Rating: 
Summary: Think About What This DVD COULD Have Been!
Review: IMAGE has done a fine job with this DVD release of the orignal italian version of Bava's horror masterpiece, but it is still lacking in a few important aspects (at least in my opinion). First of all, the film looks absolutely INCREDIBLE -- the colors are completely vibrant - reds, greens, blues, oranges, purples - if you thought "Suspiria" was colorful, you ain't seen nuthin' yet! You can easily see where Argento was influenced by this and other Bava works. It's great to have the film with it's original score, with the stories in the correct order, and without the changes AIP made to it in the US.However, my problem with the DVD is related to just that. Because the film is only presented in the italian version, we lose all of the real english-speaking voice of the great Boris Karloff (not to mention Mark Damon). Maybe with other actors it would be more forgivable, but Karloff's voice is sorely missed (especially in the Wurdalak story) and the dubbing of him almost feels sacriligious. The prologue and epilogue (new to the US) features the dubbed Karloff, but the old AIP inter-segments featuring him are now missing completely (shot later by another director). OK, I understand why it's not all here...AIP-ORION-MGM must own the American version and these segments, but it sure would have been nice to have them on this as an extra. And even if the extra Karloff segments couldn't be used, an English track with Karloff's voice should have been included. So it's a great DVD of this version of the film, but I'm still holding on to my old VHS of the US version for Karloff and his voice.
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Summary: The Scariest Day of the Week!
Review: One of the best Italian horror films ever made, director Mario Bava's 1963 movie BLACK SABBATH (Italian title: I TRE VOLTI DELLA PAURA) is actually a delicious trilogy of stories, each different in timbre and texture, but each a masterful atmospheric study in unmitigated fear. In the first short, entitled "The Telephone," a contemporary (circa 1960s) woman is taunted by a series of bizarre and alarming phone calls. But things get really interesting when she learns who it is that's been calling. (Warning: Some viewers may be put off by the lesbian subtext of this story.) "The Wurdalak," the second entry, is an eerie variation on the vampire legend that is based on the Aleksei Tolstoy novella THE FAMILY OF THE VOURDALAK (SEM'YA VURDALAKA). The action takes place in what appears to be medieval Europe, and the celebrated Boris Karloff (alas, with his dialogue dubbed in Italian) turns in an excellent performance as Gorca, the patriarch of a peasant family. When Gorca returns from assisting in the pursuit and destruction of a Wurdalak--a vampire of sorts that is compelled to feast only upon its own loved ones--his family suspects that he's not quite the man he used to be.... Purportedly an adaptation of story by Chekhov, "A Drop of Water" is the last entry of the trilogy, and it is unquestionably the creepiest. Set in a Victorian manor house, it involves a private nurse who steals a ring from her recently deceased charge and is subsequently haunted by the vengeful corpse. Or is she? The acting is good, the sets are sufficiently eerie, the stories are well written and creepy, and the women are pretty. But first and foremost, BLACK SABBATH is a superior horror film due to Bava's great vision and direction. He knows what it takes to scare people, and it is his use of stark yet simple imagery, unusual juxtaposition of sounds, and sometimes tenebrous lighting that generates genuine goose bumps and psychological jitters. (Your skin will crawl every time you remember the image of that corpse with the empty, unblinking stare from "A Drop of Water.") Extant copies of the film are in one of two forms. One presents the film as originally intended (and released in Europe) by the filmmakers. The dialogue is completely dubbed in Italian (with English subtitles available), the stories have not been edited by anyone other than the director and his crew, and the three stories as a whole are vignetted by a Boris Karloff preface and epilogue. However, the other version presents the film after it was vitiated by its U.S. distributor, American International Pictures. In that one, the stories have been edited (one to the point of being unintelligible) and their relative order rearranged, and inappropriately witty intros (featuring Karloff) have been tacked on to each. Also, an English soundtrack has been added, one that was not created with any input from Bava or the original scriptwriters. Until recently, the AIP re-dubbed re-cut was the only version of the film readily available to American audiences. Though not a totally un-watchable film in AIP's butchered format, it is simply not the masterpiece that Bava's original is. With that in mind, it is recommended that, if at all possible, viewers avoid the AIP version altogether and watch only the original Italian version. And please note, then, that this review refers to that original release--with English subtitles--which IS the version now being offered on the Image Entertainment DVD. And speaking of the DVD, it is a bit short on true bonus features, and it is possible to see some signs of wear on the print that was used. Still, this widescreen digital transfer looks good overall, with rich and vivid colors and crisp focus. Most importantly, it is fantastic opportunity for American horror fans to finally see--and own!--this excellent scary film in the form in which its creators intended.
Rating: 
Summary: Are You Serious?
Review: With out a doubt, the best horror film ever made. Bava's Black Sabbath, is without question the most complete horror experience ever filmed. With atmosphere like I've never seen, this trilogy starts off with a classic giallo, and progresses to sheer terror by the last installment. Words alone cannot describe "The Drop of Water", a dark, eerie, and ultimately terrifying experince. If the face of death does not make you cringe, nothing will ever affect you! Do yourself a favor and buy this film(the Italian version), shut the lights off and let the terror begin.
Rating:
Summary: classic horror; though tame by today's standard.
Review: This trilogy of terror stars and is narrated by the late Boris Karloff. It would be tame by today's standards; some younger people might say "lame", but this was pre-"Jason" (Friday the 13th), pre-"Freddy" (Nightmare On Elm Street) and relied more on "suspense" than gore. Interesting for those who like "suspense".
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Summary: A terrifying vampire tale
Review: Black Sabbath is one of those movies that made a horrifyingly-indelible impression on me when I first saw it. In "The Drop of Water", I can still see the contorted visage of the dead spiritualist as she fixes her malevolent stare on the woman who has robbed her in death. "The Telephone" was the weakest of the trio. But the third segment--The Wurdalak--gave me insomnia for days. As a lover of the vampire genre, I was struck by the twist in the old legend: a Wurdalak returns from the dead to attack those whom he loved best on earth. Boris Karloff plays the title character, a paterfamilias who sets out to destroy a local bandit-turned-Wurdalak. If he has not returned in exactly three days, the family will know that he has been victimized, and must be destroyed. Of course, he returns just after the three day mark. The sheer horror comes from the fact that the family knows the truth, but can't admit it. The scene of Karloff cuddling and stroking his young grandson is enough to make you want to call Child Protective Services! Really good stuff, and a clarion call to those who insist that one needs massive special effects or blatan, on-screen gore to succeed. Kudos!
Rating:
Summary: classic horror; though tame by today's standard.
Review: This trilogy of terror stars and is narrated by the late Boris Karloff. It would be tame by today's standards; some younger people might say "lame", but this was pre-"Jason" (Friday the 13th), pre-"Freddy" (Nightmare On Elm Street) and relied more on "suspense" than gore. Interesting for those who like "suspense".
Rating:
Summary: Visually atmospheric and scary Bava film
Review: "Vampires look perfectly normal... except they have a strange habit of drinking blood, especially the blood of those they love." So says Boris Karloff, who appears in front of a set with reddish rocks and a sky that has blue swirling patterns. Presumably, his Italian dialogue was dubbed in, and well so, I might add. These three brief tales of terror and the supernatural are based on stories by Anton Chekhov, Guy de Maupassant, and Count Aleksei Tolstoy. The first, Il Telefono, is about Rosy, played by the lovely Michelle Mercier, who is being repeatedly threatened over the phone by her ex-lover, who intends to kill her. He seems to know her every move, as he identifies what she's wearing and what she did inbetween calls. Frantic, she calls for her friend Mary, with whom she had a falling out, to come over. This one's more a suspense one, with elements of Hitchcock. I Wurdalak is based on Tolstoy's most famous short story, "The Family of Vourdalak" (1847). In the dark evening out on the moors, Count Vladimir d'Urfe comes across a headless body with an ornate dagger in its back. He comes to a household whose members are awaiting the return of their father with dread. According to them, the father went out hunting for a Turkish mass murderer, Alibeq, who happened to be a wurdalak, i.e. a vampire. Vladimir falls in love with one of the sisters, the icy blonde Sdenska. Then, the creepy aged father, played by none other than Karloff himself, returns, and after that, things start happening. Eerie, down to the lightning and thunder, creaking lanterns and steps, and a dramatic, perhaps a bit overly so, score, this isn't at all bad. La Goccia D'Acqua (The Drop Of Water) is probably the best of the three, as it is conventional horror. A trained nurse is dragged out of her house in the late evening by a housekeeper whose mistress, an aged countess dabbling in fortune-telling, has died. The disgruntled nurse, who is sent to dress the corpse in a burial gown, then sees a ring on the corpse's finger and steals it. Once back at her house, she slowly goes mad--think of how a dripping sink can make one go around the bend. The Countess's corpse is one of the scariest I've seen in movies, not bad for 1963. Karloff then comes back in his costume from the second story and signs off, -- this really deserves a groan -- "Dream about me. We'll become friends." COR-ny! Yet, Bava really works at gaining a haunting, suspenseful atmosphere in each of the stories.
Rating:
Summary: One of Bava's Best
Review: A trio of stories directed by Mario Bava: "The Telephone". Rosy, a beautiful young woman, returns to her apartment at the end of the day. Almost at once, she begins receiving threatening phone calls. The caller claims to be Frank, an underworld figure with a double grievance against Rosy. Frank and Rosy had been lovers once, but she left him to enter into a lesbian relationship with a woman named Mary-and she also provided the testimony that led to Frank's imprisonment. Rosy knows that Frank has recently escaped from prison, and she fears that he is planning to kill her. In desperation, Rosy calls Mary, even though Rosy has broken off their affair. Mary taunts Rosy for asking her for help, but finally agrees to come over and spend the night with her. When Mary arrives, she assures Rosy that the two of them will be safe together; in the morning, Mary says, they can contact the police to deal with Frank. Rosy goes to sleep. Mary remains awake, composing a note to Rosy, confessing that she had been the one making the phone calls and disguising her voice to sound like Frank. She did this in the hope that Rosy would reach out to her for help, and that this might lead to a renewal of their romantic bond. But a stranger slips into the apartment. Seeing Mary, he takes one of Rosy's stockings, slips up behind Mary, and strangles her. The sounds of the struggle cause Rosy to awaken. She recognizes Frank-who really has come to kill her. As he attempts to assault her, though, she stabs him with a knife that she had hidden under the pillows. Rosy is left alone in the bedroom with the corpses of her two former lovers. . . . "The Wurdulak". Count Vladimir is traveling through a remote section of Russia when he finds a body, stabbed through the heart with a dagger. He takes the body with him to the nearest farmstead, the home of the patriarch Gorca. Gorca is absent, but his sons Giorgio and Pietro, daughter Sdenka, daugher-in-law Maria, and grandson Ivan are there. They explain to Vladimir that the dead men is Alibeq, a bandit, assassin, and wurdulak. A wurdulak is a vampire, with a special passion to kill his family members and loved ones. Gorca had gone to kill Alibeq, but his family fears that Gorca himself might have been turned into a wurdulak before he was able to dispatch Alibeq. Gorca finally returns home. Although the family members are suspicious of him, they admit him to the house. But Gorca has become a wurdulak, and he soon kills his son Pietro and his grandson Ivan. Later, after Vladimir flees with Sdenka, Gorca returns to the homestead and kills Pietro and Maria. The entire family, now converted into wurdulaks, pursues Sdenka and Vladimir. Sdenka agrees to return with them to the farmstead if they will spare Vladimir. But Vladimir has fallen in love with Sdenka, and he goes to join her, even though knowing what his fate will be when he is reunited with her. . . . "The Drop of Water". The Countess, a repulsive, eccentric old woman, has died. The maid summons Miss Chester, a nurse, to help prepare the body for burial. While alone with the corpse, Miss Chester takes the opportunity to steal a valuable ring from the old lady's finger. Later, when she returns home, Miss Chester suffers from a series of irritating episodes-water continually drips from bath fixtures, a large fly keeps annoying her, the lights fail. Finally, Miss Chester sees a vision of the Countess. The Countess approaches the thieving nurse, claw-like hands outstretched. Miss Chester begs for mercy-but in the morning, she is found dead, a victim of self-strangulation. It appears that Miss Chester's torments were all in her head-except for the fact that her landlady, who discovered Miss Chester's body and removed the ring from it before summoning the police, now becomes subject to the same haunting events. . . . This is the restored original edition of Black Sabbath. When released in America, the story "The Telephone" was re-edited and re-scripted to delete any hint of the lesbian relationship between Rosy and Mary. As intended by Bava, and shown here, "The Telephone" is a good suspense story, a precursor to the giallo style of Italian films. "The Wurdulak" is a grim Gothic exercise, with an atmosphere reminiscent of Black Sunday. "The Drop of Water" lacks development and is not very convincing. But Black Sabbath is certainly worth watching for the first two stories.
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Summary: Filmed in English and French and Dubbed in Italian!?!
Review: Yes, as a trilingual, it is quite clear that the main actors in this film were not even originally speaking in Italian (from their lips I see French and English) so therefore we are actually hearing a "dubbed" italian dialogue. I would rather hear the original voice track-in order to hear the original voices of the French cast-such as, Michele Mercier, as well as the English speaking cast (especially the late, great Boris Karloff). Having grown up with the "beefed up" AIP version in the States-I now think I prefer that version just for the loss of the English voice track and introductions by Boris Karloff. I guess you can't have your gateau chocolat and eat it too!
Rating: 
Summary: Warning: No alternate "American Version": A Pity
Review: I was excited to learn that the original European version of this classic was out on DVD. As it turns out, however, the "bastardized" American version previously available on tape is the superior one. In fact, just about every decision AIP (American International Pictures)made when they proceeded with their tampering was the right one. First, they put the episodes in an order that worked better for the momentum of the picture. "The Drop of Water" is a short, scary, atmospheric shocker. Next up is the weakest segment, "The Telephone", giving audiences a breather. Saving the best for last is "The Wurdalak". Some cinephiles also berated the American's for subsituting a new score by Les Baxter. Though admittedly lacking in subtlety, Baxter's score at least feels like it belongs in a horror movie. The anemic Italian music feels like it could have strayed in from some mediocre historical drama. Most reprehensible about the DVD, however, is its failure to preserve Boris Karloff's glorious voice. I know his voice was dubbed for Italian audiences, but would it be asking too much to loop in his voice on an alternate audio track---especially when so many other quality DVD firms (Anchor Bay Entertainment for instance)would surely do so? As for the transfer, technical credits are good. And this may be the only way to see a pristine print of this marvelous film. Still a big disappointment and definitely a BARE BONES DVD. This film demands a "full blooded" (pun intended) release. This aint it.
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