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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.
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
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Box Cover |
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Distribution | BFI Video - Region 2 - PAL | Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
NTSC DVD edition: |
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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. |
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Bitrate: |
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Bitrate: |
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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) Dolby Digital Audio English 128 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 128 kbps / DN -4dB |
Subtitles | English (Hoh), None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release Information: Edition Details: • Featurette:
'The Reel Deal' (21:31) |
Release Information: 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:
DVD 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). |
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
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1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) BFI - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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More Blu-ray Captures
Damage visible
Box Cover |
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Distribution | BFI Video - Region 2 - PAL | Vinegar Syndrome - Region FREE - Blu-ray |
NTSC DVD edition: |