Illustrious Corpses: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1976
Director: Francesco Rosi
Writers: Francesco Rosi, Tonino Guerra, Lino Iannuzzi, Leonardo Sciascia
Cast: Lino Ventura, Tino Carraro, Marcel Bozzuffi, Paolo Bonacelli, Alain Cuny, Maria Carta, Luigi Pistilli, Tina Aumont, Fernando Rey, Max von Sydow

Release Date: January 25th, 2026 (UK), January 26th, 2026 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 120 Minutes 49 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A,B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK), $39.95 (USA)

"When a series of Supreme Court judges are murdered, Inspector Rogas (Lino Ventura, Army of Shadows) is sent to discover the truth. A procedural noir soon turns into a labyrinthine conspiracy thriller as corruption and institutional power converge." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Illustrious Corpses was transferred from multiple CRI elements, as the original negative could not be located. The film was restored by Cineteca di Bologna in 4K at L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy, with funding from the Film Foundation and the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.” 

Illustrious Corpses comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39.1 GB

Feature: 32.5 GB

Although this release uses the same source Kino Lorber used for their 2021 Blu-ray release, colors look more pleasing and accurate. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity and compression are solid, black levels are strong, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; dialogue comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and ambient sounds and the score are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (33 images—stills/lobby cards/posters), a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 22 seconds, LPCM mono Italian with non-removable English subtitles), an interview with Gaetana Marrone, author of The Cinema of Francesco Rosi (28 minutes 53 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival French TV  interview with director Francesco Rosi (3 minutes 40 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival French TV  interview with Francesco Rosi and actor Lino Ventura (4 minutes 46 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival audio commentary with filmmaker Alex Cox, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 32-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Body Snatchers written by Michael Atkinson, a newly translated archival writing by Francesco Rosi, an archival interview with Francesco Rosi conducted by Andrée Tournès, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Illustrious Corpses was directed by Francesco Rosi, a filmmaker known for his works that often feature social and political commentary. His notable films include Salvatore Giuliano, Hands over the City, and Three Brothers.

An inspector investigating a series of assassinations targeting judges uncovers corruption at the highest levels. When he attempts to expose this corruption, he finds himself in danger.

1970s Italian cinema excelled in creating political thrillers that reflected the sociopolitical climate of the time. While Italian cinema from this era frequently incorporated political themes and social commentary, the most impactful political thrillers prioritized substance over style. Case in point, Illustrious Corpses, a film that is based on a novel that takes on the social and political climate of 1970s Italy.

The narrative immediately grabs you with a phenomenal opening sequence, which perfectly sets the stage for what follows. The narrative quickly establishes a relentless tone that builds to an unforgettable finale, reaching an intense fever pitch. The premise involves a series of assassinations carried out by an unseen culprit who always remains one step ahead of the law. Furthermore, the story effectively maintains escalating tension from beginning to end.

The main draw of Illustrious Corpses is Lino Ventura (Army of Shadows) in the role of the protagonist, an inspector tasked with uncovering who’s behind a series of assassinations. He delivers a solid performance of a man determined to find the truth and not willing to compromise his integrity when faced with resistance from his superiors. Notable cast members include Luigi Pistilli (Death Rides a Horse) in the role of a reporter, Fernando Rey (Viridiana) in the role of the security minister, Max von Sydow (The Seventh Seal) in the role of the supreme court president, and Tina Aumont (Torso) in the role of a prostitute who witnessed one of the judge's assassinations.

Illustrious Corpses is an exposition-heavy film that has a handful of visually arresting moments that heighten the mood. Its central theme is how criminals and politicians are the same when it comes to society's power structure. When discussing Illustrious Corpses, one should not overlook Piero Piccioni's (The 10th Victim) exemplary mood-reinforcing score. Ultimately, Illustrious Corpses is a thought-provoking political thriller whose last spoken words, "The truth is not always revolutionary," serve as a perfect coda.

Radiance Films gives Illustrious Corpses its best home media release to date. Highly recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Three Brothers – Arrow Academy (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1981
Director: Francesco Rosi
Writers: Tonino Guerra, Francesco Rosi
Cast: Philippe Noiret, Michele Placido, Vittorio Mezzogiorno, Andréa Ferréol, Simonetta Stefanelli, Charles Vanel

Release Date: April 6th, 2016 (UK), April 25th, 2017 (USA)
Approximate Running Time: 111 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK), NR (USA)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free/Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: £24.99 (UK) / $39.95 (USA)

"Three Brothers (Tre fratelli) explores similarly knotty social and political territory through the seemingly straightforward story of three siblings returning to their native southern Italy to pay homage to their late mother. However, their various professions a judge in Rome (Philippe Noiret), a spiritual counsellor in Naples (Vittorio Mezzogiorno), a factory worker in Turin (Michele Placido) have a profound effect on their response to this reunion." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from original film materials."

Three Brothers comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37 GB

Feature: 30.4 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape and any source related debris is minor. Colors look correct, black levels fare well, the image looks crisp and grain remains intact.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Italian and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear and balanced throughout.

Extras:

Extras for this release include reversible cover, a trailer for Three Brothers (3 minutes 20 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with English subtitles), an archival audio interview with Francesco Rosi (72 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with English subtitles), a 44-page booklet (limited to first pressing) with cast & crew information, an essay written by director Francesco Rosi titled In Opposition to Life, In Opposition to Death, an essay written by Millicent Marcus titled Beyond Cinema Politico, contemporary reviews, Francesco Rosi on Three Brothers an interview conducted by Michael Ciment and information about the transfer.

Also included with this release is a DVD that has the same content included on the Blu-Ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

The narrative revolves around three brothers: Raffaele, a judge, Nicola, a factory worker, and Rocco, a consular. And though they are linked by blood, when it comes to the way they see the world, they couldn’t be farther apart. That being said, there is one area where they do share a common link, and that is their unhappiness with their lives. Not to be overlooked is a fourth character, their father, Donato, and through this character he provides a glimpse of the lives that these three brothers once lived.

Without a doubt, Three Brothers' greatest strength are its characters, and they are all well-defined. Another area where Three Brothers excels in regards to its customers is how it balances past and present moments to give a well-rounded view of where they came from and what direction their present lives are leading them.

Standout moments visually include the opening moments where rats crawl on the ground. Other striking moments visually are a scene where Donato sees his recently deceased wife, who has just caught a rabbit for his dinner, and a scene where Raffaele envisions his own violent death at the hands of terrorists. This last scene is the scene has a political tone that has since become synonymous with Francesco Rosi’s cinematic output throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Performance wise, the entire cast is very good in their respective roles. The most memorable performance came from Charles Vanel (The Wages of Fear) in the role of Donato. Other notable performances include Philippe Noiret (Cinema Paradiso), Michele Placido (Art of Love) and Vittorio Mezzogiorno (Stunt Squad) in the roles of the three brothers, Raffaele, Nicola, and Rocco.

In life, it is easy to get caught in familiar trappings, which then distance us or worse, isolate us from the things that we once held precious. Fortunately, there are extraordinary films like Three Brothers that remind us how resilient the human spirit is and that it is never too late to reconnect with the things that once brought us joy.

Three Brothers gets a strong audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Illustrious Corpses – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1976
Director: Francesco Rosi
Writers: Francesco Rosi, Tonino Guerra, Lino Iannuzzi, Leonardo Sciascia
Cast: Lino Ventura, Tino Carraro, Marcel Bozzuffi, Paolo Bonacelli, Alain Cuny, Maria Carta, Luigi Pistilli, Tina Aumont, Fernando Rey, Max von Sydow

Release Date: September 28th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 121 Minutes 1 Second
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: PG
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"A detective assigned to investigate the mysterious murders of some Supreme Court judges. During the investigation he discovers a conspiracy that involves the Italian Communist Party." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 2.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Restored by the Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory and The Film Foundation, with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation.

The 4K restoration of Cadaveri eccellenti used two first-generation reversal elements and the Italian magnetic sound mix, both provided by MGM.

Two 35mm vintage prints, preserved by the British Film Institute, were used as a reference for the color grading."

Illustrious Corpses comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.7 GB

Feature: 36.2 GB

Although the source is in excellent shape, it's difficult to look past the color palette, which does not look correct. Image clarity and black levels remain strong throughout; there are no issues related to compression.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a trailer for Illustrious Corpses (3 minutes 23 seconds, DTS-HD mono Italian with non-removable English subtitles) and an audio commentary with filmmaker Alex Cox.

Other extras include trailers for The Sicilian Clan (2 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), A Pain in the Ass (1 minute 45 seconds, DTS-HD mono French with non-removable English subtitles), The Hunter Will Get You (2 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French, no subtitles) and Farewell, Friend (4 minutes 2 seconds, DTS-HD mono French with non-removable English subtitles).

Summary:

Illustrious Corpses was directed by Francesco Rosi, a filmmaker known for his works that often feature social and political commentary. His notable films include Salvatore Giuliano, Hands over the City, and Three Brothers.

An inspector investigating a series of assassinations targeting judges uncovers corruption at the highest levels. When he attempts to expose this corruption, he finds himself in danger.

1970s Italian cinema excelled in creating political thrillers that reflected the sociopolitical climate of the time. While Italian cinema from this era frequently incorporated political themes and social commentary, the most impactful political thrillers prioritized substance over style. Case in point, Illustrious Corpses, a film that is based on a novel that takes on the social and political climate of 1970s Italy.

The narrative immediately grabs you with a phenomenal opening sequence, which perfectly sets the stage for what follows. The narrative quickly establishes a relentless tone that builds to an unforgettable finale, reaching an intense fever pitch. The premise involves a series of assassinations carried out by an unseen culprit who always remains one step ahead of the law. Furthermore, the story effectively maintains escalating tension from beginning to end.

The main draw of Illustrious Corpses is Lino Ventura (Army of Shadows) in the role of the protagonist, an inspector tasked with uncovering who’s behind a series of assassinations. He delivers a solid performance of a man determined to find the truth and not willing to compromise his integrity when faced with resistance from his superiors. Notable cast members include Luigi Pistilli (Death Rides a Horse) in the role of a reporter, Fernando Rey (Viridiana) in the role of the security minister, Max von Sydow (The Seventh Seal) in the role of the supreme court president, and Tina Aumont (Torso) in the role of a prostitute who witnessed one of the judge's assassinations.

Illustrious Corpses is an exposition-heavy film that has a handful of visually arresting moments that heighten the mood. Its central theme is how criminals and politicians are the same when it comes to society's power structure. When discussing Illustrious Corpses, one should not overlook Piero Piccioni's (The 10th Victim) exemplary mood-reinforcing score. Ultimately, Illustrious Corpses is a thought-provoking political thriller whose last spoken words, "The truth is not always revolutionary," serve as a perfect coda.

Illustrious Corpses makes its way to Blu-ray via a strong release that an underwhelming transfer undermines.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Lucky Luciano – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA/France/Italy, 1973
Director: Francesco Rosi
Writers: Francesco Rosi, Lino Iannuzzi, Tonino Guerra
Cast: Gian Maria Volontè, Vincent Gardenia, Silverio Blasi, Charles Cioffi, Larry Gates, Magda Konopka, Edmond O'Brien, Rod Steiger

Release Date: September 28th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 111 Minutes 27 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian/English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"In 1946, after serving time for the murder of his colleagues in crime, Luciano was pardoned and sent back to his homeland of Sicilia. Rather than changing his life around, it was here that he became one of the most powerful leaders of crime the world has ever known." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "4K Restoration from the Original Camera Negative."

More information about the transfer, "Lucky Luciano was restored by Cineteca di Bologna at L'Immagine Ritrovata, in association with The Film Foundation and Cristaldi Films, with funding provided by The Film Foundation.

The full 4K digital restoration included removal of dirt and scratches, and image stabilization.

Color grading recovered the richness of the original cinematography. Francesco Rosi closely supervised this stage in order to restore the original quality of the work done by cinematographer Pasqualino De Santis.

35mm as well as digital versions of the restored film were created for screening and archival purposes.

Restoration work was completed in May 2013."

Lucky Luciano comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.3 GB

Feature: 34 GB

According to the information provided about the transfer, Lucky Luciano was given an extensive restoration that included the participation of the film’s director, Francesco Rosi. That said, though there are many areas where this transfer looks very good, there are a few areas where things don’t look right. The most notable of these is that the color palette looks off. Also, though the image generally looks crisp, there are few instances where the image looks too soft and there are instances where blacks look greyish. It's a shame about this transfer's color palette, since this transfer source is free of source related damage.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian/English. The audio sounds clean, clear and balanced. There are two English subtitles. One of the English subtitles is for the whole film, and the other English subtitles are for all the Italian language dialog.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an audio commentary with film critic and author Simon Abrams.

Other extras include trailers for Illustrious Corpses (3 minutes 23 seconds, DTS-HD mono Italian with non-removable English subtitles), The Don is Dead (1 minute 44 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Prime Cut (2 minutes 34 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), Newman’s Law (2 minutes 27 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1 minute 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles) and Street People (2 minutes 33 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Lucky Luciano was a notorious gangster whose life has been adapted into numerous films. Besides films about Lucky Luciano, he has been portrayed in other films about American gangsters. That said, most films that featured Lucky Luciano focused on his life before he returned to Italy.

Though Lucky Luciano’s most sensationalized exploits took place before he went to prison in the 1930’s. Despite being forced to relocate to Italy, he remained a prominent figure in the organized crime world. And it is precisely his life once he returned to Italy that Francesco Rosi’s Lucky Luciano explores.

From its opening moments, Francesco Rosi’s Lucky Luciano is a deliberately paced melodrama that is heavy on dialog and light when it comes to violence. With most moments of carnage being brief, the most violent sequence is a montage/flashback of the Night of the Sicilian Vespers.

That said, one drawback about Francesco Rosi’s Lucky Luciano is that it spends as much time with other characters as it does with Lucky Luciano. There are often long stretches without Lucky Luciano in which characters who are peripherally connected to Lucky Luciano interact.

If you’re going to make a film about Lucky Luciano, you better have a charismatic actor to portray him. Fortunately, Francesco Rosi’s Lucky Luciano cast Gian Maria Volontè (Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion) in the role of Lucky Luciano. Known for his captivating performances, Gian Maria Volontè once again delivers a performance that perfectly captures his character's essence. Besides Gian Maria Volontè, the rest of the cast are all very good in their respective roles. Ultimately, Francesco Rosi’s Lucky Luciano is an extraordinary piece of filmmaking that offers a deeper dive into one of America’s most notorious criminals.

Francesco Rosi’s Lucky Luciano makes its way to Blu-ray via a serviceable audio/video presentation that leaves room for improvement and an informative audio commentary. 

Written by Michael Den Boer