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John Cassavetes has been called a genius, a visionary, and the father of independent film. But all this rhetoric threatens to obscure the humanism and generosity of his art. The five films included here represent his self-financed works made outside the studio system of Hollywood, on which he was afforded complete control. While about beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, and children, all of them are beautiful, emotional testaments to compassion. Cassavetes has often been called an actor's director. *** John Cassavetes’ devastating drama details the emotional breakdown of a suburban housewife and her family’s struggle to save her from herself. Starring Peter Falk and Gena Rowlands (in one of the greatest and most harrowing screen performances of the 1970s) as a married couple, deeply in love, yet unable to express their love in terms that the other can understand, A Woman Under the Influence is an uncompromising examination of mental illness and an honest portrayal of domestic life. A benchmark film of the American independent cinema—a heroic document from a true maverick director. |
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Theatrical Release: October 12th, 1974 - New York Film Festival
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC (*DVD10) vs. Criterion Boxset (8 discs) - Region 0 - PAL vs. BFI (Dual Format) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
* A DVD10 is DVD with two-single layered sides
1) Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT2) Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Criterion (Cassavetes - 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - THIRD4) BFI - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH 5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray RIGHT
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Box Covers |
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Only available in Criterion John Cassavetes: Five Films Blu-ray set: | |
The 6 - disc John Cassavetes Collection from Optimum includes: Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
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The 8 - disc Criterion John Cassavetes - Five Films includes - Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
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Distribution |
Optimum Region 2 - PAL |
Pioneer Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Boxset- Spine # 250 / individual spine # 253 Region 0 - NTSC |
BFI (UK) Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Criterion
Collection - Spine #253 Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 2:20:26 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:23:09 + 1:02:36 = 2:25:45 | 2:26:50 | 2:26:26.694 | 2:27:03.022 |
Video |
1.85:1
Original Aspect Ratio |
1.33:1 Aspect Ratio |
1.85:1
Aspect Ratio |
1080P Dual-layered
Blu-ray
Disc Size: 38,979,539,284 bytes Feature: 37,209,876,480 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1080P Dual-layered
Blu-ray
Disc Size: 47,849,621,951 bytesFeature: 37,636,380,672 bytesVideo Bitrate: 29.99 MbpsCodec: 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:
Optimum |
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Bitrate:
Pioneer (side 1) |
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Bitrate:
Criterion
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Bitrate:
BFI
Blu-ray
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Bitrate:
Criterion
Blu-ray
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Audio | 2.0 Dolby Digital English | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) |
LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps /
24-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
Subtitles | None | None | English, and none | English, and none | English, and none |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Optimum Aspect Ratio:
Edition
Details:
Boxset has
THESE
LISTED EXTRAS. Chapters 16
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Release Information: Studio: Pioneer Video
Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 7 + 4 = 11 in total |
Release Information: Edition Details:
• Part of Boxset that also includes 'A
Constant Forge' (Documentary on Cassavetes by Charles Kiselyak) , 'Shadows', 'Faces', 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie', 'Opening
Night', and includes
THESE EXTRAS. |
Release Information: Studio: BFI
Aspect Ratio:
1.85:1 Disc Size: 38,979,539,284 bytes Feature: 37,209,876,480 bytes Video Bitrate: 30.00 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: DVD of Feature included with extras: Falk on Cassavetes - Husbands and Wives (14:42) Elaine Kagan interviewed by Tom Charity (19:00) 28-page liner notes booklet
Blu-ray
Release Date: September 17th, 2012 Chapters 12 |
Release Information: Edition Details:
Audio commentary by longtime Cassavetes collaborators Mike Ferris
(camera operator) and Bo Harwood (sound recordist/composer) |
Comments: |
NOTE: Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (September 2013): Well, perhaps even less difference in 1080P video than Shadows or Faces! Comments for the BFI still hold true! - wonderful grain rich colors... I doubt anyone could distinguish between the two Blu-ray visuals. LPCM audio and optional subtitles, plus Criterion's extensive extras from the 2005 DVD package - audio commentary by sound recordist and composer Bo Harwood and camera operator Mike Ferris, Rowlands, Falk video interview, TV spots and Still gallery. I don't know that I'll ever tire of revisiting these five films (Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Opening Night).
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NOTE: Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
ADDITION: BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (August 2012): As anticipated, the story here is all about the grain and the marvelous textures that give the 1080P a 'substance' - devoid in the flatter SD format. This is dual-layered with a high bitrate and probably can't look any better in the digital format. The Blu-ray brings a grittiness to the surface that adds greatly to the v้rit้ appeal. It is not a different film in hi-def but a subtly more emotionally bonding viewing experience. Colors are slightly richer and contrast adds layers that marginally benefit detail. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1. Full marks to BFI on the visual rendering.
Audio is authentically transferred via a linear PCM 2.0 channel track at 2304 kbps. Background noises add prominence immersing the audience in atmospheric realism. There is notably more depth than the DVDs and dialogue is consistent and clear. There are optional English subtitles. The Blu-ray disc is region 'B'-locked.
Extras: On the Blu-ray are only both a 3-minute original trailer and the Alt 16mm Trailer running about 2.5 minutes. Being 'Dual Format' we get a DVD of the Feature with a couple of additional supplements - Falk on Cassavetes - Husbands and Wives is 15-minutes with the actor discussing his friend's strengths and abilities. We also get the same 19-minute Elaine Kagan interview by Tom Charity piece found on the 2005 Optimum DVD. BFI have generously included a 28-page liner notes booklet in the package. Impressive release by the BFI - an essential for Cassavetes fans - one of his most impacting films in the best a/v available for your home theater. Strongly recommended! NOTE : A ListServ member tells us in email "As good as the releases both are, the sad fact remains that WOMAN got a full (and truly fantastic) restoration/preservation by Ross Lipman at UCLA, who has been working through the entire Cassavetes catalog, but that print was not used for either disc release. Apparently, it was not available to BFI. (Same deal, unfortunately, on their recent FACES Blu-Ray, also restored by Ross and not used here. Sigh.)The sound on WOMAN is what really shines through on the restoration; a huge amount of work was done to normalize and clean up a very erratic track. I hope eventually Criterion will reissue these all on Blu-Ray from the preservation masters." (Thanks!) *** ADDITION: Optimum - Region 2- PAL (September 05') - Again we pass on the early Pioneer disc. It is Open Matte. It is much duller. No digital extras but the included liner notes essay by Ray Carney is a great read. The image quality of the two are very similar. Criterion has removable subs, the Optimum doesn't. Obviously those sensitive to PAL speed-up will have this as an issue in the Optimum. The Criterion extras here are very strong and exceed the Optimum's. *** This film has been shown theatrically at both aspect ratios and we can only conclude that the 1.85 Criterion is correct. Close observers can see boom microphones in the Pioneer version giving us cause to believe it was the Open Matte print. It is sharper than the Pioneer and it should be noted that the Pioneer is a DVD10 with two single layered sides. NOTE: There is a French Release out of this film Reviewed HERE, but it is also in 1.33 Open Matte... |
CRITERION BOXSET - CLICK TO ENLARGE
DVD Menus
Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL
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BFI - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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BFI - PAL - Region 2 DVD included with Blu-ray
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Criterion Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920 X 1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
1) Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP2) Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Criterion (Cassavetes - 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - THIRD4) BFI - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH 5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP2) Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Criterion (Cassavetes - 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - THIRD4) BFI - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH 5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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1) Optimum (The John Cassavetes Collection) - Region 2 - PAL - TOP2) Pioneer - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Criterion (Cassavetes - 5 Films) - Region 0 - NTSC - THIRD4) BFI - Region FREE - Blu-ray FOURTH 5) Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray BOTTOM
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Recommended Reading on Cassavetes (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)
Cassavetes on Cassavetes by John Cassavetes |
Where Does It Happen: John Cassavetes and
Cinema at the Breaking Point by George Kouvaros |
The Films of John Cassavetes : Pragmatism,
Modernism, and the Movies (Cambridge Film Classics)
by Raymond Carney |
John Cassavetes: The Adventure of
Insecurity (Studies in Contemporary Film) by Ray Carney, Sam Shaw |
Shadows by Raymond Carney |
John Cassavetes: Lifeworks by Tom Charity |
Accidental Genius : How John Cassavetes Invented the
Independent Film by Marshall Fine |
Check out more in "The Library"
Box Covers |
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Only available in Criterion John Cassavetes: Five Films Blu-ray set: |
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The 6 - disc John Cassavetes Collection from Optimum includes: Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
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The 8 - disc Criterion John Cassavetes - Five Films includes - Shadows, Faces, A Woman Under The Influence, The Killing Of A Chinese Bookie, Opening Night with THESE LISTED EXTRAS. |
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Distribution |
Optimum Region 2 - PAL |
Pioneer Video Region 0 - NTSC |
Criterion Collection - Boxset- Spine # 250 / individual spine # 253 Region 0 - NTSC |
BFI (UK) Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Criterion
Collection - Spine #253 Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Report Card:
Image: |
Blu-rays |
Sound: |
Blu-rays |
Extras: | pick'em |