(aka "I coltelli del vendicatore" )

 

directed by Mario Bava
Italy 1966

Italian director Mario Bava is best known for his stylish low-budget horror pictures, but he excelled at many genres--mystery, comedy, western, sci-fi, action--and this excellent 1966 feature, which he took over from another director and scripted under the name John Hold, reimagines Shane as a Viking adventure. A fearsome knife-throwing warrior (Cameron Mitchell in a fine performance) rides into a village and rescues a beautiful woman (Elisa Pichelli) and her preteen son (Luciano Pollentin) from attackers; later he realizes that he raped her many years earlier, while avenging himself against the village for the murder of his wife and child, and begins to form an attachment to the woman's son, who bears a striking resemblance to him. Bava started out as a cameraman, and his dramatic Techniscope framing of the majestic beach at Tor Caldara near Anzio and the village of Monciana near Rome might well have influenced the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone.

Excerpt from the Chicago Reader located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 30 May 1966 (Italy)

Reviews    More Reviews  DVD Reviews

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 1:24:27 1:24:33
Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.80 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.99 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 English Dolby Digital 1.0, Italian Dolby Digital 1.0

English Dolby Digital 2.0, Italian Dolby Digital 2.0

Subtitles None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Image

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Liner notes by author Tim Lucas
• Mario Bava Biography and Filmography
• Cameron Mitchell Filmography
• Theatrical Trailer
• Photo and Poster Gallery
• Trailers for other Mario Bava Films

DVD Release Date: June 26, 2001
Keepcase

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Anchor Bay

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Mario Bava Biography and Filmography
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for other Mario Bava Films

 

DVD Release Date: April 3, 2007
Slimcase in a boxset

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments Anchor Bay used the same transfer as the Image Entertainment disc, but they digitally cleaned it up a bit. The largest improvement is that now the transfer is progressive - the previous disc from Image was interlaced. Also, by adding English subtitles, English-speaking audience can now watch the film with Italian audio. Unfortunately, there are no added extras and liner notes by Tim Lucas about making of the film are now missing. Still, overall, Anchor Bay disc gets my recommendation.

 - Gregory Meshman

 

 



DVD Menus
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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 for Anchor Bay disc

 

 


(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)

 

 


(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)

 

 


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

 

 


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Report Card:

 

Image:

Anchor Bay

Sound:

Anchor Bay

Extras: Image (for liner notes)
Menu: Anchor Bay

 

DVD Box Covers

Distribution

Image

Region 0 - NTSC

Anchor Bay
Region 1 - NTSC




 

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