The Criterion Collection

Carnival of Souls

Edition no. 63

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Release Date: Tuesday, 16 May 2000
Country of Release: USA
MSRP: $39.95

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Carnival of Souls

Licensor Information

Harold Harvey and John Clifford

Directed by: Herk Harvey

Featuring: Candace Hilligoss, Frances Feist, Sidney Berger, Art Ellison, Stan Levitt, Herk Harvey

Herk Harvey’s macabre masterpiece gained a cult following through late night television and has been bootlegged for years. Made by industrial filmmakers on a modest budget, Carnival of Souls was intended to have the “look of a Bergman” and “feel of a Cocteau,” and succeeds with its strikingly used locations and spooky organ score. Mary Henry (Candace Hilligoss) survives a drag race in a rural Kansas town, then takes a job as a church organist in Salt Lake City. En route, she becomes haunted by a bizarre apparition that compels her to an abandoned lakeside pavilion. Criterion is proud to present the ultimate special edition of this eerily effective B-movie classic that continues to inspire filmmakers today.

Year: 1962
Time: 78 min.

Details by Film

Carnival of Souls

Theatrical Version

Year: 1962

Time: 78

Aspect Ratios

1.33:1

Audio

English Dolby Digital Mono 1.0

Carnival of Souls

Director's Cut

Year: 1962

Time: 83

Aspect Ratios

1.33:1

Audio

English Dolby Digital Mono 1.0

Streaming Options

3556.

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Popularity

Last 24 Hours

#3556 1610

Last 7 Days

#3107 1240

Last 30 Days

#3553 1219

Release Information:

Technical Specifications

Format:

DVD

Discs:

DVD-9 (2 Discs)

Total: 2 Discs

Regions:

1/2/3/4/5/6 (DVD)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33:1

Audio Options:

English Dolby Digital Mono 1.0

Resolution:

480p/29.97

Subtitles:

English

Supplements

Types of Supplements Included: Feature Film, Documentary, Outtakes, Theatrical Trailer, Mulitimedia Essay, Video Presentation, Audio Commentary, Short Film, Text, Insert

Both the theatrical version and the director's cut included
The Movie That Wouldn't Die! The Story of Carnival of Souls: a documentary on the 1989 reunion of the cast and crew
More than 45 minutes of rare outtakes accompanied by Gene Moore’s organ score
Theatrical trailer
An illustrated history of the Saltair resort in Salt Lake City
The Carnival Tour: a video update on the film
Selected audio commentary on the director's cut by screenwriter John Clifford and late director Herk Harvey
One hour of excerpts from films made by the Centron Corporation, an industrial film company based in Lawrence, Kansas that employed Harvey and Clifford for over thirty years
An essay on the history of Centron from Ken Smith
Printed interviews with Herk Harvey, John Clifford, and star Candace Hilligoss, illustrated with vintage photos and memorabilia
Insert featuring an essay by Bruce Kawin and a note by John Clifford

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Film

7.3200/10

Picture

7.6667/10

Audio

6.6667/10

Supplements

8.2000/10

Artwork

8.3333/10

Release Credits

Producer: Susan Arosteguy

Artwork: Olga Krigman

Release Notes on Restoration

Carnival of Souls

The original theatrical version of Carnival of Souls is presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. This new digital transfer was created from a duplicate negative, the most original existing film element available. The sound was created from an optical soundtrack negative.