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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Melvin Van Peebles
USA 1971

 

The BFI DVD and Vinegar Syndrome  Blu-ray are compared to the Criterion in their Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films Blu-ray Set HERE

 

After saving a Black Panther from some racist cops, a black prostitute goes on the run from "the man" with the help of the ghetto community and some disillusioned Hells Angels.


Melvin Van Peebles wrote, directed, produced, edited, composed and starred in this powerful and inflammatory attack on White America. After the body of a black man is discovered, Sweetback helps two white `acquaintances' in the police force to look good by agreeing to go with them to the station as a suspect. But he is forced to go on the run after brutally attacking the two policemen when they arrest and beat up a young black man.

 

NOTE: Melvin Van Peebles contracted gonorrhea from one of the actresses during filming of one of the sex scenes in the movie. He applied for compensation from the Directors Guild because he "got hurt on the job" and used the money to buy more film.

 

  Posters

Theatrical Release: April 23rd, 1971

Reviews                                                                    More Reviews                                                                 DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

BFI - Region 2 - PAL vs. Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 

Box Cover

   

Distribution BFI  Video - Region 2 - PAL Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray

NTSC DVD edition:

    

     

Runtime 1:37:04 1:37:39.687
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.19 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

Disc Size: 42,972,998,868 bytes

Feature Size: 28,261,408,704 bytes

Average Bitrate: 34.00 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Bitrate:

Bitrate:

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0) 

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1700 kbps 1.0 / 96 kHz / 1700 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 128 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 128 kbps / DN -4dB

Subtitles English (Hoh), None English (SDH), None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: BFI  Video

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

• Featurette: 'The Reel Deal' (21:31)
• Melvin Van Peebles bio (text screen)
• 8-page liner notes essays by Kodwo Eshun, S. Craig Watkins + William R Grant IV

DVD Release Date: November 28th, 2005

Transparent Keep Case
Chapters: 15

Release Information:
Studio: Vinegar Syndrome

Disc Size: 42,972,998,868 bytes

Feature Size: 28,261,408,704 bytes

Average Bitrate: 34.00 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video  

 

Edition Details:
• Career interview with Melvin Van Peebles, courtesy of Olumide Productions (23:24)
• “One Baadasssss Woman!” – an interview with Niva Ruschell (actress) (31:58)
• Extensive Q&A from the 2013 Black Panther Film Festival at the Maysles Center in Harlem (36:20)
• “The Real Deal (What it was…is!)” – archival ‘making of’ doc by Melvin Van Peebles (22:09)
• Historical commentary track with Sergio Mims (assistant director of
PENITENTIARY)
• Archival still gallery
• Trailers for:
SWEET SWEETBACK (2:30)
• Extensive booklet essay by Travis Crawford
• Limited edition slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr. (2,000 units)

DVD

Blu-ray Release Date: May 29th, 2018
Transparent 
Blu-ray Case

Chapters 5

 

 

Comments:

The BFI DVD and Vinegar Syndrome  Blu-ray are compared to the Criterion in their Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films Blu-ray Set HERE

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

 Firstly, the presentation starts with "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss song was photographed in a variety of formats. While just over half the film was shot on 35mm negative, roughly 40% was shot on 16mm color reversal and was blown up to 35mm to be edited into the negative, at which point the 16mm footage was discarded. Due to the variety of visual effects used throughout the film, the blow up process was performed in different ways and on different stocks. Some of these blow-up stocks were, unfortunately, very unstable and have severely faded over the past 45+ years. The affected sections only make up a few minutes of runtime and have taken on a slightly solarized look. While every effort was made to minimize this effect, it could not be fully removed."

 

Vinegar Syndrome's releases is from a "newly restored in 4K from its original 35mm camera negative." It is in the 1.85 aspect ratio. It does not have the opening sequence obscured. It's a notable increase in quality beyond the unconverted NTSC-PAL DVD. The captures tell the story...

 

The audio is in a DTS-HD Master 1.0 channel mono track in the original English. The score is credited to Earth Wind & Fire and Melvin Van Peebles including Sweetback's Theme, Hoppin John, Sweetback Getting It Uptight And Preaching It So Hard The Bourgeois Reggin Angels In Heaven Turn Around, Sweetback Losing His Cherry. It is clear but has the limitations of its production roots. Vinegar Syndrome's Blu-ray disc is Region FREE and has optional English (SDH) subtitles.

 

Extras are extensive including a commentary track with Sergio Mims - in rough audio quality. Plus there is a 24-minute career interview with Melvin Van Peebles, courtesy of Olumide Productions, “One Baadasssss Woman!” is a 1/2 hour interview with Niva Ruschell (actress) and an extensive Q&A from the 2013 Black Panther Film Festival at the Maysles Center in Harlem running almost 37-minutes. There is also “The Real Deal (What it was…is!)” – archival ‘making of’ doc by Melvin Van Peebles - as found on the BFI DVD, an archival still gallery and a trailer for SWEET SWEETBACK. The package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by Travis Crawford and has a limited edition slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr.,. It also contains a second disc DVD. A fascinating film seeing the heavy anti-establishment roots. Very cool cinematographic techniques used... thumbs up!

 

***

ON THE DVD: A very desirable, if surprising, film choice for BFI to release on DVD. Unfortunately the transfer is non-progressive and exhibits excessive combing throughout all motion sequences. Conveniently released on digital in the UK by BFI with son Mario Van Peebles' docu-drama  - How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass (aka Baadasssss!). I have to admit this cinema has its own unique, and at times humorous charm. There is minor damage to the film and it shows the expected weaknesses of such a limited budget, but overall that kind of imperfect presentation (most likely due to the original elements) adds to its clandestine pioneering creation appeal. The featurette and essays are of BFI's usual excellent quality. I recommend this film as I, personally, have never seen anything like it.

NOTE: We may one day compare this to the NTSC edition that we suspect may be of similar image quality but we will find out positively whether it has the opening sex sequences removed (as this does - see onscreen notice below).

Gary W. Tooze

 


DVD Menus


 

 

Pre-film notices

 

 

Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample - Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 


1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 


1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 


1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP

2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Captures

Damage visible

 

Box Cover

   

Distribution BFI  Video - Region 2 - PAL Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray

NTSC DVD edition:

    

     





 

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