Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "A Dog's Life" or "Mondo Cane No. 1")

 

directed by Paolo Cavara, Gualtiero Jacopetti and Franco Prosperi
Italy 1962

 

All the scenes you will see in this film are true. If they are shocking, it is only because there are many shocking things in this world…


With those words, directors Gualtiero Jacopetti, Paolo Cavara and Franco Prosperi unleashed the international sensation that stunned critics and moviegoers alike while revolutionizing the documentary genre forever. Filmed in every corner of the world, this landmark epic explores the culture of life and death, the anguish of man and beast, and the taboos of sex and religion, all amidst the barbarism of civilization gone insane. Sometimes beautiful, often horrifying yet always surprising, it remains one of the most disturbing and controversial films of our time. This is the original ‘Shockumentary’ that started it all. This is MONDO CANE.

MONDO CANE (Italian for “Dog’s World”) also features a brilliant score by Nino Oliviero and Riz Ortolani that includes the Oscar®-nominated theme song “More”. Blue Underground has painstakingly restored this historic feature from original Italian vault materials untouched for over four decades, then added an extraordinary collection of all-new and never-before-seen Extras for the absolute ultimate in MONDO-mania.

Blue Underground synopsis

Theatrical Release: 30th March 1962

Reviews                                                        More Reviews                                                              DVD Reviews

 

DVD Review: Blue Underground ('The Mondo Cane Collection ' edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Max Tuthill for the Review!

DVD Box Cover

Part of the Mondo Cane Collection:

May also be purchased in this very reasonable set, also from Blue Underground - Shockumentaries, Vol. 1: Mondo Cane/Mondo Cane 2/Women of the World (Thanks Steve Kopian!)

              

Distribution

Blue Underground

Region 1 - NTSC

Runtime 1:47:28
Video

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 8.20 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

Audio Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles English
Features Release Information:
Studio: Blue Underground

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical trailers
• TV spot
• Poster and stills gallery
• Benito Frattari's location stills
• Lobby promo
• 'The Unofficial Mondo Phenomenon' by David Flint

DVD Release Date: 1st January 2004
Thinpak

Chapters 29

 

 

 

Comments Blue Underground claim that all of their 'Mondo' titles have been restored from their original negatives, and, based on the evidence provided by 'Mondo Cane', the results are nothing short of exceptional. Progressively encoded and anamorphic, 'Mondo Cane' shines, with the screen captures provided below failing, truth be told, to convey just how glorious the film's transfer is, with colour almost effusing from the screen when the film is played. Also, if BU's notorious habit of edge-enhancement is present on their edition of 'Mondo Cane', it certainly isn't noticeable on any CRT or LCD display I have tested the disc on. Sadly, one must note the momentary combing that results from certain chapter changes on isolated occasions, in a similar manner to recent Criterion releases. Thankfully, the phenomena has been impossible for me to replicate to show in a screen capture (indicative of its rate of occurrence), and it is perhaps the only discernible fault one can find in the film's transfer*.

The disc's stereo audio tracks are crystal clear and perfunctory, the subtitles are perfectly discernible (despite BU's unwise choice of a yellow palette), and the extras are well-appointed (the film's lobby promo, in particular, is suitably bombastic). At some point in the future I will get around to reviewing the rest of this boxset, which, I am happy to state, maintains the high level of technical quality set by this inaugural feature. Finally, I understand that the boxset which contains this version of 'Mondo Cane' is now out-of-print, so, to those edging toward indulge in the 'Mondo' cycle, I would advise to snap-up BU's 'Mondo Cane Collection' whilst copies are still circulating at normal prices. A fabulous purchase.

*Incidentally, the notoriously unreliable IMDB claims that 'Mondo Cane' was shot on 35mm; I rather suspect that a 16mm stock was used. Regardless, the rough yet lurid cinematography of the film only adds to its perversely kitsch 'charm'.

 - Max Tuthill

 


DVD Menus
 

 


Screen Captures


Subtitle sample

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

DVD Box Cover

Part of the Mondo Cane Collection:

May also be purchased in this very reasonable set, also from Blue Underground - Shockumentaries, Vol. 1: Mondo Cane/Mondo Cane 2/Women of the World (Thanks Steve Kopian!)

              

Distribution

Blue Underground

Region 1 - NTSC


 




 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!