Argento

[Goragio]

Haven't seen any of his films and want to check one out to see what all the fuss is about.

Which would be good dvds to pick up?

I don't suppose any have original sound tracks and english subs rather than dubs?

[Randal_Graves]

Deep Red
Suspiria
Opera

are three good ones to start with, all the disks include both Italian with English subs, I think, Michael Brook will confirm this later probably

[Michael Brooke]

I'd say <I>Suspiria</I> or <I>Deep Red</I> as a clear first choice - which one you go for depends on whether you're more into plot (<I>Deep Red</I>) or stylish visuals/soundtrack (<I>Suspiria</I>).

The Anchor Bay DVDs are outstanding (astonishingly good picture and sound given the age of the films), and I'm happy to confirm that both are not region-coded.

[sampath]

The original language of Suspiria is English, and the recent Anchor Bay release has English DTS and Dolby Digital soundtracks. The other two are Italian I think (haven't seen them) but at any rate the Anchor Bay disks are pretty good bets.

I'm thinking of getting hold of Inferno next, as that seems to have a strong reputation....

[Steviey]

Agree with Michael. Suspiria is a particularly striking film. The plot i think leaves a lot to be desired but the visuals are amazing.

[Shingster]

Deep Red was filmed mainly in English (I think), so the AB disc features English & Italian audio tracks. Unfortunately, the English track reverts to Italian for some scenes as they couldn't find the English audio elements for them (Maybe these scenes where shot in Italian only?) I'm waiting for shipping notice on the AB disc myself.
If you have FilmFour, they show a few Argento films every now & then.
I haven't seen all his films myself, but his early Giallo films are like violent Agatha Christie films. There's quite a lot of humour in them, which will probably surprise people looking for horror.
If I had to list the Argento films that I've seen, from best to worst, it would be:

Deep Red (Favourite)
Suspiria
The Bird With The Crystal Plumage
Cat O' Nine Tails
Tenebre
Inferno
The Stendhal Syndrome (Least Favourite)

[Michael Brooke]

<B>Deep Red was filmed mainly in English (I think), so the AB disc features English & Italian audio tracks. Unfortunately, the English track reverts to Italian for some scenes as they couldn't find the English audio elements for them (Maybe these scenes where shot in Italian only?) </B>

My understanding of the situation is that the film was shot silent with the actors speaking English or Italian depending on their nationality, as was standard practice at the time.

The full cut was dubbed into Italian, and the shorter international version was dubbed into English - which explains the lack of an English soundtrack for certain scenes. A similar situation exists with <I>The Good, the Bad and the Ugly</I>, where the English dub was only recorded after the film had been shortened.

It's easy to remedy, though - just watch the whole thing in Italian, which is just as legitimate a language as English for this particular film.

[adamvbarker]

Ah, but it's very obvious that most of the leading actors are speaking english, the movements of their mouths match the english subtitles rather precisely. I found this very distracting.

I ended up watching the english dub (tho' I usually always go for subtitled versions). This had the advantage of hearing David Hemmings real voice, rather than an Italian voice-over guy. And when they occassionally lapsed into subtitled Italian - well, they were in Italy, and it's a very weird film, so it hardly destroys the suspension of disbelief.

[feverpitch96]

Originally posted by sampath
The original language of Suspiria is English

Thanks, sampath! I was wondering about the lack of English subtitles on the Suspiria disc (to go with what I thought was the original (Italian) soundtrack), but didn't get around to asking about it. Now that makes a lot of sense.
:)

[Michael Brooke]

Actually, as with <I>Deep Red</I>, the "official" language of <I>Suspiria</I> is either English or Italian. Jessica Harper is obviously speaking English, while most of the Italian cast are equally obviously speaking Italian, so which one you go for depends on what you're most comfortable with (though the DTS ES 6.1 soundtrack on the Anchor Bay disc rather swayed me towards the English version!).

The first Argento film that was shot entirely in English was <I>Phenomena</I> nearly a decade later.

[Barney_Tabasco]

Do check out Film Four in November, they appear to be showing most of his major works including Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae, Crystal Plummage and many more.

I can't believe they are showing Salo? In fact (and sorry to change subjects), they are showing quite a few Passolini works which i think will be for the first time in most cases!

[Shingster]

Well, I've finally seen AB's Suspiria DVD tonight, and all I can say is, I'd never really seen this film before.
I had only seen the Nouveaux Pictures VHS & the quality of that was abysmal. Dialogue sound levels were non existent, which meant that I had to turn my T.V up full, so when the score kicked in: BOOM!! way too loud!. Nouveux also completely wrecked the score, as each audio element (you know the chanting & bass lines etc) is roughly at the same level, resulting in it just being a wall of noise between the viewer & the film.
Honestly, anyone who has seen this film on VHS & liked it, the new AB release is a must buy, the colours are phenomal, they seem to jump off the screen. The DTS ES surround track is quite simply one of the best I've heard. For example, the dialogue is crystal clear throughout the film, even when the Gobln score is firing on all cylinders, remarkable! If you get it, you're going to have to constantly remind yourself that this film was released in '77!
Finally Suspiria on home video is the sonic & visual assault Argento intended it to be.
(Sorry if all that's been stated before in other threads, but I felt people could do with a bit of reminding.)

[Goragio]

Thanks all.

Haven't got Film4 :(

Going to pick up the AB Deep Red and see how what I think.

[hate tank]

Avoid all the movies Argento made during the last 10 years, including such atrocities as

Phantom of the Opera
Stendhal Syndrome
Aura

[Creamstick]

Originally posted by hate tank
Avoid all the movies Argento made during the last 10 years, including such atrocities as

Phantom of the Opera
Stendhal Syndrome
Aura

Stendhal's a piece of class, and as for Aura... :confused: don't you mean Trauma?

[edrch]

Talking of Argento films, is there any chance that Four Flies on Grey Velvet will be released on DVD?

I understand that it is a rare film and prints are hard to come by. Any details or information?

[Mike]

Originally posted by edrch
Talking of Argento films, is there any chance that Four Flies on Grey Velvet will be released on DVD?

I understand that it is a rare film and prints are hard to come by. Any details or information?

I saw it in July 1996 at the NFT and the print was in bad condition. My own copy is panned and scanned and looks appalling. Paramount have the US rights to the best of my knowledge, so what they plan to do is a mystery,