©1978 Universal City Studios, Inc. All rights reserved.
| Catalog Number | 16-006 |
| Format | Extended Play CLV |
| MPAA Rating |  |
 |
|
| Running Time | 97 minutes |
| Release History | |
| Catalog Number | 16-006 |
| Format | Extended Play CLV |
| MPAA Rating | |
|
|
| Running Time | 97 minutes |
| Release History | |
|
|
|
|
The first "red" labeled CLV release from DiscoVision (other than the recalled CLV edition of Animal House), this title marked the beginning of near extinction for the CAV format, the only way titles had been released during the first 18 months of DiscoVision's availability. House Calls has never been seen with the big "Extended Play" sticker applied to its box, as opposed to Deliverance on which the sticker took up nearly ¼ of the jacket. Most copies have a plain red label with no markings to indicate "Extended Play". Some copies have been found with a white box on the left side of the label indicating "Extended Play".
A transfer error plagues House Calls at 25½ minutes into side 1. There is a scene change from Dr. Nichols and Mrs. Atkinson having coffee to where Dr. Willoughby is waiting for the elevator. The audio goes completely silent for about 10 seconds and then begins to fade in slowly. After a total of 15 seconds the audio is fully restored. On side 2 at minute 25, there is another transfer error, where it appears a few frames are missing. There are is a black frame and a snippet of audio is missing. These are not disc replication faults, but errors with the film itself.
There are a handful of copies which have a bigger problem. Side 2 with the mint marking CV16-006B1-30 are missing the "Philips Code" signal that is present on all consumer LaserDiscs. The absence of "Philips Code" is why GM discs do not play correctly on home LaserDisc players. With "House Calls", the problem is not immediately noticeable as players of the day used the "Philips Code" signal, but would play without it. Players like Pioneer Models VP-1000, LD-1100, PR-8210 and the VP-7200 from Magnavox will "Play" the disc, but leave the "Standard Play" and "Extended Play" lamps illuminated for the entire side. Searches and minute display are not available, but scan does work properly. Some players like the DVL-919E and CLD-1010 won't play the side at all.
The video is very sharp and clear. The source material is obviously a theatrical print as splice lines are visible at the reel changes. There are times throughout the film when the image jumps annoyingly in the telecine gate. The colors are fairly good, but scenes inside the hospital are hindered by a green hue, probably from the fluorescent lights. As is usual, the audio is unspectacular, but it is clean and clear.
