Writings > DVD Image Comparisons > What Have You Done to Solange?/Cosa Avete Fatto a Solange?

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What Have You Done to Solange?/Cosa Avete Fatto a Solange?

Region 1 (USA) - Media Blasters/Shriek Show
vs. Region 2 (Japan) - Trash Mountain Video
vs. Region 0 (Italy) - 01 Distribution

Details

Bit Rate

R1 USA

R2 Japan

R0 Italy

Screen Captures

Example 1

Mouse over to switch between versions:
R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Example 2

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R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Example 3

Mouse over to switch between versions:
R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Example 4

Mouse over to switch between versions:
R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Example 5

Mouse over to switch between versions:
R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Example 6

Mouse over to switch between versions:
R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Example 7

Mouse over to switch between versions:
R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Example 8

Mouse over to switch between versions:
R1 USA | R2 Japan | R0 Italy

Update, October 26, 2005: The new Italian release by 01 Distribution and IIF Home Video is a vast improvement over the other two releases in every way as far as image quality goes. For the first time ever, we get a progressive scan, HD-sourced transfer derived from a brand new restoration partially funded by Quentin Tarantino (thanks, Mr. T!). It's infinitely crisper and shows improved clarity, with far less details being lost in the overly dark shadows of the previous releases. An extremely high average bit rate of 9.68 Mbps ensures that there are no compression artefacts to speak of - if you look at the bit rate diagram near the top of the page you can see that the bit rate is essentially pushed as high as it will go 99% of the time. My only concern is that the opening title sequence seems overly pink, resulting in some details being bleached out (see Example 1). That, and the fact that the end credits cut out early - very odd. Other than that, though, this is a fabulous transfer in every sense of the word. Finally, the crême de la crême of the giallo genre has a transfer that does it justice.

The Italian release features both the English and Italian tracks, with subtitles in both languages (corresponding to the Italian dialogue). This alone puts it a step ahead of the other two releases. However, unfortunately, the audio quality of the English release is a bit suspect, with a slight echo effect to the dialogue. It's not a huge problem, but it doesn't sound as good as the US Shriek Show release.

Bottom line: the only real reason to keep the US release is for the excellent Robert Marcucci liner notes. The Italian release is a major improvement. Well done, 01 Distribution!

Comments

There's no tactful way of saying this: the Japanese transfer, also used for the UK release, is a disaster. Cropped on either side, with approximately 11% of the frame missing at all times, and also vertically stretched to the point of noticeable distortion, the Japanese transfer is murky, gritty and also converted from a PAL source. (This is also true of the UK disc which, despite being released in a PAL territory, is an NTSC conversion of a PAL source!) The US transfer is far from perfect, and is encoded interlaced, but it has far much less doubling, and looks positively sparkling alongside its Japanese counterpart. There is also a bizarre discrepancy in the flashback scene towards the end of the film, where the black and white footage has been graded orange in the US version. Whether this is intentional or tinkering on the part of the US distributor is unclear.

The Japanese version includes only Italian audio and Japanese subtitles, ruling it out as an option for English speakers. The US disc leaves out the Italian audio, which would have been a nice bonus given the fact that Italian dubs of gialli are often preferable to their English counterparts. However, the plus of having a coherent English track cannot be denied.

Overall the Japanese release, like its UK counterpart, is a disgrace and should not have been released. While I am still not happy with the quality of the US version, it is by far the best edition currently available.

Summary