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.

Optimum

Region 2 - PAL

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.73 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.33 Open Matte format
Average Bitrate: mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.82:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.6 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.

Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection)

Pioneer

Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films)

Blu-ray

English (Dolby Digital 2.0)

English (Dolby Digital 1.0)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by Tom Charity, Mike Ferris and Bo Harwood
• Audio interview with John Cassavates by Michel Ciment in Berlin 1978 (33:00)
• 36 page booklet with articles and interviews

DVD Release Date: September 12, 2005
Digipack Box

Chapters 20

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33

Edition Details:
• Liner Notes with essay by Ray Carney
 

Chapters 11

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.82:1

Edition Details:
• Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara Interview (22:37)
• Al Ruban Interview (7:49)
• Cassavetes Audio Interview (29:21)
• Theatrical Trailer (4:45)
 

Chapters 28

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by Tom Charity, Mike Ferris and Bo Harwood
• Memories of John (29:02, DVD only)
• Falk on Cassavetes: The later years (13:56, DVD only)
• Fully illustrated booklet featuring interviews and essays from Tom Charity, Al Ruban and Peter Bogdanovich

Enclosed PAL DVD (2:18:09)

Blu-ray Release Date: May 27th, 2013
Custom Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' Blu-ray - May 2013': A magnificent transfer on the new 1080P BFI. The higher resolution advances the detail and the visuals show some instances of depth. There is a shade of background grain. The 2.5 hour film is housed on a dual-layered disc and has a max'ed out bitrate. It supports the colors of the Criterion/Optimum SD transfer with the true skin tones, but contrast rises notably improving the image. In toggling back and forth with the Criterion DVD - it is quite a visible difference. The BFI is clean and provides a marvelous video presentation.

The audio is via a linear PCM 2.0 channel track at 1536 kbps. Likewise it has no flaws and comes through a bit crisper with a touch of depth. There are optional subtitles.

The Blu-ray offers a commentary by Tom Charity, Mike Ferris and Bo Harwood and the included PAL DVD has the feature (commentary) and two video pieces; 1/2 hour Memories of John - conversation Al with Ruban and Peter Falk reminiscing about Cassavetes. Falk on Cassavetes: The later years runs for 15-minutes and there is a fully illustrated booklet featuring interviews and essays from Tom Charity, Al Ruban and Peter Bogdanovich.

I've never enjoyed Opening Night so much as I did on this BFI Blu-ray. The film really jumps to life in 1080P with the vérité aspects seeming all that more embracing. We can certainly recommend this package.  

***

ON THE DVDs: 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 this case the Optimum looks minutely sharper than the Criterion. Colors seem exactly the same, but at times the Criterion is marginally brighter and has a glossy appearance. It's pretty close though. Criterion has removable subs, the Optimum doesn't. Obviously those sensitive to PAL speed-up will have this as an issue in the Optimum. Optimum has the superior extras edging convincingly ahead with the commentary. 

-Gary Tooze