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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Man Who Fell to Earth, The
    Genre:Science Fiction

    Reviewed In Issue 04 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    David Bowie, Candy Clark, Buck Henry, Rip Torn, Bernie Casey.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 4
    Sound Rating: 2
    Download WSR Review
    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals
    Criterion features commentary by Roeg, star David Bowie, and co-star Buck Henry, and the American and British teaser trailers. There is also an analysis of deleted scenes and alternate versions with photos, screenplay, and continuity book excerpts.

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
    (Catalog Number): CC1312L
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Retail Price): $99.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 139
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1976
    (LD Release Date): 02/01/93
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):

    Credits Information
    (Director): Nicolas Roeg
    (Screenplay/Written By): Paul Mayersberg
    (Story): NA
    (Music): John Phillips
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Brian Eatwell
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor): Graeme Clifford
    (Supervising Sound Editors):
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): NA
    (Co-Producers): NA
    (Producers): Michael Deeley & Barry Spikings

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Dolby Surround
    (Theatrical Sound): Mag Stereo
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital):
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround):
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    This modern-day allegory is a visual tour de force by Roeg. It loosely follows the adventures of a space traveler (Bowie) who comes to Earth seeking water for his drought-stricken planet but gets distracted by Earthly diversions. The film’s true hallucinatory vision, which had some 20 minutes cut in its initial release, is intact in this director’s cut. A watershed of the 1970s.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The picture is pristine with excellent color balance throughout.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack, originally produced mono, is inconsistent in this rare stereo version, shifting from left to right to mono center to barely perceivable stereo. There is no surround enhancement at all and sound fidelity is poor.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz):
    (Aggressive System Surround):
    (Intense 25Hz Bass):
    (Deep Bass Challenging):
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield):
    (Aggressive Split Surround):
    (Center Back Surround Imaging):
    (Directionalized Dialogue):
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: