(aka "Almost Human" or "The Kidnap of Mary Lou")

 

directed by Umberto Lenzi
Italy 1974

 

Ah, what a great time it is not only to be a Euro Horror or Euro Cult film fan, but to be a fan of the oft maligned European Cult Director Umberto Lenzi. I say these things because DVD has given us fans a real reason to rejoice. Never did it seem possible that we would be able to own our favorite films not only on a format that will not deteriorate but these films are finally getting the proper distribution, love, and attention they deserve. Gone are the days of bootlegs and dupes of old, which took ages to drop into our hands. Anyway, I digress as the other point to be made is that of one Umbero Lenzi, a filmmaker who has unfairly been thrust into a category of lesser known directors far too often, labeled as a hack. Lenzi has not only made films in multiple genres, a feat not easily accomplished, he elevated these genres to a new level. The genres in particular to which I am speaking of are the Giallo Film Genre as well as the Euro Crime or Polizia Film Genre. Lenzi went back to the drawing board. He took what had been done before and weaved in his creative juices, threw in some truly unique ideas, and the results speak for themselves. Why his films aren't discussed more often is somewhat of a mystery. One major factor could be the availability of his work represented on DVD and VHS. Many of his excellent Giallo Films have only been recently released on DVD whereas the likes of Fulci, Argento, and Bava have had a bulk of their films represented on DVD for quite some time now. More on this later but now let's dive deeper into this wonderful film.

Excerpt from Euro-Horror DVDs located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 8 August 1974 - Italy

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC

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

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Alan Young

Region 2 - PAL

 No Shame
Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:35:09 (4% PAL speedup) 1:39:15
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.29 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.21 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

 

Alan Young

 

Bitrate:

 

No Shame

 

Audio Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono / Remastered DD 5.1 / English DD 2.0 Mono

Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono, English DD 2.0 Mono
Subtitles Italian or none. English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Alan Young

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Ernesto Gastaldi and Giona Nazzaro (In Italian).
• Italian theatrical trailer (3:14).
• Poster artwork.
• Biographies.
• Extracts from Italian newspaper reviews.
• 2. Disc with Sergio Martino's Milano trema (Violent Professionals)

DVD Release Date: 2003
Keep Case with Outer Sleeve

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: No Shame

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Featurette
• Featurette
• Italian theatrical trailer (3:21).
• International theatrical trailer (3:20).
• Poster & Still Gallery.
• 8-page Booklet including liner notes and talent bios
 

DVD Release Date: July 26, 2005
Keep Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments Although the No Shame edition is non-progressive (see combing in horizontal pans) its colors are far truer than the Alan Young edition. The Alan Young is definitely tape-sourced (see flat-line bitrate) and I find the image colors (see orange skin tones) very distracting. The PAL edition is also cropped on all 4 edges (more than we should expect). Probably the biggest faux-pas of the Alan Young DVD are the lack of English subtitles in the Italian soundtrack - this would have been far more preferable to an English DUB. The extras in the No Shame are in English but the more extensive PAL supplements are not. It is rare, but not unheard of, that we choose a non-progressive transfer over a seemingly progressive one, for the basic reason that the NTSC used a far better print or digitally manipulated far less.

 - Gary Tooze

 

 





DVD Menus
(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 

 

 

Screen Captures

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
Subtitle sample (not exact frames)

 

 

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

Combing evident in NTSC release...

 

 

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Alan Young - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. No Shame - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

 

Image:

NO SHAME

Sound:

Alan Young for 5.1 remaster
Extras: Alan Young for quantity but NO SHAME are in English
Menu:

 




DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive and advertisement free:

Mail cheques, money orders, cash to:    or CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!

Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi's - Almost Human - Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review Umberto Lenzi Almost Human Milano odia la polizia non puņ sparare DVD Review !