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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Wampyr" )

 

directed by George A. Romero
USA 1977

 

Cuda (Lincoln Maazel) takes his troubled cousin Martin (John Amplas) into his home in exchange for working in his shop. Although he looks barely twenty, both Martin and his cousin are of the belief that he's actually 84 years old and a vampire. Cuda wants to save Martin's soul and destroy him (he is allowed in the meantime only to take victims outside of the city or be destroyed without salvation) but Martin is adamant that his condition is not due to a curse and that magic or religion can save him. Is he a vampire or just mentally ill (Cuda's niece thinks the family traditions have "infected" Martin and is herself deteriorating under Cuda's fanaticism). In between stalking victims and drinking their blood (with the aide of syringes, razor blades, and pointy sticks) and calling in to a talk radio line, lonely Martin tries to reach out to similarly unhappy human beings and that may prove to be his downfall. Writer/director George Romero appears briefly as a priest. Tom Savini also acts (in addition to creating the special effects make-up).

Eric Cotenas

Posters

Theatrical Release: 7 July 1978 (USA)

Reviews                                                                                      More Reviews                                                                            DVD Reviews

 

DVD Comparison:

Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL vs. Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL vs. Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL vs. LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for all the Screen Caps!

1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - LEFT

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT

 

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

Arrow Video

Region 0 - PAL

Arrow Video
Region 0 - PAL
Arrow Video
Region 0 - PAL

LionsGate

Region 1 - NTSC

Runtime 1:30:48 (4% PAL speedup) 1:30:45 (4% PAL speedup) 1:21:33 (4% PAL speedup) 1:34:36
Video

1.77:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.33 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.9 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.77:1 Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.21 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 4.92 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:

 

Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version)

Bitrate:

 

Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition)

Bitrate:

 

Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version)

Bitrate:

 

LionsGate

 

Audio English Dolby Digital 5.1; English Dolby Digital stereo

English Dolby Digital 5.1; English Dolby Digital stereo

Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

English Dolby Digital 5.1; English Dolby Digital stereo
Subtitles none none English, none none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Arrow Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1

Edition Details:
• DISC ONE:
• Audio Commentary by George A. Romero, Richard Rubinstein, Michael Gornick, Donald Rubinstein, and Tom Savini

DVD Release Date: 21 June 2010
Amaray

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Arrow Video

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• DISC ONE:
• Audio Commentary by George A. Romero, Richard Rubinstein, Michael Gornick, Donald Rubinstein, and Tom Savini

 

DVD Release Date: 21 June 2010
Amaray

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Arrow Video

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1

Edition Details:
• DISC TWO:
• Making Martin: A Recounting (4:3; 9:29)
• Documentary on George A. Romero (4:3; 23:30; in German with English subtitles)
• TV Spot (4:3; 0:32)
• Radio Spot 1
• Radio Spot 2
• U.S. Trailer (4:3; 2:32)
• Photo Gallery
• Four sleeve art options
• Double-sided poster
• Collector's Booklet
• Six Poster Art Postcards

 

DVD Release Date: 21 June 2010
Amaray

Chapters 8

Release Information:
Studio: LionsGate

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by George A. Romero, Richard Rubinstein, Michael Gornick, Donald Rubinstein, and Tom Savini
• Making Martin: A Recounting
• U.S. Trailer
• TV Spot
• Photo Gallery
• Trailers for

DVD Release Date: 9 November 2004
Amaray

Chapters 16

 

 

Comments

The 16:9 version on disc 1 of the Arrow set appears to be the same HD-mastered edition released by LionsGate in the US and Arrow in the UK a couple years ago with the same 5.1 and stereo downmix track and the director, producer, cinematographer, composer, make-up artist track that accompanied that version (Arrow also released a fullscreen version prior to that). The OOP Anchor Bay R1 release included a different track with George Romero, Tom Savini, and actor John Amplas. The 16:9 framing is ruinous throughout, cutting off hairlines as well as mouths in close ups. A 1.66:1 aspect ratio would have been better. Fortunately, Arrow has also included a 4:3 version on the same disc. Neither version looks great but the same can be said of every other DVD release of the film (both the HD-mastered source and the older SD master sport degrees of edge enhancement).

On Arrow's disc the 5.1 track is out of sync on the fullscreen version during Martin's attack on a woman and her lover in her home but the 2.0 track is in sync. Sync on the 5.1 resumes after the murders (the 5.1 track is in sync on the 16:9 version).

The Italian cut of the film is reconstructed using the 16:9 master so the framing is just as ruinous but the Italian 2.0 mono sound is clear and English subtitles are provided (since the Goblin score is the primary reason for the inclusion of this version, there was no point in synchronizing the English track to this shorter version). The image is interlaced (unlike the English versions on disc 1). There seem to be some differences in the dialogue between the English and Italian versions. In the English version he says "first I will save your soul, and then I will destroy you" whereas in the Italian version he says "I will save your soul. If not, I will destroy you." It is certainly a worthwhile extra for Goblin and Romero fans even if the fantastic prog-rock score doesn't really fit the mood of the film. The editing of this version is bizarre with the opening train murder placed later on as a flashback, continuous scenes split apart and used in different parts of the film, etc. Perhaps the effect is not quite as jarring to viewers not familiar with the original version. That said, the subtitled Italian dialogue lends more of a gothic horror feel (though at the expense of the original performances and little character bits los tto trimming).

Extras consist of the aforementioned commentary track, a short documentary on the film (ported over from the LionsGate edition), an English-subtitled German language documentary on Romero featuring behind the scenes footage from MARTIN and DAWN OF THE DEAD), the US trailer, TV spot and radio spots.

 - Eric Cotenas

 


DVD Menus
 

1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - LEFT

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - MIDDLE

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - RIGHT

 

 

 
   
   

 

LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC

 


 

Screen Captures

 

1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - TOP

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM

NOTE: Combing on the Italian version


1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - TOP

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - TOP

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - TOP

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - TOP

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - TOP

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 

 


1) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Widescreen Version) - Region 0 - PAL - TOP

2) Arrow Video (Disc 1 - Fullscreen Edition) - Region 0 - PAL - SECOND

3) Arrow Video (Disc 2 - Italian Version) - Region 0 - PAL - THIRD

4) LionsGate - Region 1 - NTSC - BOTTOM

 

 


 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Arrow (for fullscreen version)

Sound:

Draw (see comments about 5.1 track on 4:3 version); Arrow for Italian version audio

Extras: Arrow
Menu: Arrow

 
DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribution

Arrow Video

Region 0 - PAL

Arrow Video
Region 0 - PAL
Arrow Video
Region 0 - PAL

LionsGate

Region 1 - NTSC




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