MovieChat Forums > La belva col mitra (1977) Discussion > Cheap (but flawed) DVD at Wal*Mart

Cheap (but flawed) DVD at Wal*Mart

posted 18 years ago by ab-14
2 replies | jump to latest

Titles vary by store, but my local Wal*Mart has a DVD of this for $3.30 in the dump bin. Good news and bad news.

Good news is that it's widescreen, at first glance letterboxed to about 16:9. Bad news (or better news, maybe) is that I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be anamorphic, although they didn't set the bit on the disc, so you'll need to make your TV do it or everything will be tall and skinny.

I could be wrong about that, but I don't think so- look at the wheels on the cars (and the menu is anamorphic). The right edge is missing a bit, and there are some geometry problems, but overall, the picture is there, though it's pretty washed out.

And that's the really bad news: the transfer and print are not good, though apparently complete and not suffering from breaks and splices. The print probably didn't look great to begin with, and the transfer has some analog video defects too. No digital defects to speak of, though. Soundtrack doesn't sound too bad.

Anyway, for $3, it's probably worth a dive in the dump bin.

[–] Skye_Reynolds 18 years ago

Thanks for the advice. I've already got the film on one of those "50 ___ classics" releases. For an obscure Italian film, it isn't half bad. It's almost Death Wish or Lethal Weapon quality at times. Odd connection to make, I know, but it is sort of Death Wish meets Lethal Weapon.

[–] Woodyanders 16 years ago

Blue Underground has issued a typically fine DVD of this sleazy treat with a terrific widescreen anamorphic transfer from a print that's in bang-up shape. The sole extra is the trailer.

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