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. 11”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.