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High class Italo filmmaking slips into the ’70s with Luchino Visconti still on top. This handsomely appointed period drama recreates Venice of 1910. Make that a highly stylized recreated Venice. As curiously enacted by Dirk Bogarde, Thomas Mann’s story of a composer’s inner turmoil over a maddeningly attractive teenaged boy becomes a one-man ordeal.

Death in Venice

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 962

1971 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date February 25, 2019 / 39.95

Starring: Dirk Bogarde, Romolo Valli, Mark Burns, Nora Ricci, Marisa Berenson,

Carole André, Björn Andrésen, Silvana Mangano.

Cinematography: Pasquale De Santis

Costume Designer: Piero Tosi

Art Direction: Ferdinando Scarfiotti

Music selections: Gustav Mahler, Beethoven, Mussorgsky

Film Editor: Ruggero Mastroianni

Written by Luchino Visconti, Nicola Badalucco from the novel by Thomas Mann

Produced by Robert Gordon Edwards, Mario Gallo, Luchino Visconti

Directed by Luchino Visconti

See Venice and die… or isn’t it supposed to be ‘see Rome and die?...

Writer-director Sergio Sollima gives us one of the best 'political' Italo westerns from the pre- May '68 era... with two top stars in great form, Gian Maria Volontè and Tomas Milian. This two-disc German import has both the long and short versions of the movie in HD, with full language options for each. Face to Face (Faccia a faccia; Von Angesicht zu Angesicht) Region A+B Blu-ray Explosive Media (Alive) 1967 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 93, 112 min. / Street Date April 29, 2016 / available at Amazon.de / E 21,93 Starring Gian Maria Volontè, Tomas Milian, William Berger, Jolanda Modio, Gianni Rizzo, Carole André Ángel del Pozo, Aldo Sambrell, Antonio Casas, Lidia Alfonsi, John Karlsen, Gastone Moschin, G&eacutge;rard Tichy. Cinematography Raphael Pacheco Film Editor Eugenio Alabiso Original Music Ennio Morricone Art Direction and sets Carlo Simi Written by Sergio Donati, Sergio Sollima Produced by Arturo González, Alberto Grimaldi <Directed by Sergio Sollima

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Wow,...

Hope you guys made some extra room in your wallets for all the cash you’ll undoubtedly be shelling out this week (love me some “dad humor”), as August 23rd boasts an awesome selection of horror and sci-fi Blu-ray and DVD releases, all capped off by the home entertainment debuts of both season one of Ash vs Evil Dead and the sixth season of The Walking Dead.

Arrow Video is giving the cult classic The Bloodstained Butterfly an HD overhaul for their impressive-looking two-disc Special Edition release that arrives this Tuesday, and Scream Factory is doing the same for another cult classic, Psycho IV: The Beginning. Kino Lorber is releasing a Blu-ray for Chandu The Magician this week, and we’ve also got a DVD and Blu release for Jon Watts’ Clown to look forward to as well.

Other notable releases for August 23rd include Der Bunker, The Ultimate Vincent Price Collection,...

Jackie Vernon may be remembered by many for being the voice of Frosty the Snowman, but horror fans know him as Donald, a frustrated husband who develops a taste for fellow humans in Microwave Massacre. In August, Arrow Video will release the cult 1983 horror film on Blu-ray / DVD, and they recently revealed new face-melting cover art for the special release, as well as an updated bonus features list for The Bloodstained Butterfly Blu-ray / DVD:

Press Release: Mvd Entertainment Group furthers the distribution of Arrow Video in the Us with several new titles in August...

Microwave Massacre [Blu-ray + DVD] (August 16th)

They Came For Dinner...To Find They Were It!!

Microwave Massacre stars legendary stand-up comedian and actor Jackie Vernon as Donald, a disgruntled construction worker whose wife's predilection for haute cuisine drives him to cannibalism.

Donald unwittingly stumbles upon a solution to his two major problems in his life - his nagging...

Arrow Video has sent us details on their two upcoming releases in August, the cheesy Microwave Massacre and the giallo film, The Bloodstained Butterfly. As usual, the team at Arrow Video will be packing both releases with all sorts of special features. Read on for all the details.

Microwave Massacre [Blu-ray + DVD] (August 16th)

They Came For Dinner…To Find They Were It!!

Microwave Massacre stars legendary stand-up comedian and actor Jackie Vernon as Donald, a disgruntled construction worker whose wife’s predilection for haute cuisine drives him to cannibalism.

Donald unwittingly stumbles upon a solution to his two major problems in his life – his nagging wife and his lack of decent meals – when, one night, he bludgeons his better half to death with a pepper grinder in a drunken rage. Thinking on his feet, Donald dismembers the body and sets about microwaving the remains, which turn out to be rather delicious.

Mvd Entertainment Group furthers the distribution of "Arrow Video" in the Us with several new home video titles available August 2016, including "Microwave Massacre" on Blu-ray + DVD, August 16, 2016 and "The Bloodstained Butterfly" on Blu-ray + DVD, August 23, 2016:

"Microwave Massacre", (Blu-ray + DVD, August 16, 2016) stars stand-up comedian, actor Jackie Vernon as 'Donald', a disgruntled construction worker whose wife's predilection for 'haute cuisine' drives him insane. 

"Donald unwittingly stumbles upon a solution to his two major problems in his life - his nagging wife and his lack of decent meals.

"Eschewing all notions of good taste, 'Microwave Massacre' is an exercise in political incorrectness that has gone on to gain a cult following thanks to a characteristically deadpan performance from Vernon..."

Director-approved Special Edition Contents Include:

- Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative

- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations

- Original mono audio (uncompressed Pcm...

While Jackie Vernon is remembered by many for his stand-up comedy and for being the voice of Frosty the Snowman, cult horror fans know him as Donald, a frustrated husband who develops a taste for human flesh in 1983’s Microwave Massacre. The horror comedy will be released this summer on Blu-ray / DVD in the Us and UK by Arrow Video, who will also release 1971’s The Bloodstained Butterfly on home media with a new 4K restoration.

While the full release details for the Us Blu-ray / DVDs of Microwave Massacre and The Bloodstained Butterfly have yet to be revealed, we do have a look at the lists of special features for the UK editions, which should feature extras similar to what Us fans can enjoy.

In the UK, Arrow Video will release Microwave Massacre on Blu-ray / DVD on August 15th, followed by an August 22nd Blu-ray / DVD release of The Bloodstained Butterfly.