The Story of Adele H.: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France, 1975
Director: François Truffaut
Writers: François Truffaut, Jean Gruault, Suzanne Schiffman, Frances Vernor Guille
Cast: Isabelle Adjani, Bruce Robinson, Sylvia Marriott, Joseph Blatchley, Ivry Gitlis

Release Date: November 18th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes 35 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"The year is 1863. Adele Hugo (Isabelle Adjani, Possession) is the daughter of the legendary poet and novelist Victor Hugo. After falling in love with the British soldier Lt. Pinson (Bruce Robinson), Adele sails by herself to Nova Scotia, intending to persuade Pinson to marry her. Pinson callously rejects her advances; unperturbed, she continues to pursue him, and her obsession becomes wilder and more desperate, leading her to become increasingly outcast from society." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "The Story of Adele H. was delivered to Radiance as a High Definition digital file by Park Circus."

The Story of Adele H. comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.8 GB

Feature: 26.5 GB

Sourced from an existing master, this transfer is in great shape. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look very good, image clarity and black levels are strong, and compression is solid. Though Radiance Films’ and Kino Lorber’s releases share the same source, Radiance Films is the best this film has ever looked on home media. That said, this is another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and the score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 50 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director Francois Truffaut (2 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Isabelle Adjani (5 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), archival footage of the premiere in Lyon with Francois Truffaut and Isabelle Adjani (2 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with cinematographer Nestor Almendros (30 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with film critic Phuong Le (17 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 24-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, Letter to Jean-Louis Bory written by Francois Truffaut, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

The Story of Adele H. is based on the diaries of Adèle Hugo, the daughter of author Victor Hugo, whose notable works include The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables. The Story of Adele H. chronicles Adèle Hugo’s unrequited love for a military officer. The events take place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Barbados. Adèle Hugo, at first under an alias and later under her real name, follows the military officer everywhere he goes.

Set in the 1860s, The Story of Adele H. is a period melodrama with exceptional costume and production design. Also, it is an exquisitely photographed film that takes full advantage of its scenic landscapes. François Truffaut’s attention to detail and direction are flawless. Though other similar stories sprawl over two or even three hours, The Story of Adele H. conveys just as much in its 98-minute duration.

For a film where everything falls into place, one would be hard-pressed to name another actress who could have portrayed the protagonist better than Isabelle Adjani (Possession). She perfectly captures her character's desperation and deteriorating state of mind. Though her character is not mentally stable, throughout she retains her ability to deceive as a means to justify the ends. For her performance she would receive an Academy Award nomination for best actress.

At the heart of The Story of Adele H. is a story about a woman who becomes obsessed with a man who she originally rejected. Despite his flaws—he’s a womanizer, and the fact that he’s no longer interested in her, these things do not discourage her. Determined to win back his affection, she goes as far as spreading lies about him when she learns he’s engaged to another woman. Ultimately, The Story of Adele H. is a heartbreaking story about a woman destroyed by obsession.

Radiance Films gives The Story of Adele H. its best home video release to date, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Mississippi Mermaid: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France/Italy, 1969
Director: François Truffaut
Writers: François Truffaut, Cornell Woolrich
Cast: Jean-Paul Belmondo, Catherine Deneuve, Nelly Borgeaud, Martine Ferrière, Marcel Berbert, Yves Drouhet, Michel Bouquet, Roland Thénot

Release Date: July 29th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 123 Minutes 18 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"Wealthy plantation tycoon Louis (Jean-Paul Belmondo, Breathless) puts up an ad for a bride and luminous beauty Julie (Catherine Deneuve, Belle de Jour) arrives in answer. More attractive than the photograph he received Louis is nevertheless enraptured despite some strange details in her story. Things get complicated when Julie disappears and Louis determines to find her, leading him on a trail of mystery and erotic obsession." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Mississippi Mermaid was restored by Metro-Golwyn-Mayer Studios and delivered to Radiance as a High Definition digital file."

Mississippi Mermaid comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44 GB

Feature: 33.7 GB

The source is in excellent shape; it is the best this film has ever looked on home media. Flesh tones look correct, color saturation, image clarity, and compression are solid, and black levels are strong. That said, this is another solid encode from Fidelity in Motion.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape, dialog comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, and the score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 35 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), an interview with French cinema expert Ginette Vincendeau (17 minutes 58 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), an archival interview with filmmaker Jean Renoir who discusses the work of Truffaut (6 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Truffaut from 1969 (34 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with film critic Glenn Kenny, reversible cover art, removable OBI strip leaving packaging free of certificates and markings and a 28-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, an archival writing titled William irish’s Slippers written by François Truffaut, Letters (1966-1968) written by François Truffaut, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

A wealthy plantation owner finds his bride through an ad he placed in the newspaper. Despite not resembling the woman in the picture, he proceeds with the relationship. And though something is not quite right about her, he deals with these new obstacles and throws himself into the relationship. At first their relationship blossoms, until one day when he discovers the truth about her. Will he be able to move on, or will his growing obsession for her lead to his demise?

With Mississippi Mermaid, François Truffaut would return to territory that he had previously explored in The Bride Wore Black. And once again, François Truffaut pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock and, more specifically, Vertigo. François Truffaut was also influenced by Jean Renoir; Mississippi Mermaid opens with footage from his film La Marseillaise. Also, Mississippi Mermaid is an adaptation of Cornell Woolrich’s novel Waltz into Darkness.

The two main characters are another area where this film excels: Jean-Paul Belmondo (Breathless) in the role of a wealthy plantation owner named Louis Mahé and Catherine Deneuve (Belle de Jour) in the role of the woman Louis falls in love with. Despite playing against type, Jean-Paul Belmondo is very good, while Catherine Deneuve portrays a quintessential Hitchcockian heroine. Also, their on-screen chemistry enhances their performance and the story that unfolds. Another performance of note is Michel Bouquet's (Malpertuis) portrayal of Comolli, a tenacious private detective who refuses to give up until he solves a case.

From a visual standpoint, Mississippi Mermaid is an exquisite film to look at, and nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to the locations. Another strength of the visuals is how Catherine Deneuve’s character is photographed; though some of these things are subtle, they offer incredible insight into her character's psyche. One scene in particular stands out: afraid of the dark, her character gets Louis to compromise by leaving the bathroom lit on. That said, her character is a facade, and just when you think you know her, she does something out of left field, which changes your perception of her.

The premise of a doomed love affair is well executed, and pacing is never an issue, with key moments given an ample amount of time to resonate. Mississippi Mermaid uses suspense genre staples, but not for their sake alone; instead, they advance the story. And yet, its ultimate power lies in its ability to express the emotions of its main characters. Another strength of Mississippi Mermaid is Antoine Duhamel's (Weekend) exemplary score, which perfectly reinforces the mood. Ultimately, Mississippi Mermaid is a solid suspense film cut from the same mold as the cinema of Alfred Hitchcock.

Radiance Films gives Mississippi Mermaid its best home video release to date, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Bride Wore Black: Limited Edition – Radiance Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: France/Italy, 1968
Director: François Truffaut
Writers: François Truffaut, Jean-Louis Richard
Cast: Jeanne Moreau, Michel Bouquet, Jean-Claude Brialy, Charles Denner, Claude Rich, Michael Lonsdale, Daniel Boulanger, Alexandra Stewart

Release Date: May 15th, 2023
Approximate Running Time: 107 Minutes 36 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono French
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region B
Retail Price: £16.99 (UK)

"Jeanne Moreau (Jules et Jim) stars as the titular bride, who after marrying her love sees him murdered on the steps outside the church. From here she enacts her ruthless revenge on the group of men responsible." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "The Bride Wore Black was transferred from 35mm negative interpositive at Teletota in Paris. The transfer was supplied to Radiance by MGM via Park Circus as a High Definition digital file."

The Bride Wore Black comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40 GB

Feature: 29.2 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape; any print debris or other imperfections have been cleaned up. Flesh tones look correct, color saturation, image clarity, and compression are solid, and black levels are strong. There are many areas where this transfer is similar to Twilight Time’s Blu-ray. And yet the result is a noticeably stronger transfer that benefits from an excellent encode.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in French with removable English subtitles. The audio is in excellent shape; there are no sibilance issues; dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; ambient sounds and Bernard Herrmann are well represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 51 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a short written by François Truffaut titled Les surmenés (24 minutes 37 seconds, LPCM mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with director François Truffaut (11 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with actress Jeanne Moreau (4 minutes 41 seconds, Dolby Digital mono French with removable English subtitles), an appreciation by filmmaker Kent Jones (15 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Barry Forshaw who discusses Cornell Woolrich and the adaptation (8 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), 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 Hitchcockery written by Penelope Houston, Letters (1964-1968) written by François Truffaut, excerpt from The Whirlwind of Life written by Jeanne Moreau, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

The Bride Who Wore Black would mark the first of François Truffaut’s homages to the cinema of Alfred Hitchcock. It was also only the second time that Truffaut had worked with color. The first film he shot in color was his first English-language film, Fahrenheit 451.

The narrative revolves around Julie Kohler, who goes from the happiest moment of her life when she marries her childhood sweetheart to the darkest moment when he is gunned down on the steps of the church after their wedding ceremony. Julie, now in a deep depression, now lives with her mother, and after a failed suicide attempt, she finds strength in her hatred for the men who killed the man she loved. Her quest for revenge soon becomes an obsession as she tracks each man down. She seduces each man before she disposes of them in clever and unique ways. Will she be able to eliminate all the names in her little black book before the police find out about her diabolic scheme?

Frequent Alfred Hitchcock collaborator and composer Bernard Herrmann composes a score that is reminiscent of the work he did for Hitchcock. There is a scene that takes place early on in which the lead character, Julie, is walking on the platform at a train station that is a clear nod to Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie.

When we are next introduced to Julie, she is dressed in a beautiful evening dress, and Roul Coutard’s soft lighting makes her look angelic and not of this earth. This moment bears a strong resemblance to a scene in Vertigo when Scottie witnesses Judy’s transformation into the beautiful Madeleine Elster. The way the camera moves and the shots are set up throughout is shot in a more subjective way that involves the viewer more.

Jeanne Moreau is one of France’s greatest actresses, and she gives the performance of a lifetime as an icy-cold scorned woman who is never impulsive as she meticulously completes her cycle of revenge. The choice of using Jeanne Moreau is an interesting one since it goes against the grain since Alfred Hitchcock frequently casts blondes in the lead. François Truffaut could have hired someone like Catherine Deneuve, who perfectly fits the Hitchcock prototype, but instead he makes an inspired choice with Jeanne Moreau, who delivers an extraordinary performance.

The structure of the narrative is told in a non-linear way through a series of flashbacks. And by telling the story this way, François Truffaut gives the viewer just enough information to get them by until the next reveal. François Truffaut always had "MacGuffins’ plot devices that drove the plot. The ‘MacGuffin’ in François Truffaut’s The Bride Who Wore Black is even more shocking as we finally learn the truth behind the groom’s death. The Bride Who Wore Black ends with a twist ending that would put a smile on the face of the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. François Truffaut rarely made pictures that would fall into a specific genre, and with The Bride Who Wore Black, he directs one of the best homages in the history of cinema.

Radiance Films gives The Bride Wore Black its best home video release to date, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer