of Janus Films - a 50-disc celebration of international films collected under the auspices of the groundbreaking theatrical distributor. It contains Alexander Nevsky (1938), Ashes And Diamonds (1958), L'avventura (1960), Ballad Of A Soldier (1959), Beauty And The Beast (1946), Black Orpheus (1959), Brief Encounter (1945), The Fallen Idol (1948), Fires On The Plain (1959), Fists In The Pocket (1965), Floating Weeds (1959), Forbidden Games (1952), The 400 Blows (1959), Grand Illusion (1937), Häxan (1922), Ikiru (1952), The Importance Of Being Earnest (1952), Ivan The Terrible, Part II (1958), Le Jour Se Lčve (1939), Jules And Jim (1962), Kind Hearts And Coronets (1949), Knife In The Water (1962), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp (1943), Loves Of A Blonde (1965), M (1931), M. Hulot's Holiday (1953), Miss Julie (1951), Pandora's Box (1929), Pépé Le Moko (1937), Il Posto (1961), Pygmalion (1938), Rashomon (1950), Richard III (1955), The Rules Of The Game (1939), Seven Samurai (1954), The Seventh Seal (1957), The Spirit Of The Beehive (1973), La Strada (1954), Summertime (1955), The Third Man (1949), The 39 Steps (1935), Ugetsu (1953), Umberto D. (1952), The Virgin Spring (1960), Viridiana (1961), The Wages Of Fear (1953), The White Sheik (1952), Wild Strawberries (1957), Three Documentaries By Saul J. Turell plus the hardcover, full color 240-page book.
Runtime	1:24:57	1:20:22 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.62 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.17 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: Criterion
Bitrate: Centrum českého videa
Audio	Czech - Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono.	Czech - Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono / DD5.1.
Subtitles	English or none.	English, Czech or none.
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Interview with Forman (16:13). • Deleted scene (5:14). DVD Release Date: February 12, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 13	Release Information: Studio: Centrum českého videa Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen - 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Interview with cinematographer Miroslav Ondrícek (4:30) - Not subtitled. • Filmograhies of cast & crew. • Photogallery (movie captures). • ? Scene (4:24). (Co ve filmu nebylo) DVD Release Date: 2004 Keep Case Chapters 15

Comments

The Criterion is much sharper, but has a tinge of edge enhancement. They both possibly came from the same print, but Criterion has cleaned up substantially, and damage is still more visible on the Region 2 release (a huge amount of white speckles). The PAL version has an option of bumped audio, where the Criterion sticks with only the original mono. The Region 2 does have some extras, but the Criterion is superior in that area. I don't think either menu stands out, but I do like the Region 2's. Image quality speaks loudest and we stay buy the Criterion.

- Gary Tooze

DVD Menus

(Criterion - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Centrum českého videa - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)