Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

The Hot Nights of Linda Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 27, 2013

Jess Franco's "Les nuits brûlantes de Linda" a.k.a "The Hot Nights of Linda" (1975) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; video interview with Jess Franco; video interview with Jess Franco and Lina Romay; outtakes; video piece featuring writer Stephen Thrower; and more. In English, without optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Relaxing before the trip

This little seen film directed by the prolific Jess Franco begins in Paris, where beautiful maid Marie-France (Alice Arno, Red Hot Zorro, Female Vampire) accepts a job without knowing much about it. She is only told that the pay is good and that she must travel to the expensive villa of an eccentric millionaire (Paul Muller, She Killed In Ecstasy, Vampyros Lesbos) who lives alone with his two daughters. The villa is on an unnamed island somewhere in Southeast Europe.

Upon arrival, the maid discovers that the millionaire’s daughters could not be any more different. One is an invalid (Veronica Llimera, Hatchet for the Honeymoon, Sensualidad) who seems locked in her fantasy world. Occasionally she shows some affection to the millionaire’s mute servant, Abdul (Pierre Taylou, Exorcism, Countess Perverse), but then quickly returns to her fantasies. The second girl, Olivia (Lina Romay, Female Vampire, Jack the Ripper), is a nymphomaniac who loves to play strange games. Shortly after the maid is shown her room, the girl tries to seduce her.

The millionaire is an elegant old man who frequently looks angry. He also loves to drink. The more time the maid spends with the family, the more she begins to understand why - because the old man is trying to forget something, possibly a terrible event, which has irreversibly changed his life.

The structure of the film is quite uneven, but this should not be surprising considering the fact that Franco was apparently asked by the film’s producers to make numerous edits so that they can promote it in different territories. In an interview included on Severin’s new release, Franco admits that there are at least ten different versions of his film (some with added hardcore scenes requested by the producers).

The majority of the sizable edits were done in the second act. After the maid arrives in the villa and is introduced to the millionaire’s daughters, the film quickly switches to the familiar Franco-mode. There are prolonged erotic scenes, some quite atmospheric scenes, and a bit of humor. Some of the continental versions of the film drop the humor in favor of more explicit footage. In The Hot Nights of Linda, there are a couple of 'funny' scenes involving a nosy man and his curious partner who come after the maid to take some compromising pictures. Both characters, however, are quite silly.

What works in the second act is the intimate psycho-psychedelic atmosphere Franco creates by mixing elements from different genres (giallo, erotica, psychedelica). It is all done cheaply, but this is admittedly what gives the film its charm.

The lensing by cinematographer Gerard Brisseau (Countess Perverse, Sinner: The Secret Diary of a Nymphomaniac) is quite rough, but it actually suits the film’s uneven structure. Better polished imagery would have made it look simply too pretentious. As it is the roughness adds to the unique atmosphere.

The film is complimented by a surprisingly good retro soundtrack courtesy of Ian Wind and Charles Gordanne. Franco also collaborated with French musician Paul de Senneville for the Greek themes heard throughout the film. These themes were recorded with authentic Greek instruments.

The Hot Nights of Linda Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.34:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jess Franco's The Hot Nights of Linda arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films.

Struck from a 35mm print discovered in a Barcelona bordello, the film looks as good as a Franco film of this caliber probably can. This isn't to imply that the technical presentation is flawless, but considering how many of Franco's lesser known films look on DVD, or even VHS, what Severin have accomplished with the Blu-ray release of The Hot Nights of Linda is rather remarkable.

Most close-ups convey surprisingly good image depth. Definition fluctuates as fading and some mild surface damage has affected select areas of the film, but the integrity of the image is very much intact. Color saturation is good, but color balance is occasionally weak. Contrast and sharpness levels also fluctuate where the print has suffered natural wear. The best news here is that there are no traces of problematic digital corrections. To be perfectly clear, no attempts have been made to degrain or repolish/resharpen the film. This was the right decision. Unsurprisingly, despite various inherited source limitations, the film has a very pleasing and consistent organic look. Lastly, tiny flecks and scratches are visible and occasionally there are even light vertical lines, but they are never overly distracting. Again, what was on the discovered print was transferred to Blu-ray without any damaging digital corrections.

In addition to the standard screencaptures, we have also included five upscaled screencaptures (#21-25) from the more explicit French Hard Banana Version which was previously available on VHS. This version is now placed on a bonus DVD which is included in Severin's Limited Edition of The Hot Nights of Linda. You can compare these screencaptures to see the dramatic improvements in quality.

(Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

The Hot Nights of Linda Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0. For the record, Severin Films have not provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

There are minor dynamic fluctuations but this should not be surprising considering the fact that standard dubbing was done after the film was completed. Ian Wind and Charles Gordanne's soundtrack, however, is stable and has pleasing depth. Also, the dialog is clean and easy to follow. There is no problematic background hiss. Also, there are no audio dropouts or distortions to report in this review.

The Hot Nights of Linda Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Hot Nights of Jess - in this video interview, director Jess Franco recalls how The Hot Nights of Linda came to exist and his individual work with the different actors, and discusses the film's difficult production history and alternative versions. (According to the Spanish director, there are at least ten different versions of his film). In English, with imposed yellow English subtitles. (17 min, 480/60i).

• Lina & Jess Discussing Linda - in this video interview, director Jess Franco and his muse Lina Romay discuss their working relationship and recall how The Hot Nights of Linda was funded and completed. The couple also clarify which is the definitive version of their film. In English and Spanish, with imposed English subtitles where necessary. (13 min, 480/60i).

• Fantastic Fest Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation to Jess Franco - director Jess Franco receives first Fantastic Fest Lifetime Achievement Award at Venus in Furs screening on September 28, 2009. Footage courtesy of Anne Heller. In English, not subtitled. (2 min, 480/60i).

• Stephen Thrower on Linda - in this video piece, Stephen Thrower, author of Nightmare, USA: The Untold Story of the Exploitation Independents and Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci, discusses the production history of The Hot Nights of Linda, its unique themes, and its alternative titles and versions, as well as the quality of the films Jess Franco directed during the '70s. In English, not subtitled. (12 min, 1080p).

• Outtakes - Music only. (6 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - original English-language trailer for The Hot Nights of Linda. Not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).

The Hot Nights of Linda Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is a release done right. I like the fact that Severin Films did not try to repolish Jess Franco's The Hot Nights of Linda with digital tools before bringing it to Blu-ray. As a result, the film has a pleasing organic look. Fans of the legendary Spanish director and his work should try to get a copy of this quite difficult to see until recently film as soon as possible. Also, keep in mind that in addition to the standard release Severin Films are offering a Limited Edition Blu-ray release which contains a bonus DVD with a more explicit version of the film. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.