Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Bitch Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf March 29, 2017

Adapted from a widely condemned but best-selling book by Jackie Collins, 1978’s “The Stud” tested audience appetite for bawdy antics featuring an empowered female character, creating a screen space where typical gender dynamics were switched around, giving star Joan Collins one of the best roles of her career. The film was a hit, and while the story concerned the glum existence of a boy toy reaching his expiration date, most attention was paid to Joan’s character, Fontaine, a weaponized club owner with an intimidating sex drive and complete confidence in her way of life. Losing a male perspective, “The Bitch” goes full Fontaine, giving Joan even more room to prowl in a sequel that ditches emotional consequences to play up the extremity and heat of the source material, also concocted by Jackie.

Now divorced, Fontaine (Joan Collins) is having troubling keeping her disco nightclub a popular London destination, forced to confront a few financial realities as she maintains her lavish lifestyle. Nico (Antonio Cantafora) is a hustler in deep with the mafia, targeting Fontaine for seduction as a way to sneak a valuable diamond from New York to London. Realizing that she’s not someone to take lightly, Nico receives a full education on Fontaine’s temperament, becoming her lover, partner, and adversary as they figure out a plan to free the Italian from underworld control.

“The Bitch” picks up where “The Stud” left off, finding Fontaine now on her own, freed from marriage and expectation, taking on lovers left and right to exercise her independence, including the seduction of her chauffer, who has no clue how to process such an unexpected event. She’s open to anything, but can’t quite conquer the nightclub business, with disco losing its popularity, putting Fontaine in a difficult position of ownership. However, instead of exploring money woes from an emotional perspective, “The Bitch” plays it steely, with Fontaine becoming superhuman in a way, refusing to let anything slow her down. Nico isn’t her match, but he’s persistent, trying to work Fontaine over sexually and criminally, providing what little drama “The Bitch” has to offer.

The Bitch Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"The Bitch" fares a little better than "The Stud" on Blu-ray, offering a stronger, more consistent AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Much like its predecessor, it's a softly shot effort to preserve glamour photography, but a fair amount of detail remains, delivering a satisfying sense of texture on luxurious costuming and casino interiors, while facial particulars are agreeable. Distances are preserved and background activity is easily scanned, adding to the party atmosphere. Colors are slightly aged but intact, supplying some extra oomph in disco environments, and ample skintones look natural. Delineation is adequate, never solidifying, and whites can be a bit bloomy at times. Source is in decent shape, without overt points of damage.

The Bitch Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix also handles the blend of music and drama better than "The Stud," offering clearer dialogue exchanges, permitting listeners a chance to keep up with nightclub conversation and bedroom purring. It's not superb (some fuzzy highs are encountered), but acceptable, while soundtrack selections provide requisite thump and grind, served up with satisfactory instrumentation. Scoring cues are similar. Atmospherics are mild, but casino and club action is understood.

The Bitch Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historians David Del Valle and Nick Redman.

• Interview (18:05, HD) with director Gerry O'Hara details his start in the film industry, discovering a Michael Powell production in his neighborhood as a young man. O'Hara also discusses his relationship with Joan and Jackie Collins, casting issues in "The Bitch," and the usefulness of his years as a directorial assistant, learning how to deal with daily challenges.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:28, SD) is included.

The Bitch Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One doesn't watch movies like "The Stud" and "The Bitch" for dramatic content. They're The Joan Collins Show by way of Jackie's mischievous writing, gifting her sibling the opportunity to portray a mighty woman incapable of apology. Joan's up for the challenge, and while the pictures lack grit, they manage to create a compelling snapshot of the disco era, swimming in super hits of the 1970s and style, but also reworking gender authority, riding the sexual revolution wave to the shores of the 1980s with a no-nonsense female character that owns the world she's created for herself. Jackie has a special way of selling feminine power, and Joan makes for an imposing figure of equality.