Reviewing and unboxing The Bitter Stems and The Beast Must Die on Blu-ray. Buy them from Amazon:
The Beast Must Die: https://amzn.to/3CKhtDU
The Bitter Stems: https://amzn.to/3BM8alo
#TheBitterStems #BluRay #Review
The Bitter Stems and The Beast Must Die are not available on 4K Ultra HD (UHD). These Blu-ray editions also includes the DVD.
The Beast Must Die (La bestia debe morir) (1952)
A long-lost treasure of Argentine noir rediscovered! Thanks to the efforts of the Film Noir Foundation and UCLA Film & Television Archive, director Román Viñoly Barreto's compelling 1952 thriller has been rescued and restored to its original brilliance.
Mystery writer Felix Lane, (legendary Spanish actor Narciso Ibáñez Menta), suffers a tragic loss; his nine-year-old son is killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Desperate for vengeance, Lane bypasses the authorities, adopts a new identity, and begins looking for clues that will lead him to the culprit. The suspense reaches hair-raising levels as Felix's vendetta leads him to infiltrate an affluent family rife with its own intrigues. But who among this highly suspect bunch is the killer? And will Felix follow his mission to its bitter end? Based on Cecil Day-Lewis' influential 1936 novel The Beast Must Die (written as Nicholas Blake), Viñoly Barreto's film is a stunning adaptation of one of the true landmarks of crime fiction and psychological suspense.
Flicker Alley is honored to present this world-premiere Blu-ray disc edition of the superb The Beast Must Die (La bestia debe morir), a heretofore virtually unknown addition to the canon of classic international noir. This landmark release, gorgeously restored, was achieved through the dedicated efforts of the Film Noir Foundation and UCLA Film and Television Archive, with special thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Charitable Trust.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW RESTORATION OF THE FILM
Introduction to The Beast Must Die (La bestia debe morir) – By author, historian, and "noirchaeologist" Eddie Muller.
New In-Depth Conversation – Between Argentine film archivist and historian Fernando Martín Peña and Daniel Viñoly, son of visionary director Román Viñoly Barreto.
Profile of Actor Narciso Ibáñez Menta – By film historian Fernando Martín Peña.
Audio Commentary Track – By author and film historian Guido Segal.
Souvenir Booklet – Featuring rare original photographs, posters, lobby cards, and advertisements, along with an essay by Guido Segal.
In Spanish, with English subtitles
REGION-FREE
The Bitter Stems (Los tallos amargos) (1956)
This rarely seen 1956 film was lauded in its day but only recently rediscovered, hidden away in a private collector's home outside Buenos Aires. Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Film Noir Foundation and Argentine cinephile Fernando Martín Peña, a gorgeous new print of The Bitter Stems (Los tallos amargos) was created, by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, from the reconditioned original negative, now presented in its first ever home video release–with special thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Charitable Trust.
Alfredo Gasper, a dissatisfied Buenos Aires newspaperman (Carlos Cores), partners with Paar Liudas, a clever Hungarian refugee (Vassili Lambrinos) who needs money to bring his family from Argentina. Together they create a bogus correspondence school, exploiting the hopes of would-be journalists. As their scheme succeeds beyond their wildest dreams, a mystery woman from Liudas' past sparks Gasper's suspicion: his charming colleague may be playing him for a sucker. Soon Gasper finds himself plotting the perfect crime – but fate has many twists in store.
This adaptation of journalist Adolfo Jasca's award winning novel was acclaimed upon its release, earning top prizes in 1957 from the Argentine critics association for Best Picture, with Fernando Ayala named Best Director. American Cinematographer magazine listed Los Tallos Amargos #49 on its roster of the 100 Best Photographed Films of All-Time. The innovative and evocative score, combining elements of tango, jazz, and classical music, is one of the first film scores by legendary composer Astor Piazolla. After more than 60 years in darkness, The Bitter Stems (Los tallos amargos) is finally restored and ready for rediscovery.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW RESTORATION OF THE FILM
Introduction to The Bitter Stems (Los tallos amargos) – By author, historian, and "noirchaelogist" Eddie Muller.
New In-Depth Conversation – With Argentine film archivist and historian Fernando Martín Peña.
Profile of Legendary Composer Astor Piazolla – By film historian Steven Smith.
Audio Commentary Track – By author and film historian Imogen Sara Smith.
Souvenir Booklet – Featuring rare original photographs, posters, lobby cards, and advertisements, along with an essay by film historian and lecturer María Elena de las Carreras.
In Spanish, with English subtitles
REGION-FREE
No comments :
Post a Comment