Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Disc:

Video:

Audio:

• "Drink the Wine, Eat the Bread" - Making-of Featurette (20:50)
• "The Deacon Speaks" - Interview with actor Tony Joe White (11:27)
• "True Soul" - Featurette on Conrad L. Hall (8:05)
• Theatrical Trailer (1:54), TV Spot (1:00), Promotional Still Gallery (2:48)
• Extensive Booklet Essay by Tom Mayer
• Reversible Cover Artwork

DVD

Bitrate:

 

 

Excerpt from TV Guide located HERE

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

The dual-layered Etiquette Pictures Blu-ray of Catch My Soul (aka "Santa Fe Satan") has a max'ed out bitrate and looks very authentic. There is strong detail in the film's few close-ups, excellent contrast, some appealing texture and realistic but often deep colors. The New Mexico vistas are impressive in 1080P. The film doesn't appear to have lost anything from its 40-year+ old production. There are a few minor speckles but the source was in fine shape. The many outdoor sequences do raise-the-bar for the overall image. It is transferred in the 1.78:1 aspect ratio (original 1.85:1). This Blu-ray gave me a surprisingly strong viewing in regards to the picture quality. Bravo!

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Etiquette Pictures use a DTS-HD, original, mono track at 1095 kbps (24-bit) and it sounds, predictably flat, but very good with many music numbers gaining buoyancy. The score is by Tony Joe White and Emil Dean Zoughby but there are impressive performances by Richie Havens (Working On A Building, Book Of Prophecy, Put Out The Light), Delaney Bramlett, Susan Tyrrell and others. It sounds very pleasing in the uncompressed with a true Blues sound with notable guitar and vocals. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles offered and my Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked.

Extras :

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
From our ListServ Peter remembers: "It was an interesting show, a "rock Othello". The music was rhythmically strong, though not very memorable, (or really intelligible - the amplification distorted words.) The set - closely modelled on Shakespeare's Globe theatre was excellent - a clever idea and well used. But most interesting were the bits of dialogue straight from Othello. They were delivered in a Southern U.S. drawl - and this suited them incredibly well. The speech rhythms matched perfectly well, and gave the verse a "real" life it almost can't have in a modern English presentation, no matter how good. I did not think the story line was well done - but there was quite a strength in it all.

Digging out my theatre programs from that time, I realised how many incredible things I'd seen in two years in London, many of which I'd completely forgotten. But Catch My Soul is one that I've always had strong, positive memories of." (Thanks Peter!)

 

Catch My Soul was a very interesting experience. It took me a while to get into it - I was initially confused by all the musical numbers - but eventually I was hooked. It is totally unique with the only comparison being Jesus Christ Superstar but this more organic, Shakespearian dialogue, production carries its own style and charisma. The Etiquette Pictures Blu-ray is impressive and the extras very educational adding further appreciation to this unusual production. Not a film for everyone (I wouldn't say it's a good film!) but we strongly recommend, regardless! I love seeing rare stuff like this released!

Gary Tooze

November 11th, 2015