One of Dario Argento’s all-time giallo greats and one of the form’s seamier examples from the ’70s are coming to Blu-ray in Britain, featuring new restorations in both Italian and English. Read on for the full info and cover art.
CultFilms releases Argento’s OPERA (pictured) in a region B Blu-ray/region 2 DVD combo pack and on digital November 19. Cristina Marsillach, Ian Charleson, Daria Nicolodi, Urbano Barberini, William McNamara, Antonella Vitale, Barbara Cupisti and Coralina Cataldi Tassoni star; the synopsis: “When young understudy Betty [Marsillach] takes the lead role in a new operatic production of Verdi’s MACBETH, she soon attracts the attention of a knife-wielding psycho who forces her to watch—with eyes pinned open—as he brutally despatches her friends and colleagues with sadistic delight. Can Betty free herself from this unending nightmare or does a more terrifying fate await?” The film is presented in a new 2K restoration with color regrading done under Argento’s instruction, in 2.35:1 widescreen and 1080p HD, with Italian and English soundtrack and optional English subtitles. Special features are:
- “Aria of Fear”: A brand new candid interview with director Dario Argento, revisiting his work from a fresh viewpoint
- “OPERA Backstage”: a unique behind-the-scenes documentary about Dario Argento directing OPERA
- Restoration featurette: from raw scan to the regraded, restored and reframed final vision
Copies can be pre-ordered (with a numbered slipcase) from CultFilms’ website.
The same day, Britain’s Shameless Films releases Giuliano Carnimeo’s giallo THE CASE OF THE BLOODY IRIS on Blu-ray (region B) for the first time, as well as DVD (region 2). This one is also a 2K restoration in 2.35:1 widescreen and 1080p HD, with Italian and English soundtracks and optional English subs, and includes new interviews with actors George Hilton and Paola Quattrini. Edwige Fenech, who previously appeared with Hilton in THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH and ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, also stars; the synopsis: “After two beautiful women are murdered in an apartment block, Jennifer [Fenech] and Marilyn [Quattrini] move into the flat of one of the slaughtered girls. But before long, the unknown predatory pervert soon turns his salacious attentions to the gorgeous Jennifer. The list of suspects includes a woman and her deformed son, a crazy lesbian and even Jennifer’s own lover.” You can pre-order BLOODY IRIS here.
