The Witches (1967) (Arrow Academy) - January 9, 2018

[MifuneFan]

In the mid-sixties, famed producer Dino De Laurentiis brought together the talents of five celebrated Italian directors for an anthology film. Their brief was simple: to direct an episode in which Silvana Mangano (Bitter Rice, Ludwig) plays a witch. Luchino Visconti (Ossessione, Death in Venice) and screenwriter Cesare Zavattini (Bicycle Thieves) open the film with The Witch Burned Alive, about a famous actress and a drunken evening that leads to unpleasant revelations. Civic Sense is a lightly comic interlude from Mauro Bolognini (The Lady of the Camelias) with a dark conclusion, and The Earth as Seen from the Moon sees Italian comedy legend Totò team up with Pier Paolo Pasolini (Theorem) for the first time for a tale of matrimony and a red-headed father and son. Franco Rosso (The Woman in the Painting) concocts a story of revenge in The Sicilian's Wife, while Vittorio De Sica (Shoeshine) casts Clint Eastwood as Mangano's estranged husband in An Evening Like the Others, concluding The Witches with a stunning homage to Italian comic books.

Bonus Materials

• Brand new 2K restoration from original film elements produced by Arrow Films exclusively for this release
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original Italian mono audio (uncompressed LPCM)
• Brand-new audio commentary by film critic and novelist Tim Lucas
• Interview with actor Ninetto Davoli, recorded exclusively for this release
• English-language version of Vittorio De Sica’s episode, An Evening Like the Others, starring Clint Eastwood
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Pasquale Iannone and Kat Ellinger

Source

[Member-167298]

Never heard of this, but it looks intriguing. May have to do a blind-buy.

[MifuneFan]

Yeah, with those directors involved, it sounds pretty cool. I really enjoy anthology stuff like this (e.g. Spirits of the Dead).

[AnthonyGG]

Where are you finding these new Arrow Academy announcements? I thought they weren't supposed to be unveiled until Monday?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by AnthonyGG

Where are you finding these new Arrow Academy announcements? I thought they weren't supposed to be unveiled until Monday?

Sorry, I thought I linked the source under the image. It seems MVD leaked them out early.

[Worship.my.wreck]

Ugh... I thought this was for The Witches (1990) till I saw the date. Such disappointment....

[Telstar]

This would have made an interesting and strong choice for an Arrow Video title...and would have helped a bit to ease the pain of this loooong super-dull stretch Arrow Video's been on for way too many months now.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by Worship.my.wreck

Ugh... I thought this was for The Witches (1990) till I saw the date. Such disappointment....

Me too. Now I'm violently angry.

[MifuneFan]

Now officially announced.

[dkelly26666]

I love this one.... I remember the first segment, by Luchino Visconti, is lush and elegant to look at, but was a little slow. But, stick with it, the Bolognini segment is super fast and short, but the Pasolini and De Sica segments make it all worthwhile. The Pasolini one is VERY Pasolini, so if you like him, you'll love it, and the De Sica one is the best. Be sure to watch that segment with the English soundtrack, to hear Clint Eastwood's real voice. That one is a riot.

[Jaymole]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

I love this one.... I remember the first segment, by Luchino Visconti, is lush and elegant to look at, but was a little slow. But, stick with it, the Bolognini segment is super fast and short, but the Pasolini and De Sica segments make it all worthwhile. The Pasolini one is VERY Pasolini, so if you like him, you'll love it, and the De Sica one is the best. Be sure to watch that segment with the English soundtrack, to hear Clint Eastwood's real voice. That one is a riot.

I wish I would have read your post before watching last night. I had forgotten that there was the English Language cut and watched the entire film in Italian. I should have switched to English for the last segment with Eastwood. I agree with you in liking the De Sica the best, but the Visconti was not far behind. An interesting film overall although The Witches title really does not fit.

[LanceL]

How is the quality of this blu-ray, please?

[LanceL]

Originally Posted by Jaymole

I wish I would have read your post before watching last night. I had forgotten that there was the English Language cut and watched the entire film in Italian. I should have switched to English for the last segment with Eastwood. I agree with you in liking the De Sica the best, but the Visconti was not far behind. An interesting film overall although The Witches title really does not fit.

Is that English soundtrack on this Arrow release? I can't seem to locate it...?

[LanceL]

It's in the special features...