WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Night Porter, The
Genre:Thriller

Reviewed In Issue 28 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Dirk Bogarde, Charlotte Rampling, Philippe Leroy & Gabriele Ferzetti

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2.5
Sound Rating: 2
Download WSR Review
Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
Internet Links

Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): Criterion Collection
(Catalog Number): CC1511L
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $49.95
(Running Time In Minutes): 118
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): No
(Theatrical Release): 1974
(LD Release Date):
(THX® Digitally Mastered):

Credits Information
(Director): Lillana Cavani
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):

DVD Picture Information
(Principal Photography): Flat
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 1.66:1
(Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 1.88:1

DVD Sound Information
(DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
(Theatrical Sound): Mag Mono
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(Remastered Dolby Digital): No
(Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
(Additional Languages):

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
Set in 1957, The Night Porter is a disturbing and controversial film about Lucia (Charlotte Rampling), who discovers the former SS officer who used to torture her sexually in a concentration camp, working as a night porter in a Vienna hotel. Max (Dirk Bogarde) also recognizes Lucia and through a series of flashbacks the two relive their sado-masochistic relationship. When Lucia and Max finally reunite in a scene of violent passion, they replay their concentration camp scene and relieve their accumulated sexual repression. But his proud former SS comrades are pursuing them because Lucia is considered a dangerous witness to their secret organization. This film is dark and provocative, and is not recommended for all viewers.

LaserDisc Picture:
The picture, matted at 1.88:1, exhibits generally good color fidelity, but exteriors are overly bright with poor contrast. Flashback scenes exhibit presumably intentional dull colors. Interior images are plugged-up but sometimes exhibit natural colors. Images are generally sharp and detailed, though often wanting. Noise and distracting artifacts are apparent.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The soundtrack is compressed monaural that sounds distorted with distracting noise and hum.
(Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
(Aggressive System Surround): No
(Intense 25Hz Bass): No
(Deep Bass Challenging): No
(Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
(Holosonic Soundfield): No
(Aggressive Split Surround): No
(Center Back Surround Imaging): No
(Directionalized Dialogue): No
Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
Superb Color Fidelity:
Superb Cinematography:
Reference LaserDisc:
Collector Edition: