Miracles: Deluxe Limited Edition – 88 Films (UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1989
Director: Jackie Chan
Writers: Jackie Chan, Edward Tang
Cast: Jackie Chan, Anita Mui, Gua Ah-leh, Ko Chun-hsiung, Wu Ma, Bill Tung, Richard Ng, Gloria Yip 

Release Date: April 14th, 2025
Approximate Running Times: 127 Minutes 41 Seconds (Hong Kong Cut), 106 Minutes 33 Seconds (International Cut)
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10 (Both Versions)
Rating: PG (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Hong Kong Cut), Alternate DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Hong Kong Cut), DTS-HD Mono Cantonese Home Video Mix (Hong Kong Cut), DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese (Hong Kong Cut), DTS-HD 5.1 English (Hong Kong Cut), DTS-HD Mono English (International Cut)
Subtitles: English (Both Versions), English SDH (International Cut)
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region B (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: £29.99 (UK)

"An optimistic Gwok Zan-Waa (Jackie Chan) arrives in Hong Kong, quickly finding himself impoverished. That is, until a serendipitous encounter with a rose seller (Gua Ah-Leh) leads to his inadvertent appointment as boss of a local gang. Amidst the reluctant leader’s efforts to reform their fraternity and businesses, is an endeavor to share his new-found fortune with the bestower, all whilst trying to stave off rivals and the authorities." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD, Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Brand-new 4K restoration from the Original Camera Negative presented in Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR10 Compatible)."

Miracles comes on a 100 GB triple layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 88.2 GB

Feature: 67.5 GB

This release uses seamless branching for the two versions. The source looks phenomenal; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Miracles comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 36 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc. This release uses seamless branching for the two versions.

Audio: 5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Hong Kong Cut, Alternate DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Hong Kong Cut, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese Home Video Mix - Hong Kong Cut), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - International Cut), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 Cantonese - Hong Kong Cut, DTS-HD 5.1 English - Hong Kong Cut)

The Hong Kong cut comes with film audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, an alternate DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese labeled Home Video Mix, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in Cantonese, and a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in English. There are removable English subtitles for each Cantonese language track and a removable English subtitle track for text and a song in Cantonese when watching with the English language track. The International cut comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English subtitles. All of the audio tracks sound clean and free of any distortion or background hiss. Dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and action sequences sound appropriately robust. Though the 5.1 audio tracks open up with sound spectrum, all of the mono tracks, especially the Cantonese language tracks, are the way to go.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto for the Hong Kong cut.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a stills gallery (23 images), Japanese TV spot (18 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese with removable English subtitles), Japanese theatrical trailer (1 minute 32 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with Japanese text and removable English subtitles), Hong Kong theatrical teaser (4 minutes 18 seconds, LPCM mono, no dialog or text), Hong Kong theatrical trailer (4 minutes 19 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese with removable English subtitles), scenes from the Taiwan version (10 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), an interview with Steve Lawson titled Jackie Chan: Film Director (10 minutes 32 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with Frank Djeng and F.J. DeSanto for the Hong Kong cut.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a rigid slipcase, a double-sided poster, six art cards, and a 80-page perfect bound book with cast & crew information, Jackie Chan Stunt Team Miracles On Set written by William Blaik, an essay titled Mr. Chan and a Fork in the Road a Look at Miracles’ Decisive Role in Jackie Chan’s Career written by Paul Bramhall, an essay titled Something to Prove Frank Capra, Lion Rock Spirit and Jackie Chan’s Miracles written by David West, and archival images.

Summary:

A down-on-his-luck country boy who just arrived in Hong Kong sees a reversal of fortune after a chance encounter with a flower lady. When he is named the new leader of a gang, he repays her by transforming her into a lady of influence so her visiting daughter will not know how impoverished she really is.

Although Jackie Chan has ventured away from his signature action/comedy hybrids, he has become a victim of his success. While his comedic timing and impressive acrobatic stunts receive the majority of the acclaim, his talent for carrying a scene with dramatic weight remains largely underappreciated. Another area where he does not get enough praise is his direction, and with each new film, you could see his growth as a filmmaker.

A clear example of Jackie Chan’s prowess as a director is Miracles, a 1930s period-set action/comedy that is his most well-rounded and accomplished film. Though it is not credited, Miracles is an adaptation of Frank Capra's Lady for a Day and Pocketful of Miracles. Another influence is Hollywood musicals; a centerpiece of Miracles is a musical montage. Visually, Miracles really shines; its use of steadicam and crane shots is more elaborate than other Hong Kong films.

Though Jackie Chan is the main attraction of his films, he always surrounds himself with a solid supporting cast who are given room to take center stage. That said, all of the cast are excellent in their roles. Frequent collaborators of Jackie Chan, Bill Tung (from Police Story) and Richard Ng (from My Lucky Stars), deliver much of the film's comic relief. They portray a conman and a bumbling police inspector, respectively. Not to be overlooked when discussing the performance is Anita Mui (The Heroic Trio), who portrays a nightclub performer who is Jackie Chan’s character's love interest.

There is a lot of time devoted to exposition and building up the characters. That said, humor once again plays a significant role in a Jackie Chan film. A lot of the humor comes from a running gag where characters pretending to be someone they are not take extreme measures to conceal their charade. The fight sequences are exemplary; characters take advantage of their surroundings. When it comes to action sequences, Miracles saves its biggest and best for its finale. Ultimately, it's unfortunate that Jackie Chan did not direct more films like Miracles. This film stands out as remarkable and is one of the high points of his career.

Miracles gets an exceptional release from 88 Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation, two versions of the film, and informative extras—highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands: Deluxe Edition – Deaf Crocodile (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Japan, 1967
Director: Atsushi Yamatoya
Writer: Atsushi Yamatoya
Cast: Miki Watari, Yûichi Minato, Shôhei Yamamoto, Masayoshi Nogami, Noriko Tatsumi, Mari Nagisa, Akaji Maro, Taka Ôkubo, Hatsuo Yamaya

Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 86 Minutes 46 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $44.99

“Every day at 3 o’clock I’ve been killing you in my daydreams,” murmurs low-rent hitman Shô (Yûichi Minato), haunted by the death of his girlfriend five years earlier and seeking revenge on the gangster who killed her." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands was restored from the only known remaining 35mm element - a badly worn and damaged release print, scanned by Rapid Eye Movies in Germany.

Before restoration work could begin, the piece-meal scan of bits and pieces of that tattered print needed to be put back together (conformed) - both the audio and picture separately and then synced. That's an undertaking all its own. Once we had that, we could really dig in and see just what kind of work was ahead of us.

The print was damaged with numerous broken and even missing frames. As would be expected from a worn release print, there were considerable scratches and dirt present and large tape splices needed to be digitally repaired at each cut. There were considerable stability issues throughout. Large sections of the film had significant moisture damage which presents itself on screen as a wildly irregular "flicker". The audio was equally challenging and well beyond our in-house audio restoration abilities. It was time to call in the audio pros at Audio Mechanics in Burbank, CA. They did a heroic job clearing up the audio, fixing badly out of sync shots and miraculously removing a loud repetitive noise that ran throughout a large portion of the film.

An element in this condition would normally never be used for a restoration effort, but in this case it was the only element known to exist and the film deserves to be seen in the best possible condition it can."

Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.8 GB

Feature: 16.5 GB

The detailed information provided about the transfer gives you a clear idea of what to expect. That said, things look better than expected, and Fidelity in Motion delivers a solid encode. 

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Japanese with removable English. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a restoration demo (2 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Japanese, no subtitles), a  video essay by journalist and physical media expert Ryan Verrill (The Disc Connected) and film professor Dr. Will Dodson titled Tomorrow Won’t be a Dream: Duality and Triangles in Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands (13 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with film professor Alexander Zahlten on the Pink Film subgenre in Japanese cinema, moderated by Dennis Bartok of Deaf Crocodile (82 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historians Arne Venema and Mike Leeder, and an insert with a URL that has a PDF for the video essay.

Extras limited to this deluxe edition include reversible cover art, a slipcase, and a 60-page booklet with an essay titled Erotics of the Gun Gender, Geo-Politics and Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, an essay titled Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands written by Walter Chaw, an essay titled Atsushi Yamatoya’s Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands - Quantum Mechanics and the Destroyer of Worlds written by Chris D., an interview with producer Keiko Satô of Kokuei Films, conducted by producer Hiromi Aihara of Bewiz, and information about the restoration.

Summary:

Atsushi Yamatoya directed Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands; his only other notable film as a director is Trapped in Lust, a Roman Porno remake of Branded to Kill. He is most known for his work as a screenwriter: Branded to Kill, Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter, A Tale of Sorrow and Sadness, Star of David: Beautiful Girl Hunter, and Dogra Magra.

A private detective is hired to find a woman who is believed to have been killed in a snuff film.

While Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands incorporates many elements typical of Pinku eiga, it ultimately resembles the action films produced by Nikkatsu in the latter half of the 1960s. Where most pinku eiga focus on sex, violence, and politically charged commentary, Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands, similar to the works of Atsushi Yamatoya, places greater emphasis on experimentation. That said, when it comes to sex and violence, Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands seems relatively mild compared to other Pinku eiga films from the 1960s and 1970s.

While watching Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands, I could not help but think about Branded to Kill, a film to which Atsushi Yamatoya contributed as a writer. Both films revolve around protagonists who manage to stay ahead of their enemies in a kill-or-be-killed world. That said, Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands has a surprisingly strong narrative that is heavy on exposition in favor of more exploitative elements. Another strength of the narrative is how it fleshes out its protagonist's backstory: his girlfriend was murdered by a gangster, and his own quest for revenge aligns with the case he’s working on.

The most surprising aspect of Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands is the performances, especially Yûichi Minato (Madame O), who portrays a private detective named Shô. He delivers a strong performance that draws you into the story that is unfolding. Another performance of note is Miki Watari, who portrays Mina, a woman who has an affair with Shô despite being involved with a man named Kô, the knife thrower.

The dark premise of Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands depicts a world where women are abducted, tortured, violated, and killed on film, and this concept is effectively brought to life. The film features a diverse cast of eccentric characters, including a man who engages intimately with his inflatable doll. While alliances are formed among them, numerous betrayals occur throughout the story. Visually there are an abundance of arresting moments, and a jazz-infused score reinforces the unsettling mood. That said, there are times where image and sound verge on avant-garde. Ultimately, Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands is a satisfying blend of arthouse and exploitation cinema that quickly draws you in and holds your attention.

Deaf Crocodile gives Inflatable Sex Doll of the Wastelands its best home media release to date, highly recommended.

Note: This edition is limited to 1500 copies.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Death Walks Twice: Two Films by Luciano Ercoli: Death Walks on High Heels / Deaths Walks at Midnight – Arrow Video (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Dates: Italy/Spain/UK/France, 1971 (Death Walks on High Heels), Italy/Spain, 1972 (Deaths Walks at Midnight)
Director: Luciano Ercoli (Both Films)
Cast: Frank Wolff, Nieves Navarro, Simón Andreu, Carlo Gentili, Jorge Rigaud, José Manuel Martín, Fabrizio Moresco, Luciano Rossi, Claudie Lange (Death Walks on High Heels), Nieves Navarro, Simón Andreu, Peter Martell, Carlo Gentili, Ivano Staccioli, Claudio Pellegrini, Fabrizio Moresco, Luciano Rossi, Roberta Cifarelli, Claudie Lange (Deaths Walks at Midnight)

Release Date: March 28th, 2016 (UK), April 5th, 2016 (USA)
Approximate Running Times: 107 Minutes 48 Seconds (Death Walks on High Heels), 101 Minutes 50 Seconds (Deaths Walks at Midnight)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English, English SDH (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region A,B / Region 1,2 NTSC
Retail Price: OOP

"In Death Walks on High Heels, exotic dancer Nicole (Navarro), the daughter of a murdered jewel thief, finds herself terrorized by a black-clad assailant determined on procuring her father s stolen gems. Fleeing Paris and her knife-wielding pursuer, Nicole arrives in London only to discover that death stalks her at every corner.

Returning in Death Walks at Midnight, Navarro stars as Valentina a model who, in the midst of a drug-fueled photoshoot, witnesses a brutal murder in the apartment opposite hers. But when it becomes clear that the savage slaying she describes relates to a crime that took place six months earlier, the police are at a loss - forcing Valentina to solve the mystery alone." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5 (Death Walks on High Heels), 4/5 (Deaths Walks at Midnight)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "All work on this new restoration was carried out at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. The original 35mm 2-perf Techniscope negative was scanned in 2K resolution on a pin-registered Arriscan and was graded on Digital Vision's Nucoda Film Master.

Thousands of instances of dirt, debris and light scratches were removed through a combination of digital restoration tools. Overall image stability and instances of density fluctuation were also improved."

Death Walks on High Heels comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.5 GB

Feature: 29.5 GB

Deaths Walks at Midnight comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.3 GB

Feature: 28 GB

The sources are in excellent shape; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look. While the black levels are generally strong, there are instances where they lack the convincing depth one would expect.

Audio: 4.25/5 (All Audio Tracks)

Each film comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian. All audio tracks are in great shape; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds and the score are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track. There is a portion of the Italian language track for Death Walks at Midnight that has been lost, and English audio has been substituted in its place.

Extras:

Extras for Death Walks on High Heels include an introduction with screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi (1 minute 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), Italian language theatrical trailer (2 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (2 minutes 49 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles subtitles), an interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani titled Death Walks to the Beat (26 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Ernesto Gastaldi titled Master of Giallo (32 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview actress Nieves Navarro and director Luciano Ercoli titled From Spain with Love (24 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film critic Tim Lucas.

Extras for Death Walks at Midnight include an introduction with screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi (1 minute 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Michael Mackenzie titled Desperately Seeking Susan, he discusses Nieves Navarro and the three Gialli she made with Luciano Ercoli (27 minutes 54 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Ernesto Gastaldi that is titled Crime Does Pay (31 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), extended T.V. version of Death Walks at Midnight (106 minutes 4 seconds, 4:3 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles) and an audio commentary with Tim Lucas.

Other extras include reversible cover (both films) and a 60-page perfect bound book with cast & crew information for each film, an essay titled Teetering on High Heels written by Danny Shipka, an essay titled Death Walks the 70’s: Luciano Ercoli and the Gialo written by Troy Howarth, an essay titled The Comedy Stylings of the “Yellow” Genre written by Leonard Jacobs, and information about the restoration.

Included with this release are DVDs that contain the same content as the Blu-Ray included in this combo package.

Summary:

Death Walks on High Heels and Death Walks at Midnight were directed by Luciano Ercoli, whose other notable films are The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion and Killer Cop.

Death Walks on High Heels: A killer is pursuing a nightclub dancer who unknowingly is in possession of stolen diamonds.

The Giallo genre, like all genres, is formulaic, and once you have seen a few of them, many of its tropes start to stick out. That said, Luciano Ercoli follows up The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion with an equally riveting Giallo. The narrative is well-constructed; it does a phenomenal job concealing the killer's identity. There are several well-placed red herrings, and an excellent finale brings everything into focus. Another strength of the narrative is its use of flashbacks, which flesh out the killer's motivation.

The main attraction of Death Walks on High Heels is Nieves Navarro (The Big Gundown) in the role of Nicole Rochard, a nightclub dancer whose father is a diamond thief. She was given the lead role in Death Walks on High Heels after portraying a secondary character in The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion. She is an actress who commands the screen and often steals a scene. With her portrayal of Nicole, she delivers what is arguably her best performance.

When it comes to the performances, the entire cast is excellent, especially Luciano Rossi (The Violent Professionals), who portrays Hallory, a caretaker of the cottage Nicole is staying at. Though he is not given much to do, and for most of his screen time he portrays an atypical character, in a Psycho-like finale he delivers the type of performance he’s known for. The cast features several recognizable faces: Simón Andreu (Death Carries a Cane) plays Nicole’s abusive boyfriend, Frank Wolff (Cold Eyes of Fear) portrays Robert Matthews, Nicole’s lover, and Claudie Lange (The Punishment) takes on the role of Robert’s wife, who bears a striking resemblance to Nicole.

Despite Death Walks on High Heels' lack of carnage, it is a film overflowing with visually arresting moments. Another strength of the visuals is how effectively it exploits locations, notably the cottage by the seaside. Not to be overlooked is composer Stelvio Cipriani (What Have They Done to Your Daughters?), who delivers an exemplary score that perfectly reinforces and heightens the mood. Ultimately, Death Walks on High Heels is a tense thriller that holds your attention, making it a must-see for fans of the Giallo genre.

Death Walks at Midnight: A fashion model named Valentina agrees to try a new hallucinogenic drug at the request of a reporter friend of hers who wants to do a story on the drug's aftereffects. While under the influence, Valentina witnesses a woman being attacked by a man with a metal-spiked glove. From there her identity is exposed when her reporter friend publishes the story, and now the man with the metal spike wants her dead. With no one believing her story, she is now forced to solve the mystery herself. Will Valentina unmask this madman, or will she become his next victim?

A year after directing Death Walks on High Heels, Luciano Ercoli would return to the Giallo genre for the third and final time. Death Walks at Midnight is like a companion piece to Death Walks on High Heels; besides sharing actors, the cinematographer on both films was Fernando Arribas, known for his collaborations with Jorge Grau and Vicente Aranda. For the third film in a row, Luciano Ercoli would have a different composer, this time around Gianni Ferrio (The Bloodstained Butterfly). He delivers a score that perfectly reflects Death Walks at Midnight's hallucinogenic vibe and its protagonist's state of mind.

After two rather bloodless Gialli, Luciano Ercoli, with Death Walks at Midnight, delivers a film that is in line with the visceral carnage that this genre's most celebrated films are known for. One of the killers uses a spiked glove that removes chunks of flesh every time a victim's face is punched. Though these sequences are gory, there are a few other kills that do not match their intensity. That said, as gruesome as the spiked-gloved killings are, it is a scene with a dead cat that is the hardest to watch. 

All around, the cast are excellent, especially Nieves Navarro (All the Colors of the Dark), who portrays Valentina, a fashion model who sees a murder after taking a hallucinogenic drug. Where her character in Death Walks on High Heels relied on men to protect her, Valentina is a woman who can stand on her own, and she uses her wits to get her out of danger.

Another performance of note is Luciano Rossi (Death Smiles on a Murderer), who portrays Hans Krutzer, a psychopathic assassin with a maniacal laugh. The cast features several recognizable faces: Simón Andreu (Hidden Pleasures) portrays the reporter who gave Valentina drugs, Peter Martell (The French Sex Murders) portrays Valentina’s boyfriend, and Claudie Lange (Gatling Gun) portrays Verushka Wuttenberg, a woman whose sister was murdered like the woman from Valentina’s hallucinatory vision.

From a production standpoint, Luciano Ercoli delivers his most accomplished Giallo. The outrageous premise is superbly executed, and the narrative does an excellent job building and maintaining tension. Another strength of the narrative is its use of flashback and hallucinatory sequences. Visually, Death Walks at Midnight is filled with arresting moments that heighten the mood. Ultimately, Death Walks at Midnight is an exemplary Giallo, making it one of this genre's best films.

Death Walks Twice: Two Films by Luciano Ercoli is an exceptional release from Arrow Video that gives both films strong audio/video presentations and insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion – Arrow Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/Spain, 1970
Director: Luciano Ercoli
Writers: Ernesto Gastaldi, Mahnahén Velasco
Cast: Dagmar Lassander, Pier Paolo Capponi, Simón Andreu, Osvaldo Genazzani, Salvador Huguet, Nieves Navarro

Release Date: January 14th, 2019 (UK), January 15th, 2019 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 45 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: OOP

"Minou (Dagmar Lassander, Lucio Fulci's The Black Cat) leads a pampered but dull life with her frequently absent husband, Peter (Pier Paolo Capponi, The Cat O' Nine Tails). One night, while out walking on the beachfront, Minou is accosted by a mysterious blackmailer (Simón Andreu, Death Carries a Cane) who informs her that Peter is a murderer. Driven by misplaced loyalty to her husband, Minou gives in to the blackmailer's every perverted whim in exchange for his silence. But as the blackmailer ups the ante, demanding that she submit to his increasingly obscene demands, can Minou hold on to what little remains of her sanity?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion/Le foto proibite di una signora per bene is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 with Italian and English mono audio. Scanning and restoration work was completed at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. The original 2-perf Techniscope 35mm camera negative was scanned in 2K resolution on a pin-registered Arriscan. Thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, picture instability and other instances of film wear were repaired or removed through a combination of digital restoration tools and techniques.

The film was graded on Digital Vision's Nucoda Film Master at R3Store Studios, London."

The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.3 GB

Feature: 24.5 GB

The source is in excellent shape; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5 (LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, an LPCM mono mix in Italian and an LPCM mono mix in English. Both audio tracks are in great shape; dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds and the score are well-represented. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (9 images - stills/poster), Italian language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles subtitles), a Q&A with actress Dagmar Lassander at the 2016 Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester titled The Forbidden Lady (44 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with musician and soundtrack collector Lovely Jon titled The Forbidden Soundtrack of the Big Three (47 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with actress Nieves Navarro and director Luciano Ercoli titled Private Pictures (44 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Kat Ellinger, author and editor-in-chief of Diabolique Magazine, reversible cover art and a 24-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast and & crew information, an essay titled Every Maniac Has His Price written by Michael Mackenzie, original reviews compiled and translated by Roberto Curti and information about the restoration.

Summary:

The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion was directed by Luciano Ercoli, whose other notable films are Death Walks on High Heels, Death Walks at Midnight, and Killer Cop.

A woman is blackmailed by a man who has incriminating evidence against her husband.

The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion would mark the directorial debut of Luciano Ercoli, and after watching this film, it does not look like it was directed by a first-time director, since everything looks polished and perfectly put into the right place. When discussing the films directed by Luciano Ercoli, he is never mentioned in the same breath as some of his more elevated contemporaries. That said, Luciano Ercoli is an auteur in his own right; his films are every bit as accomplished and beautifully stylized of Dario Argento, Sergio Martino, and Lucio Fulci.

The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion is not your typical Giallo. It is revealed early on who the killer is, there is no black-gloved killer, and there is no excessive bloodshed. Another area where The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion defies this genre's standard conventions is its protagonist, Minou. Instead of seeking help, she believes she must keep the secret to protect her husband from jail by eliminating all the evidence from the blackmailers. Going any further might compromise too much of the mystery. Dagmar Lassander (The Laughing Woman) portrays Minou, and she delivers what is arguably one of her best performances.

The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion’s other lead is actress Nieves Navarro (Naked Violence), who later in her career would play the victim in several Giallos. This time around she plays the most level-headed person in the film, and she is also the one that Minou relies on when she starts to lose her grip on reality. Both Nieves Navarro and Dagmar Lassander are undeniably stunning, and words alone cannot adequately capture their true beauty in this film. The rest of the cast is rounded out with familiar faces like Pier Paolo Capponi (The Cat O’ Nine Tails) in the role of Minou’s husband and Simón Andreu (The Blood Spattered Bride) in the role of the blackmailer.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion does not excel. The narrative effectively obscures the killer's intentions until the very end, and the pacing is consistently brisk. The combination of stylish visuals and another exemplary score from Ennio Morricone greatly enhances the mood. Ultimately, The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion is an exceptional Giallo that succeeds without having to rely on genre cliches like violent and carnal set pieces.

The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion gets an excellent release from Arrow Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer