Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

No, the Case Is Happily Resolved Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 19, 2021

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Years of Lead: Five Classic Italian Crime Thrillers.

The Italian term Poliziotteschi may not be strictly grammatical, but it has served as shorthand for years to describe a subgenre of Italian cinema that was almost insanely popular in that country in the seventies in particular. If many films in this category were frankly the Italian equivalent of B-movies, some, like 1970's Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, achieved considerable renown and critical appreciation, and in fact that particular film ended up winning that year's Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Arrow's Years of Lead may not exactly be offering Oscar worthy outings in this set, but in a way that actually may be a better way to understand the idiom, since Poliziotteschi frequently featured gritty storylines and unvarnished characters. Some of the films in this set have been previously released on Blu-ray by German label Camera Obscura (and the reviews of those films will point to those prior releases), and some of the supplements produced for the Camera Obscura releases have been ported over to this set. But Arrow is also touting the fact that this set features a new 2K restoration of Colt 38 Special Squad, which is exclusive to this limited edition release.

No, the Case is Happily Resolved is one of the films in this set which has received a previous Blu-ray release courtesy of Camera Obscura in Germany. Those interested in a plot recap are encouraged to read Svet's No, the Case Is Happily Resolved Blu-ray review of that release. Svet's review is also a good resource for screenshot comparisons and seeing how the slate of supplements stacks up between the two releases.

No, the Case Is Happily Resolved Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

No, the Case is Happily Resolved is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow's insert booklet contains the following information on the transfer:

No, the Case is Happily Resolved is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with Italian mono audio. The HD master was created and supplied by Intramovies. Additional color grading was completed by Arrow Films at R3Store Studios, London.

This is another transfer that is very similar if not outright identical to the Camera Obscura release, and I share Svet's enthusiasm for the overall look of the presentation. The palette is very nicely suffused throughout, and detail levels are typically excellent as well, aided by the frequent use of close-ups. There are occasional very slight variances in clarity in some of the location outdoor sequences, but under more controlled circumstances, the image remains sharp and nicely nuanced. I noticed no signs of any major damage, and no compression anomalies.

No, the Case Is Happily Resolved Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

No, the Case is Happily Resolved features an LPCM Mono track in the original Italian. This is very much in line with the rest of the tracks on the films included in this set, with an obviously post-looped sound that has typical shortcomings like "loose synch", along with occasional shallowness, but which delivers dialogue, score and effects without any really major problems. Optional English subtitles are available.

No, the Case Is Happily Resolved Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Poliziotteschi: Violence and Justice in the Years of Lead (HD; 20:17) is an interesting visual essay by Will Webb that looks at some of the recurrent motifs and themes the subgenre explored.


• Mother Justice (HD; 40:36) is a broad ranging interview with writer and director Vittorio Salerno, done for Camera Obscura in 2015. For a bit more information, see Svet's No, the Case Is Happily Resolved Blu-ray review. In Italian with English subtitles.


• Alternate Ending (HD; 4:02) was evidently the original ending, which was ultimately replaced after being deemed too pessimistic.


• Theatrical Trailer (HD; 3:33)


• Poster Gallery (HD) features images courtesy of Peter Jilmstead.

No, the Case Is Happily Resolved Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

In his review of the Camera Obscura release, Svet points out some of the similarities between this film and Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion, but anyone who has liked any of the Alfred Hitchcock films featuring a protagonist inaccurately suspected of committing a crime may see other connections as well. This is arguably the most fully realized film in this set in terms of both narrative and character development, and it offers secure technical merits and appealing supplements as well. Recommended.