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Kwaidan AKA Kaidan AKA Ghost Stories AKA Hoichi the Earless AKA Weird Tales (Blu-ray) (1964)
Four chilling tales by the famed writer Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn) brought to life.Director: Masaki Kobayashi
Year of Copyright: 1964
Year of Production: 1964
OVERALL: Draw-
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Commentaries:Audio commentary by film historian Stephen Prince (2015)
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Extras:1993 Interview with Masaki Kobayashi conducted by filmmaker Masahiro Shinoda (15:15)
2015 Interview with assistant director Kiyoshi Ogasawara (21:41)
2015 Interview by English literature scholar Christopher Benfey about author Lafcadio Hearn (17:16)
B+W Japanese Theatrical Trailer (1:04)
Color Japanese Theatrical Trailer #1 (1:25)
Color Japanese Theatrical Trailer #2 (3:58) -
Subtitles:English (optional)
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:1080p24 AVC MPEG-4
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Soundtrack(s):Japanese LPCM 1.0
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Includes an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Commentaries:Audio commentary by film historian Stephen Prince (2015)
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Extras:1993 Interview with Masaki Kobayashi conducted by filmmaker Masahiro Shinoda (15:15)
2015 Interview with assistant director Kiyoshi Ogasawara (21:41)
2015 Interview by English literature scholar Christopher Benfey about author Lafcadio Hearn (17:16)
B+W Japanese Theatrical Trailer (1:04)
Color Japanese Theatrical Trailer #1 (1:25)
Color Japanese Theatrical Trailer #2 (3:58) -
Subtitles:English (optional)
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:1080p24 AVC MPEG-4
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Soundtrack(s):Japanese LPCM 1.0
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:Includes an essay by critic Geoffrey O’Brien.
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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:"Shadowings" 2020 video essay by David Cairns & Fiona Watson (35:45)
"Kim Newman on Kwaidan" 2019:interview (24:24)
B+W Japanese Teaser (1:07)
Colour Japanese Teaser (1:25)
Japanese Trailer (3:58) -
Subtitles:English (optional)
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:1080p24 AVC MPEG-4
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Soundtrack(s):Japanese LPCM 1.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
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Case type:Special Case
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UPC Number:5060000703801
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Notes:Limited edition of 3,000 copies housed in a hardbound slipcase with a 100-page Perfect Bound Illustrated Collector’s book featuring reprints of Lafcadio Hearn’s original ghost stories; a survey of the life and career of Masaki Kobayashi by Linda Hoaglund; and a wide ranging interview with the filmmaker.
Reissued in a standard edition without the slipcase or book. -
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OVERALL: Draw
The Criterion and Eureka both have exclusive extras.
Three versions of this film exist:
(1.) The original uncut Roadshow version (183 minutes).
(2.) The American version (125 minutes) that omitted “The Woman of the Snow” segment (which was released separately as a short), subsequently replaced in circulation by Janus Films’ prints of the international version.
(3.) The international version (161 minutes).
About the running time differences (all this info is from criterionforum.org forums, and users "Annie Mall" & "editman"):
"Black Hair" episode:
The end of the segment is extended on the longer version. On Criterion it ends on a freeze frame of the samurai husband looking into his reflection on water. On the longer version however, he staggered madly outside the ruin of the house, found a piece of red cloth, which turned into a chunk of black hair and attack him. The blue title at the beginning of the feature (announcing that this film won an award at Cannes that year) is missing from some releases (at least the Japanese and Spanish DVDs).
"The Woman in the Snow" episode:
This episode is where the main differences are to be found. There is a nude scene (clearly censored for international tastes), another where we see the mother breast-feeding a baby and another one still where we actually see the mother and their children visiting the grave of the mother-in-law. The Intermission title card between "The Woman of the Snow" and "Hoichi the Earless" is missing on Criterion-disc.
"Hoichi the Earless" episode:
Longer version has a scene involving the finding of a dead body on a beach that later is seen getting a funeral at sea (we see the funeral boat leaving the shore).
"In a Cup of Tea" episode:
No differences.
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CUTS:
- Blu-ray A America- Criterion Collection - No cuts - Original roadshow version with intermission (183:15)
- Blu-ray A Canada- Criterion Collection - No cuts - Original roadshow version with intermission (183:15)
- Blu-ray B Limited Edition United Kingdom- Eureka - No cuts - Original roadshow version with intermission (182:54)
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Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
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Comparison added by James-Masaki_Ryan on 29/09/15
Comparison last updated by Rick_Curzon on 26/10/24UPDATE LOG:
29/09/15: Initial entry.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
30/10/15: capsaholic.
14/07/19: Added notes on versions.
20/03/20: Added UK, revised version notes.
27/09/23: Added Canada, UK standard, capsaholic.
26/10/24: Dates.
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