Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno – Arrow Academy (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 2009
Directors: Serge Bromberg, Ruxandra Medrea
Writer: Serge Bromberg
Cast: Romy Schneider, Bérénice Bejo, Serge Reggiani, Jacques Gamblin, Dany Carrel, Jean-Claude Bercq, Mario David, André Luguet, Maurice Garrel, Catherine Allégret, Barbara Sommers, Maurice Teynac, Henri Virlojeux, Blanchette Brunoy, Henri-Georges Clouzot

Release Date: February 5th, 2018 (UK), February 6th, 2018 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 99 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: PG (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: DTS-HD 5.1 French, LPCM Stereo French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: OOP

"In 1964, Henri-Georges Clouzot, the acclaimed director of thriller masterpieces Les Diaboliques and Wages of Fear, began work on his most ambitious film yet.

Set in a beautiful lake side resort in the Auvergne region of France, L'Enfer (Inferno) was to be a sun scorched elucidation on the dark depths of jealousy starring Romy Schneider as the harassed wife of a controlling hotel manager (Serge Reggiani). However, despite huge expectations, major studio backing and an unlimited budget, after three weeks the production collapsed under the weight of arguments, technical complications and illness.

In this compelling, award-winning documentary Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea present Inferno's incredible expressionistic original rushes, screen tests, and on-location footage, whilst also reconstructing Clouzot's original vision, and shedding light on the ill-fated endeavour through interviews, dramatisations of unfilmed scenes, and Clouzot's own notes." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The film was prepared in High Definition by MK2 and delivered to Arrow Films."

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 41.7 GB

Feature: 24.3 GB

There are three sources; these include newly shot interview footage, archival footage, and outtakes/footage shot by Henri-Georges Clouzot. Colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are strong, compression is solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD 5.1 French, LPCM Stereo French)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD 5.1 mix in French and a LPCM stereo mix in French. Both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced. Range-wise, both audio tracks sound great. Included are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery (41 images), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 44 seconds, DTS-HD stereo French with removable English subtitles), an introduction with co-director Serge Bromberg (8 minutes 56 seconds, LPCM stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with Serge Bromberg (18 minutes 9 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an video essay with film cinema expert Lucy Mazdon, who discusses Henri-Georges Clouzot and Inferno (21 minutes 48 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), a “Making of” featurette titled They Saw Inferno, this extra gives a detailed account about Inferno, why the film was never completed and information about its rediscovery (59 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), reversible cover art, and a 24-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Welcome to Hell written by Ginette Vincendeau and information about the transfer. 

Summary:

Throughout cinema’s history, there have been numerous films that were never completed. Though many of these films have all but been forgotten, a handful of films have attained a Holy Grail-like status. And one such film that falls into this latter category is Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno.

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno is a detailed overview of why Inferno was never finished. And this is done via test footage, archival and new interviews from those who were involved in the making of this film, and newly shot dialog exchanges to help flesh out some of the moments that were filmed.

Inferno was in its very early stages when everything fell apart, and what was filmed is best described as fragments. That said, the footage that was shot and featured in this documentary is extraordinary.

Arrow Academy gives Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno an exceptional release, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer