Blu-ray - Nightmare City, UK, 2015 (1980), Arrow Video (FCD1112)

Nightmare City (Incubo sulla città contaminata) is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with mono sound.

Nightmare City has been exclusively restored in 2K resolution for this release by Arrow Films.

The Original 2-perf Techniscope negative was scanned in 2K resolution on a pin-registered Arriscan at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. The film was graded on the Baselight grading system at Deluxe Restoration, London. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris and light scratches were removed through a combination of digital restoration tools.

Unfortunately at some point during their history the negative elements for Nightmare City were subjected to heavy damage and photochemical decay, resulting in regular instances of heavy density fluctuation/image flicker, colour fluctuation and chemical stains. These instances of damage appear intermittently throughout the film.

Alternative source elements were examined, but the only other existing pre-print element, a 4-perf reversal dupe negative, proved to be of unacceptable quality. As a result, this project relied completely on the damaged but complete original negative as its picture source. In doing so, although much of the worst instances of damage have been minimised, this presentation still shows the considerable problems with the material.

This release also provides the option of viewing Nightmare City from a High Definition Restored version produced by Minerva Films/Raro Video. This version used the aforementioned 35mm 4-perf reversal negative as its source element, and as such appears much softer overall in comparison with the 2-perf negative sourced Arrow restoration. This element was not subjected to the same damage as the negative and as a result, appears much cleaner overall. However, unlike the Arrow presentation, grain management and other DNR-type processing software tools were used to achieve the results of this presentation. (1)

Nightmare City and the limits of restoration featurette looking at the differences between the two transfers included on this release. (2)

FPS: 23.976
Aspect Ratio: 2.35
Region: B

Film
2-perf 35mm (Techniscope) Original Camera Negative.

Transfer
Pin-registered 2K Scan on an Arryscan at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna, Italy.

Color Correction / Restoration
Color Correction and Restoration on Baselight at Deluxe, London, UK.

References:

1. Page 16-17 of included booklet.

2. Nightmare City and the limits of restoration featurette included on the Blu-ray.