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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Seven Blood Stained Orchids" or "Sette orchidee macchiate di rosso" )

 

directed by Umberto Lenzi
Italy 1972

 

A maniac on the loose is committing savage acts of slaughter, and one survivor may be the only key to unmasking the serial slayer known as the Half-Moon Killer. The mysterious half-moon lockets could be the only key to unraveling his sinister motives, but will that be enough before he completes his ice-cold plot to claim his intended seven victims? Based on a classic murder mystery novel by Edgar Wallace (King Kong) and starring Uschi Glas (College Girl Murders), Antonio Sabato (Grand Prix, Escape from the Bronx) and the stunning Marisa Mell (Danger Diabolik), this stylish shocker from the golden age of Italian thrillers is a crimson-dripping gem from cult director Umberto Lenzi (Almost Human, Spasmo).

Posters

Theatrical Release: 24 February 1972 (Italy)

Reviews                                                                 More Reviews                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. 88 Film- Region FREE - Blu-ray

Big thanks to Gregory Meshman and Gary Tooze for the Screen Caps!

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray RIGHT

 
Box Covers

 

 

Distribution

Shriek Show / Media Blasters

Region 1 - NTSC

 Code Red / Kino Lorber
Region 'A' - Blu-ray		 88 Films - FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:32:15 1:32:13.528 1:32:09.524 
Video

2.29:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.41 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1080P / 23.976 fps Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,708,548,620 bytes

Feature: 22,674,315,264 bytes

Video Bitrate: 26.63 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 39,169,323,122 bytes

Feature: 28,998,948,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

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

Shriek Show / Media Blasters

 

Bitrate:

 

Code Red / Kino Lorber Blu-ray

 

Bitrate:

88 Films Blu-ray

 

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1994 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1994 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1994 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1994 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -4dB

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

Dolby Digital Audio English 320 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 320 kbps
Subtitles None English, None English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Shriek Show / Media Blasters

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.29:1

Edition Details:
� Interview with Gabriella Giorgelli (2:53)
� Interview with Umberto Lenzi (7:31)
� Liner Notes (2:24)
� Trailers - Eaten Alive, Spasmo (6:10)
� Trailer - Seven Blood Stained Orchids (2:44)
� Art Gallery (0:52)

DVD Release Date: February 25th, 2003
Keep Case

Chapters 12

Release Information:
Studio: Code Red / Kino Lorber

 

1080P / 23.976 fps Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 24,708,548,620 bytes

Feature: 22,674,315,264 bytes

Video Bitrate: 26.63 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:

• Brand New Interview With Director Umberto Lenzi  (24:02)
 • Brand New Audio Commentary By Film Historian Troy Howarth
• Vintage Interview With Umberto Lenzi (7:35) And Gabriella Giorgelli (2:56)

• Art Gallery
 • Original Theatrical Trailer (2:46)

 Blu-ray Release Date: January 2nd, 2018
Custom Blu-ray Case
Chapters: 17

 Release Information:
Studio: 88 Films

 

1080P / 23.976 fps Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 39,169,323,122 bytes

Feature: 28,998,948,864 bytes

Video Bitrate: 34.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Edition Details:

• Audio Commentary by Giallo experts, Troy Howarth and Nathanial Thompson
 • Blood Flowers - An Interview with Director Umberto Lenzi (24:00)
 • Killed By Death - An Interview with Actress Gabriella Giorgelli (19:15)

 Blu-ray Release Date: April 13th, 2020
Transparent Blu-ray inside cardboard slipcase

 

 

Comments

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

ADDITION: 88 Films (UK) - Region FREE  Blu-ray - May 2020: 88 Films have transferred the Umberto Lenzi's Giallo Seven Blood-Stained Orchids (aka "Sette orchidee macchiate di rosso") via a "2K Remastered Transfer from the Original Negative". It advances on the Code Red from 2018 with a dual-layered transfer - with a max'ed out bitrate. This shows in warmer skin tones and richer contrast and deeper colors. It is better - visibly in-motion.

88 Films also offer both English and Italian audio tracks in linear PCM tracks (24-bit) with, plenty of screaming/screeching, and a Giallo-esque score by Riz Ortolani (The Pyjama Girl Case, The Valachi Papers, Seven Deaths in the Cat's Eyes, The McKenzie Break, Day of Anger, Il Sorpasso, Woman Times Seven, Cannibal Holocaust, The Voyeur, Mondo Cane). It can have that hollow, and tight (high end) sound we hear frequently from Gialli. There are optional English subtitles (not DUB titles as on the Code Red) - see comparison below. The box identifies the Blu-ray as Region FREE!

88 Films include a NEW (yes it is new) audio commentary - a second one for by Troy Howarth after the lone soliloquy track on the Code Red - as this times he brings his pal Nathanial Thompson and it is great. They discuss Krimi films and the altered music opening for the German market. They talk about the English DUB'ing, dislike of Antonio Sabato, the other performers - their other Gialli, plenty on Lenzi and comparisons to Argento's The Bird with the Crystal Plummage, this sexist period of Italian filmmaking, and much more. I enjoyed it thoroughly - a love-fest for the genre - pointing out the conventions and attention to details that we all appreciate. They include the same older 24-minute interview with director Umberto Lenzi entitled Blood Flowers - and another with actress Gabriella Giorgelli entitled Killed By Death running shy of 20-minutes.

The 88 Films Blu-ray is the one to own for Giallo fans that want the best edition. It's a keeper - loved revisiting this again - and the new commentary.     

***

ADDITION: Code Red (Kino) - Region 'A'  Blu-ray - January 2018: The Code Red is advertised as a "Brand New 2017 HD Master" but remains subject to the source and it advances over SD but is not without occasionally niggling issues. There was one prominent instance of macro-blocking (see HERE) but it seemed isolated. The quality can be a shade less consistent mostly looking thick and heavy and it loses a shade of information on all four sides of the 2.35:1 frame as compared to the dual-layered Shriek Show DVD. This single-layered 1080P transfer is very watchable in-motion and colors are more layered. I enjoyed the HD visuals.

Supplements have an audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films. He's very amusing - commenting on everything - and the film's themes of fashion and his indifference for Sabato, Lenzi but his enjoyment of the gals. He barely takes a breath providing excellent details and I found it both rewarding and fun. There is a new, 24-minute, interview with director Umberto Lenzi and shorter vintage interviews with Umberto Lenzi (7:35) and Gabriella Giorgelli (2:56) plus a gallery of weak images and an original theatrical trailer.

Seven Blood Stained Orchids is a solid Giallo - part of our listing HERE filled with the conventions of beautiful women, an unknown killer, black gloves, sharp weapons and the Ortolani score. The commentary adds immense value and the film is a bona-fide part of this rich, stylish genre. How can we resist? Recommended to fans!

 - Gary Tooze

DVD Menus
 Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC
 

 

Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

 

88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

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

Subtitle Sample

1) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

1) Shriek Show / Media Blasters - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

More Blu-ray Screen Captures

1) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 

1) Code Red / Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP

2) 88 Films - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

Report Card:

 

Image:

88 Films Blu-ray

Sound:

Blu-rays
Extras:

88 Films Blu-ray

 

Box Covers

 

 

Distribution

Shriek Show / Media Blasters

Region 1 - NTSC

 Code Red / Kino Lorber
Region 'A' - Blu-ray		 88 Films - FREE - Blu-ray



 

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