Medea (1969) R2 UK ADDED

[baggish]

Medea (1969) R2 UK

http://dvdcompare.net/comparisons/film.php?fid=15564

DVD R2/Blu Ray B Dual Format UK release by BFI

Unfortunately I don't have a Blu Ray player so I can't personally check that disc. http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film/DVDReviews12/medea.htm has the specs. There is also a US Blu Ray release, dvd-basen lists various reviews.

For the DVD disc:

Sources:
i) I borrowed the DVD from the library
ii) http://shop.bfi.org.uk/medea-dvd-bluray.html
iii) http://film.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/74597/ (describes the soundtracks and the "International Release Elements" with info confirmed in the booklet that comes with the release)

Extras:
- Italian trailer (2:40)
- Teaser spot (English trailer) (1:16)
- International release elements* (1:35)
Subtitles:
- English (optional)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Picture Format: Anamorphic
TV System: PAL
Soundtrack(s):
- Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono with Maria Callas (Pasolini's preferred soundtrack, newly restored)
- Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono without Maria Callas (the original soundtrack that was used in theatres)
- English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono**
Case type: Amaray (Keep) Case
In the case:
- 32-page booklet including essays, reviews, biography and an in-depth contemporary interview with Maria Callas by Kenneth Harris
Duration: 106:29
Cuts: None
- http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/medea-1974
ASIN:
- B005R33OVC

* At first sight, this appears to be a plot synopsis. The digitalfix review suggests it is a series of intertitles that "were produced for, and possibly used on, an American release of the film". The booklet says "A number of contextualising slates were evidently created for use in an English language version of Medea. However, it is not clear whether these were ever integrated into the film to produce an alternative version that received distribution. As they are of historical interest, these slates have been included, abstracted from the film, on the DVD of this set."

**The English soundtrack was originally used with a shorter version of the film, and no English soundtrack was recorded for the missing parts. On the DVD/Blu Ray these parts revert to the Italian soundtrack with English subtitles.

I don't know if it's possible to check whether the soundtracks of the releases already in the comparison are with or without Maria Callas. As the Maria Callas soundtrack was apparently newly restored at the time of the BFI release (the end of 2011), maybe they are without her? It's possible the US Blu Ray is without Maria Callas ("the original Italian language track" according to http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Medea-Blu ... 62/#Review and "only containing the original Italian audio track" according to http://www.mondo-digital.com/medea.html).

[James-Masaki_Ryan]

Don't know if the older releases have Callas' voice on the soundtrack but highly doubt it. I just stated the BFI is the only one to include both the original and restored soundtracks. Thank you, sir! Also added the Blu-rays.

[baggish]

Welcome! I think the US E1 Entertainment version is available on DVD as well, but I couldn't discover much about it.