"The Last Days of Pompei" DVDY Films - Region 0 - PAL vs. Alan Young Pictures - Region 0

(aka "The Last Days of Pompeii" )

directed by Mario Bonnard & Sergio Leone
Italy / Spain / Monaco / West Germany 1959

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 12, 1959 - Italy

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

DVDY Films - Region 0 - PAL vs. Alan Young Pictures - Region 0 - PAL

Big thanks to Pieter Boven and Ole Kofoed for the Screen Caps!

(DVDY Films - Region 0 - PAL - LEFT vs. Alan Young Pictures - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
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Distribution	DVDY Films Region 0 - PAL	Alan Young Pictures Region 0 - PAL
Runtime	1:33:15 (4% PAL speedup)	1:33:30 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.82 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s	2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.10 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: DVDY Films
Bitrate: Alan Young Pictures
Audio	English, French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English and Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), Italian (Dolby Digital 5.1).
Subtitles	French, none	Italian or none.
Features	Release Information: Studio: DVDY Films Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • Il était une fois le péplum (5'35), documentary in French without subtitles • Filmographies of Sergio Leone & Steve Reeves DVD Release Date: 2001 Keepcase Chapters 15	Release Information: Studio: Alan Young Pictures Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1 Edition Details: • 1913 silent movie (1:28:00 - Only Italian inter-titles). • Alternative opening credits (3:03). • Altertantive ending (14:41) (1.85:1). • Posters. • Steve Reeves photogallery. • Biographies of Leone, Reeves and Bonnard (In Italian). • Italian trailer (3:16). • 2-DVD set. DVD Release Date: 2003 Keep Case Chapters 12

Comments

The DVDY Films version is much sharper and has superior flesh tones. There is a strange framing shift which is probably due to inclusion of the soundtrack (The disc is probably sourced from a full-aperture element, exposing picture information on the left side of the frame that is meant to be covered up by the soundtrack on theatrical prints. Even though this area of the negative is exposed during filming, it isn't meant to be seen. Other DVDs have made this mistake in the past, such as the original release of The Great Escape. Exposing the left side of the frame in such cases completely destroys the composition of the film.). The DVDY edition is far superior in image. Many fans will want to get both releases so they can have the 1912 version offered on the Alan Young release.

- Gary Tooze

According to the cover the Italian release is a transfer from the original negatives, but it looks like the French had a better print to work from. Not that the Italian is bad, I was very pleased when I saw it on my projector.

I'm not sure if there is a French cut, but the Italian is a bit longer - up till capture 4 it's the same, between capture 4 and 5 there is 5 seconds difference and at the end the difference is 15 seconds. Another mystery is the framing, I've no idea why they are different? The Italian is shifted 7% to the left compared to the French. And on the last capture its cropped more on both sides. Also cropped a bit more on top. Which colours do you think are correct? Italian skins seems more natural, but it looks fuzzier. And in the 2nd last screenshot it looks like day in the Italian and night in the French.

- Pieter + Ole

DVD Menus

(DVDY Films - Region 0 - PAL - LEFT vs. Alan Young Pictures - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT)