Written by: Michael Den Boer on May 14th, 2007
Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1960 Director: Mario Bava
Writers: Mario Bava, Nikolai Gogol, Ennio De Concini, Mario Serandrei
Cast: Barbara Steele, John Richardson, Andrea Checchi, Ivo Garrani, Arturo Dominici, Enrico Olivieri
| DVD released: | 1999 | 2007 |
| Approximate running time: | 86m43s | 86m37s |
| Aspect Ratio: | 1.66:1 Anamorphic Widescreen | 1.66:1 Anamorphic Widescreen |
| Rating: | NR | NR |
| Sound: | Dolby Digital Mono English | Dolby Digital mono English |
| DVD Release: | Image Entertainment | Anchor Bay |
| Region Coding: | Region 1 NTSC | Region 1 NTSC |
| Retail Price: | OOP | $49.98 |
Image Entertainment’s Region 1 DVD
Anchor Bay’s Region 1 DVD
Image Entertainment’s Region 1 DVD
Anchor Bay’s Region 1 DVD
Image Entertainment’s Region 1 DVD
Anchor Bay’s Region 1 DVD
The Film :Three hundred years ago Princess Asa (Barbara Steele) is condemned and burned at the stake for practicing witchcraft. Flash forward to modern day when two doctors en-route to a medical convention stumble upon Princess Asa’s grave which accidentally sets her resurrection in motion. Once reanimated Princess Asa plan’s on taking the place of a woman named Katia Vajda who looks exactly like her.
Video:
Both releases present the film in its original 1.66:1 aspect ratio and they are both anamorphic enhanced. A quick look at both transfers they look virtually identical with even instances of imperfection like specs of dirt in the same spots. The slight edge goes to Anchor Bay’s release which is progressive while Image’s release is interlaced.
Audio:
Both releases come with one audio option English. All audio mixes included on these two releases are presented in a Dolby Digital mono. Once again I can’t detect any differences quality wise between the Image Entertainment and Anchor Bay releases. This one is a draw.
Extras:
Image Entertainments release comes with a trailer for the film, Barbra Steele Filmography, a Mario Bava Biography & Filmography and a poster & still gallery. The main extras for Image’s release are an audio commentary Tim Lucas who also wrote liner notes about the film. Anchor Bay’s release comes with a T.V. spot, U.S. & International trailers for Black Sunday, Bio’s & Filmographies for Mario Bava & Barbra Steele and trailers for other Mario Bava titles that Anchor Bay have released on DVD. The main extra for this release is the audio commentary that was included on the Image release. Both releases are about offer quality extras.
Overall:
Out of all the recent re-releases of Mario Bava films on DVD from Anchor Bay this one like it’s predecessor from Image Entertainment are so similar in content and quality that you can’t go wrong with either one in the end.