Search - Lady in White on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Content Advisory: Mild Violence, Questionable for Children, Adult Language, Scary Moments Movie Release: 1988 DVD Release: 03/25/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Director's Cut SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 0 mins Studio: Elite Members Wishing: 15 Genres: Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Childhood Drama See Also: The Lady in White

In this supernatural nostalgia piece, a young boy tracks down a murderer with help from the ghosts of a slain little girl and her mother. In a voice-over, grown-up writer Frankie Scarlatti describes the disturbing events that intruded on his idyllic small-town boyhood. Locked in the school cloakroom by some other boys on Halloween 1962, young Frankie (Lukas Haas) encounters the ghost of Melissa Anne Montgomery (Joelle Jacobi), who re-enacts her own death by strangulation just before an unseen adult enters the school and tries to do away with Frankie himself. While recuperating in the care of his widower father (Alex Rocco), Frankie conducts some detective work and learns that Melissa is one of ten children killed over the past decade. Further encounters with the girl's ghost -- and the mournful specter of her mother, the Lady in White (Karen Powell) -- do little to help the boy solve the mystery of who killed the kids. Meanwhile, an innocent black maintenance man becomes the scapegoat on which the police hang the killings. However, thanks to the damning but enigmatic evidence Frankie has discovered, the boy faces imminent danger from the actual killer, who ends up lurking terrifyingly close to home. The sophomore feature from writer/director Frank LaLoggia, who made his name with the low-budget horror film Fear No Evil, Lady in White starred the young Lukas Haas halfway between his appearances in Witness and Rambling Rose. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide

Lukas Haas - Frankie Scarlatti
Len Cariou - Phil
Alex Rocco - Angelo Scarlatti
Katherine Helmond - Amanda
Jason Presson - Geno Scarlatti

Frank LaLoggia's smart and effective thriller Lady in White receives the special-edition treatment from Elite Entertainment and a nice package has been produced overall. To start with, the image, framed at 1.85:1, has its weak points. While colors are generally vibrant, the overall picture is rather soft most of the time, lacking specific detail. Sadly the image isn't presented with an anamorphic transfer, which is the prime reason for the forgivable imperfections. The sound, remastered for this DVD release in Dolby Digital 5.1, is relatively strong with some nice use of the surround speakers. But what make this disc really stand out are the supplemental features. The highlight of many would have to be a very warm and accessible audio commentary from LaLoggia. Without ever being dull or overanalytical about his most famous film, he delves into the history of making it, the challenges of a low budget feature, and his relationship with cast and crew. It's truly one of the better commentaries recorded. LaLoggia not only scripted, produced, and directed this film, but he wrote the music, which is also included on an isolated track. In addition, there is a nice but brief segment of behind-the-scenes footage. Finally, along with the theatrical trailer, there are a handful of television and radio spots, plus a photo gallery consisting mainly of shots from the film. Though out of print for some time and rather difficult to find, you couldn't go wrong with this delightful film and impressive DVD, especially for those that like thrills and scares, but don't care for the gore. ~ Trent Fordham, All Movie Guide