Writings > DVD Image Comparisons > Do You Like Hitchcock?/Vous Aimez Hitchcock?

Do You Like Hitchcock?/Vous Aimez Hitchcock?

Region 0 (Italy) - Flamingo Video
vs. Region 2 (France) -Studio Canal

Details

Bit Rate

R0 Italy

R2 France

Screen Captures

Example 1

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Italy | France

Example 2

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Italy | France

Example 3

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Italy | France

Example 4

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Italy | France

Example 5

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Italy | France

Example 6

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Italy | France

Example 7

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Italy | France

Example 8

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Italy | France

Comments

I can't say I'm particularly impressed by either transfer. The Italian one is better, don't get me wrong, thanks to the anamorphic enhancement and additional detail, but neither are exactly razor-sharp, and both appear to be too dark (the Italian disc fares slightly better in this department). Compare the shots above with the screen captures from the preview trailer, here, which give the film an almost Inferno-like level of saturation. I know which I prefer! Note: the Italian release is slightly over-matted from 1.66:1 to 1.78:1, cropping off a sliver of the picture at the top and bottom. In balance, however, it still comes out on top.

The Italian disc is not English-friendly, although I must admit that I find the Italian dub preferable to the English monstrosity present on the French disc. However, the film was shot in English (and post-synched), so, regardless of who the Italian DVD was aimed at, it really should have included the English track as an option.

Some interesting extras on the Italian release, including a brief "Backstage" featurette, which allows you to hear the cast speaking their lines in English prior to the post-dubbing (as usual, much better than the end result), and interviews with Dario Argento and Elio Germano. Again, however, they are not English-friendly. The French release is bare-bones.

Summary