MovieChat Forums > Jack the Ripper (1988) Discussion > accessing 'special features' - any help ...

accessing 'special features' - any help appreciated

posted 12 years ago by gundicus
4 replies | jump to latest

I have the Anchor Bay version which plays fine on my region 1 dvd player. And, in the past, I HAVE accessed the 'special features' which include Audio Commentary and several other nifty extras. However, now I can't recall how I did it (no easter eggs - so Anchor Bay claims). The Main Menu has the following options: Play Part One and Chapter Selections...neither of which reveals arrows or any promptings as to how to GET to the special features...no page forward feature etc.. Does anyone out there who owns this dvd recall HOW TO access these features? I did it once years ago & now can't remember what trick I employed to get to them at all & it's bugging me because I really want to listen to the Audio Commentary. Any & all help is greatly appreciated. I'm sure i'll feel like an idiot as soon as i'm reminded how to access them - but i've been trying for an hour now - to no avail. Thanks!

[–] cwy2009 12 years ago

On the main menu, you just select "Extras", then select "Commentaries on or off". Here is what the main menu should look like: http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/8455/pdvd157.jpg. Just press the Menu button on your remote to get there.

[–] gundicus 12 years ago

Hi,
Thanks for helping. I should have mentioned - that's the problem - I have TWO discs & there is NO 'extras' option on disc one at all. On disc TWO there IS an extras option BUT when you press it all that plays is the alternate audition scenes with the other actor who Michael Caine replaced. I can't access any director's commentary at ALL because disc 1 has NO 'extra' button - just 'play feature' or 'scene selections'. I wasn't aware that it even CAME on a single DVD (I do have the UK version which plays fine - but perhaps it's a bootleg since it's on 2 discs.). So I guess this clarifies why I can't access the director's commentary - huh? Little did I know....I thought all of them came on 2 discs...my mistake. Any idea where I could get a SINGLE disc copy (I don't see any that are non-American (which doesn't have the commentary, I hear) on Ebay at all.
Thanks again for all your help. I know this is complicated & a bit of a pain...it's frustrating though because I love director's commentaries & would love to hear it! :0)

[–] cwy2009 12 years ago

You said you used to be able to hear the commentary, so it has to be on the disc. While the film is playing, press the Audio button on your DVD player's remote control. If there is a second audio track, it should switch to that. If not, then the disc doesn't have it.

This is the disc I have. Is this what you have?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-DVD-Michael-Caine/dp/B0000505FM

The back cover clearly says audio commentary and other extras included. And it's one disc. I haven't heard of a 2-disc set. Did you buy from Amazon or another reputable seller?

[–] gundicus 12 years ago

Yes, the cover looks like that - and I got it from Ebay years ago. It could very well be a bootleg though - as the cover looks copied (it's still in color but a bit fuzzy). I have purchased 2 of them (the first one I lost years ago) and they were both 2 disc sets - it's very strange. I will try to access it again via the audio button...thanks for trying to help.