Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 27, 2026

Edward Dmytryk's "Bluebeard" (1972) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include new audio commentary by critics Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson; archival program with Jean-Porter Dmytryk; new program with critic Anna Bogutskaya; and vintage trailer. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

The ladykiller

Multiple films have drawn on Charles Perrault’s classic 1697 folktale. The earliest is a short film, directed by Georges Méliès in 1901. They all portray Bluebeard as an evil psychopath. However, this is where virtually all meaningful similarities between them end. These films have also inspired a substantial number of clones reimagining Bluebeard or elements of his story in a new context without acknowledging any ties to the classic folktale.

Edward Dmytryk’s film is the only one that dares to spice up the material it borrows in a way that adults can appreciate. It isn’t just a playful film. It is an uninhibited, borderline exploitative film, daring to show just about everything without being sanctioned. However, in some markets, most notably on the other side of the Iron Curtain, its complete version was never screened theatrically. Only after the Iron Curtain collapsed did this once-thought-too-salacious version become available to local film aficionados.

In Dmytryk’s film, Richard Burton plays Kurt Von Sepper, a highly decorated Austrian WWI pilot with an insatiable appetite for beautiful ladies. While not an irresistibly handsome man, Von Sepper effortlessly melts their hearts, and then, after he marries and grows tired of them, he just as effortlessly kills them.

However, shortly after marrying his newest American trophy wife, Anne (Joey Heatherton), Von Sepper’s true identity is exposed. It happens while Von Sepper is on a business trip to Vienna, and Anne, despite being warned not to use a special key among several others, accidentally unlocks a secret room in his castle, where he has hidden body parts of his previous wives. When he returns, Von Sepper prepares to kill Anne too, but first decides to tell her his real life story, at the end of which is a damning secret that has transformed him into a vicious murderer.

Most of Dmytryk’s film channels a very dark sense of humor, similar to the one present in Robert Hamer’s Kind Hearts and Coronets. However, it lacks the terrific wit that goes with it in Hamer’s film. Possibly to make up for this omission, Dmytryk lets Burton and his gorgeous female co-stars engage in a rather wild theater of improvisations, at least some of which were apparently fueled by heavy boozing. (Dmytryk has confirmed Burton’s struggles with alcohol during the production process, and most likely there was more happening as well. For example, Heatherton looks very odd in several different scenes, as if under the influence of something other than alcohol. A decade later, she was arrested for drug possession).

The most uninhibited of these improvisations are one of the two reasons to see Dmytryk’s film. Not all are effective, but together they sporadically make it look like an unusual exploitative film. The other reason is the large-scale period glamour. Interior and exterior footage is often breathtakingly beautiful, and the period attire, especially the dresses chosen for the female cast, is flawless.

Burton’s remaining naïve wives are played by several stunning beauties: Raquel Welch, Karin Schubert, Virna Lisi, Nathalie Delon, Agostina Belli, and Marilu Tolo. A ravishing Sybil Danning plays an unlucky prostitute who also falls for Burton’s charm.

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Bluebeard arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release presents a recent 4K restoration of Bluebeard, completed on behalf of StudioCanal. The 4K restoration is also made available on 4K Blu-ray in this combo pack.

In America, the 4K restoration was first introduced with this Blu-ray release, produced by Shout Factory in 2021. I have it in my library and used it to perform several comparisons.

I like the 4K restoration its presentations on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray. It produces attractive and stable visuals with strong organic qualities. I viewed it in its entirety on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray, and on my system, both presentations looked equally great. (The 4K presentation is not graded with Dolby Vision or HDR). Delineation, clarity, and depth range from very good to excellent, and image stability is great. Color reproduction and balance are convincing. In a few areas -- featuring indoor and outdoor footage -- several primaries could be lusher. However, they still look very good, and all supporting nuances are properly balanced with them. I did not encounter any anomalies. Grain exposure could have been slightly more convincing, but it is still very nice. The entire film looks clean. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the 4K restoration of Bluebeard in its entirety on Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray.

The lossless audio is clear and stable. I did not encounter any age-related anomalies to report in our review. Dynamic variety is rather modest -- even during the big hunt and in areas of the film where plenty of music is used -- but this is a native limitation of the original soundtrack. All exchanges are very easy to follow.

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critics Howard S. Berger and Nathaniel Thompson. Some of the more interesting observations in it addresses the stylistic identity of Bluebeard, Richard Burton's career and relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, and some of the controversy that surrounded the production and promotion of the film.

• Making a Difference - in this archival program, Jean-Porter Dmytryk discusses her relationship with Edward Dmytryk and explains why the films he directed were special. The program was produced by Robert Fischer for Fiction Factory. In English, not subtitled. (34 min).

• Brutality, Burton, and Bluebeard - in this program, critic Anna Bogutskaya discusses the life and career of Edward Dmytryk, his communist past, and involvement with Bluebeard. In English, not subtitled. (24 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Bluebeard. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Bluebeard Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The great irony is that most of the material that transforms Bluebeard into a memorable film was almost certainly unscripted. Had there been even more of it, Bluebeard would have looked a lot like a large-scale Jess Franco project, forcing highbrow critics to dislike it even more. It is not a disaster. It is a very entertaining dark offbeat comedy, with a truly sensational female cast, frequently producing breathtakingly gorgeous visuals. Together with the recent Blu-ray release of Pretty Maids All in a Row, this Blu-ray release is a special treat for collectors with a certain appreciation for niche genre films. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.