One of the most impressive elements of SUSPIRIA is its 4-track Magnetic Stereo soundtrack.

Given the costs involved and extra attention it might get, I'm curious if the audio format was hyped on any of the posters, ad materials, or trailers. I can't think of any off-hand...

It wasn't mentioned on the paper materials, but I remember being aware of it before I went to the theater. That may be because the theater where I saw it always hyped the kind of audio presentation being used on their telephone showtimes recording.

"In Cinema 4, SUSPIRIA starring Joan Bennett, in four-track magnetic stereo surround. Showtimes are 12:30, 2:30, 5:00, 7:15..."

Thanks, Tim!

Sigh...if only SUSPIRIA could get released to DVD with said original 4-track mag stereo soundtrack, instead of only with what is reportedly a horrible remix. I'm still sticking with my laserdisc.

Was SUSPIRIA Argento's first 4-track mag stereo film, or was DEEP RED released in stereo as well?

I believe that DEEP RED was mono. After SUSPIRIA, Argento's next movie in stereo surround was INFERNO, which was Dolby Stereo.

With the odd exception of TENEBRAE, all of Argento's post-SUSPIRIA films were stereo.

The Argento-produced THE CHURCH was also mono for some strange reason.

Vincent

Thanks. I'm beginning to subscribe to the theory that Argento was inspired to use 4-track mag stereo for SUSPIRIA by the successful usage of it in the Italian-made BEYOND THE DOOR (CHI SEI?) released two years before. The usage of it to give extra presence and directionality to the demonic possession voice that Juliet Mills speaks in (like Mater Suspiriorum), and the singular usage of 4-track mag for a low-budget Italian horror effort. Makes sense.

So I'm not crazy for noticing the sound in THE CHURCH? I showed it just before it's video release and was shocked to hear it in mono, as it practically screamed for a Dolby mix.

Glad to see that Anchor Bay remixed it.

I hadn't realized that BEYOND THE DOOR was in 4-track. Is it out on DVD with this mix? What other genre films were released in that format?

Was it BEYOND THE DOOR that was released here in stereo but perhaps CHI SEI? the Italian version. I think my Japanese copy of THE DEVIL WITHIN HER is mono.

The Japanese tape of THE CHURCH was mono (but quite a nice mix). What about LA SETTA? Was it mono or stereo?

LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE wasn't 4-track but I recall reading that it was one of the first stereophonic Spanish releases so I think the Spanish version of that film is in stereo.

BEYOND THE DOOR has never been released on home video with its original 4-track mix. The rights holder does not have any of the original 4-track elements and no 4-track prints are known to exist-- though I've checked several archives.
It was called POSSESSOUND in the US, QUADROPHONIC in the UK and different monikers for different territories. Ebert mentions the sound in his contemporary review...


Not many genre releases had a 4-track MAG release. I have a partial list I've been assembling, but it tends to be more fantasy oriented, like late 50's/60's Jules Verne adaptations. The original THE FLY was 4-track MAG, as was PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, THE CAR, and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR.

I'm curious as to what format LET SLEEPING CORPSES LIE was released in, as if it was stereo, it would, pretty much, have had to be 4 track mag for it to be stereo, as that was the only option available when it was released.

Hi Eric- The Sect (The Devil's Daughter) is Stereo. The US VHS was in Dolby Surround... Post 1978, MAG would be a real rarity, as Dolby Stereo took off so quickly, then Ultra-Stereo in the mid-80's for the genre flicks... Same channel assignments, different patent and in-theatre processor.

TENTACLES was also released in 4-track MAG stereo.

Presumably, 2 tentacles per track.

I'm pretty sure Japanese pamphlet has some hype and even a picture of the audio setup... I don’t have the pamphlet at hand though...