Running time of film

Hi, it's simply because of the different standard-def TV formats used - the UK version isn't cut! The UK DVD (and the German one with that great cover!) uses the PAL (Phase Alternating Line) format used in most of Europe, and actually most of the world, and is technically a better system (it has a superior picture with more lines and better colour stability) but runs at 25 frames per second. This means that movies - which run at 24 fps - are literally speeded up to 25 fps. The US DVD (from the "Icons of Horror Collection: Hammer" set) uses the NTSC (National Television Standards Committee) format used in the US, Canada, Japan and few other countries, which runs at 30 fps and with a wee bit of technical trickery involved allows for a film to play at the correct speed. It's not perfect as sometimes lateral motion can be seen to 'judder', but many more people notice the higher pitch in actors' voices with PAL.

I understand that HDTV will not negate the problem as 'NTSC' countries will still use a 'frame rate' of 30 fps and PAL countries 25fps - so I've read anyway.

I am in the UK but I generally prefer the quality and value of US releases, which I find are often put together with greater care (better source prints -far more important than the TV format- and generous extras), and so happen to have more NTSC DVDs in my collection. There are honourable exceptions of course, and I have many carefully chosen PAL discs including Australian; French; German and Spanish releases of Hollywood as well as British films, including Hammer! The UK Hammer discs are particularly poor value in my opinion, and are easily outclassed by the German as well as US releases. I feel sorry for those UK Hammer fans who bought that big boxed set at full price!

Remember though if you're buying DVDs from outwith your region -and especially if you're after Blu-Ray discs- make sure that you have the equipment and/or software to play them!


"Oh look - a lovely spider! And it's eating a butterfly!"
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