We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that
some of our followers would be
willing to donate a small amount to keep DVDBeaver
alive. We are a tiny niche, so your
generosity is vital to our
existence.
We are talking about a minimum of
$0.10 - $0.15 a day, perhaps a
quarter (or more) to those who won't
miss it from their budget. It
equates to buying DVDBeaver a coffee
once, twice or a few times a month.
You can then participate in our
monthly
Silent
auctions,
and have exclusive access to many 'bonus' High Resolution screen captures - both
4K UHD
and
Blu-ray
(see
HERE). |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Orrori del castello di Norimberga" or "Torture Chamber of Baron Blood")
directed by Mario Bava
Italy/Austria 1972
The
plot, typical of this always narrative-challenged
director, is just an excuse for a series of gorgeously
fetishized set-pieces. It seems that Peter Kleist
(Antonio Cantafora), the young descendant of Baron Otto
von Kleist (a Vlad the Impaler style madman from 300
years ago), has finished his M.A. and come to Austria to
look into his heritage. There he meets architecture
student Eva Arnold (Elke Sommer), and the two of them
decide to conjure up his ancestor. Happily, Peter brings
along an ancient scroll telling him exactly how to
resurrect this monster. Unhappily, the Baron indeed
returns, wreaking havoc on the locals and trying to
murder Peter and Eva, who unwittingly hold the secret to
sending him back into the dustbin of history. Bava’s murdering id-figures are always stylish, and the Baron, at least in the more evil of his two guises here, is no exception. When first resurrected, and intermittently throughout the film, he’s seen as a kind of hamburger-faced mock-Phantom of the Opera, with slouch hat and cape and rapid, elegant movements as he careens from victim to victim. (Visually he’s a twin of the masked, cloaked murderer of Blood and Black Lace.) Of course, he looks especially good next to "Alfred Becker" (Joseph Cotten), a mysterious cripple who’s in fact — in a point the film telegraphs instantly — the Baron. Cotten’s presence adds marquee value, in spite of a pretty dreadful, disengaged performance. Sommer, with her vinyl micro-minis and Carnaby Street hats, is one of the least convincing architecture students in cinema history; she spends most of the film running and screaming, which she admittedly does well. The other actors are mostly disposable and forgettable. |
Posters
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Theatrical Release: 27 October 1972
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparison:
Raro - Region 2 - PAL vs. Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Eric Cotenas and Gregory Meshman for the DVD Screen Caps!
1) Raro - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT 2) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - RIGHT
|
Box Covers |
|
|
|
|
|
Distribution |
Raro Region 2 - PAL |
Image Entertainment Region 0 - NTSC |
Anchor Bay Region 1 - NTSC |
Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray | Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:33:51 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:37:42 | 1:37:39 | 1:38:12.459 | 1:37:48.762 |
Video |
1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio |
1.80:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,810,796,513 bytesFeature: 26,133,902,976 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 30.39 Mbps |
1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,231,194,059 bytesFeature: 24,181,555,200 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 27.56 Mbps |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
|||||
Bitrate:
Raro
|
|
||||
Bitrate:
Image Entertainment
|
|
||||
Bitrate:
Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2)
|
|
||||
Bitrate: Kino
Blu-ray
|
|
||||
Bitrate: Arrow
Blu-ray
|
|
||||
Audio | Italian (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono); English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) |
English (Dolby Digital 1.0 mono) |
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 mono) |
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz /
1536 kbps / 16-bit Commentary: LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit |
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz /
1536 kbps / 16-bit LPCM Audio Italian 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps |
Subtitles | Italian, English, none | none | none | None | English, None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Raro Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
Chapters 10 |
Release Information: Studio: Image Entertainment Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD Release Date:
December 7, 1999 Chapters 16 |
Release Information: Studio: Anchor Bay Aspect Ratio:
Edition Details:
DVD Release Date: October
23, 2007 Chapters 20 |
Release Information: Studio: Kino Lorber Aspect Ratio: 1.74:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 30,810,796,513 bytesFeature: 26,133,902,976 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 30.39 Mbps
Edition Details: • Italian Title Sequences (Beginning - 2:28 and End - 2:05) • Theatrical Trailers - Italian and English • 3 Radio Spots
• 4 Mario Bava
Trailers Chapters 10 |
Release Information: Studio: Arrow Film Aspect Ratio: 1.74:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 49,231,194,059 bytesFeature: 24,181,555,200 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 27.56 Mbps
Edition Details: • Three audio versions: Optional Italian, European English and AIP English re-dub and re-score • English SDH subtitles and a new English subtitle translation of the Italian audio • Audio Commentary with Bava biographer and expert Tim Lucas • Introduction to Baron Blood by author and critic Alan Jones • Trailers for Baron Blood • Baron Blood Radio Spots • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys • Collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Oliver James, illustrated with original archive stills and posters Blu-ray Release Date: April 29th, 2013 Custom Blu-ray Case Chapters 12 |
Comments |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' Blu-ray - April 2013': Arrow goes above-and-beyond offering three version of the film in 1080P (seamlessly branched for 2 - AIP version looks like a separate encode - running time 1:30:30): Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga with Italian opening and closing titles and Baron Blood with English opening and closing titles and the European English export version audio, and for the first time on home video, the AIP version with alternate score by Les Baxter. Compared to the Kino - the image quality is very close - with a similar file-size and bitrate. Colors may be marginally richer on the US edition - but it is not significant. They also include three audio versions: optional Italian, European English and AIP English re-dub and re-score as well as English SDH subtitles and a new and English subtitle translation of the Italian audio. Extras include the excellent Lucas audio commentary, a short introduction to Baron Blood by author and critic Alan Jones and trailers and Radio Spots for Baron Blood. The package has a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys and it contains a Collector s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Oliver James, illustrated with original archive stills and posters. This is easily the definitive release of Bava's classic.
Our own Eric Cotenas has written this
about the extras: "As with the Arrow’s other Bava releases, the disc
opens with an introduction by Alan Jones. He mentions that producer
Alfredo Leone wanted Vincent Price for the lead, but Price declined
because of his disastrous experience with Bava shooting DR. GOLDFOOT
AND THE GIRL BOMBS. He also points out the influence of Val Lewton’s
works on BARON BLOOD (although not HOUSE OF WAX which
surely inspired the Baron stalking Eva through the fog), and the effects
work of Carlo Rambaldi (the clips in the introduction are derived from
the older SD master and are not indicative of the feature presentation
quality of either the Blu or the included DVD edition). Tim Lucas’
commentary from the second Anchor Bay Bava box set is carried over to
this edition. He has no shortage of production details and background
(including Bava vetoing the use of the castle from WHERE EAGLES DARE
because it was unfurnished and it was impractical to run cables up to
it). He points out visual references to Bava’s previous horror films as
well as hommages to other directors’ works like Jacques Tourneur’s
THE LEOPARD MAN (and also mentions that the titular character of
the Joe Dante-directed “Shadow Man” episode of the eighties version of
THE TWILIGHT ZONE was based on the baron’s look in this film),
and gives background information on all of the cast members and crew
members, including the whereabouts of the surviving members (apparently
Nicoletta Elmi is now a dentist), as well as American scripter Vincent
Fotre. Lucas also muses on some unexplored threads of the plot, like a
more sinister interpretation of the protagonist’s desire to get back to
his roots.
***
ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' Blu-ray
- December 2012': Solid - the new 1080P transfer improves with tighter
detail, bolder colors (check out the fire and Elke's red shawl), and
less artifacts. It is a solid upgrade - dual layered with a high
bitrate. Grain is a shade blotchy but I think most Bava fans will be
quite pleased with the 1.74:1 appearance. Audio goes lossless via a linear PCM track that also sounds better to my ear. Effects can be piercing with some depth. English only. No subtitles are offered on the region 'A'-locked disc. Supplements also eclipse - nudging ahead of the Anchor Bay. The excellent commentary is still there from Tim Lucas. We also get the Italian title sequences (Opening and End), Italian and English trailers, 3 Radio Spots and 4 other Mario Bava trailers. A good release - one we can recommend to fans of the genre. ***
ON THE DVDs: While Raro's disc of BARON BLOOD was an improvement over the non-anamorphic Image DVD (16:9 enhancement, featurette, slightly better sound), Anchor Bay's DVD is the best this title has seen with improved color, clearer audio, and an informative commentary by Tim Lucas (not the best of the set but even he has stated that he would have rather commented on FIVE DOLLS FOR AN AUGUST MOON but AB wanted him to do BARON BLOOD).
Unlike the Italian version of BAY OF BLOOD, the Italian dialogue of BARON BLOOD is not as smart as that of the English version as the subtitle sample from the Raro disc bares out (the script for BARON BLOOD originated with an American writer) so the English track is the superior option (even better would be the American International Picture's track which features the same dubbing but replaces Stelvio Cipriani's travelogue score with one by Les Baxter that really hammers home the scares). - Eric Cotenas |
Menus
(Raro - Region 2 - PAL - LEFT vs.
Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay
(Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
|
|
|
|
|
|
![]() |
||
![]() |
![]() |
Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE BELOW TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Screen Captures
1) Raro - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
Subtitle sample (no subs on Anchor Bay)
|
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
1) Raro - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
|
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
1) Raro - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
|
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
1) Raro - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
|
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
1) Raro - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
|
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
1) Raro - Region 2 - PAL - TOP 2) Image Entertainment - Region 0 - NTSC - SECOND3) Anchor Bay (Mario Bava Collection Volume 2) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - FOURTH5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
|
|
|
![]() |
![]() |