BY DARREN ALLISON
Cineploit continue to help feed the healthy
appetite for European cult film classics with their two latest Region-Free Blu-ray media
book releases, Mark Colpisce Ancora aka The .44 Specialist aka Mark Strikes
Again (Italy 1976) (CP 05) and Brothers
in Blood aka Savage Attack (Italy 1987) (CP 06).
Police Inspector Mark Terzi (Franco Gasparri)
works undercover as Mark Patti. He is assigned to apprehend a hardened group of
terrorists. Terzi has already narrowly escaped a murderous attack at a location
where he was meant to be in Vienna, which leads to suspicions. Soon after,
clues lead Terzi to begin thinking that his own superiors may also be involved
in the plot.
This was the final film in director Stelvio
Massis’s ‘Mark trilogy’ and is considered by many commentators to be the best. Massis
appears to have accumulated his collective skills, experiences and shooting techniques
from the previous two films and put them to very good use for the final entry.
Whist the plot and narrative are pretty straight forward, there is plenty of
action to enjoy. Crashes, car chases, an air escape and plenty of bullets
litter the screen, and given that this was probably something of a low-budgeted
affair, it all comes off as both exciting and hugely enjoyable. The film looks
good. too, making the most of its locations based mainly in and around Milan
and Vienna. As with a great deal other Poliziotteschi films, Mark Colpisce
Ancora also boasts an American actor in its cast. It’s usually no more than an
extended cameo, but worked well, especially in reaching out to the American
market. John Saxon appears here, Saxon had an uncanny knack of choosing and
turning up in so many cult films. It would have been great to have seen him
appear longer, but more often than not these Western world, star contracts
arguably stipulated a week or so scheduling, and in the process Saxon no doubt
collected a healthy fistful of Lira (and probably a return ticket to Europe for
his troubles). The film marks its worldwide 2K Blu-ray premiere, and looks
incredibly clean (the disc includes a restoration comparison) and free of any
major defects. Euro film favourite, composer Stelvio Cipriani also keeps the
suspense thumping along nicely with another memorable score.
As to be expected from Cineploit, their
package is again highly impressive. Their media book style (as with their
previous four releases) is beautifully produced with 28 pages of detailed
information. The company also offer the media book in a choice of three
different cover variations, (two Italian and one German) in numbered and
limited editions of 400/300/300. Cineploit’s continued use of partial UV spotting
also adds an edge to the covers overall presentation. Leading the bonus
material is Part 2 of Cineploit’s exclusively produced career interview with
composer Stelvio Cipriani. Cineploit teasingly split this excellent interview (part
1 was included on their debut release, La Polizia Ha Le Mani Legrate). There’s
another 41 minutes here, which, with part one, totals some 92 minutes and makes
it something of a defining overview on the composer. There’s also two further
exclusive featurettes with son and assistant Danilo Massi and cameraman Roberto
Girometti (20 and 16 minutes). Also included is an international picture
gallery lasting some 8 minutes. Cineploit fashionably round the whole package
off by including a reproduction double-sided poster with the Italian locandina
and Manifesto. Wonderful stuff!
Click here to order
Brothers
in Blood aka Savage Attack is a much later entry in Cineploit’s film series.
Made in 1987and directed by Tonino Valerii, the story, an Italian commando film,
begins in Vietnam 1973. A special mission goes badly wrong and as a result, the
combat squad narrowly escape – but not without leaving one of their men behind
as a captive. Forwarding to the USA in 1986, information seeps through that
their long-lost comrade is still alive. A secret mission is soon formulated
that will reunite the Brothers in Blood and carry out a daring rescue mission
in Guatemala. It’s only when they discover the whereabouts and their lost
comrade that the team realises they have a great deal more to deal with than
first thought.
The
cast is led by Bo Svenson, Peter Hooten and the late unsung cult actor Werner
Porchat. Tough and relentless Bo Svenson as Sergeant Steven Elliott (called
“Steelâ€) maintains a great screen presence throughout this action-packed film -
a later entry from the declining genre of Italian war cinema. Martin Balsam is
the mandatory Western actor in Brothers in Blood. He doesn’t have a great deal
to do (he was rapidly approaching 70 years-old), but flitters in and out as he
is required. The film was a film cult favourite back in the VHS era, and still
retains that much loved look and atmosphere. Making its worldwide 2K Blu-ray premiere,
the film looks nice and clean. Keeping with its retrospective charm, it is
presented in a 1:33:1, 1080p aspect ratio. Cineploit confirmed to me that this
was the only master available from Italy – in fairness, it’s a film that has
very little available information, especially in respect to what ratio the
movie was shot in. However, it really doesn’t distract from the viewing
pleasure. In a self-indulgent and perhaps hedonistic way, I enjoyed seeing it
in a throwback fashion – it was quite refreshing and fit in nicely with the
overall retro vibe. With a running time of 93 minutes, I wouldn’t be surprised
if this is the longest cut of the film, as I seem to recall it was much shorter
on VHS – coming in at around the 80 minute mark, but the brain is a little
fuzzy these days. It’s also worth noting that the film is also supported
greatly by a fine score from Italian composer Riz Ortolani.
Cineploit’s
package is once again very impressively produced with film fans firmly at the
fore. It’s in this area of commitment that always leaves me respecting
Cineploit. These cult European films may not always command the same adulation or
praise as their Hollywood counterparts, but Cinepolit certainly afford these movies
the thought they deserve – especially in terms of extras and presentation when
compared to, perhaps, more established titles available on the Blu-ray format.
Three cover variations are again available, one with the Italian Poster
artwork, the U.S. VHS Cover and a collage design in a numbered and limited
edition of 400/300/200 units. An essay by script writer Roberto Leoni and another
by Udo Rothenberg (both in German and English) and Italian promo material form
part of the contents of the 28- page media book. The disc includes an exclusive
featurette ‘Basterd in Blood’ with actor Bo Svenson. Then there’s another
exclusive documentary ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ which focuses on the life and work of
Austrian actor Werner Pochath. At 40 minutes, this is an excellent overview by
his brother and film producer Dieter Pochlatko. An Internationale trailer is
also included as well as an internationale picture gallery. Cineploit have also
included a reproduction, double-sided poster featuring the Italian locandina
and the U.S. VHS sleeve artwork.
Click here to order
Fans
of the genre will welcome these releases with open arms.
(These discs are region-free.)