Arrow Video - The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

[Der Spieler]

THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE



A stunning portrait in psycho-terror!

Dario Argento nails the Giallo blueprint in The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, a brutal thriller that packs a gory brace of terrifying murders alongside it’s genre defining mix of red herrings, leather gloved slashers and stylish decor.

When Sam, an American writer in Rome, witnesses an attempted slaying in an art gallery, he unwittingly sets the killers sights on himself and his beautiful model girlfriend. But soon, things start to unravel as it becomes clear that the identity of the unknown slayer is very much open to question. Somebody’s killing everyone, who is the evil fiend? Could it be Sam himself?

Argento’s groundbreaking shocker combines eye-popping visuals with a seamy vein of sadomasochism and a lust for violence to create a genre defining movie classic.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

- Brand new High Definition restoration of the film from the original negative presented in Director of Photography, Vittorio Storaro’s original 2:1 Univisium aspect ratio
- 4 Sleeve art options with original and newly commissioned artwork
- Two-sided fold-out poster
- Exclusive collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by Alan Jones, author of ‘Profondo Argento’
- Brand new HD restoration of the film presented in 1080p
- A Crystal Classic: Luigi Cozzi Remembers Dario’s Bloody Bird (1080p)
- Sergio Martino: The Genesis of the Giallo (1080p)
- The Italian Hitchcock: Dario Argento Remembers The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (1080p)

Blu-ray only
Optional Original English and Italian LPCM mono audio
Running time 96 mins
Region ABC

Original art by Rick Melton

Release Date 2nd May 2011

"Brand new High Definition restoration of the film from the original negative presented in Director of Photography, Vittorio Storaro’s original 2:1 Univisium aspect ratio"

Glad I picked up the BU release...

[Le Grande Blu]

That's a pretty awful cover image, even by Arrow's Standards.

[Liquid_Swords]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Blu

That's a pretty awful cover image, even by Arrow's Standards.

Well...Agree to disagree. Plus there is 4 cover art options.

[charnier]

Originally Posted by Der Spieler

"Brand new High Definition restoration of the film from the original negative presented in Director of Photography, Vittorio Storaro’s original 2:1 Univisium aspect ratio"

Glad I picked up the BU release...

So am I - it is a very good release. But according to the Cult Labs boards, Arrow did not have access to the BU master and had to make do.

Here's what I don't understand - Storaro seems to have a reputation for meddling (Apocalypse Now), but it says that it was in the original 2:1 Univisium ratio. Was the film supposed to have always been presented in that ratio or is it that we generally prefer 2:35 as an aspect ratio and so expect it to be used all the time?

[charnier]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

It's a non-standard ratio, so if Storaro intended it to have been presented in 2:1 back in 1969, hardly any cinemas would have been able to oblige him.

Of course, it's not unknown for a film to have been screened in the wrong aspect ratio for years or even decades - Disney's Sleeping Beauty was conceived for 2.55:1, but by the time it was finished it was only able to be screened in 2.35:1, and I think the Blu-ray is the first time it's been presented as originally intended.

But in that case there's no doubt at all what the correct aspect ratio should be, whereas in this case we have to take Storaro's word for it. Granted, it's a word that comes with considerable authority behind it, and given that this was Argento's debut it's likely that he'd have had a pretty huge input into issues like framing and composition - but it would be useful to hear Argento's own opinion on this.

Thanks, Michael - that's exactly why I asked; you raised a similar point in the Criterion forum over Larks on a String. There's how it was originally meant to be and then how it was actually represented over the years, with people preferring the representation and treating it as definitive.

This may be one of those cases where being authentic does not necessarily pay - but I agree; Argento needs to chip in and settle this.

[the blob]

Storaro's 'vision' is designed as a medium point between theatrical and home video so I doubt it was a concern in 1969. He didn't even devise Univisium/Univision until 1998.

[Der Spieler]

I'm pretty sure if BU released this in 2:35 there was a reason for it. 2:1 is not only unusual but ugly. And it is my understanding that Arrow once again works with a possibly inferior master. We'll wait and see. I always give the runner a chance, but it's a 100% non-buy for me as I've already ordered the BU.

[LordCrumb]

Originally Posted by Der Spieler

I'm pretty sure if BU released this in 2:35 there was a reason for it. 2:1 is not only unusual but ugly. And it is my understanding that Arrow once again works with a possibly inferior master. We'll wait and see. I always give the runner a chance, but it's a 100% non-buy for me as I've already ordered the BU.

Dude seriously, give it a rest. Don't make a completely new Arrow thread if you have no intention of purchasing it, and just to complain and complain again.

[Leterface]

Originally Posted by Der Spieler

It's not like I'm exaggerating anything. Not my fault if they're releasing this in a cropped ratio.

Originally Posted by Der Spieler

I'm pretty sure if BU released this in 2:35 there was a reason for it. 2:1 is not only unusual but ugly.

It can't be cropped if it is the Vittorio Storaro’s original 2:1 Univisium aspect ratio now can it?

Why would 2:1 be uglier than any other aspect ratio, sorry, this just doesn't make any sense or you are just exaggerating things?

For me the correct aspect ratio is a must, so if I didn't miss anything about the "if BU released this in 2:35 there was a reason for it" this Arrow release seems promising in atleast the OAR aspect.

[Muyfa666]

In summary, which version should I try to pick up? Extras doesn't matter, I want good PQ and AQ with english subs.

[Pikylechu]

Originally Posted by Muyfa666

In summary, which version should I try to pick up? Extras doesn't matter, I want good PQ and AQ with english subs.

This thread is a tad out of date - I suggest you look here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=289789

It details the specs for a limited edition release using the new 4K restoration. As far as I'm aware, it is the definitive version of the film in terms of PQ and AQ currently, as well as extras.

[Muyfa666]

Originally Posted by Pikylechu

This thread is a tad out of date - I suggest you look here:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=289789

It details the specs for a limited edition release using the new 4K restoration. As far as I'm aware, it is the definitive version of the film in terms of PQ and AQ currently, as well as extras.

Tnx. I'll continue there instead.