7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.7 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.7 |
An American expatriate in Rome attempts to unmask a serial killer he witnessed in the act of an attempted murder - and is now hunting him and his girlfriend.
Starring: Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno, Eva Renzi, Umberto RahoHorror | 100% |
Foreign | 60% |
Mystery | 22% |
Psychological thriller | 12% |
Thriller | 5% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
I feel that I'm getting closer to the truth every minute.
Filmmaker Dario Argento is one of Italy's finest claims to fame, right up there with the Ferrari,
the pepperoni pizza, and the Beretta 92. His directorial debut came in 1970 with The Bird
With the
Crystal Plumage, a film that both established him as an auteur of fine Suspense and Horror
cinema and set the foundation for his string of cult hits to follow, including Suspiria and
Opera. Argento is anything but a traditional Horror Filmmaker. His pictures veer away
from the commonplace and arguably more audience-friendly American hack-and-slash style of
Horror and
embrace psychological terror, deliberate pacing, characterization, and physical violence that plays
into the context of the story rather than serving as its centerpiece. The Bird With the Crystal
Plumage isn't Argento's best work, but it's a fine example of his style and makes for perhaps
the best film with which to introduce newcomers to his works. The film is smart and edgy,
mysterious,
but not too deep. Viewers will eventually catch up with and ultimately find themselves one step
ahead of the main character, but not to the detriment of the experience. The story remains
tightly
woven and secretive through the better part of the runtime and features minimal physical
violence but several scenes of intense psychological terror, all adding up to a film that exemplifies
Argento's approach to filmmaking.
Nice knife, but it's a bit too close for comfort.
The Bird With the Crystal Plumage arrives on Blu-ray with fine results. This 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer will not become the next go-to demo disc, but it does feature the film looking about as good as it's ever likely to. Detail is rather strong throughout, and colors are stable, though reds seem to stand out as a bit more pronounced than anything else on the palette. There are many locales seen throughout the movie that offer viewers the opportunity to see plenty of fascinating textures and objects, ranging from an antique store to Sam's apartment with its brick walls, plaid wallpaper and table cloths, and antiquated furniture and appliances. Each locale, and the objects in them, is colorful and nicely detailed. Foggy and other dark scenes are handled well by the disc with no pixelation and only a slight bit of noise. Grain is rather heavy throughout the picture, and viewers will note several speckles scattered about the image. Blacks are deep and inky and flesh tones stable. The Bird With the Crystal Plumage enjoys something of a classic look and feel, and its intended appearance is nicely replicated on this Blu-ray release from Blue Underground.
The Bird With the Crystal Plumage features a myriad of audio options, including a pair of English 7.1 lossless soundtracks and two Dolby Digital 5.1 EX tracks, one each in English and Italian. The DTS HD MA and Dolby TrueHD offerings feature no discernible differences compared one to the other, but the movie was screened in its entirety utilizing the DTS offering. Generally, this is a mostly bland and average soundtrack that is front-heavy, though it was never intended to be a rip-roaring sonic extravaganza. It's more of a quiet, contemplative track enhanced by various effects and music that punctuate certain scenes and sequences. What's available does offer a decent presence; music is generally pleasing, ranging form the lightest notes of a piano or earthy, breezy, soft music accompanied by a series of light chants, to the harsh beating of piano keys to punctuate the most violent and terrifying of images in the film. The track handles the range of music and effects nicely. However, several sound effects and musical cues are presented with a rather high-pitched and harsh tone. Dialogue reproduction is steady and emanates cleanly and discernibly from the center speaker. The Bird With the Crystal Plumage's soundtrack supports the film rather than defines it, and all of the mixes available on this track replicate the film's sound nicely.
The Bird With the Crystal Plumage flies onto Blu-ray with several extra features. Headlining this package is an audio commentary with Journalists Alan Jones and Kim Newman. This pair offers a fascinating track as they discuss the film's place in history, the background of its production, the contributions of the cast, the formation of the script and its translation to film, and more. This is a well above-average track that looks at the film from a historical perspective rather than a completely technical one; cinephiles will greatly enjoy this. 'Out of the Shadows' -- Interview With Co-Writer/Director Dario Argento (480p, 17:58) is a subtitled piece featuring the famed director sharing some details relating to his background as an individual and influences growing up, and moving on to discuss The Bird With the Crystal Plumage in detail, touching on the psychology of the film, his filmmaking techniques, some of the difficulties off-camera, and more. 'Painting With Darkness' -- Interview With Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro (480p, 10:03) is another subtitled interview where the Storaro begins by discussing how The Bird With the Crystal Plumage defines Argento's career and later moving on to share his thoughts on how the film's unique visual styles help in establishing its many aesthetic and psychological layers. 'The Music of Murder' -- Interview With Composer Ennio Morricone (480p, 7:31) examines, with the help of subtitles, how the composer's work enhances the feel of the film. 'Eva's Talking' -- Interview With Actress Eva Renzi (480p, 11:19) is an English-language interview where the actress discusses her career and experiences in making the film. Concluding the supplements are the U.S. (480p, 2:46) and Italian (480p, 3:12) trailers and two TV spots (480p, 0:19 & 0:28).
The Bird With the Crystal Plumage hearkens back to a bygone era of cinema where less was more, the movie relying on the strength of its story rather than a collection of name actors or special effects to succeed. It's not a movie for everyone, particularly viewers more inclined to enjoy modern Horror or the flashier, more quickly-paced Thrillers of today. However, for audiences willing to allow the story to unravel in its own time and through the eyes of then first-time Director Dario Argento, the experience will be a rewarding one. It's also a superb film to serve as in introduction to Argento's style, allowing first-timers to gain a sense of what his work is all about in a film that isn't quite as bloody as his later films. Blue Underground has once again delivered a cult classic to Blu-ray with fine results. While neither the video nor audio quality match the intensity and beauty of newer pictures, the high definition treatment allows The Bird With the Crystal Plumage to look and sound as good as it is ever likely to for home viewing. The studio has also included a fine array of bonus materials to round out another good package that deserves a place in every serious Blu-ray collection, particularly connoisseurs of finer Horror and Mystery motion pictures. Recommended.
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo
1970
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo | Remastered | Limited Edition
1970
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo | Remastered
1970
Limited Edition | L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo
1970
Arte Originale / Limited to 1,500 / L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo
1970
L’uccello dalle piume di cristallo
1970
Profondo rosso
1975
Standard Edition
1982
Il gatto a nove code | Special Edition
1971
Sei donne per l'assassino
1964
Non ho sonno | Standard Edition
2001
Cosa avete fatto a Solange?
1972
1980
Standard Edition
1985
4 mosche di velluto grigio
1971
I corpi presentano tracce di violenza carnale / Carnal Violence
1973
Limited Edition | La sindrome di Stendhal
1996
Reazione a catena
1971
Le foto di Gioia
1987
Sette orchidee macchiate di rosso
1972
Special Edition | La morte cammina con i tacchi alti
1971
Chi l'ha vista morire?
1972
Passi di danza su una lama di rasoio
1973
Communion / Holy Terror
1976
2018
Featuring The Girl Who Knew Too Much / La ragazza che sapeva troppo
1963