http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/direct-chair/cassavetes.htm
USA 1977

 

Broadway actress Myrtle Gordon (Gena Rowlands) rehearses for her latest play, about a woman unable to admit that she is aging. When she witnesses the accidental death of an adoring young fan, she begins to confront the personal and professional turmoil she faces in her own life. Featuring a moving performance by Rowlands (and with some scenes shot on stages with live audiences reacting freely to the writing and performing), John Cassavetes’ Opening Night exposes the drama of an actress who at great personal cost makes a part her own.

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 22, 1977

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow and Gary Tooze and Gregory Meshman for the Screen Caps!

(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

Only available in the Boxset listed below:

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.

            

Distribution

Optimum

Region 2 - PAL

Pioneer
Region 0 - NTSC
Criterion
Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 2:18:08 (4% PAL speedup) 2:22:36 2:24:10
Video

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.

Bitrate:

 

Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection)

 

Bitrate:

 

Pioneer

 

Bitrate:

 

Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films)

 

Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital English

English (Dolby Digital 2.0)

English (Dolby Digital 1.0)

Subtitles No subtitles None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Optimum

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

Release Information:
Studio: Pioneer

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33

Edition Details:
• Liner Notes with essay by Ray Carney
 

DVD Release Date: March 24th, 1998
Keep case

Chapters 11

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

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)
 

DVD Release Date: September 21st, 2004
Digipack Box

Chapters 28

 

 

Comments

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

 

 


Recommended Reading on Cassavetes (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)

Check out more in "The Library"






DVD Menus
(
Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 

 

 


 

Screen Captures

(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px native resolution

 

 


(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 


(Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

Hit Counter


Report Card:

 

Image:

Optimum (marginal)

Sound:

-

Extras: Optimum
Menu: I like Optimum
 
DVD Box Covers

Only available in the Boxset listed below:

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.

            

Distribution

Optimum

Region 2 - PAL

Pioneer
Region 0 - NTSC
Criterion
Region 0 - NTSC




 

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Gary Tooze

Thank You!

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