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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Frank Perry
USA 1970
Diary of a Mad Housewife may have done more to change the public image of the American woman than any other film in history. Carrie Snodgress (Pale Rider) plays a dissatisfied wife trapped in her townhouse existence. Her husband, played unforgettably by Richard Benjamin (Goodbye, Columbus), is the archetypal schnook and also one of the great screen monsters. Her lover (Frank Langella, Dracula) is a narcissistic creep who finishes off what her domestic life started. Wonderfully directed by Frank Perry (The Swimmer, Doc, Man on a Swing) with a screenplay by Eleanor Perry (David and Lisa, Ladybug Ladybug), Frank’s wife, based on a novel by Sue Kaufman, Diary of a Mad Housewife is a chilling black comedy that manages to be extraordinarily funny under extreme circumstances. Snodgress received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her brilliant performance. *** Tina Balser is a bored New York housewife-mother married to Jonathan, a pompous, social-climbing lawyer who ridicules her in front of their children, criticizing everything she does or wears. She begins an affair with George Prager, a dashing, successful and blatantly sadistic writer. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: August 10th, 1970
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Comparisons:
Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray vs. Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Box Cover |
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or buy directly from them: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray | Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:35:26.720 | 1:35:15.584 |
Video |
1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 31,783,332,062 bytes Feature: 29,918,251,008 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.91 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 42,826,411,036 bytes Feature: 28,104,758,592 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate Kino Blu-ray: |
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Bitrate Indicator Blu-ray: |
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Audio |
DTS-HD Master
Audio English 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 /
48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps |
LPCM
Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / DN -30dB |
Subtitles | English, None | English (SDH), None |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Kino
1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 31,783,332,062 bytes Feature: 29,918,251,008 bytes Video Bitrate: 37.91 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• NEW Audio Commentary by Screenwriter
Larry Karaszewski with Film Historians Howard S. Berger and Steve
Mitchell
Chapters 9 |
Release Information: Studio: Indicator
1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 42,826,411,036 bytes Feature: 28,104,758,592 bytes Video Bitrate: 34.98 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details:
• Long unseen alternative TV version containing
unique scenes, presented in Standard Definition, as originally broadcast
Chapters 12 |
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Indicator Blu-ray (August 2022): Indicator have also transferred Frank Perry's 1970 Diary of a Mad Housewife to Blu-ray. The UK transfer looks more pleasing with a slight uptick in contrast and warmer flesh tones. It has much more pronounced texture. For many it may not be a significant improvement, but nonetheless, it exists. The Indicator is also on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. NOTE: We have added 11 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE Indicator also advance on the audio - with a 24-bit linear PCM track, in the original English language. Some will note the improvement. The film is light on effects. There is no credited score but Diary of a Mad Housewife has music and a nice selection in the opening credits; Mars Bonfire's "Ride With Me Baby" and Alice Cooper's Lay Down And Die Goodbye are utilized. The Indicator offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray. The Indicator package is stacked starting with a new commentary by actor Rutanya Alda and film historian Lee Gambin for the theatrical cut. NOTE: Indicator include the 'long unseen' alternative TV version containing unique scenes, presented in Standard Definition. The TV version also offers a new commentary by Frank Perry biographer Justin Bozung (also author of The Cinema of Norman Mailer: Film is Like Death). There is much more; a 6-minute piece with Richard Benjamin entitled A Confident Approach, plus a wonderful 1/2 hour video appreciation by Academy Award-winning editor and filmmaker Chris Innis (editor on The Hurt Locker.) There is also an original theatrical trailer, a TFH Larry Karaszewski trailer commentary, Radio spots and an image gallery of promotional and publicity material. The package has a limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Paula Mejía, a profile of novelist Sue Kaufman, extracts from interviews with Frank Perry, Eleanor Perry and Carrie Snodgress, a look at Snodgress and Neil Young’s relationship, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits. Frank Perry's Diary of a Mad Housewife is a very good film that has been hard to access for many years. I enjoyed it as a partial comedy, partial romance and marriage-drama. Themes involve social-climbing, isolation, boredom, marital malaise, and disenchantment. I continue to appreciate Frank Perry as a director and gained new appreciation for Carrie Snodgress in a career-defining role. The Indicator Blu-ray advances on all fronts over its US counterpart; better a/v, extras including the TV version, commentaries, a stellar appreciation etc. and extensive booklet. Certainly this Indicator 1080P edition is recommended - especially to Perry fans and those who appreciate 70's cinema. *** ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (December 2020): Kino have transferred Frank Perry's 1970 Diary of a Mad Housewife to Blu-ray. The 1080P image is exceptionally grainy, almost close to looking like being from 16mm. It looked very strong my system - I appreciate the grain. There are some light surface scratches but no consistent damage or bad flaws. Details tighten in the films' many close-ups. It's on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. This looks like a strong replication of the original theatrical release with a very film-like presentation. NOTE: We have added 18 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master dual-mono track (16-bit) in the original English language. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray. The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by screenwriter Larry Karaszewski with film historians Howard S. Berger and Steve Mitchell. They discuss the aggressive editing and how the film evokes Mike Nichols' The Graduate, it's vérité-like style touches, differences from the book, Carrie Snodgress' impressive performance and much more. I love listening to these guys and it always emboldens my appreciation for a film. There is also a, beat-up, trailer. |
Menus / Extras
Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - TOP 2) Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray BOTTOM |
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More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE
Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray
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Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
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Box Cover |
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or buy directly from them: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray | Indicator - Region 'B' - Blu-ray |
Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |