Also a linear PCM mono (24-bit) track. The lossless easily handles the effects and the typical powerful score by the great Bernard Herrmann (Beneath the 12-Mile Reef, Cape Fear, The Magnificent Ambersons, Taxi Driver, The Wrong Man, etc. etc.). It sounds the same as the Arrow according to my crusty ears. There are, also, optional English (SDH) subtitles on the Region 'A' Blu-ray disc.

Criterion add new supplements from their own 2000 DVD. There is a new, 24-minute, interview with actor Jennifer Salt (intrepid Grace Collier in Sisters) and she talks about being at school, meeting De Palma and how she got the role in the film etc. There are 27-minutes worth of interviews from 2004 with De Palma, actors Bill Finley and Charles Durning, editor Paul Hirsch, and producer Edward R. Pressman and the director is always thoughtful and attentive. You can watch the film with 1.5 hours worth of an audio discussion from a 1973 with De Palma at the American Film Institute. It can be a shade hushed but the director's fans will appreciate its inclusion and his observations. We get a 9-minute appearance from 1970 by actor Margot Kidder on The Dick Cavett Show, a length slideshow photo gallery and 3.5 minutes of radio spots. The package has an essay by critic Carrie Rickey, excerpts from a 1973 interview with De Palma on the making of the film, and a 1973 article by the director on working with composer Bernard Herrmann.

We always are in favor of different packages - it's great to have choices. The Criterion Blu-ray promotes reflection on their director-approved image and offers rewarding new extras. This film gets better each time I see it. Recommended!

***

ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' Blu-ray - April 2014 - Such a pleasure seeing this again. Arrow's 1080P transfer of De Palma's Sisters looks great. It is soaked in rich grain and the Blu-ray picks that up superbly via a dual-layered rendering with a max'ed out bitrate. Every visual attribute advances over the Criterion SD from contrast to colors, and there is slightly more information in the frame on the right edge. Even the black bars of the split-screens are more pure. It is in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio and is clean and textured. Wonderful.

Audio is linear PCM mono - authentic with some appreciated depth in Herrmann's intense score. This definitely adds suspense to the presentation. There are optional English subtitles on the region 'B' Blu-ray disc.

Arrow stack the disc with plenty of new extras. What the Devil Hath Joined Together: Brian De Palma’s Sisters is a magnificent 47-minute visual essay by author Justin Humphreys (Names You Never Remember, With Faces You Never Forget.) It covers a lot and is almost as complete as a full commentary. There are 5 new interviews including co-writer Louisa Rose (10:27), actress Jennifer Salt (10:19), editor Paul Hirsch (17:14) and unit manager Jeffrey Hayes (5:06) plus a 6-minute archive audio (only) interview with star William Finley. The De Palma Digest – is a delightful film-by-film guide to the director’s career by critic Mike Sutton running 1/2 an hour. Lastly, on the digital front, are a short theatrical trailer and gallery of Sisters promotional material from around the world (see some of our posters above.) The package itself has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys and included is an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by author Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women) as well as Brian De Palma’s original 1973 Village Voice essay (as on the Criterion) on working with composer Bernard Herrmann and a contemporary interview with De Palma on making Sisters, and the 1966 Life magazine article that inspired the film. This is a dual-format package with a DVD of the feature 9and supplements) included.

Arrow continue their thoroughly impressive Blu-ray releases. This was so enjoyable - a perfect a/v presentation and extensive new extras. Strongly recommended!

***

ON THE DVD: This is a pretty soft and weak image by Criterion standards. It is anamorphic and I suspect the stock may not have been as ideal as they would have liked. There are extras to this DVD, but mostly of the text screen variety. I would say this is one of their lesser titles in the Criterion catalogue. Still, De Palma fans are treated with an enigmatic film and some choice words by the director in the form of his Village Voice essay.  

Gary W. Tooze