Kiss of the Spider Woman (Hector Babenco, 1985)

[Gigi M.]

Does anybody knows why this amazing movie has not been release on DVD? IMDB lists FOX as the VHS distributor.

[Lino]

I really hope this one comes out sooner than later. I really want to retire my old VHS. Not a DVD year goes by that I don't regret it not being announced. Go watch the trailer and see what we're all missing

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Any opinions on the book? I've got it on my summer reading list.

[richast2]

the book is excellent. I had to read it for a class in college and found it really engrossing.

unfortunately, I read another Puig book several years ago that was really, really bad.

[Gigi M.]

Finally coming.

A Blu Ray version will be also avaliable.

[Person]

Well-spotted, Gigi! City Lights Media Group seem to be a new company. I wonder who owns the rights to the film (not just video rights) and why it took so long for such a critically acclaimed, successful and popular film to hit DVD? I remember reading that extras had been produced by the film's producer years ago. Great film. And it's cool that City Lights are releasing a Blu-Ray edition, too. Beautifully photographed film.

[Lino]

Finally coming.

A Blu Ray version will be also avaliable.

FINALLY! This news really makes me happy. Truly. I adore this movie to bits. After 11 years, the wait is over.

[Buttery Jeb]

According to this press release, I found, the DVD will include never-before-seen footage (doesn't specify if it's deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage or both) and a feature-length documentary "Tangled Web: Making 'Kiss of the Spider Woman.'"

-BJ

[domino harvey]

Amazon.com exclusive eh

[dx23]

Both releases are now currently unavailable at amazon.com. any news on this?

[Jonathan S]

For anyone desperate to have this, there are copies on eBay (UK) of the promo edition that was given away a few months ago with The Guardian (UK newspaper). Of course, it doesn't have the extras mentioned above.

Although certainly watchable, it was not a particularly good transfer (non-anamorphic for a start) - which is ironic as the film is copyrighted on the DVD sleeve to the impressive-sounding "Independent Cinema Restoration Archive LLC".

By the way, I've often wondered if free DVDs are part of the UK's traditional obsession with newspapers - or are they given away with them in other countries? Some are amazing quality; the Daily Mail giveaway of Tunes of Glory, for example, begins with the Criterion logo!

[jsteffe]

Both releases are now currently unavailable at amazon.com. any news on this?

I found the DVD, and they list a release date of July 22. Yes, it's confusing--Amazon has two separate entries for a Kiss of the Spiderwoman DVD, one of which is just their usual generic placeholder for films that aren't available on DVD at all.

[Antoine Doinel]

By the way, I've often wondered if free DVDs are part of the UK's traditional obsession with newspapers - or are they given away with them in other countries?

It's definitely a UK-only thing. I've been envious of the giveaways, particularly the free books! I'm actually surprised the trend hasn't carried over to North America where newspaper sales are in the crapper.

[Ashirg]

Seems Amazon pulled pages for this film, but Company's page still has info about the film.

[Gigi M.]

It's up at Amazon.

[Antoine Doinel]

How the film got to be an Amazon exclusive (at least until October).

[Matt]

I've known David Weiman for several years. 'Kiss' is one of my favorite pictures, and I kept asking him why he was hanging onto it. He wasn't in a rush because he never wanted the film to be one of thousands of pictures in a big library at a major studio. He wanted it to be treated in a special fashion.

Yes, what better way to steward the reputation of a film, to keep it "special," than to keep it off the home video market for a decade?

[Lino]

Ok, my copy is on its way to me but has anyone already got theirs and would like to offer some reactions?

[Gigi M.]

Ok, my copy is on its way to me but has anyone already got theirs and would like to offer some reactions?

How is your copy on the way when this is an exclusive? Where did you get it from?

[Der Müde Tod]

Ok, my copy is on its way to me but has anyone already got theirs and would like to offer some reactions?

I've had my copy now for a week or so (from Amazon) and I am quite excited both about the film and the DVDs. When in the credits Burt Lancaster is being thanked, I got curious and watched the documentary, which is very informative. Burt playing Molina was something that would never have occurred to me.

[MichaelB]

Although certainly watchable, it was not a particularly good transfer (non-anamorphic for a start) - which is ironic as the film is copyrighted on the DVD sleeve to the impressive-sounding "Independent Cinema Restoration Archive LLC".

The source Digibeta may be in excellent shape, but the freebie DVDs are usually run off as quickly and cheaply as possible. For starters, they're invariably single layer, so they're usually much more compressed - and anamorphic transfers are often rendered non-anamorphically for the same reason.

For a good comparison, run the Independent's Francesco, giullare di Dio next to the MoC version - if I remember rightly, Nick mentioned that the Digibeta source was identical, but there's no doubt which is the better disc (even aside from the fact that the freebie version had no extras).

But occasionally you do get some real surprises - I bought the Daily Telegraph when it gave away the 1951 The Browning Version, and the transfer was way ahead of expectations. Then again, it's a relatively short 4:3 film.

[Gigi M.]

I've had my copy now for a week or so (from Amazon) and I am quite excited both about the film and the DVDs.

How did you get it so fast? I pre-order it since the first day and still no sing of shipping from Amazon. I order the Blu-Ray, though.

[Der Müde Tod]

How did you get it so fast? I pre-order it since the first day and still no sing of shipping from Amazon. I order the Blu-Ray, though.

My DVD shipped 7/17 from Amazon. I didn't use any magic tricks. Another reason why Blue-Ray sucks?

[Lino]

Ok, my copy is on its way to me but has anyone already got theirs and would like to offer some reactions?

How is your copy on the way when this is an exclusive? Where did you get it from?

Amazon. And they shipped it the next day. Screencaps anyone?

[Morbii]

I've had my copy now for a week or so (from Amazon) and I am quite excited both about the film and the DVDs.

How did you get it so fast? I pre-order it since the first day and still no sing of shipping from Amazon. I order the Blu-Ray, though.

I ordered the Blu-Ray as well and I got a notice saying that the release date had been changed and the estimated arrival day was now 8/14. Since some have already gotten the DVD, I suspect it's a BD issue only.