Mark Edward Heuck
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2000
- Messages
- 1,187
Okay, this comes from the "You didn't hear this from me" department, but I have received reliable word that Paramount plans to release Mario Bava's DANGER DIABOLIK on DVD this summer. However, it has been planned as not only a bare-bones, no-frills DVD, but that it will use the improperly-framed, English-dubbed master previously used for the out-of-print laserdisc years ago.
It's understandable that this title is not TITANIC, or even TOMB RAIDER. But a better DVD can be made of this with little effort. John Phillip Law has gone on record as very interested in recording a commentary track. Also, Tim Lucas' long-awaited ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK biography of Mario Bava will finally be out this year, and Lucas has already done fine, detailed commentaries and notes for other Bava DVDs. His involvement should be solicited and would be easy to acquire. And Paramount has always been a leader in creating new, clean, 16x9 transfers, so to recycle an old laserdisc version is out of character and disappointing.
Before we go pestering our friend at the studio, my source spoke to him already, and he replied that his wishes for a better-quality presentation were overruled by higher-ups. But if he can go to the powers that be with a large amount of support in the same way he surely did for the FRIDAY THE 13TH series, perhaps they can be persuaded to step back and reassess the plan.
If it would be possible to make this a sticky thread, I would ask the moderators to keep this active for at least a couple of weeks, as this is the timetable I was quoted for when the transfer and mastering will take place.
A master criminal deserves better, don't you agree?
It's understandable that this title is not TITANIC, or even TOMB RAIDER. But a better DVD can be made of this with little effort. John Phillip Law has gone on record as very interested in recording a commentary track. Also, Tim Lucas' long-awaited ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK biography of Mario Bava will finally be out this year, and Lucas has already done fine, detailed commentaries and notes for other Bava DVDs. His involvement should be solicited and would be easy to acquire. And Paramount has always been a leader in creating new, clean, 16x9 transfers, so to recycle an old laserdisc version is out of character and disappointing.
Before we go pestering our friend at the studio, my source spoke to him already, and he replied that his wishes for a better-quality presentation were overruled by higher-ups. But if he can go to the powers that be with a large amount of support in the same way he surely did for the FRIDAY THE 13TH series, perhaps they can be persuaded to step back and reassess the plan.
If it would be possible to make this a sticky thread, I would ask the moderators to keep this active for at least a couple of weeks, as this is the timetable I was quoted for when the transfer and mastering will take place.
A master criminal deserves better, don't you agree?
anoramica
