Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 1, 2022

Cineastes and scholars often praise, borderline worship, films from the 1970s, and understandably so. It was a decade of challenging endeavors, respecting audience intelligence and patience, with studios and talent taking risks to deliver textured, meaningful work. But there were stinkers too, a lot of them, with 1972’s “Bluebeard” (an adaptation of a French folktale) caught between a desire to appear like a sophisticated production and the cold reality of its campy-ish approach to horror. It’s a deeply weird serial killer story, and one with a confused sense of tone and morality, rendering the picture quite ridiculous as it strives to explore an absurd figure of evil with a straight face.

Kurt (Richard Burton) is an Austrian World War I hero returning home with a blue beard, acquired after chemical exposure in battle. He lives in a massive castle, which houses examples of his taxidermy skills, and he’s often joined by women, including his latest wife, Anne (Joey Heatherton), who gradually uncovers the bodies of Kurt’s past wives in a secret room. Learning she’s about to die, Anne scrambles to distract her husband, requesting stories about his previous marriages, which all ended in murder.

Kurt is an odd man with a literal blue beard (the hue of this facial hair is inconsistent throughout the film), and he loves to be in love. He pursues women, looking to charm them with his manners and intensity, wowing them with his wealth, which is displayed in his castle, filling it with treasures, including his collection of animals. Some are dead (hunting scenes aren’t faked, which might disturb some viewers) and a few remain alive, including a falcon taught to kill on command. Kurt wants wives, but he can’t stand the reality of cohabitation, and “Bluebeard” explores his thinning patience with the opposite sex, having trouble with Anne, who tries to save her own life while keeping her husband talking, sharing his tales of murder.

“Bluebeard” is filled with supporting performances from striking women, including Raquel Welch (playing a nun with a sinful past), Nathalie Delon, Marilu Tolo, Karin Schubert, and Sybil Danning. The screenplay creates a threatening figure in Kurt, but it’s also a sympathetic portrayal of an abusive, corrupt man with deep-seated sexual issues, with the wives depicted as deserving of death for their annoying, impatient ways. It’s an odd take that borders on cruelty, but that would be taking “Bluebeard” seriously, which director Edward Dmytryk attempts to do, though he can’t fight the sheer silliness of the material and its goofy extremity, including a wife who gets off on being beaten by Kurt.

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation provides a clear look at production achievements. Color is impressive, delivering lush hues with castle tours, visiting rooms filled with deep reds. Costuming is equally distinct, providing rich primaries. Skintones are natural, and the famous beard is occasionally quite blue. Detail is healthy at times, examining the spooky dwelling, which is loaded with dead animals and ornate decoration, adding dimension and texture to the viewing experience. Delineation is strong, preserving shadowy encounters. Grain is a bit inconsistent, with some blockiness at times. Source is good condition.

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix delivers decent dialogue exchanges, keeping performances intelligible while periodically wrestling with elements of age and mild damage. Scoring cues are also appreciable, offering satisfactory instrumentation with Ennio Morricone's lively themes. Sound effects register as intended.

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Image Gallery (6:02) collects poster art, film stills, and press kit pages.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (6:02, HD) is included.

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I suppose it comes as no surprise to learn that Nazis somehow factor into this tale, with an awkward revenge subplot stapled onto the picture to give it some sense of justice to keep "Bluebeard" from being completely repellent. The production does have its achievements, including wonderful set decoration, costuming, and scoring, and supporting performances are more engaged than Burton, who visibly looks like he'd rather be anywhere but in this movie. The feeling is understandable, with "Bluebeard" struggling to commit to a house of horrors atmosphere when the ludicrousness of it all is dying to take command of the feature.