Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Man of Violence / The Big Switch Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 31, 2009

Pete Walker's exploitaiton crime thrillers "Man of Violence" (1971) and " The Big Switch" (1968) arrive on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute (BFI). The two films have been transferred in High Definition from the original 35mm combined negatives. "The Big Switch" arrives in two versions - "domestic" and "export". A 26-page extensive illustrated booklet with newly commissioned contributions from director Pete Walker, novelist Cathi Unsworth, screenwriter and critic David McGillivray, and film historian Julian Petley is also included. Region-Free.

Poker is a serious game

The BFI Flipside series was introduced to “revisit and reappraise British films that have slipped through the cracks of cinema history – films that were overlooked, marginalized, or undervalued at the original time of release, or sit outside the established canon of recognized classic.” Well, there is absolutely no doubt that Pete Walker’s Man of Violence and The Big Switch fit the above description. They are strange and most certainly overlooked films that have retained the spirit of a time when directors weren’t afraid to experiment. In other words, these two films are in a league of their own.

Man of Violence (1971) – a bisexual mercenary, Moon (Michael Latimer, Got It Made), is hired by two rivaling underground bosses to help them smuggle a large load of gold from a Third World country. Initially, he does not know precisely what “the job” entails, but after he meets a beautiful girl with a shady past and a bit of history with one of the bosses, Angel (Luan Peters, The Flesh and Blood Show), he begins to see what’s in the making. Moon decides to keep the gold for himself and, if possible, the girl.

There is certainly more nudity than violence in Man of Violence. Large portions of the film come dangerously close to what you would typically see in Italian Exploitation Cinema from the late 60s and early 70s. The film’s main protagonist is also quite wild – he is a good shooter and great lover. Women want to sleep with him and so do some of the men he meets.

The film’s plot is surprisingly complex. There are a number of shocking twists in it that often come a lot quicker than they should. Somewhat disappointingly, many occur right in the middle of the hottest scenes. The dialog is rather basic but entertainingly colorful.

The Big Switch a.k.a. Strip Poker (1968) – a cocky playboy, John Carter (Sebastian Breaks, The Night Digger), picks up a hot blonde at a night club. The two head to her place where she is killed while the man is out looking to buy a pack of cigarettes. On the following day, the man is fired from his job for an unknown reason and beaten up by a group of tough goons. He is also tortured by a sadistic good looking blonde. Immediately after, the man meets another good looking bird, Karen (Virginia Wetherell, Disciple of Death). He is also offered a job. The man agrees to do the job but soon finds himself in the middle of a pornographic affair of some sort that may or may not be part of a larger shady deal.

There are two different versions of The Big Switch that you would find on this Blu-ray disc – a shorter “domestic” one, running at approximately 68 minutes, and a longer “export” one, running at approximately 77 minutes. The “export” version is a bit zestier than the “domestic” one.

Generally speaking, The Big Switch is a lot sleazier than Man of Violence. Crime is still a key ingredient from the film’s plot, but nudity certainly appears to be the focus of attention. Unsurprisingly, the sex scenes are a lot more elaborate.

The main protagonist in The Big Switch is once again a controversial figure. He beds most every girl that comes his way and only occasionally uses his pistol. His opponents are typically men of corrupt minds and sharp tongues.

It is fairly easy to tell that The Big Switch had a limited budget. The final shootout in the film – at a frozen and desolate Brighton Pier – is notably rough looking. Yet, it is arguably the most effective part of the film. The Big Switch is also complimented by a surprisingly good music score courtesy of Harry South (School for Sex).

Man of Violence / The Big Switch Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Pete Walker's Man of Violence arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of the British Film Institute (BFI).

Man of Violence has been transferred in High Definition from the original 35mm combined negative. The picture has been restored using HD-DVNR and MTI restoration systems, where multiple scratches, flecks, and warps have been removed. As a result the film looks quite fresh and pleasingly stable. Contrast is very good, detail excellent and clarity very impressive. Edge-enhancement is not a serious issue of concern. Neither is macroblocking. The majority of the daylight footage looks notably strong. During the second half of Man of Violence, where the action moves to Tunisia, the film looks lovely.

The color-scheme is very impressive. Reds, blues, greens, yellows, browns, blacks and whites are lush and rich. In fact, some of the colors tend to look a bit too rich for my taste – the "blood", for instance, looks too artificial. Despite the fact that a number of debris and scratches have been removed, I did notice a few tiny flecks popping up here and there. Overall, however, Man of Violence looks convincing, and I certainly believe that you would be pleased with BFI's transfer.

The Big Switch is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1 and granted a 1080p transfer. It has been transferred in High Definition from the original 35mm combined negative. There are two versions of the film offered on this Blu-ray disc: "domestic" and "export". Picture and audio for the sections making up the "export" version have been transferred from separate picture and sound negatives. Overall, The Big Switch looks quite strong. Contrast, clarity and detail are very good. Once again, there are a few tiny flecks that I spotted popping up here and there, but large stains, scratches, debris, and warps are nowhere to be seen. Edge-enhancement and macroblocking are not a serious issue of concern. There are no signs of excessive noise filtering either. To sum it all up, I believe that this is the best The Big Switch has ever looked. (Note: This is a Region-Free disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no PAL content preceding the main menu).

Man of Violence / The Big Switch Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Both Man of Violence and The Big Switch arrive with English LCPM 2.0 mono tracks. Both films can also be viewed with optional English HOH subtitles.

To my ears, both tracks sound convincing. The dialog is clear and easy to follow; I certainly did not feel the need to turn on the English subtitles so I could follow what is being said. There are no balance issues to report either. Generally speaking, the supporting music soundtracks blend well with the dialog. As mentioned in the booklet provided with this Blu-ray disc, BFI's tech crew has removed a number of clicks, pops, and cracks. As a result, the audio is probably as good as it has ever been. I personally have no reservations with it whatsoever. The English subtitles are legible and very well done.

Man of Violence / The Big Switch Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Trailers - two trailers, one for Man of Violence and one for The Big Switch. (1080p).

Title card - a title card for "Moon". (1080p).

Booklet - a 26-page booklet containing the following essays: "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Cathi Unsworth, "The Big Switch" by David McGillivray, "British exploitation cinema: a precarious existence" by Julian Petley, and "Pete Walker recalls making Man of Violence and The Big Switch".

Man of Violence / The Big Switch Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a terrific package! Some viewers (and critics) may find plenty of flaws in Pete Walker's Man of Violence and The Big Switch, but I had a terrific time with them. I absolutely loved how rough they looked. Keep them coming BFI! Recommended.