Cover coming soon |
6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A promiscuous heiress living in Hawaii persuades an insurance salesman to help her kill her husband to inherit all his money. Johnny Wadd travels to Mexico to help out his old army buddy, Sam, break up a drug smuggling ring in which Sam's junkie ex-wife is romantically involved with the gangster behind all of it.
Starring: Laurien Dominique, Candida Royalle, John Holmes (I), Damon Christian, Joan DevlonErotic | 100% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Director Bob Chinn goes cheeky with 1977’s “Hard Soap, Hard Soap,” his take on network primetime comedies of the era. Instead of digging deep into the possibilities of satirizing such self-aware content, Chinn and writer John Thomas Chapman have an idea, but they don’t develop it in full, aiming for something flatter with the picture, which is boosted by unexpectedly engaged performances, but lacks a defined funny bone.
Vinegar Syndrome makes it clear from the beginning of the viewing experience that restoration efforts were difficult for "Hard Soap, Hard Soap." Different sources were used to bring the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation to HD. Such challenges are found with the first reel, which is taken from a CRI, while the rest is collected from the original negative. The first 20 minutes of the movie wrestles with some softness, but this clears up soon enough, finding the remainder of "Hard Soap, Hard Soap" superbly detailed, inspecting bodily particulars with sometimes intense sharpness, while fine hairs and period costuming are preserved with care. Colors are managed with ideal power, leading with strong primaries that favor reds and yellows, though decorative trends of the 1970s also carry brightness. Delineation is satisfactory. Some understandable wear and tear is detected along the way.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix also struggles with source problems, but these are less noticeable. Overall, it's not a sharp track, but intelligibility isn't threatened, preserving dialogue exchanges and carnal responses. Music isn't precise but it delivers as expected, preserving intended moods, including the occasional organ sting to sell the soap opera tone.
Actors come through with authority in "Hard Soap, Hard Soap," giving the feature some real spark at times, committing to the whole experience when Chinn seems hesitant to really push forward with broadness. It's a fun movie, but it also doesn't live up to its potential.
(Still not reliable for this title)
1978
1983
Peekarama
1985
1983
1989
1987
Slipcover Edition | Limited to 2,000
1974
1975
1982
Slipcover Edition | SOLD OUT
1976
1974
1976
Limited Edition of 1500
1978
Peekarama Collection
1981
Slipcover Edition | Limited to 2,000
1979
1984
1978
1979
1983-1984
1976