Black Sabbath - Mario Bava

(aka "Black Sabbath" or "The Three Faces of Fear" or "Les trois visages de la peur")

directed by Mario Bava
Italy / France / USA 1963

Vintage Bava in which Karloff introduces three adaptations from famous tales of the supernatural (and also stars in the last): The Drop of Water by Chekhov, The Telephone by Howard Snyder, and The Wurdalak by Tolstoy. Pictorially it's amazing, and even the script and dubbing are way above average. If only Amicus, who subsequently cornered the horror omnibus market, had taken heed they might have got some ideas as to what can be done with the format.

Excerpt from TimeOut Film Guide located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 17 August 1963 (Italy) / 6 May 1964 (USA)

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DVD Comparison:

Image - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for all the Screen Caps!

(Image - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers
Distribution	Image Region 0 - NTSC	Anchor Bay Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:32:19	1:32:18
Video	1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 4.64 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 5.3 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: Image
Bitrate: Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection)
Audio	Italian Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono	Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Subtitles	English, None	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Image Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1 Edition Details: • Liner notes by author Tim Lucas • Mario Bava Biography and Filmography • Boris Karloff Filmography • Photo and Poster Gallery • Theatrical Trailer DVD Release Date: August 1, 2000 Snapper case Chapters 16	Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1 Edition Details: • Audio Commentary with author Tim Lucas • A Life in Film: An Interview with Mark Damon (20:59) • International and U.S. trailers • TV and Radio Spots • Poster & Still Gallery • Mario Bava Biography • Boris Karloff Biography • Trailers for other Mario Bava Films DVD Release Date: April 3, 2007 Slimcase in a boxset Chapters 12

Comments

Anchor Bay used the same print for their transfer, but they digitally cleaned it up a bit. They carried over the extras from the image disc, but instead of liner notes we now have a commentary by Tim Lucas. Anchor Bay disc takes the prize.

- Gregory Meshman

DVD Menus
(Image - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
Subtitle sample

(Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

(Image - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
Print damage on Image disc

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Image:	Anchor Bay
Sound:	Anchor Bay
Extras:	Anchor Bay
Menu:	Anchor Bay

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Image

Region 0 - NTSC

Anchor Bay
Region 1 - NTSC