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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

directed by Francesco Rosi
Italy 1961

July 5, 1950—Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano's bullet-riddled corpse is found facedown in a courtyard in Castelvetrano, a handgun and rifle by his side.

Local and international press descend upon the scene, hoping to crack open the true story behind the death of this young man, who, at the age of twenty-seven, had already become Italy’s most wanted criminal and celebrated hero. Filming in the exact locations and enlisting a cast of native Sicilians once impacted by the real Giuliano, director Francesco Rosi harnessed the facts and myths surrounding the true story of the bandit's death to create a startling exposé of Sicily and the tangled relations between its citizens, the Mafia, and government officials. A groundbreaking work of political filmmaking, Salvatore Giuliano established Rosi’s reputation and assured his place in cinema history.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 1962 - Berlin Film Festival

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DVD Review: Criterion (2 Disc) -  Region 1 - NTSC

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Distribution Criterion Collection  Spine # 228 - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 2:03:16
Video 1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9
Average Bitrate: 8.12 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 Mono) 
Subtitles English, None
Features

Release Information:
Studio: Criterion

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.78:1

Edition Details:

• New high-definition digital transfer, with restored picture and sound and enhanced for widescreen televisions
• Audio commentary by film historian Peter Cowie
• Witness to the Times, a new discussion with director Francesco Rosi and film critic Tullio Kezich
• Il cineasta e il labirinto, a 55-minute Italian documentary guided by Rosi, revisiting his life and career in cinema, with personal comments by directors Giuseppe Tornatore, Martin Scorsese, and others
• Excerpt of an Italian newsreel from July 12, 1950, reporting the shocking death of the infamous and charismatic bandit Salvatore Giuliano
• Original theatrical trailer
• Plus: written tributes by Francis Ford Coppola, Federico Fellini, and Martin Scorsese as well as a new essay by writer Michel Ciment
• New and improved English subtitle translation

DVD Release Date: February 24th, 2004

Double Keep Case
Chapters: 25

 

 

 

Comments:
I suppose the point of this webpage is to "critique" this DVD. Unfortunately (or rather 'fortunately') there is nothing to point flaws in. I find it funny reading other Criterion DVD reviews and the reviewer must stoop to being petty about the Extra Features, almost as if the film itself was secondary. I'll endeavor not to sink to that level of detail.

Again we have Criterion proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are the best DVD production company on the planet - consistently outdoing themselves on every release. Firstly, bringing this film to the light of day for many film fans is worthy of our gratitude. Secondly, the immense detail that has gone into creating this DVD - the flawless image, perfect contrast- improved subtitle translation - extra features. If the Criterion company were not in existence, I doubt this website would be either. I could go on lavishing praise on Criterion, but I think you must see where I am coming from. This DVD is  out of . No one will ever do a better job in our lifetime.

Gary W. Tooze





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DVD Box Cover

   

CLICK to order from:

 

Distribution Criterion Collection  Spine # 228 - Region 1 - NTSC


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Gary Tooze