Hell Is Sold Out – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews

The constant joke is that dying is a great career move for an artist. Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings are worth millions, but were worthless while he was still alive with one ear. Elvis sold tens of millions of albums after he headed to the big Krispy Kreme in the sky. Recently Stieg Larsson became an international sensation with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo novel after his funeral. Hell Is Sold Out gives us a French writer who receives posthumous success except there’s two issues: He’s not dead and he didn’t write the bestseller.

Dominic Danges (Pink Panther Strikes Again‘s Herbert Lom) was believed to have died while fighting in World War II. It’s quite a shock when he appears in Paris. He gets an equal jolt to discover his novel Hell Is Sold Out is a best seller. The problem is that while he was a published writer before shipping out, he never wrote that book. Things get even weirder for him when the single man discovers he left a widow. Luckily he has his old army buddy Pierre Bonnet (Richard Attenborough) to keep him sane. The duo discover Danges’ widow is really Valerie Martin (Mai Zetterling). She’s moved into his house and wrote the book. Things get weird when the “widow” grows fond of the best friend.

Director Michel Anderson might not be one of most famous of the Post-World War II directors, but he’s helmed many notable productions. He did the first version of George Orwell’s 1984. He globe trotted for the Oscar winning Best Picture Around the World in 80 Days. Later in his career he’d helm the cult classics Logan’s Run and Orca – the Killer Whale response to Jaws. Hell Is Sold Out was his third feature film. He keeps a light touch on the tone instead of letting it turn into an outright screwball comedy. Hell Is Sold Out is kind of obscure title that doesn’t get covered in Introduction to British Cinema. Yet it gives us three talents that would have an impact with Lom, Attenbourough and Anderson.

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The black and white transfer looks nice enough. The audio is Dolby Digital mono. The levels are fine without too many issues.

None.

Hell Is Sold Out is this month’s Raymond J. Regis British Flick. A man finding out he’s not only dead, but married and a bestselling author makes for a fine twisted tale.


VCI Entertainment presents Hell Is Sold Out. Directed by: Michael Anderson. Starring: Herbert Lom, Richard Attenborough and Mai Zetterling. Running Time: 85 minutes. Released on DVD: August 31, 2010.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.