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
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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: |
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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 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 |
1.33
Open Matte format |
1.82:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
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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 (The John Cassavetes Collection)
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Bitrate:
Pioneer
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Bitrate:
Criterion (John Cassavetes: Five Films)
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| 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:
Edition Details: Chapters 20 |
Release Information: Studio: Pioneer Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: March 24th, 1998 Chapters 11 |
Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD
Release Date: September 21st, 2004 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)
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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 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)
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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
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(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)
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(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)
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(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)
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(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)
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(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)
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Recommended Reading on Cassavetes (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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"
Report Card:
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Image: |
Optimum (marginal) |
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Sound: |
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| Extras: | Optimum |
| Menu: | I like Optimum |
| DVD Box Covers |
Only available in the Boxset listed below: |
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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 Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Region 0 - NTSC |
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Gary Tooze
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Thank You!
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