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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Kidnapped" or "Cani arrabbiati" or "Semaforo rosso" or "Wild Dogs" )

 

directed by Mario Bava
Italy 1974

 

For Master Of The Macabre Mario Bava (Black Sunday), ''Rabid Dogs'' was to be the most startling film of his entire career: After a botched payroll heist, a trio of vicious criminals take hostages in a desperate getaway that explodes with cruelty, degradation and shocking violence. But when the film's financier was killed during the last stages of production, his entire estate - including the sole unfinished work print of ''Rabid Dogs'' was seized and impounded by an Italian court. Mario Bava's final masterpiece - and one of the most intense EuroCrime thrillers of all time - would remain locked away for nearly 23 years. In 1997 Alfredo Leone and Mario's son (and longtime assistant) Lamberto Bava finished the film, adorning it with the title ''Kidnapped'', and features new footage added, overseen by Leone and Lamberto Bava in order to complete the film. Movie only edition. In Italian with English subtitles.

***

Rabid Dogs is a 90 minute roller coaster ride of a film from start to finish. Excellent score by Stelvio Cipriani (The Great Alligator, City of the Walking Dead) helps to enliven the immediacy of the whole premise, and works perfectly to establish the growing tension between the killers as well as between them and the hostages. Excellent cinematography (also by Mario Bava) adds to the feel as well to create some sort of dreamlike quality to the film. As many of you may know, this was the only film Mario Bava ever directed which supposedly occurs in the real world, although I beg to differ as Bay of Blood seemed right along the same lines (although it was undoubtedly quite inferior). The only annoying visible flaws in Rabid Dogs were the anemic gun sound effects and some very sketchy editing at times. Otherwise, this is a great movie, much more interesting and exciting than any of Quentin Tarantino's similar fast-paced crime films, and certainly a step above most of the rest of the crop of 70's Italian crime flicks (besides High Crime of course). One of the best road movies I've seen, Rabid Dogs is right up there with Hitch Hike. A must-see all the way.

Excerpt from Kult-Movies.com located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 25 February 1998 / 31 May 2002

Reviews                             More Reviews                         DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman for all the DVD Screen Caps!

1) Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray RIGHT

 
Box Covers

Distribution

Lucertola Media

Region 0 - NTSC

 Anchor Bay
Region 1 - NTSC		 Anchor Bay
Region 1 - NTSC		 Kino  - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Arrow  - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:36:39 1:35:12 1:36:15 1:35:42.445

Rabid Dogs: 1:35:51.537

Kidnapped: 1:35:29.765

Video

1.55:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.53 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

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

1.85:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 4.75 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.85:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,772,831,262 bytes

Feature: 21,321,023,808 bytes

Video Bitrate: 25.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Rabid Dogs:

1.85:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,665,427,053 bytes

Feature: 20,887,127,232 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.03 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Kidnapped:

1.85:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,665,427,053 bytes

Feature: 19,020,623,232 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

 

Lucertola Media

 

Bitrate:

 

Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version)

 

Bitrate:

 

Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version)

 

Bitrate: Kino

Blu-ray

 

Bitrate: Arrow (Rabid Dogs)

Blu-ray

 

Bitrate: Arrow (Kidnapped)

Blu-ray

 

Audio Italian Dolby Digital 1.0

Italian Dolby Digital 2.0

Italian Dolby Digital 2.0

 LPCM Audio Italian 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Rabid Dogs:

LPCM Audio Italian 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit

Kidnapped:

LPCM Audio Italian 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit
Subtitles English, German, None English, None English, None English, None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Lucertola Media

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.55:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:46)
• Filmographies
• Notes About the Film

DVD Release Date: February 27, 1998
Keepcase

Chapters 10

Release Information:
Studio: Anchor Bay

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• End of the Road: Making of Rabid Dogs and Kidnapped (16:32)
• Mario Bava Bio
• Trailers to other films by Mario Bava
 

DVD Release Date: April 3, 2007
Keepcase

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: Anchor Bay

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.85:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Tim Lucas
 

DVD Release Date: April 3, 2007
Keepcase

Chapters 16

Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

1.85:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,772,831,262 bytes

Feature: 21,321,023,808 bytes

Video Bitrate: 25.93 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:
• None

Blu-ray Release Date: July 16th, 2013
Standard Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 10

Release Information:
Studio: Arrow
 

Rabid Dogs:

1.85:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,665,427,053 bytes

Feature: 20,887,127,232 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.03 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Kidnapped:

1.85:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 44,665,427,053 bytes

Feature: 19,020,623,232 bytes

Video Bitrate: 23.00 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary with Bava biographer and expert Tim Lucas on Rabid Dogs
• End of the Road: The Making of Rabid Dogs A documentary featurette including interviews with Lamberto Bava, Alfredo Leone and star Lea Lander (16:33)

• Bava and Eurocrime - an interview with Umberto Lenzi (9:00)

• Semaforo Rosso - Alternate Title Sequence (1:32)
• Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Stephen Thrower, a history of the multiple versions of the film from Semaforo Rosso to Rabid Dogs to Kidnapped by Peter Blumenstock, illustrated with original stills and posters

• 2 DVDs containing each version of the film

Blu-ray Release Date: October 27th, 2014
Transparent Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 12 +  12

 

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray (January 2015): Firstly, Arrow add both versions (Rabid Dogs and Kidnapped) in separate 1080P transfers shared on a lone dual-layered Blu-ray disc. NOTE: Rabid Dogs has some SD inserts due to how the film material was re-conformed. Kidnapped compares well with the Kino closely matching the bitrate. Audio is also the same - with both versions having a linear PCM track.

Arrow really advance with the supplements. They include an excellent audio commentary with Bava biographer and expert Tim Lucas on the Rabid Dogs version, End of the Road: The Making of Rabid Dogs is a 16-minute documentary featurette including interviews with Lamberto Bava, Alfredo Leone and star Lea Lander, a 9-minute interview with Umberto Lenzi entitled Bava and Eurocrime and the 'Semaforo Rosso' title sequence. The package has a collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Stephen Thrower, a history of the multiple versions of the film from Semaforo Rosso to Rabid Dogs to Kidnapped by Peter Blumenstock, illustrated with original stills and posters and 2 DVDs containing each version of the film.

Once again, the Arrow Blu-ray package is the one to get. I'm appreciating this film more each time I see it. Recommended!

***

ADDITION Kino Blu-ray - June 2013: Kino's bare-bones Blu-ray of the 'Kidnapped' version is a definite improvement over the DVD releases. Contrast significantly looks superior - as does detail and thee is some depth. It is, by no means, a perfect looking film - but despite the production weaknesses - the 1080P is, by far, the best way to see it. Colors tone down to realism and overall the HD video exports the best presentation. Audio is lossless in the original Italian - there are optional subtitles and no extras at all. The director's following will relish this deviation from 'his' genre.

 - Gary Tooze

***

There's no contest - the newly released Anchor Bay DVD surpasses long out of print disc from Lucertola Media in all criteria. Anchor Bay has both version of the film on one dual-layered disc, so it's our recommendation instead of overpriced older DVD.

Since Mario Bava passed away before either version was released, there's no director's cut, so it all comes down to people's preference. I saw Lucertola disc first and I prefer the music of that version. The tagged on opening credits from Lucertola disc is missing on Anchor Bay versions since both include newly created credit sequences. Not a great loss.

 - Gregory Meshman

 

 Menus
(Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 

 

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

Arrow  - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (Rabid Dogs) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FIFTH

6) Arrow (Kidnapped) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

Subtitle sample

1) Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (Rabid Dogs) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FIFTH

6) Arrow (Kidnapped) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (Rabid Dogs) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FIFTH

6) Arrow (Kidnapped) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (Rabid Dogs) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FIFTH

6) Arrow (Kidnapped) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Lucertola Media - Region 0 - NTSC - TOP

2) Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) Anchor Bay ('Rabid Dogs' version) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray FOURTH

5) Arrow (Rabid Dogs) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray FIFTH

6) Arrow (Kidnapped) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Anchor Bay ('Kidnapped' Version) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray SECOND

3) Arrow (Rabid Dogs) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

4) Arrow (Kidnapped) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

More Blu-ray Captures

 

1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Arrow (Rabid Dogs) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray THIRD

3) Arrow (Kidnapped) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

 

Box Covers

Distribution

Lucertola Media

Region 0 - NTSC

 Anchor Bay
Region 1 - NTSC		 Anchor Bay
Region 1 - NTSC		 Kino  - Region 'A' - Blu-ray Arrow  - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Hit Counter

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Image:

Blu-rays

Sound:

Blu-rays
Extras: Arrow Blu-ray



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Gary Tooze

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