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2011 IN DVD AND BLU-RAY by Oren Shai

Henri-Georges Clouzot’s INFERNO
(Flicker Alley)

Clouzot’s manic perfectionism caused his 1964 production of INFERNO to crash and burn. This 2009 documentary attempts to reconstruct the lost film using cans of footage and camera tests unearthed for the first time since the lights went out on the shoot. Nothing short of hypnotizing, Clouzot’s footage drips so much sensuality that even a slinky toy manifests indecent thoughts. A glimpse at the remains of what could have been a great film, so revolutionary in its imagery that looking back, it could not have possibly been completed and released.

Eclipse 29: Aki Kaurismaki’s LENINGRAD COWBOYS
(Criterion – Eclipse)

The Leningrad Cowboys are what prodigies of Elvis would look like had they never seen Elvis. The Finnish band was created by director Aki Kaurismaki in 1989 for the film, LENINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA (1989). The picture follows their quest for fame and fortune as they travel across the U.S. in route to play a wedding in Mexico. The sequel, MEET MOSES (1994), is fun but does not carry the same punch. Finally, THE TOTAL BALALIKA SHOW is a must-see live concert backed by the Russian Red Choir! Kaurismak’s new film, LE HAVRE (possibly the best of the year), received a limited release in the U.S., and had been bestowed the prestigious Louis Delluc Prize for 2011. The Leningrad Cowboys are still going strong.

THE LICKERISH QUARTET
(Cult Video)

Cult Video has been doing right by Radley Metzger, an unsung hero of erotic cinema. Although based in New York, Metzger could easily be mistaken as European for his artistic subtleties, preference of European locations, and love for adapting literary classics (his tour-de-force hardcore effort, THE OPENING OF MISTY BEETHOVEN is an adaptation of Pygmalion). THE LICKERISH QUARTET may very well be his masterpiece. Metzger’s camera sometimes observes, sometimes participates in the sexual acts he depicts, but always in tasteful, dream-like eroticism. A celebration of style and decadence, with a dazzling soundtrack by Stelvio Cipriani.

Women in Cages Collection: THE BIG DOLL HOUSE/THE BIG BIRD CAGE/WOMEN IN CAGES)
(Shout Factory)

Women battling each other in the mud swamps of the Philippines never looked better. The video transfer on the Shout Factory set is jaw-dropping gorgeous, rare for any exploitation release, even seminal pictures like these. Jack Hill’s THE BIG DOLL HOUSE and THE BIG BIRD CAGE followed Jess Franco’s 99 WOMEN in defining the Women-in-Prison film of the 1970s by taking it out of the urban environment and into a remote locale. The only thing more stunning than the transfer is Anitra Ford (actress from BIRD CAGE) in Elijah Drenner’s attached 50-minute documentary, FROM MANILA WITH LOVE. An affectionate tribute to Jack Hill’s genre entries. Drenner’s doc proves as entertaining as the films themselves. Also released this year, and well worth your hard earned cash, is his 2010 doc, AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE.

SANDS OF THE KALAHARI
(Olive Films)

Like a tale out of a 1950s Men’s Adventure Magazine, the film depicts the survivalist story of a small group stranded in the middle of the South African desert. Picture those Man vs. Nature covers from Man’s Life, Real Men, Man’s Story, and countless others, you got it. One incredibly unique film, including a final showdown so striking and wild I dare not describe it here. Cy Endfield’s filmography includes discovering Michael Caine in ZULU, and the rarely seen Noir, THE SOUND OF FURY, which the Film Noir Foundation is now trying to save and restore.

THE KILLING / KISS ME DEADLY / SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
(Criterion)

It is only in sake of variety that this whole list isn’t comprised solely of Criterion releases. The three titles above make it a very good year for lovers of Noir. THE KILLING with its brilliant dialogs by Jim Thompson; KISS ME DEADLY, still the best screen adaptation of Mickey Spillane; and SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS’ groundbreaking cinematography of New York City remains unmatched. Some companies use the restoration process to “modernize” older films by forcing HD crispness on their natural warmth. Criterion’s restorations, respectful of the original negative, give us an impression of how the films looked when they were new whatever amount of years ago.

Fernando Di Leo Crime Collection
(Raro Video)

In the 1970s, the Italian Poliziotteschi genre took the cultural place of the Spaghetti Western. Telling similar stories, the landscape of the supposed American West changed to the Italian metropolitan. This could be attributed to political tensions, violence in the streets, and a fantasy of a Dirty Harry-like vigilante who would come and clean up the mess. The genre’s plots usually revolved either around a violent cop who rebels against a lenient or corrupt police system, or around the inner-politics of the crime world. Fernando Di Leo was the master of the latter. The collection by Raro Video includes Di Leo’s MILANO CALIBRO 9 (his best), THE ITALIAN CONNECTION, THE BOSS, and RULERS OF THE CITY. As in the Italian Westerns, many American genre actors found work in Italy during those years, and in this set you’ll enjoy Woody Strode, Jack Palance, Henri Silva, and Richard Conte.

Raro Video’s American imprint launched this year, but their library is full of gems they released in Italy during the past decade. Also, look for their release of the psychedelic Giallo, THE PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK.

THE CONSTANT NYMPH / ROLLING THUNDER
(Warner Archives/MGM)

A separate list could also be comprised of titles picked from various online DVR services (Warner Archives, MGM, Universal). To represent the lot, I chose two completely different ones:

Tied in copyright issues, THE CONSTANT NYMPH hasn’t been commercially distributed since its release in 1943. After years of trying, TCM succeeded in clearing up the legalities and premiered it in the 2011 TCM FILM FESTIVAL. A beautiful melodrama directed by Edmund Goulding (DARK VICTORY), starring Charles Boyer and Joan Fontaine in one of her best roles. Now available through the Warner Archives, you should watch this.

When it comes to exploitation, ROLLING THUNDER must have been the crown jewel of unreleased films. William Devane stars as a Vietnam vet on a mission to hunt down the thugs who killed his family. A seminal entry to the revenge/vigilante genre. Devane, an actor who always delivers, gives an especially inspired performance. He should have been a bigger star.

Treasures 5: The West, 1898-1938
(Image Entertainment)

In the sake of full disclosure, this box sits on my shelf, but I have yet to watch it. The 10-hour set includes Victor Fleming’s MANTRAP (starring Clara Bow), THE LADY OF THE DUGOUT (starring bona-fide outlaws Al and Frank Jennings), one-reelers with Tom Mix and Broncho Billy, and more rare narrative, documentaries, and travelogues about the West. Considering the outstanding sets previously issued by the National Film Preservation Foundation, this is a must for any Western fan.

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A Request for 2012:

Could someone please release CLAUDELLE INGLISH (1961)? Directed by Gordon Dougles (THEM!, KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE), based on an outrageous novel by my favorite author, Erskine Caldwell. It’s true, other Caldwell adaptations by great directors never lived up to their promise (GOD’S LITTLE ACRE by Anthony Mann, TOBACCO ROAD by John Ford), and CLAUDELLE INGLISH may not be a great film, it may not even be a good film, but I need to see it. If anyone over at Warner Archives is reading, put it out. I’ll send you a personal thank you note.

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