BY DARREN ALLISON
It was perhaps inevitable that the
well-respected Austrian label Cinepolit would make the leap into distributing
Euro Cult movies, such is their love for all things exploitative and the fast-paced
‘70s scene. And true to their reputation of high quality records and CDs, Cineploit
have cut no corners in producing their first four highly impressive Blu-ray media
book releases.
La
Polizia Ha Le Mani Legate (aka Killer Cop, 1975)
(CP01) is certainly a fine way to launch Cineploit’s new catalogue of film
releases. It’s a movie that comes from the very heart of the Italian
poliziottesco genre. As Director, Luciano Ercoli had also made several giallo
movies, and produced some Spaghetti Westerns. La Polizia Ha Le Mani Legate
draws largely on the real life Piazza Fontana bombing which happened in Milan (where
the film was shot) in 1969. As to be expected, there is plenty of over-acting
from the Italian cast (Claudo Cassinelli, Franco Fabrizi), whilst Arthur
Kennedy tries to maintain a calmer exterior. The action scenes are good, but it
is also clear (especially in the bomb sequence) that the budget was largely
restricted. The English audio track does throw up some funny translations and
there’s plenty of those Seventies, slappy sound effects when the fists begin to
fly! Naturally, whatever audio track you select (there is also an Italian and
German track) there is always composer Stelvio Cipriani’s great score which
helps it along its 97 minutes. The picture and audio quality are very good, yet,
it still maintains that unique grindhouse ‘70s look: clean and sharp, with
muted urban colours – just as it should be.
In fact, Stelvio Cipriani is featured heavily
among the disc’s bonus features. For starters, we are treated to a 51 minute
interview with the composer (Italian audio with a choice of subtitles).
Cineploit have rather teasingly added ‘Part 1’ to the title of this interview,
so hopefully there will be more to come. There is also a 13 minute interview with
actress Valeria D'Obici (Falena) who also offers some interesting insights and
there is a poster and photo gallery. However, perhaps best of all, Cineploit
have also included composer Cipriani’s full soundtrack in a completely separate
chapter. For me, this concept works far better than an isolated (and sometimes
disjointed) track. Here you get a separate menu with basically the entire 10
tracks from the soundtrack album. The music is clean and delivered in clear 2
channel stereo with the option to select individual tracks or a ‘play all’
option. What a great way to include a soundtrack album as a bonus feature.
Of course, this is just the disc contents.
Aside from this, the overall packaging is superb. Cineploit have never skimped
on their commitment to quality. Their Blu-ray book covers are beautifully
produced using their regular addition of UV spotting (a stand out, high gloss
section). The book case contains an average of 26 pages; packed with
information (this particular edition is all German text), posters, stills and Italian
fotobusta reproductions. If that is not enough, Cineploit have also included a
double sided (2 different designs) fold out poster measuring approx. 11â€x15†and
on gloss paper.
Overall, it’s a great package and one hell of
a way of launching your Blu-ray catalogue.
Non
Contate Su Di Noi (Don't count on us, 1978) (CP02)
marks the worldwide premiere of an unseen and lost film. Set in 1970s Rome, a young musician meets by
chance a beautiful girl in the middle of heroin withdrawal. He falls in love
and tries to help her, discovering a shocking underworld of drugs, junkies and
pushers. Sergio Nutis’s drug drama from the late Seventies is a shattering but
also prosaic contemporary document of the drug scene in Rome. Predominately
placed in the intellectual student scene, heroine dominates their daily routine.
The film was shot using amateurs, most of who were connected to and heavily
involved with the drug scene. The result is a completely authentic experience.
The film was shot on original locations and provides a raw historical and
social document of the circumstances at that particular time. Never before
available on home video, this drugsploitation film is one of the first attempts
to portray the heroin scene of the 1970s, pathing the way for movies such as Christiane
F (1981), El Pico (1982) and Amore Tossico (1983). The film also features a memorable
folk rock score by Maurizio Rota (leader of the band Alberomotore) and features
songs by some of the most interesting names from the Italian indie music scene
of the 1970s, including Alan Sorrenti and Canzoniere del Lazio.
Sadly, the movie’s destiny was rather short-lived.
After a short run in a handful of Rome’s cinemas, and initial screenings at two
festivals in Italy and Switzerland, the planned distribution company fell into
bankruptcy and as a result, the film faded in obscurity. Thankfully, the movie’s
brand-new 2K restoration by Cineteca Nazionale has made this underground
classic available for all to enjoy.
The film is presented in its original Italian
Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio with the option of German and English subtitles.
The disc also contains an interview with producer & actor Manfredi Marzano
(11 min), an interview with friend of Sergio Nuti, Marco Tullio Giordano (7 min)
and a deleted (censored) scene which basically saw actress Francesca Ferrari
dropping to her knees during the shower sequence. There is also a photo gallery
included. Cineploit’s overall packaging is again very impressive. The Blu-ray hardcover
media book with partial UV Spot contains 24 pages including an essay (in German
and English) by Udo Rotenberg (host of Deep Red Radio) and promotional material
and stills from the movie. Sadly, there is no poster reproduction included with
this release, which is probably due to the film’s very limited distribution.
Liberi,
Armati, Pericolosi (Young, Violent, Dangerous, 1976)
(CP03) is another worldwide 2K Blu-Ray premiere for Cineploit.
Mario, Luis and Gio are a low-key trio who
set out by first robbing a gas station. Their violent, adolescent cockiness
results in four people losing their lives. Mario and Gio, inebriated of their
action, feel invincible, whilst Luis tries to convince them both, without avail,
to stop them from further killings. As much as he tries, Mario and Gio become
more deadly and more extreme. On the getaway from their last crime scene they
decide to rob a bank. But money isn’t the reason; attention is what they want
and need. After further killings their way of violence leads them to the peripherie
of Milano. Police blocks get avoided and the hunt for these youngsters gets
expanded by K 9 Units and helicopters but their killing spree only begins to
intensify.
Liberi, Armati, Pericolosi is a fine action
thriller. Director Romolo Guerrieri (Ring of Death, The Sweet body of Deborah,
Love Inferno, Guns of Violence) succeeded in creating one of the best Italian
exploitation thrillers of the ‘70s with Liberi, Armati, Pericolosi. The film
also benefits from a strong script written by Fernando Di Leo (Milano Calibro
9, Manhunt in the city, The Boss) and a solid cast featuring the diverse, Cuban
born Tomas Milian (Almost Human, The Big Gundown, Run Man Run) as police commissioner.
There are also fine performances from the three wild ones: Stefano Patrizia,
Max Delys and Benjamin Lev. Guerrieri direction generates a cracking sense of
realism, all of which is charged by an exciting score by composer Gianfranco
Plenizio.
Cineploit have really gone the extra yard
with this release, producing a lush and bulging package. The Blu-ray hardcover
media book with partial UV Spot contains 28 pages including an essay by author
Michael Cholewa (in German). However, the book also contains an additional
English interview with director Romolo Guerrieri. There are also plenty of
promotional posters and other photo material provided throughout. Cineploit
have also included a double sided (2 different designs) fold out poster
measuring approx. 11â€x15†and on gloss paper. On the disc, there is also a
wealth of great material including an exclusively produced featurette with director
Romolo Guerrieri, actress Eleonora Giorgi and script supervisor Sylvia Petroni
(16 min). As well as an International
Picture Gallery, Cineploit have again provided the entire Gianfranco Plenizio
score on a separate chapter with the option to either play all or to pick from
the individual track listing – wonderful.
E
Tanta Paura (Plot of Fear, Bloody Peanuts, 1976)
(CP04) is the last of Cineploit’s launch titles and marks its English 2K
Blu-Ray Premiere.
E Tanta Paura is a very strange, quirky
little movie, but nevertheless completely absorbing. The story centres on a
series of murders that are occurring in Rome. Furthermore, the killer is teasingly
leaving cards from the Struwwelpeter (a collection of dark morality tales)
children’s book on the victims. It´s police inspector Lomenzo´s (Michele
Placido) case but also of interest to the private investigation bureau of
Riccio (Eli Wallach). The beautiful Jeanne (Corinne Clery) has information
relating to some bizarre happenings at the Villa Hoffmann and is helping Lomenzo
during the course of his investigations. Hoffmann (John Steiner) and his
strange Flora & Fauna Club seem to be connected and therein lies the probable
key to the murders.
Director Paolo Cavara, perhaps best known for
his work with Jacopetti & Prosperi on various Mondo Movies (and notably The
Black Belly of the Tarantula, Los Amgios and The Wild Eye), created here a weird
and bizarre film, a strange brew of both the Giallo and Poliziotto genres. A
strong cast is led by Michele Placido (The Octopus, The Pyjama Girl Case,
Giovanni Falcone) and the beautiful Corinne Clery, who would later enjoy
international recognition in the James Bond outing, Moonraker. The always
fantastic Eli Wallach (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, MacKenna’s Gold) also has
a somewhat puzzling role as the leader of a private investigation company. John
Steiner plays the mysterious Hoffmann and then there’s Tom Skerritt (Alien, The
Devil´s Rain, Top Gun) who can be seen in one of his rare Italian appearances.
It’s an odd piece of casting to say the least, as he randomly appears from one
scene to another, without any consistent purpose to his role. The film is
presented with English, Italian and German audio tracks, however, on the
English option it appears that everyone (including Wallach) has been dubbed,
which is a shame as Wallach’s performance seems a little lost and out-of-place
without that great, instantly recognisable vocal tone. Nevertheless, the film
is a great deal of fun, and is essential viewing, if only for that wild and
varied cast.
Cineploit have again put together a very nice
package. Inside the hardcover 28 page media book with partial UV Spot, is an
essay by author Udo Rotenberg (in both English and German) and a wealth of
promotional material and stills from the movie. They have also included a
double sided (2 different designs) fold out poster measuring approx. 7.5â€x19†and
on gloss paper.
On the disc there’s an exclusively produced featurette
with actress Corinne Clery (20 min). Clery is interviewed in her native
language, but English subtitles are provided. But, you’ll have to work hard in
order to keep up with the subs, as Clery is an exceptionally fast talker! There
is also an international picture gallery, an original trailer and a bonus music
chapter featuring the film’s title track performed by Cineploit’s recording
artist, LAWA.
Cineploit have certainly entered the Blu-ray
market with purpose. The strange, cult and curious will always find a way and
always find an audience. Packaged with thought, care and plenty of content such
as these will certainly leave us wanting more of the same.
https://www.cineploit.com/