Written by: Michael Den Boer on May 8th, 2007
Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1963
Director: Mario Bava
Writers: Mario Bava, Alberto Bevilacqua, Ivan Chekhov, Marcello Fondato, F.G. Snyder, Aleksei Tolstoy
Cast: Michèle Mercier, Lidia Alfonsi, Boris Karloff, Mark Damon, Susy Andersen, Massimo Righi, Glauco Onorato, Rika Dialina, Jacqueline Pierreux, Milly Monti, Harriet Medin, Gustavo De Nardo, Milo Quesada
| DVD released: | 2000 | 2007 |
| Approximate running time: | 92m21s | 92m14s |
| Aspect Ratio: | 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen | 1.77:1 Anamorphic Widescreen |
| Rating: | NR | NR |
| Sound: | Dolby Digital Mono Italian with English Subtitles | Dolby Digital mono Italian with English Subtitles |
| 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 :Black Sabbath is a trio of tales. The first story “The Telephone” is a about prostitute who is terrorized by a phantom phone caller. The second story “The Wurdalak" is about a family patriarch who returns from a hunting trip with a vampire like thirst for blood. The third story “The Drop of Water" is about a nurse who steals a ring from one of her recently deceased clients who was a spiritualist who died during a séance.
Video:
Both releases present the films in its original aspect ratio. Both have solid colors and details looks sharp through out. The Anchor Bay release looks cleaner and at times ever so slightly sharper. Also the Anchor Bay DVD is progressive while the Image Entertainment release is interlaced. Yet another close one that goes to the Anchor Bay release.
Audio:
Both releases come with one audio options Italian which is presented in a Dolby Digital mono. Just like many of the recent Anchor Bay reissues this one like its Image counterpart are sound almost the same with no noticeable differences quality wise. Both releases come with removable English subtitles. This one is too close to call.
Extras:
Image Entertainments release comes with a trailer for the film, Boris Karloff Filmography, Mario Bava Biography & Filmography and Photo & Poster Gallery. The main extra for Image’s release is liner notes about the film which where written by Mario Bava expert Tim Lucas. Anchor Bay’s release comes with T.V. & Radio Spots, The U.S. & International trailers for the film, Boris Karloff & Mario Bava Bio’s and a poster & still gallery. Other extras include a twenty one minute interview with actor Mark Damon. The main extra for this release is an audio commentary with Mario Bava expert Tim Lucas. The Anchor Bay release is loaded with extras when compared to the Image release.
Overall:
Audio/video wise both releases are very close with the better release of the two ending up being the Anchor Bay release with its wealth of extra content.