UNDERWORLD BEAUTY (1958)
Label: Radiance Films
Region Code: A, B
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 87 Minutes 10 Seconds
Audio: Japanese PCM 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.39:1)
Director: Seijun Suzuki
Cast: Michitaro Mizushima, Mari Shiraki, Shinsuke Ashida
Retrieving the diamonds he stashed before his arrest, thief Miyamoto hopes to help his old partner Mihara, crippled during the heist. Their former boss, crime lord Oyane, offers to mediate with a foreign buyer, but secretly wants the stones for himself. The deal goes awry when gunmen appear on the scene. Mihara swallows the diamonds but dies in the chase, leaving a valuable corpse in the police morgue. Miyamoto forms an uneasy alliance with Mihara's wildcat sister Akiko to keep the gems away from gangsters, cops and even Akiko's greedy boyfriend. This wildly inventive early noir sees Seijun Suzuki (Branded to Kill, Tattooed Life) infectiously playing with genre rules and gender stereotypes.
The Limited Edition (of 3000) release arrives in a clear full-height Scanavo keepcase with a Reversible Sleeve of Artwork featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow. The reversible artwork I found to be the most striking of the pair. We also get Radiance's signature Removable OBI Strip which leaves packaging free of certificates and markings. Inside is a 20-Page Illustrated Booklet featuring new writing by critic Claudia Siefen-Leitich and an archival review of the film, as well as cast and crew information, notes about the transfer and Blu-ray credits.
Special Features:
- New 4K restoration of the film by Nikkatsu Corporation
- Uncompressed mono PCM audio
- New interview with critic Mizuki Kodama (2024) (14:45)
- Bonus feature: Seijun Suzuki’s Love Letter (1959) (39:48)
- Audio commentary on Love Letter by Suzuki biographer William Carroll (2024)
- Underworld Beauty Trailer (3:15)
- New 4K restoration of the film by Nikkatsu Corporation
- Uncompressed mono PCM audio
- New interview with critic Mizuki Kodama (2024) (14:45)
- Bonus feature: Seijun Suzuki’s Love Letter (1959) (39:48)
- Audio commentary on Love Letter by Suzuki biographer William Carroll (2024)
- Underworld Beauty Trailer (3:15)
- Love Letter Trailer (2:54)
- Newly improved English subtitle translation
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by critic Claudia Siefen-Leitich and an archival review of the film
Extras:
Buy it!
- Newly improved English subtitle translation
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Time Tomorrow
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing by critic Claudia Siefen-Leitich and an archival review of the film
Screenshots from the Radiance Films Blu-ray:
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