Mario Bava's THE WHIP AND THE BODY (Wicked-Vision Media) / January 27, 2017

[Daniel Peree]

Hey guys,

we'll be releasing Mario Bava's classic THE WHIP AND THE BODY (or, as it is known in Germany: DER DÄMON UND DIE JUNGFRAU) as No. 4 of our "Collector's Edition"-series on January 27, 2017.

There's going to be three variant cover Mediabooks:



Which, by the way, are already out of stock (our first title to do so before release), but are readily available with the bigger german mailorders.

Specifications and bonus features as follows:

Audio: German, english, french and italian.
BD: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
DVD: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono

Picture:
BD: 1,78:1 (1080p)
DVD: 1,78:1 (16:9, anamorph)

Runtime:
BD: 88 Minutes
DVD: 84 Minutes

Regioncode:
BD: B
DVD: 2

Subtitles:
German, english

Disc-type:
BD: BD-50
DVD: DVD-9

1 Blu-ray, 2 DVDs

Bonus features:

- 24-page Booklet by Dr. Rolf Giesen and Uwe Sommerlad (german)
- Audiocommentary by Pelle Felsch (german)
- Featurette: „Remembering Tony Kendall" (german, with english subtitles)
- Featurette: „Jonathan Rigby on Mario Bava" (english)
- Documentary: „British Legends on Stage and Screen with Sir Christopher Lee“ (english)
- German theatrical trailer
- German ReCut trailer 2016
- French theatrical trailer
- French ReCut trailer 2016
- Italian theatrical trailer
- Italian ReCut trailer 2016
- Spanish theatrical trailer
- Old german opening titles
- US opening titles
- German lobby cards
- German press leaflet
- Filmprogramm
- Italian press book
- Neues Filmprogramm
- Cover artworks
- Press photos
- US lobby cards
- US press book

[nitin]

Hi Daniel, is this the same master as the US and Uk releases or a different one?

[Daniel Peree]

Originally Posted by nitin

Hi Daniel, is this the same master as the US and Uk releases or a different one?

Hello,
It is the same master, but we have not played again at the brightness or the contrast, whereby it can be that our edition looks something different. We also attach great importance to good encoding and new bonus material.

Best,
Daniel

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Daniel Peree

Hello,
It is the same master, but we have not played again at the brightness or the contrast, whereby it can be that our edition looks something different. We also attach great importance to good encoding and new bonus material.

Best,
Daniel

I apologize, as I'm sure this is just a translation issue since you're not writing in your native language, but what does this mean? Did the other two versions change the brightness and contrast, and you didn't?

I'm mainly wondering if this will look something more like the beautiful German DVD, or if it will be another super-muted dark blue one that makes all the exteriors look like "day for night."

[AlexIlDottore]

I've just added this to my Amazon wishlist, but have the same worries as Cakefactory regarding the current scan's faults. I will definitely need to see caps before buying.

[Mr. Thomsen]

If it's the same transfer, I'll pass. Whoever made that transfer messed up big time. I vastly prefer the old German DVD to it.

[Profondo]

Daniel,
There is an opportunity to release this in a superior edition than the US and UK discs, both of which were extremely dark and with blue filters. If anything it actually NEEDS the brightness and contrast adjusted (unless, of course the previous versions darkened the supplied master?). It's a tragedy that this, one of Bava's masterpieces has received such shoddy Blu-ray editions (so far)...

[babybreese]

The current master is so far off there is no helping it.

[HuggyBear73]

anyone grab this? what's the transfer like?

[billyearle]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I apologize, as I'm sure this is just a translation issue since you're not writing in your native language, but what does this mean? Did the other two versions change the brightness and contrast, and you didn't?

I'm mainly wondering if this will look something more like the beautiful German DVD, or if it will be another super-muted dark blue one that makes all the exteriors look like "day for night."

Agree with everyone here, it's a shame they messed up the colors for the US/UK BDs. Basically bumping this, hoping the gentleman at the German label will clarify, or if someone who bought this can chime in.
BTW, I have an Italian DVD, it strikes me as having the colors basically right. Would the old German one be better still? I sold my old (US or German, can't remember) DVD when I moved overseas, so I can't compare.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by billyearle

Agree with everyone here, it's a shame they messed up the colors for the US/UK BDs. Basically bumping this, hoping the gentleman at the German label will clarify, or if someone who bought this can chime in.
BTW, I have an Italian DVD, it strikes me as having the colors basically right. Would the old German one be better still? I sold my old (US or German, can't remember) DVD when I moved overseas, so I can't compare.

I'm not familiar with the Italian DVD, it might be the same as the German for all I know. DVD Beaver has some comparisons, so you could use that for reference. Basically, one of the easiest ways to tell is to look at the beach scene that you see as the second shot on that site. If it looks like day, it's the good transfer. If it looks like a heavy sandstorm in the day, it's the VCI. If it looks like midnight, it's the terrible source used for the blu-ray. :P

[Baron Blood]

Originally Posted by billyearle

...I have an Italian DVD, it strikes me as having the colors basically right. Would the old German one be better still? I sold my old (US or German, can't remember) DVD when I moved overseas, so I can't compare.

If you're talking about the Italian Eagle Pictures and the German EMS... they look very similar.
Some pictures of both are posted at Latarnia.

[dark_clouds]

It is based on the same transfer used on the other BD's but with additional correction. The strange green doesn't show up anymore. Thus, it's not like a new transfer but (a little) better than the other versions.

For those who prefer the old DVD transfer used by e-m-s: This one is also included on the accompanying DVD.

[bgart13]

I have it now, too, and dark clouds' description is correct. Still very dark and the palette still learns towards blue-green-purple. Fleshtones are frequently improved, but still a ways to go until someone can issue a definitive bd. A real shame, because there is definitely a nicely detailed transfer here but the colors are waaaay off -- and anyone who is familiar with Bava's films will instantly see something is not correct.

[billyearle]

Originally Posted by Baron Blood

If you're talking about the Italian Eagle Pictures and the German EMS... they look very similar.
Some pictures of both are posted at Latarnia.

Yeah, I have the Eagle DVD. I read the above posts, and this may be a tough call, but, could the gent above or anyone comment further on if they think the color improvement on the new bd is worth a double dip? Hoping we can see caps comparisons soon.

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by bgart13

I have it now, too, and dark clouds' description is correct. Still very dark and the palette still learns towards blue-green-purple. Fleshtones are frequently improved, but still a ways to go until someone can issue a definitive bd. A real shame, because there is definitely a nicely detailed transfer here but the colors are waaaay off -- and anyone who is familiar with Bava's films will instantly see something is not correct.

Thanks for info!

[Richard--W]

I bought the U.K. Odeon and the German WickedVision blu-rays to my Bava collection.
I have to see what they look like.
I love Bava in full-blown Gothic mode, and this moody tone poem is a really special film.

There is new French blu-ray but the two frame captures don't look promising:

https://www.amazon.fr/Corps-%C3%89di...dp/B07KZ4H9K7/

Could it be that the old German m.c. DVD is still the best?
in terms of accurate color and density?