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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover, The
    Genre:Drama

    Reviewed In Issue 06 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Alan Howard, Helen Mirren.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 3.5
    Sound Rating: 3.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): Vidmark
    (Catalog Number): LDCVM5330WS
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Retail Price): $34.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 119
    (Color Type): Color
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): No
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1990
    (LD Release Date): 7/92
    (THX® Digitally Mastered): No

    Credits Information
    (Director): Peter Greenaway
    (Screenplay/Written By): Peter Greenaway
    (Story): NA
    (Music): Michael Nyman
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer): Ben Van Os & Jan Roelfs
    (Visual Effects): NA
    (Costume Designer): Jean Paul Gaultier
    (Editor): John Wilson
    (Supervising Sound Editors): NA
    (Re-Recording Mixers):
    (Executive Producers): NA
    (Co-Producers): Denis Wigman, Pascale Dauman & Daniel Toschandu Plantier
    (Producers): Kees Kasander

    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.39:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.45:1

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

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    Director Peter Greenway’s The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover has been described as the most controversial film of the decade. Sexually provocative in its depiction of an outrageous, satirical and excessive world, the themes of love, sex, food, power, murder and revenge are dealt with in a manner that is shocking, provoking, disturbing and captivating. The players are a terse Cook, a monstrous Thief, his bored and frightened Wife and her bookish yet daring Lover. The setting is the “Le Hollandaise” restaurant where every night is filled with opulence, decadence and gluttony. Whee! Watch for the uncomparable lead singer of The Blockheads, the late Ian Dury as Terry Fitch (“Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll,” “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”).

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The cinematography is wonderful in its widescreen panoramic scope within the restaurant setting. The picture has a warmth and film-like quality typical of a European production. The color red is predominant throughout, yet fleshtones remain in their natural hue. The aspect ratio is 2.45:1

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack captures the natural ambience of what must have been a large soundstage set with good stereo definition and surround envelopment. Dialogue particularly sounds natural and well defined within the spatial depiction of the scenes.
    (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: