One of the joys of DVD, as I’ve said many times before, is
that it allows us all the opportunity to see movies that we would otherwise
have no chance of seeing. It could be art films, independent films or even
major foreign films that never make it to the states. In addition to these
opportunities it is an even bigger joy when one of these films makes its way
via Arrow Video. No, they aren’t paying me to say this. Aside from Criterion
Arrow Video releases some great movies in blu-ray format that have been cleaned
to perfection with actual extras that matter and never overdo. Take for
instance this film, an Italian giallo film that has all the elements and keeps
you guessing until the end as to whodunit.
The film stars Fabio Testi as Enrico Rosseni, a teacher at a
Catholic girl’s school. The film opens with Enrico lazily rowing down the river
with his girlfriend Elizabeth. Out of the corner of her eye Elizabeth thinks
she sees something in the woods on the bank. Enrico thinks she is just trying
to put him off as she’s done in the past. A short time later we discover that
Elizabeth is a student of Enrico’s who is going to graduate soon.
Enrico has set up an apartment for the two of them, a love
nest if you will. He’s done so because he is still married to Herta, another
teacher at the school. While the couple still live together their marriage is a
shambles and a split is imminent. Herta knows something is going on but the
couple’s confrontations on the subject are more subdued than one would think
they would be.
Problems arise when girls from the school are found murdered,
the first being what Elizabeth caught out of the corner of her eye. As an eye
witness, the police try to press her for more information but it all comes back
to her slowly. When Elizabeth is found murdered as well, Enrico become the
number one suspect. With all revealed he loses his job and now has a second
reason to want to find out who the killer is. We know he’s innocent, having
seen the killer dressed in priest’s garb, but how will he change the mind of
the police inspector?
As the clues begin to mount and Enrico, with the help of
Herta, proves his innocence, just who is responsible continues to remain a
mystery. With each new death the list of suspects seems to grow rather than
dwindle. The reasons why these murders are happening and the final assortment
of clues come late in the film but hints were there all along. In the end it is
a satisfying conclusion.
The movie itself is a great mystery based on a novel by
Edgar Wallace. As I said the clues are provided for the most part but the final
items necessary to find the killer aren’t all in place until the last portion
of the film. The acting is better than many movies faced with a transition from
one culture/language to another. While the differences in the way Italian films
are made from how they’re done in America is obvious, in this case it is never
in a fashion that makes the film difficult to follow.
Arrow has turned in a fantastic looking version of the
movie. In addition to presenting it in a clean print it offers the following
extras:
-Original Italian and English
soundtracks in mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
-Newly translated subtitles for the
Italian soundtrack
-Optional English subtitles for the
deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
-Brand new audio commentary with
critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman
-Newly filmed cast interviews
-Original Theatrical Trailer
-A reversible sleeve featuring original
and newly commissioned artwork by MALLEUS
-A booklet featuring brand new writing
on the film, illustrated with original stills
If you love giallo films, if you love
Italian made movies or if you love a great mystery then this is a movie worth
seeking out. For film collectors you’re offered a great version of the film
done with loving care. If you’ve never ventured into watching an Italian made
film this would be a good way to start. And if you aren’t familiar with Arrow
Video now is your chance to see why they are one of the better DVD companies
out there.
Click here to order.
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