A while ago it was mentioned that there were some sound effects missing from the remixes of some of Anchor Bay's Argento films (besides SUSPIRIA). Was LA CHIESA among them?

I have the AB disc, the Cecchi Gori R2, and now a Japanese cassette. Unlike the English 5.1 of the Italian release (which has an excellant DTS Italian mix) and the 5.1 and 2.0 of the AB release, I noticed that the mono hi-fi track of the Japanese tape just sounds fuller and better mixed than the remixes. Background voices and noises are clearer and sound effects are more up front than the stereo versions. It's unfortunate that the original mix wasn't included on DVD.

Also, another thing I noticed was that the Japanese tape tinted the opening flashback with a sort of sepia color (obviously added afterwards). The credits unfold in a more natural tint (like the DVD releases) but then right after the credits, the sequence becomes awkwardly tinted (the transition is awkward, not the tint itself). The aftermath of the massacre where the mass grave is filled in thus has a sort of "magic hour" effect to it that is not in either DVD release (though the untinted version is not unpleasing either).

I also noticed for the first time watching the tape release, one of those hooded figures sitting at a table in the cafe beside the telephone booth in the scene where Tomas Arana tries to call Barbara Cupisti after having been infected. The hooded figure's appearance here is chilling (kind of like "Pipes" in GHOSTWATCH) and less obvious than when seen in the church itself. Are there any other appearances that are not so obvious.

I noticed two sound effects missing from the Anchor Bay remix of THE CHURCH. *SPOILERS FOLLOW* 1. When the subway train is bearing down on the girl who hangs held by her boyfriend, her scream which is audible on earlier versions of the film as the camera pushes in on her face is missing, and 2. During the climax, the Priest's death grunts as the rock pillars fall on him as the Church is self-destructing are also missing.

There may be other sound effects missing, but those are the two that I noticed and remember.

I first noticed that on the Anchor Bay DVD. I used to have the Japanese laserdisc, but the video quality was atrocious. WAY too dark and murky/washed out.

Michele Soavi was pretty vocally displeaded with Argento's interference during post-production on THE CHURCH, which extended to Argento supposedly removing some 20-minutes of footage from Soavi's director's cut. I'd love to see Soavi's original cut restored someday.

Vincent

I'd like to see a fuller bodied remix of OPERA (with the original mix included). The stereo surround English and Italian mixes (as well as the 2.0 stereo first English mix) really aren't that active (though the music is always nicely mixed). The 5.1 and DTS mixes on the AB release are not that impressive.

I always thought the first notes of Macbeth with the fade-in should have been mixed louder. The singer's voice in all the mixes also fades up very slowly. Did Argento commission a new recording of Verdi's Macbeth for the film? I like it more than the 1960-something recording I've got on CD.

I've read a few reviews of AB's OPERA disc that mention that it was unfortunate that Southgate US video trailer was not included on the DVD (alongside the excellent Orion US trailer and the boring international one). Can anyone recall what Southgate tapes this video trailer might have appeared on?

I'd like to second, third, fourth, and fifth that. I was wondering if maybe part of the reason why Soavi hasn't participated much in any DVD releases is because of his disapproval of Argento's editing. I'm really surprised that no one seems to have ever pursued a director's cut release.

Is there a specific list anywhere of just what was done?

I've never seen a list of what was cut, but I recall from an old interview with Soavi that he mentions that in the final cut, characters just seem to drop out of the film for no reason, and he also mentions that the edits amounted to around 20-minutes. He also said that Dario really, really wanted to cut out the dream sequence where Cupisti has visions of the Church (before Evan calls her on the phone, waking her up), but Soavi vehemently resisted and got his way in the end. I've also seen a picture of what I assume is one of the cut scenes, showing Barbara Cupisti lying on the floor on top of the in bedded crucifix in the basement of the Church.

Vincent