Written by: Michael Den Boer on May 15th, 2007
Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1963 Director: Mario Bava
Writers: Mario Bava, Enzo Corbucci, Ennio De Concini, Eliana De Sabata, Mino Guerrini, Franco Prosperi
Cast: Letícia Román, John Saxon, Valentina Cortese, Titti Tomaino, Luigi Bonos, Milo Quesada, Robert Buchanan, Marta Melocco, Gustavo De Nardo
| DVD released: | 2001 | 2007 |
| Approximate running time: | 85m40s | 85m42s |
| Aspect Ratio: | 1.66:1 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 :
Nora (Letícia Román) while on vacation in Rome witnesses a murder and when no one believes her she convinces a young doctor named Marcello (John Saxon) to help investigate the murder. They soon discover a connection between this murder and a handful of unsolved murders known as “The Alphabet Murders”. Will Nora uncover the truth before she becomes the killers’ next victim?
Video:
Both releases present the film in an anamorphic widescreen which preserves the films original aspect ratio. The differences between the two transfers are so minimal that they look virtually identical in most respects. 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 Italian and it is presented in a Dolby Digital mono. Side by side they sound the same and are free of nay major sound defects. Both release come with removable English subtitles.
Extras:
Image Entertainments release comes with a trailer for the film, John Saxon Filmography, Mario Bava Biography & Filmography, Photo and 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 a T.V. spot, U.S. & International trailers for Black Sunday, Bio/Filmography for Mario Bava and trailers for other Mario Bava titles that Anchor Bay have released on DVD. Other extras include a ten minute interview with actor John Saxon titled “Remembering the Girl with John Saxon”. The main extra for this release is an audio commentary with Mario Bava historian Tim Lucas. Anchor Bay’s release improves greatly upon the previous release in the extras department.
Overall:
Both releases come with a solid audio/video presentation with the edge going to the Anchor Bay release for its addition of several new extras.