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

ADDITION: Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray November 16': The new Twilight Time 1080P has some significant differences with its French counterpart. The 'Cinemascope Mumps' (fatter faces) we identified on the Carlotta looks very prevalent beside the Twilight Time which shows more information in the frame - notably on the left edge. Could Carlotta have stretched their image - horizontally - to adhere to the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio? Colors are also different but I might lean to the Carlotta with better skin tones and the Twilight Time has a preponderance of a greenish hue at times (or perhaps the Carlotta is too blue?). The French rendering is more technically robust with a higher bitrate (Twilight Time add more supplements - filling disc space) but, overall, I prefer the Twilight Time visuals which tend to look more pleasing to my eye. As we always say 'it's good to have a choice'.

IMDb notes a 4-Track Stereo audio for the film (Westrex Recording System). So while Carlotta had the original English score in a 16-bit DTS-HD Master (and the optional French DUB in a more robust transfer), Twilight Time give the option of a 3.0 or 2.0 channel DTS-HD Master in 24-bit. Both are significantly more technically robust and this shows in depth exported by the Lionel Newman (A Kiss Before Dying, The Proud Ones) score adding a further tension and augmenting the creepiness of the film's expression. Twilight Time offer this as an isolated option and provide the choice of English (SDH) subtitles on their region FREE Blu-ray disc.

Twilight Time have all the extras of the Carlotta - and more. We get the two Robert Fischer Fiction Factory documentaries; Real Killer, Fake Nose runs almost 1/2 hour and retraces the making of Fleischer’s film, with special emphasis on its place in the director's oeuvre and its use of the split-screen technique, innovative at the time. It features interviews with Mark Fleischer (the director’s son), Richard H. Kline (director of photography), and actress Sally Kellerman. In the 20-minute Split-Screen Personality, William Friedkin discusses the authentic events that have inspired The Boston Strangler and explains how he himself was influenced by the new techniques employed by Richard Fleischer in the film. There is also a trailer.

Twilight Time include a new audio commentary with film historians David Del Valle and Steven Peros - it is excellent - as well as the two extras found on the 2004 DVD - the 20-minute AMC Backstory: The Boston Strangler and the short Fox Movietone Newsreel highlighting some Desalvo crime investigation footage. The Twilight Time package has an 8-page liner notes leaflet with an essay by Julie Kirgo and their Region FREE Blu-ray is limited to 3,000 units.

The Twilight Time with commentary, isolated score, more complete extras and a more pleasing a/v transfer is easily the definitive edition of this complex and disturbing masterwork by Fleischer. This is the package to own - very strongly recommended!  

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ADDITION: Carlotta - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - February 2014': The SD now looks extremely green by comparison. Actually everything is superior on the dual-layered Blu-ray with a max'ed out bitrate although there does appear to be some 'Cinemascope Mumps' (fatter faces) on the HD transfer. The 1080P improves upon the softness found on the decade-old SD. It shows a shade more information in the original 2.35:1 frame. Contrast improves and colors (notably in flesh tones) become far more realistic.

As for the audio,  Carlotta utilize a lossless rendering, via a relatively shallow DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel sounds authentic without intense bass or aggression. The subtleties in the effects seem to benefit the most from the uncompressed rendering. The French subtitles are optional (removable via remote) and the disc is coded for region 'B'.  

The Boston Strangler has such an unusual appeal - the style, performances and docu-drama realism remains unforgettable. What a appropriate choice for Carlotta to bring to Blu-ray. And, thankfully, they have included some great supplements. Great way to see this impacting film!

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ON THE DVD: This image can be quite hazy at times and is not up to standards for an anamorphic DVD. The split-screens particularly look unimpressive - not as how I remember seeing the film previously. Contrast is acceptable.  I think a lot of data may have been wasted on the two DUBS and extra audio track. I see no edge enhancement. The audio fluctuates a shade and the subtitles are inferior. This is not a state-of-the-art disc. Still the extra featurette is a nice touch.

Gary W. Tooze