Martin Scorsese's "Raging Bull" (1980) is arguably the greatest American biopic ever made. It's a character study based on the life of boxer Jake La Motta from 1941 to 1964, and Robert De Niro won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the professional prizefighter. The movie also features a memorable performance by Joe Pesci in the role of Jake's brother.
MGM Home Entertainment has released a two-disc DVD collector's set of "Raging Bull," and it is loaded with extras, including three audio commentary tracks.
One audio commentary is by director Martin Scorsese and film editor Thelma Schoonmaker. A second is by cast and crew, including producer Irwin Winkler, music producer Robbie Robertson, producer Robert Chartoff, actress Theresa Saldana, actor John Turturro, sound effects editor Frank Warner, cinematographer Michael Chapman, and casting director Cis Corman. The third audio commentary is by screenwriters Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader, boxer-author Jake La Motta, and La Motta's nephew Jason Lustig.
The second disc in the set contains four featurettes. The 26-minute "Before the Fight" is about the movie's preproduction, including writing and casting. The 15-minute "Inside the Ring" looks at how the fight sequences were done. The 27-minute "Outside the Ring" is basically a collection of behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Finally, the 15-minute "After the Fight" covers sound design, music, and the film's impact.
Other bonus materials on the second disc include a 28-minute making-of documentary, a four-minute shot-by-shot comparison of De Niro and La Motta, and a one-minute newsreel about La Motta defending his title against a French challenger.
And what about the music heard on both DVDs when the main menu is displayed? It's the "Intermezzo" from Mascagni's 1890 opera "Cavalleria Rusticana."
DVD Details:
- DVD Release Date: February 8, 2005
- Number of Discs: 2
- Feature Run Time: 2 hours 9 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
- Widescreen (1.85:1), Black-and-White
- English 5.1 Surround
- English Stereo Surround
- French Monaural
- Spanish Monaural
- English Subtitles
- French Subtitles
- Spanish Subtitles
- Audio Commentary by Scorsese and Film Editor
- Audio Commentary by Cast and Crew
- Audio Commentary by Screenwriters and La Motta
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: "Before the Fight" (26 min.)
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: "Inside the Ring" (15 min.)
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: "Outside the Ring" (27 min.)
- Behind-the-Scenes Featurette: "After the Fight" (15 min.)
- Making-Of Documentary: "The Bronx Bull" (28 min.)
- "De Niro vs. La Motta" Shot-By-Shot Comparison (4 min.)
- "La Motta Defends Title" Newsreel Footage (1 min.)
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- 16-Page Booklet
