Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Slap the Monster on Page One Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 18, 2024

Slap the Monster on Page One has what Alex Cox in a supplement on this disc calls an unfortunate title, but it is obviously the "newprint" version of the oft quoted "if it bleeds, it leads (and/or ledes)" from broadcast news environments. Despite that arguably less than felicitous title, or maybe because of it (if you're looking for excuses), this may not be the best film to watch for any left of center Americans still reeling from the latest election, since Slap the Monster on Page One deals with an overtly right wing publisher who is not above "tweaking" what might be called "straight news" to fit his personal ideologies, including setting up left wing agitators to take the fall for bad behavior that they're not actually responsible for. Bizanti (Gian Maria Volonté) runs an Italian paper called Il Giornale, and since Alex Cox overtly compares (or at least alludes to) the character as someone quite like Rupert Murdoch, I'll just leave that there as another example of how weirdly prescient this film may be for our own fraught times. It may also serve as something of a comfort, as odd as that may sound, if only to indicate the world has been through eras dominated by right wing figures in both politics and the press, and has managed to somehow survive.

The unabashed dialectic that exists in the United States between liberal and conservative "news" sources is absolutely foreshadowed in this at times rather alarming piece, and in that regard, even those who tend to be right leaning may want to steel themselves before watching this film, since it doesn't exactly shirk from showing the detrimental effects of obviously biased "reportage". Vis a vis America's leading right wing broadcast organization, the past several months leading up to the election featured virtually 24/7 coverage of what the network termed our country's "border crisis", often citing criminal activity, including attacks on and/or killings of women, by undocumented immigrants as a scourge that must be eradicated. Something quite similar is at hand in Slap the Monster on Page One, albeit in this case Bizanti has some "home grown" supposed culprits he wants to finger for a horrifying crime involving a young woman.

Despite my (maybe?) joking reference to "comfort" above, there's actually very little to assuage fears in Slap the Monster on Page One, which may be why the film failed to generate much interest upon its original release, but which may have contributed to a growing reassessment of the film's almost prophetic sensibility. There's some interesting behind the scenes information imparted in some of the supplements on this disc which get into some of the roiling politics of Italy during this period, as well as some of the equally roiling drama behind the film's production. If this is (per some of the supplements) a rare example of director Marco Bellochio undertaking a "work for hire", there's very little evidence of any "disconnect" on the screen. One way or the other Slap the Monster on Page One was arguably a film somewhat before "its time" in 1972, but that "time" may well finally be now, for better or worse.

Slap the Monster on Page One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Slap the Monster on Page One is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Radiance Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1. Radiance's insert booklet offers the following information on the transfer:

Slap the Monster on Page One was restored in 4K resolution from the original camera negative by Cineteca di Bologna in collaboration with Surf Film and Kavac Film, under the supervision of director Marco Bellocchio. The film is presented in the original aspect ratio with original mono audio.

For those interested, a series of prefatory text cards before the presentation also gives a bit more information (but rather weirdly the subtitle translations leave out the part about this being sourced off the negative). This is a fantastic looking presentation, with consistent densities and a really nicely tightly resolved grain field which adds a perfectly organic look without ever overwhelming fine detail. It may be arguable that color timing can skew just a bit toward blue or brown at various moments, but on the whole the palette is really vibrant and natural looking. Fine detail on things like suit jackets and other costuming is typically excellent. Some brief use of archival newsreel (or the like) video is understandably shoddier looking (see screenshot 9).

Slap the Monster on Page One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Slap the Monster on Page One features LPCM 2.0 Mono audio in the original Italian. This tends to be a fairly talk heavy piece, and the mono track supports all spoken material without any issues. Occasional calamitous sound effects can enter the fray, both in terms of "outside" protest activity, but also with regard to the clattering of old school printing presses producing that day's paper. Nicola Piovani's score also sounds full bodied. Optional English subtitles are available.

Slap the Monster on Page One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Marco Bellocchio (HD*; 19:39) is an archival interview with the director, who gets into some of the backstage drama that saw him take over the film just a week into shooting. Subtitled in English.


• Mario Sesti (HD; 24:47) is a newly filmed interview with the critic and author. Subtitled in English.


• Alex Cox (HD; 9:53) offers his own thoughts on the film, including two important scenes.

*720

Additionally Radiance provides a nicely appointed insert booklet with an interesting essay by Wesley Sharer and the typical cast/crew and transfer information. Radiance also includes its trademark Obi strip, and the keepcase features a reversible sleeve.

Slap the Monster on Page One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is the rare film that may intentionally upset those on both sides of the political spectrum, albeit for different reasons. Disturbing, unsettling and ultimately rather darkly depressing, Slap the Monster on Page One may have seemed too provocative for 1972, but almost plays like a documentary for contemporary times. Technical merits are solid and the supplements very appealing. Recommended.