Stars:
Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Neville Brand, George
DiCenzo, Moses Gunn, Robert Loggia, Joe Spinell, Tom Atkins, and Richard Lynch
Writer:
William Peter Blatty
Based
On The Novel “Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane” By: William Peter Blatty
Director:
William Peter Blatty
Feature
length: 114 minutes
Extras:
Feature Length Audio Commentary By Author, Screenwriter, Director, and Producer
William Peter Blatty, Featurette, Additional Scenes, Two Alternate Endings,
Cast/Director Highlights
Languages:
English Monaural Soundtrack
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 32
Sound:
Monaural Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 1980/DVD Release: 2002
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Adapted
from his novel “Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane” Author William Peter Blatty
wrote, produced, and directed this feature film, which explores in profound and
literary ways the nature of faith in God and goodness in the face of evil and
madness. In an experimental government center that looks more like some gothic
castle than an asylum for troubled Vietnam veterans, a renowned psychologist is
expected to determine if the patients, who run the asylum are indeed truly
insane. When Kane (Stacey Keach) arrives he employs a stoic and reserved
demeanor that appears too calm not only to the patients, but the staff
until the past Kane has repressed catches up with him in a twist that ultimately
changes the narrative of the film and creates a Christ like story complete with
a resurrection of sorts after a selfless act of sacrifice. This is an extremely
compelling and at times hard to watch film for those who are not particularly
fond of esoteric questions regarding the existence in God. Some might complain
that there are more questions raised than answered, but personally I think
“The Ninth Configuration” is a beautiful spiritual film that ultimately
gives an uplifting conclusion without sacrificing the sharp wittedness and bleak
tone of the film. Is God dead? “The Ninth Configuration” gives a compelling
dissertation worthy of multiple viewings as well as an answer at least as far as
Blatty is concerned.
Warner
Home Video’s “William Peter Blatty’s The Ninth Configuration” appears to
be a deceptive ordinary DVD release complete with the standard snap case
packaging, but once you put the disc in the player, watch it, and go through the
special features you may agree with me that Warner has allowed Blatty artistic
license for the DVD debut of his cult film that benefits the entire presentation
as a whole. “William Peter Blatty’s The Ninth Configuration” is presented
in an anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio. While “The Ninth
Configuration” is a murky film with muted colors, this transfer looks soft
with some visible anomalies and grain. It is a shame the print used for the
transfer is not better, but it is what it is and probably as a good a DVD
transfer viewers are likely to see though there have been multiple cuts of the
film released on home video in the past with various alternate scenes, so who
knows? The version presented here on the DVD is the Blue Dolphin UK theatrical
re-release from last year however scenes that were previously included in the
New World Pictures’ “Director’s Cut” home video release from the 1980s
are among the additional scenes on the DVD. Whether or not this cut presented on
this DVD release will be Blatty’s final Director’s cut remains to be seen,
but with the extra features included this might be the most definitive home
video release yet.
A
clear Two-Channel English Monaural Soundtrack is provided along with English
Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired and French Language
Subtitles encoded as options. William Peter Blatty provides a retrospective
feature length audio commentary track where he is interviewed by
Author/Documentary Filmmaker Mark Kermode and discusses the theological issues
and the origins of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Killer Kane” as well as his
development of the film, it’s place as a trilogy lamenting on the questions of
the existence of
Good and Evil beginning with “The Exorcist,” through “The
Ninth Configuration,” and concluding with “The Exorcist III” otherwise
known as “Legion.” Blatty is well spoken and very reserved on the commentary
to a point where he sounds like Stacey Keach’s character of “Kane.”
There
is an introductory featurette (6:47) that is meant to precede the film’s
presentation and yet when one watches the film on DVD instead of the usual menus
appearing before the film begins, we see the Warner logo and then the film just
begins and plays through, which reminds me of the original Warner DVD releases
back in 97, but here it is an artistic choice, but why have the featurette
introduction among the extra features if it does not even give the viewer the
option to watch the film back to back without having to select it.?
There are
eight additional and alternate scenes made up of “Winged Generals And
Crucified Angels” (1:19), “The Outrageous Mr. Groper” (3:48),
“Everyone’s A Fruit And Nut Cake” (1:50), “Green Soaked Caterpillar
Torturing Bastards” (6:21), “Spinell Goes To The Dogs” (: 24), “Kane’s
Great Sacrifice” (1:05), “Kane’s Letter From Beyond The Grave” (1:11),
and “Coming Home” (: 45). The scenes are of mixed quality with most
appearing in a (2.35:1) aspect ratio while the alternate ending scene
“Kane’s Great Sacrifice” is presented in a (1.85:1) aspect ratio that
looks clearer than the feature film presentation itself on this DVD. The
“Coming Home” alternate scene appears wider than (2.35:1) as well. Each
scene features a detailed text explanation for the scene including why it was
cut or had appeared in other previous versions of the film and all of the
alternate scenes can only be viewed individually. Detailed Cast and Director
Biographies and Career Highlights that wrap up the extra features on this DVD
release.
“William
Peter Blatty’s The Ninth Configuration” is available on DVD-Video now from
Warner Home Video and I think it is definitely worth a look and purchase for
those who are admirers of this film.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.