Two Undercover Angels / Kiss Me Monster – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: West Germany/Spain, 1969 (Two Undercover Angels, Kiss Me Monster)
Director: Jesús Franco (Both Films)
Cast: Janine Reynaud, Rosanna Yanni, Chris Howland, Manolo Otero, Adrian Hoven, Michel Lemoine, Jesús Franco 

Release Date: July 26th, 2022
Approximate Running Times: 79 Minutes 3 Seconds (Two Undercover Angels), 79 Minutes 40 Seconds (Kiss Me Monster)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Both Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English, DTS-HD Mono German (Both Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $47.98

"TWO UNDERCOVER ANGELS (aka SADIST EROTICA and RED LIPS): Diana and Regina are The Red Lips, a duo of sexy sleuths who take on only the most intriguing cases. After stumbling upon the strange disappearances of several pretty young women and realizing a connection exists between several of the missing and an enigmatic artist, whose identity is shrouded in mystery, they begin an intense undercover investigation which takes them on an unexpected trail of monsters, murder, and striptease!

KISS ME MONSTER: In their second adventure, Diana and Regina have been tasked with locating a mysterious red box but quickly discover that they’re not the only ones after its contents and find themselves at odds with a secret sect, which controls a small zombie army, and who are hoping to harness the power of human cloning — the formula to which is contained within the box. As bodies (some nude, some dead) pile up, Diana and Regina race against time to stop the diabolical organization!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (Two Undercover Angels, Kiss Me Monster)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfers. "Newly scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives."

Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.5 GB

Feature: 21 GB (Two Undercover Angels), 21.1 GB (Kiss Me Monster)

Though there are a few very minor source-related imperfections, mostly in the form of white specks, the sources used for each film transfer look fantastic. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, black levels are strong, and grain remains intact. That said, this is easily the best Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster have ever looked on home video.

All of the extras are on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 19.7 GB

Feature: 6.8 GB (Two Undercover Angels - Spanish Version), 5 GB (Kiss Me Monster - Spanish Version)

The Spanish versions are sourced from tape, and they look as good as one would expect considering their sources.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English), 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono German)

Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster each come with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and a DTS-HD mono mix in German. The English language track is free of any background hiss, the dialog comes through clearly, the ambient sounds are well-represented, and the score sounds robust. Also, there are a few moments where the shift in the audio from soft to loud or vice versa can be jarring. That said, the English language track was created in post-production, and this leads me to believe that these audio level shifts are a byproduct of dubbing audio tracks. The German language track sounds clean, clear, and balanced. Included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles for the English language track. There are no subtitles for the German language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release are all included on a second Blu-ray disc. The extras on this disc include stills galleries with music from the film’s playing in the background for Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster, a theatrical trailer for Two Undercover Angels (3 minutes 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with removable English SDH subtitles), a theatrical trailer for Kiss Me Monster (2 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with director Jess Franco titled Jess’ Tangents (22 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Jess Franco titled The Case of the Red Lips (13 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an interview with Stephen Thrower, author of Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco titled The Red Lips Diaries (46 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), the Spanish version of Two Undercover Angels (92 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Spanish with removable English SDH subtitles), and the Spanish version of Kiss Me Monster (84 minutes 34 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Spanish with removable English SDH subtitles).

Other extras include reversible covert, Two Undercover Angels on one side, and Kiss Me Monster on the other side, and an embossed and spot gloss slipcover limited to 6,000 units.

Summary:

In 1967, Jess Franco would direct two spy films, Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monsters (both films would be released in 1969). These two films are also known as the Red Lips films. Both films would star Janine Reynaud and Rosanna Yanni as the dynamic spy duo, Diana and Regina.

Two Undercover Angels is the better of the two films for many reasons, the two most glaring being that it has a better plot and the lead actress's wardrobe is more spectacular. By the time Jess Franco got around to shooting Kiss Me Monster, which just happened to be shot right after Two Undercover Angels ended, someone decided that less would be better for the sequel. One other misstep in Kiss Me Monster is the padding of the narrative with scenes from Two Undercover Angels. To its credit, Kiss Me Monster is a more wide-open film as more locations are used. The script is another story as it is just a melting pot of gimmicks and spy film cliches.

The two lead actresses are what make Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster as enjoyable as they are, as they not only look stunning throughout. They are also willing to do just about anything, no matter how absurd it may seem. Diana and Regina, besides being super sexy spies, also have a tremendous knack for psychological slapstick comedy. Janine Reynaud (The Case of the Scorpion's Tail) in the role of Diana and Rosanna Yanni (The Fox with a Velvet Tail) in the role of Regina perfectly play off each other and make a wonderful comedy pair.

Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster both feature the obligatory night club scene, which can be found in just about every film Jess Franco ever made. Their jazz-infused scores work well with the film's offbeat comedy and general craziness. Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster are not like Jess Franco’s other films from around this time. Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster, like many European exports made around the same time, feature a horrendous English-dubbed audio track. Still, in all of its awfulness, there is something about a bad mix like this that just makes a film more entertaining.

Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster didn’t leave that great of an impression on me when I first saw them via Anchor Bay’s flawed DVD releases. Since then, my appreciation for Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster has grown considerably. That said, Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster are not top-tier Jess Franco, but they are still a lot of fun.

Two Undercover Angels and Kiss Me Monster make their way to Blu-ray via an excellent release from Vinegar Syndrome that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a wealth of extra content, including alternate Spanish versions, highly recommended.

                                Two Undercover Angels Spanish Version Screenshots.

                                    Kiss Me Monster Spanish Version Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Fedora – Eureka Video (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: France/West Germany, 1978
Director: Billy Wilder
Writers: Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond, Tom Tryon
Cast: William Holden, Marthe Keller, Hildegard Knef, José Ferrer, Frances Sternhagen, Mario Adorf, Stephen Collins, Henry Fonda, Michael York, Hans Jaray, Gottfried John, Arlene Francis

Release Date: September 26th, 2016
Approximate Running Time: 113 Minutes 23 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region B, Region 2 NTSC
Retail Price: £13.99 (UK)

"Washed-up producer Barry ‘Dutch’ Detweiler (William Holden) attempts to lure the iconic but reclusive actress Fedora (Marthe Keller) out of retirement in a bid to revive both their careers. But her privacy is hard won, and with good reason, and opening up the secrets surrounding her could spell disaster." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "sourced from Bavaria Media/CinePostproduction's 2K restoration."

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

Disc Size: 32.2 GB

Feature: 27 GB

The source used for this transfer is in excellent shape. Colors and flesh tones look correct, the image looks crisp, and the image retains an organic look. That said, though black levels look very good, there are a few moments where they are not as convincing.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. The audio sounds clean and balanced, and range-wise, ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a restoration comparison (4 minutes 3 seconds, no sound), deleted scenes (12 minutes 49 seconds, LPCM mono English, no subtitles), and forty-eight page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay titled The Dying of the Light: Billy Wilder’s Fedora written by Neil Sinyard, an essay titled Hollywood Forever written by David Cairns, an essay titled The Life and Hard Times of Fedora, and the Trials and Tribulations Billy Wilder Faced in Filming the Tale of a Legendary Star written by Rex McGee and information about the transfer titled Notes on Viewing.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

With Fedora, Billy Wilder returns to familiar territory with a film about Hollywood and its artificiality. And though Fedora explores many of the same themes Billy Wilder explored in Sunset Boulevard, the result is two distinctly different films. Besides Fedora’s connection to Sunset Boulevard, throughout Fedora Billy Wilder also makes references to other films, most notably Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo.

Though not as well regarded as Billy Wilder’s most celebrated films, Fedora is an underrated film whose reputation has grown over time. Even a lesser film from Billy Wilder is better than most filmmakers' best films.

The cast members all give excellent performances, particularly Marthe Keller (Marathon Man) in the dual roles of Fedora and Anonia. Though she spends most of her screen time as Fedora, she manages to create two well-defined characters, and she does a superb job portraying them. Another performance of note is by William Holden (The Bridge on the River Kwai). A frequent collaborator of Billy Wilder, they worked on three other films: Sunset Boulevard, Stalag 17, and Sabrina. He gives an outstanding performance as Barry "Dutch" Detweiler, a filmmaker who wants Fedora to come out of retirement and star in his film.

From a production standpoint, Fedora is a well-made film that takes advantage of its resources. The premise is well-executed, and the narrative does a great job of building momentum and counseling information, making the bittersweet finale all the more potent. Ultimately, Fedora is a sensational piece of filmmaking that is a must-see if you're a fan of Billy Wilder.

Fedora gets a first-rate release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an insightful booklet, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Killing – Kino Lorber (4k UHD)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1956
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Writers: Stanley Kubrick, Jim Thompson, Lionel White
Cast: Sterling Hayden, Coleen Gray, Vince Edwards, Jay C. Flippen, Ted de Corsia, Marie Windsor, Elisha Cook Jr., Joe Sawyer, James Edwards, Timothy Carey, Kola Kwariani

Release Date: July 26th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 83 Minutes 54 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / Dolby Vision HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.95

"With fascinating detail, legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick (2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange) lays bare the inner workings of a bold racetrack robbery. Among the crooks are Sterling Hayden (The Asphalt Jungle, Naked Alibi) as the deadly cool mastermind, Elisha Cook Jr. (The Maltese Falcon) as a shy teller and Timothy Carey (Paths of Glory) as a puppy-loving sharpshooter. The plan is set. Nothing can go wrong. Or can it?." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "From 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative."

The Killing comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD

Disc Size: 58.7 GB

Feature: 51.1 GB

The source used for this transfer looks excellent, and when compared to its previous home video releases, it is a noticeable improvement in every way. Most notably, there are no issues related to chroma noise that plagued previous home video releases. Image clarity, contrast, and shadow details are solid; there are no issues with compression; and the grain looks organic.

Audio: 4.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio is in great shape; dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced and robust when it should.

Extras:

The extras for this release include reversible cover art, a limited-edition slipcover, an audio commentary with author/film Historian Alan K. Rode, and theatrical trailers for Killer’s Kiss (1 minute 46 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), The Killing (1 minute 46 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), and Paths of Glory (3 minutes, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles).

Summary:

Stanley Kubrick had directed two feature films, Fear and Desire and Killer’s Kiss, before The Killing. For me, his true debut as a professional filmmaker will always be The Killing. Instead of being a one-man operation behind the scenes like he had been with Fear and Desire and Killer’s Kiss, with The Killing, he would finally get the resources he needed, a creative partner in producer James B. Harris, and the first of many films where he would get to work with a solid cast.

The thing that immediately grabbed me while watching The Killing was Stanley Kubrick’s growth as a filmmaker from Killer’s Kiss to The Killing. One would be hard pressed to name a filmmaker whose growth was more substantial than Stanley Kubrick’s between these two films.

For The Killing, Stanley Kubrick would return to familiar ground, the crime film genre. And though he had a good test run with Killer’s Kiss He would take elements and themes from Killer’s Kiss and more fully flesh them out with The Killing.

Stanley Kubrick was known for being a meticulous filmmaker who knew what he wanted and would keep looking for it until he got it, even if it meant sacrificing actors, who were merely props in the grand scheme of his cinema. That said, Stanley Kubrick was always able to put together impressive casts who were all up to the challenges he put before them.

The Killing features an amazing cast who are great in their respective roles, especially Sterling Hayden (Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) in the role of the protagonist, Johnny Clay, a felon who has come up with a scheme to rob a race track for two million dollars. Other notable performances include Timothy Carey (The World's Greatest Sinner) in the role of Nikki Arcane, a gunman hired to kill a racing horse, and Marie Windsor (Chamber of Horrors) in the role of Sherry Peatty, the backstabbing girlfriend of one of the men hired for the heist.

Though all elements are important in a Stanley Kubrick film, when discussing Stanley Kubrick's cinema, nothing stands out more than the visuals. That said, The Killing would mark the first time Stanley Kubrick worked with a cinematographer, and though The Killing is visually filled with imagery that would become synonymous with the cinema of Stanley Kubrick, one must not overlook cinematographer Lucien Ballard’s (The Wild Bunch) contributions to The Killing.

From a production standpoint, The Killing is a textbook example of a filmmaker's clicking on cylinders. Content-wise, The Killing does a superb job exploiting all the elements that are synonymous with film noir. Another area where The Killing excels is its brilliant use of narrative structure and a sensational ending that provides a perfect coda. Ultimately, The Killing is an exceptional film that is arguably one of the best Film noir's ever made.

The Killing makes its way to 4K UHD via an excellent release from Kino Lorber that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and an exceptional audio commentary that is filled with insight about The Killing and Stanley Kubrick, highly recommended.

                                                          4K UHD screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer