WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

Fly, The
Genre:Horror

Reviewed In Issue 24 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
Al David Hedison, Patricia Owens, Vincent Price.

WSR Review Scores
Picture Rating: 2
Sound Rating: 2.5
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Reference Systems
Critics' Composite Score:
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Supplementals

DVD General Information
(Studio/Distributor): 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number): 0119085
(MPAA Rating): Not Rated
(Retail Price): $44.98
(Running Time In Minutes): 94
(Color Type): Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
(Closed Captioned): Yes
(Theatrical Release): 1958
(LD Release Date): 12/96
(THX® Digitally Mastered): No

Credits Information
(Director): Kurt Neumann
(Screenplay/Written By): James Clavell
(Story): NA
(Music): Paul Sawtell
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer): Lyle R. Wheeler & Theobold Holsopple
(Visual Effects): NA
(Costume Designer): NA
(Editor): Merrill G. White, ACE
(Supervising Sound Editors): NA
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers): NA
(Co-Producers): NA
(Producers): Kurt Neumann

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

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

WSR Narrative Review
Story Synopsis:
A brilliant scientist’s (Hedison) experiments get him into heaps of trouble when his quest to perfect a device that will transmit matter from one place to another changes him into...The Fly in the 1958 original. His initial tests are successful, but when he tests the device on himself, a common housefly goes along on the trip with horrific results. His struggles with his new incarnation as does the love of his life (Owens) who refuses to shoo him outdoors.

LaserDisc Picture:
The CinemaScope® picture, framed at 2.35:1, exhibits inconsistencies in color fidelity with mostly dated and subdued colors and fleshtones. Overall the picture is out of focus, except for the occasional close up shots of a fly. Noise and artifacts are apparent.

LaserDisc Soundtrack:
The distinguishing difference between the discrete Dolby® Digital and matrix linear PCM soundtracks is that the frontal soundstage is wider in the discrete. But the discrete is problematic with directionalized dialogue leaning prominently to the right of the soundstage. The overall sound is on the bright side and never quite sounds right.
(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: