Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Mill of the Stone Women Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 5, 2021

One of the kind of interesting trivia tidbits that Tim Lucas discloses in his commentary track included on this disc as a bonus feature is some history behind the post World War II Italian film industry, specifically with regard to horror films. Perhaps understandably after the real life horrors of a global calamity like what was experienced from approximately 1939 to 1945, Italian filmmakers weren't especially excited about crafting cinematic horrors, at least of the gothic variety, and in that regard, some of the era's biggest hits in that general idiom were imports. Among these Lucas overtly mentions House of Wax 3D, and it's not hard to see that film's influence on at least some presentational aspects of Mill of the Stone Women. That said, Lucas, in a comment which may provoke a raised eyebrow or two, actually feels that Carl Theodor Dreyer's legendary 1932 Vampyr is Mill of the Stone Women's clearest antecedent. That perceived linkage may admittedly be due more to mood and a few passing presentational aspects than it is to actual plot dynamics, but it may help to alert viewers to the fact that Mill of the Stone Women, while a "trailblazer" in a way in that it was the first "serious" horror film shot in color in Italy (this again according to Lucas), it was perhaps crafted with a sense of its place in an already longstanding tradition, something that in fact another supplement on this disc, a visual essay by Kat Ellinger, at least alludes to.

There are a couple of kind of funny misdirections in Mill of the Stone Women from virtually the get go, including the film's very opening credits, which suggest the narrative was culled from some kind of story by a guy named Pieter van Weigen contained in a supposed book called Flemish Tales, though that's evidently itself a fictional construction, perhaps by co-writer and director Giorgio Ferroni himself. There's also an attempt to pass of a supposed Dutch location, courtesy of long lingering shots of canals and windmills, though the film kind of peculiarly overtly identifies the town of Weese, which really exists and is several hundred miles east of Amsterdam in Germany. If the ostensible location is a bit muddled, there's a really evocative and spooky ambience developed almost immediately courtesy of mist strewn environs with wintry bare tree limbs and towering windmills rising in front of slate gray skies.

Tim Lucas' commentary covers a number of interesting angles, including the so-called "madonna/whore" element that figures prominently into Italian horror films. In Mill of the Stone Women that dialectic can reasonably be interpreted to refer either to focal character Elfie (Scilla Gabel) by herself, or, if Elfie is ultimately to be seen in the "whore" role, then by contrast to another primary female character, Liselotte (Dany Carrell). Both of these women are romantic partners (in a way, at least) with the film's central character, journalist Hans von Arnim (Pierre Brice), who has arrived in Weese to interview local celebrity sculptor Professor Gregorius Wahl (Herbert A.E. Böhme), who lives in an elaborate old windmill which is also home to a tourist attraction, a "carousel" which features wax dummies of various infamous historical women like Joan of Arc and Cleopatra. The dummies' curiously lifelike appearances may offer a clue as to what's going on with Elfie, who is Wahl's daughter and who seems to be a virtual captive in her father's lair.

The whole "madonna/whore" aspect comes into play when Hans is almost magnetically drawn to the elusive Elfie, who wastes little time in professing her amorous desires for him. Unfortunately, Hans has had a longstanding prior relationship with Liselotte, and when she shows up and seems too familiar with Hans for Elfie's liking, things devolve quickly. Meanwhile, there seems to be some kind of nefarious activity going on in the background concerning Professor Wahl and his imperious assistant, Dr. Bohlem (Wolfgang Preiss), something that may be connected to Elfie's seeming imprisonment and bizarre behaviors.

If some may feel that the narrative in Mill of the Stone Women never quite hangs together, the film is often quite striking from a production design and cinematography standpoint, and in fact one of the more interesting things Lucas gets into in his commentary is how it is at least plausible that Mario Bava did some uncredited work on this film (Lucas also believes Bava's sculptor father probably provided the dummies for this film). There is most definitely a Bava-esque quality to a number of shots (Lucas points out one set of evocatively lit close-ups in particular, which he says are completely missing from other Ferroni films), and fans of Bava will probably see at least correspondences to some of Bava's framing and especially lighting choices. Interestingly in this regard, Mill of the Stone Women was released almost simultaneously in Italy with Bava's Black Sunday, and while it may be less remembered today, according to some sources it significantly out performed the Bava film at the box office in 1960.

Mill of the Stone Women Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Mill of the Stone Women is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with AVC encoded 1080p transfers in 1.66:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the restoration:

Mill of the Stone Women / Il mulino delle donne di pietra is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 with Italian, English and French mono sound and was restored by Arrow Films.

The original 35mm negative was scanned and restored in 2K resolution at L'Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna. Additional 35mm intermediary elements were scanned and restored in 2K for the opening titles in the English export version.

The film was confirmed [sic?--one assumes they meant "conformed"] and graded at R3Store Studios, London. The separate French and US versions were subsequently conformed at Arrow Films, using a combination of the original 35mm negative and additional scanned material supplied by Subkultur Entertainment via LSP Medien.

The mono mixes were remastered from the original sound negatives at L'Immagine Ritrovata. The audio synch will appear slightly loose against the picture, due to the fact that the dialogue was recorded entirely in post production, as per the production standards of the period.

All original materials supplied for this restoration were made available by Intramovies.

This is a pretty substantial upgrade across the board from other home entertainment versions of this film that I've personally seen. Detail levels are measurably improved, with some of the spooky textures on the dummies more apparent, and with fine detail on things like the luxe fabrics on costumes and upholstery more vivid and precise looking. The palette is generally beautifully suffused, but if there are any niggling complaints from curmudgeons (ahem), it may be due to a slightly yellowish quality that pervades things, though kind of interestingly the French version, for example, looked a bit warmer than the two "main" versions on Disc One in that regard. There really aren't any other huge differences between the versions in terms of video quality (screenshot 17 is from the French version, and screenshot 18 is from the US version, which can be compared to screenshot 4 from the Italian/Export version(s), for those wanting an example of the similarities), other than some understandable quality variations in the title sequences (the French version is pretty shoddy looking, with quite a few scratches). Grain looks naturally and encounters no compression issues.

Mill of the Stone Women Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

All of the languages in the various versions on this two disc set are offered via LPCM Mono tracks. There are some subtle differences which audiophiles will probably hear, including slight variations in mix and especially penetration of higher frequencies (e.g., the Export version sounds a bit "mellower" in the upper register than the Italian version). Otherwise, though, fidelity is pretty consistent across the tracks, with dialogue (and in the case of the US version, narration and/or voiceover) and the interesting score by Carlo Innocenzi rendered cleanly and clearly. There's some very slight background hiss evident during some of the quieter moments. Optional English subtitles are available.

Mill of the Stone Women Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc One

• Italian Version (HD; 1:35:36) and English Export Version (HD; 1:35:37) are offered on this disc.


• Audio Commentary by Tim Lucas


• Mill of the Stone Women and The Gothic Body (HD; 24:10) is another interesting visual essay by Kat Ellinger who examines the trope of statues or mannequins of women in Gothic horror films.


• Turned to Stone (HD; 27:07) is advertised as a "newly edited" featurette which offers archival interviews with actress Liana Orfei and film historian Fabio Melelli. In Italian with English subtitles.


• A Little Chat with Dr. Mabuse (HD; 15:52) is an archival interview with actor Wolfgang Preiss. In German with English subtitles.


• Alternate Opening Titles

  UK "Drops of Blood" Titles (HD; 1:30)

  
  

  German Titles (HD; 2:43)

• Trailers

  US Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:02)

  
  

  German Theatrical Trailer (HD; 3:19)

• Image Galleries

  Posters

  (HD)
  

  Stills and Lobby Cards (HD)

  
  

  German Pressbook (HD)

  
  

  US Pressbook (HD)

Disc Two

• French Version (HD; 1:29:51)


• US Version (HD; 1:34:29)

This Limited Edition is another beautifully packaged release from Arrow, including a nice sturdy slipbox which houses the keepcase along with an illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by Roberto Curti, and especially interesting comparison of all the different versions by Brad Stevens, a selection of contemporary reviews, and technical data. A fold out double sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais and six double sided postcard sized lobby card reproduction art cards round out the non disc swag.

Mill of the Stone Women Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If Tim Lucas suggests that viewers revisit Vampyr after having watched this film, some others may also suggest viewers listen to Lucas' commentary after having watched this film, as it provides a really nice assortment of data points and background information on what the back cover of this release touts as "one of the foundational titles of Italian horror". There are some plot elements here which are probably not adequately explored or developed, but the film has a palpably spooky mood and its style is remarkable. Technical merits are solid, and as usual Arrow has provided a really nice supply of bonus features, along with impressive packaging. Recommended.