Dario Argento - Symphony of Fear in Three Films (Suspiria / Opera / Four Flies..)

[MifuneFan]

Cult Films will be releasing a Dario Argento set on December 19th, which includes Suspiria, Opera, and Four Flies on Grey Velvet (all previously released).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dario-Argen...C2948&sr=1-181

A curated thematic collection THE SYMPHONY OF FEAR: THREE FILMS BY DARIO ARGENTO

SUSPIRIA (1977) Dario Argento personally introduces on-screen this 4K-restoration of his first true horror, the critically acclaimed masterpiece which married the rhythm of ballet and progressive rock for an unsurpassed concerto of witchcraft and supernatural nightmares. American student Suzy Bannion enrols at a prestigious Dance Academy where people either disappear or turn up dead, gored and mangled. There’s a demented killer on the loose and Suzy fears that she’s next.

FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET (1971) is a giallo to the tune of Maestro Ennio Morricone’s distinctively ravishing score! An unseen maniac is terrorizing an acclaimed rock musician whose life is soon besieged by senseless gory murders. The last image, mysteriously fixed before death, in one of the victim’s eye contains the only clue to the insane criminal, whose identity is then discovered in a dizzying twist!

OPERA (1987) It was only a matter of time before Argento tackled his beloved opera milieu, showcasing his favourite composer Giuseppe Verdi. Also known as TERROR AT THE OPERA it is now 2K-restored to original speci cations. Young opera singer, Betty, is new in the lead role of Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’. Soon she attracts the attention of a knife-wielding psycho who forces her to watch - with eyes pinned-open - as he butchers all who are close to her.

SUSPIRIA SPECIAL FEATUREs:

• New 4K Scan
• Dario Argento Suspiria 40th Anniversary interview 27’
• Dario Argento introduces his 4K restored Suspiria
• Audio Commentary by Alan Jones and Kim Newman
• Fear at 400 Degrees: Cine Excess interviews Argento, Simonetti et al. 35‘
• Suspiria Perspectives: Cine Excess Critical Comments on a Cult Classic 40’
• Documentary on the 4K Restoration Process by TLE Films 57’

FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Exclusive interview with Writer & Assistant Director Luigi Cozzi 42'
• Restored film rebuilt with prior missing footage
• New English audio remastered from original vault materials
• Trailers & Photo gallery 8'

OPERA aka TERROR AT THE OPERA SPECIAL FEATURES:

• New 2K Scan
• ‘Aria of Fear’: A brand new candid interview with director Dario Argento, revisiting his work from a fresh viewpoint 40'
• ‘Opera Backstage’: Detailed, period documentary showing Argento making Opera 45'
• Restoration featurette on the process from raw scan to the regraded, restored final vision 9'
• New improved English subtitles for the optional Italian audio

[indisposed]

I just recently bought the Shameless release of Four Flies as it was going cheap and figured, no better release was likely at this point. I'm guessing this is the same transfer... ? I never got around to getting Opera, but I got the limited edition steelbook of the 4K of Suspiria, as I was one of the indiegogo backers....

I'd probably be better off just buying Opera seperately.

[Eibon]

I have the Cult releases of Opera and Suspiria plus the superior German digibook of 4Flies. I would be more inclined to do a cheap upgrade of latter in a standard release at this stage. This looks like a tired release and those crass synopses don't do any favours.

[indisposed]

Originally Posted by Eibon

I have the Cult releases of Opera and Suspiria plus the superior German digibook of 4Flies. I would be more inclined to do a cheap upgrade of latter in a standard release at this stage. This looks like a tired release and those crass synopses don't do any favours.

What makes the German release better ; I get confused when it comes to the different European releases, so I just went with the Shameless release because it was cheap.

[Eibon]

Originally Posted by indisposed

What makes the German release better ; I get confused when it comes to the different European releases, so I just went with the Shameless release because it was cheap.

They're both flawed. German disc misses English translation in a key scene near the end but it is not a problem if you're familiar with the scene from another release. Shameless is perfectly acceptable but I believe there's a loud audio spike near end. The German packaging is gorgeous and extras are fairly English friendly so it trumps the Shameless imho. Either way I'd welcome a definitive version and if Cult step up and fix the issues with this edition and make it available separately then I'll probably get that. At this stage this kind of compendium should be a 4K set. I already have the German Suspiria 12x12 4K so a 4K Symphony set would be a viable route to take from where I stand now.

[rapta]

Someone at Cult Films needs to hire a graphic designer, fast.

Also, this set is of no benefit to any Argento fans, as far as I can tell, as most will already own the previously released discs (indeed, I own all three and think I got them on sale too). Similar lazy repackage to what Arrow have been doing with their giallo titles (other than the newer set of course). Probably only of worth to a new collector who doesn't already own any Argento, or someone who's only just getting into Italian horror.

To confirm Four Flies on Grey Velvet probably isn't a new disc of any kind, the packshot on the Amazon listing literally says "SHAM202(B)" on the disc. So unless they've reauthored the whole disc to include a better scan (doubtful), I imagine it's the same product that's already out there, just with different disc art. At least, I'd be surprised if it wasn't!

[tictacjak]

Originally Posted by rapta

To confirm Four Flies on Grey Velvet probably isn't a new disc of any kind, the packshot on the Amazon listing literally says "SHAM202(B)" on the disc. So unless they've reauthored the whole disc to include a better scan (doubtful), I imagine it's the same product that's already out there, just with different disc art. At least, I'd be surprised if it wasn't!

My Shameless disc with the messed up audio just says "SHAM202". I wonder what the "B" means? Could they have fixed it?

[GG88]

They bundled up 4 Fellini films shortly before Criterion released La Dolce Vita. So hopefully this is a similar last chance cash grab before 4 flies escapes Shameless hell and hopefully gets a UHD by Arrow to match the rest of the animals trilogy.

I re-watched the whole trilogy last Halloween, the compression was one of the most terrifying things I’d ever seen, only made worse by comparison to Arrow UHDs.

[Kyle15]

Four Flies was recently restored so this is like a big wet phart.

[tictacjak]

Originally Posted by Kyle15

Four Flies was recently restored so this is like a big wet phart.

For real. I wish someone would release it already.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by tictacjak

For real. I wish someone would release it already.

tictacjak, I love your avatar! That film needs a Blu-ray release yesterday!

[dallywhitty]

So frustrating how many great films Shameless still hold the rights to.

[tictacjak]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

tictacjak, I love your avatar! That film needs a Blu-ray release yesterday!

Thanks! It's finally getting a release next year! https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...0&postcount=58

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by tictacjak

Thanks! It's finally getting a release next year! https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...0&postcount=58

Wow, this is incredible news! I sincerely hope it pans out; FULL CIRCLE/THE HAUNTING OF JULIA is an amazing movie.

[NeilZ]

Four Flies is begging to be freed from Shameless!!!

[grahams76]

It’s out on 4K in the US next week on Black Friday - from Severin.

[Ste7en]

Originally Posted by grahams76

It’s out on 4K in the US next week on Black Friday - from Severin.

Looks to be quite the set as well.

https://twitter.com/SeverinFilms/sta...FnFOBMKprYDarg

Every time I go to the Severin site I feel sorry for myself... I wish I had more money

[grahams76]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Looks to be quite the set as well.

https://twitter.com/SeverinFilms/sta...FnFOBMKprYDarg

Every time I go to the Severin site I feel sorry for myself... I wish I had more money

I'm going to wait for a cheaper edition. $55 plus (not cheap) internal US shipping plus reshipper fees is way too expensive for me. I imagine Severin will release a cheaper standard edition down the road or someone else will in another country.

[drush9999]

Definitely getting the Severin edition, along with Five Days of Milan & Mario Bava's final TV movie. My only issue is it's from Severin who are hit and miss.

[DukeTogo84]

Originally Posted by drush9999

My only issue is it's from Severin who are hit and miss.

They have been doing a great job recently, but their past can't seem to escape them. They did have a recall last year, but other than that, they have been on fire.