The Image – Mélusine (UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1975
Director: Radley Metzger
Writer: Radley Metzger
Cast: Mary Mendum, Carl Parker, Marilyn Roberts, Valerie Marron, Michelle Vence, Estelle McNalley, Nicole Rochambeau

Release Date: January 21st, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 91 Minutes 3 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $52.98

"While attending a dull, bourgeois party in the heart of Paris, Jean is transfixed by the shy, yet strikingly beautiful Anne. Although barely able to interact, Jean remains preoccupied by her mysterious and on-edge demeanor. After a chance encounter with Anne's housemate-cum-lover, the stern and older Claire, Jean is delighted by an invitation to join them for an afternoon at the park. However, as the day progresses, he is shocked to discover that Anne is engaged in a strange, sadomasochistic relationship with Claire, in which she must adhere to Claire's every whim, no matter how grotesque. Sensing his enthusiasm, Claire decides to invite Jean to their home and slowly begins ingratiating him into her and Anne's unusual lifestyle." - synopsis provided by the distributor

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

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative."

The Image comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 61.5 GB

Feature: 61.1 GB

The source looks excellent, and as great as the Synapse Films Blu-ray looked, this new transfer is an improvement upon it. Flesh tones look healthy, color saturation, image clarity, black levels, contrast, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

The Image comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22.8 GB

Feature: 22.8 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio sounds excellent; better than it ever has. Dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and range-wise the score and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover art (inside cover art features four original posters), a gold foil magnet clasp slipcase + slipcover set (limited to 4,000 units), and a 52-page booklet with liner notes titled The Making of The Image written by Ashley West.

The sole extra is a booklet with extensive liner notes that covers everything about the making of The Image.

Summary:

A chance encounter with a former friend ignites a sadomasochistic relationship.

The image was adapted by Radley Metzger, one of the prominent filmmakers working in softcore erotica cinema in the 1960s and early 1970s. The Image, like his film Score, often blurs the line between softcore erotica and hardcore. By the time that Radley Metzger set his sights on making the definitive cinematic statement on sadomasochism, he had begun the transition from softcore erotica to hardcore, with films like The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann and Naked Came the Stranger. A few years after The Image, he directed what is arguably the best hardcore film ever made, The Opening of Misty Beethoven. But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Let’s dig a little deeper into the film at hand, The Image.

The Image is adapted from Catherine Robbe-Grillet's (wife of French filmmaker Alain Robbe-Grillet) novel of the same name. The narrative revolves around three characters: Jean, the man drawn into this sadomasochistic ménage à trois; Claire, an older wealthy woman; and their plaything, Anne. Structure-wise, the narrative does a superb job establishing the relationship between the three main players, especially Jean and Anne. There is a well-defined evolution to the proceedings at hand that makes everything all the more plausible and easier to digest.

When it comes to the performances, none shine brighter than Mary Mendum (Abigail Lesley is Back in Town), who portrays Anne. At the time of filming The Image, she was dating Radley Metzger. She delivers a phenomenal performance that is arguably her best. Though most of the characters are secondary, there are two other key characters, Jean and Claire. Carl Parker and Marilyn Roberts portray the characters, delivering pitch-perfect performances that counterbalance Mary Mendum's.

An area where The Image excels is its picturesque visuals, which use the Paris locations for maximum effect; notably, a scene in a rose garden is one of the more visually resonating moments. Another area where the visuals excel are the S&M moments; they are exquisitely realized. Ultimately, The Image is more than a series of sexual rendezvous around the city of Paris; if you are willing to look past the stylized moments of sexualized fetishism, there is a well of subtext that can be gleaned from this film, notably how pleasure and pain are intertwined.

Mélusine gives The Image a definitive audio/video presentation that comes with an exemplary booklet, 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