THE KEY (1983)
aka LA CHIAVE
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
Label: Cult Epics
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 111 Minutes 12 Seconds
Audio: English and Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: HDR10 2160P Ultra HD Widescreen (1.66:1), 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1)
Director: Tinto Brass
Cast: Stefania Sandrelli, Frank Finlay, Franco Branciaroli, Barbara Cupisti
In the Tinto Brass (Cheeky!) directed erotic film The Key (1983), set in 1940 Venice under the fascist regime Mussolini a retired art professor, Nino (Frank Finlay, Lifeforce) struggles to inspire the sexual passions of his much younger wife Teresa (Stefania Sandrelli, Police Python 357). He feels she is too chaste and wishes for her to lose her inhibitions as so to inflame their lovemaking. To make this happen he writes his his innermost thoughts and sexual fantasies in a diary he keeps locked away in his study, but he makes sure to leave the key where she can find it, knowing she will read it. In the diary he writes that he wish to see Laszlo (Franco Branciaroli, All Ladies Do It), the fiancé of his daughter Lisa (Barbara Cupisti, Stage Fright) make love to Teresa, which she reads. At dinner party with their daughter and Laszlo Theresa faints, and Laszlo, who is apparently the only one with steady enough hands, delivers an injection of some sort into has supple ass, then kneading it for several minutes to help absorb the shot. Afterward, with Thresa knocked out Nino has his way with her and takes nude photographs of her, which he gives to Laszlo to develop, he being something of a photographer, and the only person Nino can trust to develop them discreetly. As if willed into existence, which it kind of was, Laszlo and Teresa are drawn to each other, and do embark on a passionate affair, making love on the beach and meeting in secret, all the while Lisa becomes suspicious of the affair, while Nino, who is jealous by nature, is tormented by his wife's affair, but also turned on and appreciative of the wife's newfound passion in the bedroom.
Yet another lavish slice of arthouse erotic from Tinto Brass with a stellar cast, attractive women, and a sensual and fun score by the late-great Ennio Morricone. The period-set film showcases gorgeous Venice locations and architecture, a keen eye for attractive shot composition, and of course Brass' penchant for fetishizing women's gorgeous derrières as well as startling cinematic examinations of their pelvic areas. I always have a good time with these Tinto Brass flick, their actually erotic and sensual, gorgeously shot and have great scores, it's just a wonderfully arousing flick, and this is one of my favorites from Tinto Brass. This gets a high recommend from me, and I am pleased to see that Cult Epics have knocked it out of the park with this release.
Audio/Video: Tinto Brass's sensual film is making it's worldwide premiere on 4K Ultra HD from Cult Epics, a region-free disc presented in 2160p Ultra HD in 1.66:1 widescreen, a 4K restoration sourced from the original cameral negative, with the added benefit of HDR color-grade. The film looks terrific, the source is spotless, grain levels are organic looking, the HDR enhanced colors shine without ever looking overbaked, and skin tones appear warm and supple, and black levels are rock solid and the whites are nicely crisp. This is a wonderful upgrade with improved contrast, dialed in color-grade, pleasing depth and detail, giving this lush production the best presentation it's ever had on home video. The accompanying Blu-ray also shines, even without the benefit of HDR.
Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono with optional English subtitles. The track is clean and well-balanced, there's some occasional Italian audio, both sound excellent, dialogue is never difficult to discern and the atmospherics come through well, sounds of foot step and rain fall are nuanced, and of course, the Ennio Morricone (Cinema Paradiso) score sounds fantastic.
This edition is also well-stocked with new and archival extras. New stuff includes a wonderful new Audio Commentary by film historians Eugenio Ercolani & Marcus Stiglegger that dives deep into the cast and crew, the locations, and Brass' career at this time. We also get a new 39-min Brass’ Talisman - An Interview with actor Franco Branciaroli who details his early career, and memories of making this film, including recalling the shoot and interaction with his co-stars and the director.
Also new is the 8-min Keyhole Venice - A look at the Venetian locations of the film, which even separate the film, these are just gorgeous locations with so much history, worth a watch for sure. The 28-min Sensuous Morricone - A special on Ennio Morricone and Tinto Brass is a nice look back at the Brass/Morricone collaborations, and if you appreciate the score you will no doubt enjoy the uncompressed option to watch the film with just the Isolated Score by Ennio Morricone.
Disc extras are buttoned-up with a 17-min Archival Interview with Tinto Brass (2001), 10-min of Outtakes of The Key: Venice, a 30-min The Key Poster Gallery, another 3-min Tinto Brass Photo Gallery, and a 10-min Tinto Brass 4K Trailers which includes The Key, Cheeky!, Frivolous Lola, All Ladies Do It, which is quite a pleasing watch.
The 2-disc UHD/Blu-ray set arrives in a black dual-hibbed keepcase, with a Reversible Wrap featuring both English and Italian artworks, plus a Slipcase, which I assume is limited tot he first=pressing only. Inside there's a 20-Page illustrated Booklet with 'The Body Of A Generation Stefania Sandrellia: From Sicily To Venice’, a new essay by Eugenio Ercolani that covers the career of Sandrellia.
S:pecial Features:
- 4K Transfer (from the original camera negative & Restoration + HDR
- Audio Commentary by film historians Eugenio Ercolani & Marcus Stiglegger
- Brass’ Talisman - An Interview with actor Franco Branciaroli (38:55)
- Keyhole Venice - A look at the Venetian locations of the film (7:35)
- Sensuous Morricone - A special on Ennio Morricone and Tinto Brass (28:29)
- Isolated Score by Ennio Morricone
- Archival Interview with Tinto Brass (2001 16:52) )
- Outtakes of The Key: Venice (10:15)
- The Key Poster Gallery (2:45)
- Tinto Brass Photo Gallery (2:49)
- Tinto Brass 4K Trailers: The Key (2:08), Cheeky! aka Transgressing (2:25), Frivolous Lola (2:18), All Ladies Do it (3:22)
- Slipcase
- Reversible Sleeve with Original Italian Poster Art
- 20-Page illustrated Booklet with Essay by Eugenio Ercolani
- 4K Transfer (from the original camera negative & Restoration + HDR
- Audio Commentary by film historians Eugenio Ercolani & Marcus Stiglegger
- Brass’ Talisman - An Interview with actor Franco Branciaroli (38:55)
- Keyhole Venice - A look at the Venetian locations of the film (7:35)
- Sensuous Morricone - A special on Ennio Morricone and Tinto Brass (28:29)
- Isolated Score by Ennio Morricone
- Archival Interview with Tinto Brass (2001 16:52) )
- Outtakes of The Key: Venice (10:15)
- The Key Poster Gallery (2:45)
- Tinto Brass Photo Gallery (2:49)
- Tinto Brass 4K Trailers: The Key (2:08), Cheeky! aka Transgressing (2:25), Frivolous Lola (2:18), All Ladies Do it (3:22)
- Slipcase
- Reversible Sleeve with Original Italian Poster Art
- 20-Page illustrated Booklet with Essay by Eugenio Ercolani
Screenshots from the Cult Epics Blu-ray:
Buy it!
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