Synapse Films Releasing Argento's Suspiria

[Damin J. Toell Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Damin J. Toell]

The commonly-accepted belief is that the Magnum Entertainment LD sound is the original theatrical mix, and that Bill Lustig dropped the ball when he did Anchor Bay's DVD mix. The funny thing is that Lustig, who stood by the accuracy of the DVD sound levels, was also responsible for the LD for Magnum Entertainment.

[Dom D Spoon! Find all posts View Profile Close Dom D]

Does anyone have any evidence of that though? Has it turned up anywhere else except for copies mastered from the LD? Given how insane the audio is on the LD I assume Lustig was just fixing an earlier error.

I do remember the first time watching the film that sound Mix had us on the ground in hysterics before the film reeled us in. Which is not to say I don't like it but someone would need to bring round an original print to my house and play in for me before I buy that's the way it should be.

[Alex K. Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Alex K.]

I don't know but given the nature of the film and the soundtrack it seems kind of obvious that the music should be a lot louder than the Anchor Bay release. Not trying to be sarcastic or anything.

The only way to be absolutely sure is to verify the sound levels from an old theatrical print.

[agent999 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close agent999]

I believe the original cinema release was available in two formats: 4 track stereo and mono. I have a Japanese laserdisc which is mono, haven't watched if for quite some time though. Seems a bit pointless without stereo. Then again, better than the fake stereo versions of Tenebre which completely screw up the left/right channel effects of Goblin's score when compared to the stereo album.

[Dom D Spoon! Find all posts View Profile Close Dom D]

I don't know but given the nature of the film and the soundtrack it seems kind of obvious that the music should be a lot louder than the Anchor Bay release. Not trying to be sarcastic or anything.

Yeah totally open to opinion this one. If Anchor Bay screwed it up though why are the other versions available in line with it (excepting a few screw ups with sound effects)? The outlier is the LD. Obviously there are other copies mastered from the LD- like my old Brit VHS- but has any other company gone back to the source and released Suspiria sounding like the old Magnum LD?

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

This popped up on FB, courtesy of Vincent Pereira.

"Synapse Films is indeed working hard on their 4K restoration for a U.S. release. The original negative was scanned in 6K resolution on a pin-registered Arriscan at Technicolor Rome right before they shut down. The negative was in pretty dire condition - rips, tears, dirt all over the place, missing frames, and get this: fingerprints! That's right, some genius with greasy hands handled the SUSPIRIA original 35mm negative at some point and 'left his mark' all over the emulsion! The 4K restoration work is being done by a facility in Poland that came highly recommended and the work is looking to be done in early 2017. Synapse will be releasing a Blu-ray and possibly a UHD Blu-ray sometime later in 2017 for the 40th Anniversary. They are working with Fox (who own the U.S. theatrical rights) on this as well, accessing Fox's 35mm InterPositive to fill in some areas from the 35mm negative that had frames missing, as well the 4-track magnetic stereo masters of the English sound mix (the Italian owners did not have the 4-track English mix, only a mono optical track). So yes, it IS coming next year for the 40th Anniversary from Synapse, a true 4K restoration and it will be well worth the wait."

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

It's also been restored in 4k already in Germany.

http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/11/...-4k-re-release

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Some caps comparing the old master with the new German remaster.

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/190031/

[John Bernhard Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close John Bernhard]

That doesn't exactly blow my socks off, contrast does not look great to my eye and the image appears rather soft.
I guess this is the same 4K master Synapse will be sourcing?

[Derrick King Waterfall Puncher Find all posts View Profile Close Derrick King]

I don't know. Maybe the same raw scan of the negative, but I think that Synapse's restoration is exclusive to their own release.

[Lalala76 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lalala76]

Looking at this screenshot comparison, but I much prefer the colours on the 84 version (which I own but forced subs :()

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comp...0031/picture:3

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

From Don May Jr's Instagram feed:

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Looks like the Italian Blu-ray release has Eng. audio on it.

[Paul L Scholar of Sleaze Find all posts View Profile Close Paul L]

Interesting. Thanks, Ian. The pre-release material suggested it would be Italian language only.

I may 'bite', order it from Italy and see what happens.

[Lalala76 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lalala76]

Interesting. Thanks, Ian. The pre-release material suggested it would be Italian language only.

I may 'bite', order it from Italy and see what happens.

I'm going to wait until after Arrow's announcements tomorrow (as one never knows) but I reckon I'm going to order this too. As much as everyone keeps harping (pardon the pun) about how the Synapse release will be the holy grail, it also will break the bank with regards to importing it from the US, at least based on their Phenomena release.