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Blade in the Dark (A) AKA La casa con la scala nel buio (1983)
The last cry you will hear will be yours!Director: Lamberto Bava
Year of Copyright: 1983
OVERALL: Draw-
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Extras:"Behind The Blade" interview with Lamberto Bava and Dardano Sacchetti (9:27)
Talent Bios
- Lamberto Bava (18 pages)
- Dardano Sacchetti (14 pages)
European Theatrical Trailer (3:14) -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Contains 2-page leaflet with a reproduction of the Italian lobby card and liner notes by Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas.
Interview is in Italian with English subtitles.
Also available in:
- 2003 "2 Horror Double Features - Drive In" with "Macabre" -
Special thanks to Rewind user electricboy for providing these specifications.
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Extras:"Behind The Blade" featurette (9:26)
Cast and crew biographies and filmographies
European theatrical trailer -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:The featurette is in Italian with English subtitles.
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Special thanks to Rewind user badnell for providing these specifications.
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Extras:Stills and Artwork Gallery (52 pictures)
Theatrical Trailer (2:03) -
Subtitles:Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Swedish
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Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 1.0
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Limited to 500 copies.
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Special thanks to Rewind user Åsmund_Utvik for providing these specifications.
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Extras:Lobby Stills & Artwork Gallery (56 Images)
Theatrical trailer (3:14) -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:1.85:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 1.0
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Case type:Keep Case
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Special thanks to Rewind user electricboy for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:Cast and crew biographies
Cast and crew filmographies
Photo gallery
Theatrical trailer -
Subtitles:Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Swedish
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Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:Non-Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 1.0
German Dolby Digital 1.0 -
Case type:Keep Case
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Special thanks to Rewind user electricboy for providing these specifications.
- Specifications to be confirmed
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Extras:"Jeux d’Ombre" featurette (38:57)
"Technical file" notes
Filmographies for:
- Lamberto Bava (Director)
- Valeria Cavalli (Actress)
- Michele Soavi (Actor)
- Fabiola Toledo (Actress)
- Anny Papa (Actress)
- Andrea Occhipinti (Actor)
Photo gallery
Theatrical trailer (3:03) -
Subtitles:Italian Version: French (forced)
Export Version: None -
Aspect Ratio:1.78:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Italian Version:
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Export Version:
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Comes in a slipcase.
The featurette is in Italian with optional French subtitles. -
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Buy this disc from
Amazon France
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Extras:DISC ONE (Blu-ray Copy)
DISC TWO (DVD)
*The Film - Italian Version (102:30)
Audio Commentary by Marcus Stiglegger
Audio Commentary by Pelle Felsch & Christoph Draxtra
Alternate Export Version (91:20)
Italian Advertising Material (0:37)
Trailer (3:14) -
Subtitles:Italian Version: German (forced)
Export Version: None -
Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Italian Version:
Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Export Version:
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Limited to 666 copies.
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Commentaries:(1.) Audio Commentary by Marcus Stiglegger (on Italian version)
(2.) Audio Commentary by Pelle Felsch & Christoph Draxtra (on Italian version) -
Extras:*The Film - Italian Version (102:30)
Alternate Export Version (91:20)
Italian Advertising Material (0:37)
Trailer (3:14) -
Subtitles:Italian Version: German (forced)
Export Version: None -
Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):Italian Version:
Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Export Version:
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Extras:Photo gallery
Theatrical trailer -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:1.78:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 1.0
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Also available as part of a double feature with Spookies.
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Special thanks to Rewind user electricboy for providing these specifications.
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Extras:Interview with cinematographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia (19:11)
Q&A with Lamberto Bava - moderated by Calum Waddell (50:08)
Italian opening credits (1:18)
Italian closing credits (0:47) -
Subtitles:English (forced)
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Aspect Ratio:1.66:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Special thanks to Rewind user Harry_Maynard for providing these specifications.
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OVERALL: Draw
The German releases have both versions of the film and exclusive German commentaries.
The French release has both versions of the film with differing extras, though note the transfer is not in the original aspect ratio.
The UK 88 Films release has the longer Italian version with the original Italian audio and English dub, with differing exclusive extras.
GENERAL NOTES:
The film was originally shot for Italian television, and planned as four twenty-seven minute segments; however, the final cut of the film ended up for theatrical release trimmed down to 97 minutes.
Although the 97 minute version became the default cut of the film on VHS and some early DVD editions, the longer version running 109 minutes still existed in Italy and would supplant the theatrical cut on physical media; however, when the early NTSC, PAL, and initial HD telecine of the 16mm negatives deleted frames at each splice point reducing the running time by roughly two minutes to just under 107 minutes. The newer 4K scan restores the missing frames and brings the running time back up to 109 minutes.
The extra footage does not add much in the way of plot development or gore, but it does achieve a more layered, character-motivated approach than the earlier cut. Some of the restored scenes include Bruno making a pay booth call to Julia's boss – casting suspicion on her whereabouts during the murders – more atmospheric night scenes of Bruno exploring the house, a longer build up to the second murder, and several extra red herring bits involving Stanko Molnar as the groundsman, fondling scissors and generally acting suspiciously.
While the extended television version and the Italian theatrical cut ran the opening credits on a still background after the bloody tennis ball stops bouncing, the original export version in some territories ran the credits on a black background while a variation in some territories ran the English credits on the still background. -
CUTS:
- R0 America- Anchor Bay Entertainment - No cuts - Italian version (108:39 NTSC)
- R0 America- Blue Underground - No cuts - Italian version (108:28 NTSC)
- R0 Germany- EC / DVD-Verkauf.com - No cuts - Theatrical (92:27 PAL)
- R0 Remastered Collector's Edition Holland- EC - No cuts - Italian version (108:40 PAL)
- R0 Theatrical Release Holland- EC - No cuts - Export version
- R2 Collector's Edition France- Neo Publishing - No cuts - contains both the Italian version (104:11 PAL) and the Export version (95:57 PAL)
- R2 Eurocult Collection #10 Germany- X-Rated - No cuts - includes the Italian version (102:30 PAL) and Export Version (91:20 PAL)
- R2 Giallo Series #16 Germany- X-Rated - No cuts - includes the Italian version (102:30 PAL) and Export Version (91:20 PAL)
- R2 United Kingdom- Vipco - No cuts - Italian version
- R2 Cult Cinema Collection United Kingdom- 88 Films - No cuts - Italian version with English credits (102:32 PAL)
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Comparison added by David on 10/04/03
Comparison last updated by Eric_Cotenas on 02/03/24UPDATE LOG:
17/06/17: Added German edition.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
06/10/10: Addition of the French release.
17/05/14: Added Amazon links.
17/06/16: Tweaked title.
07/08/18: RTs of movie/extras added to EC release (Italian version)
08/08/18: Title update, added UK 88, updated notes, updated Germany x2, France, capsaholic.
02/03/24: Corrected notes on versions.
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