While Edwige Fenech was a sensation in Europe starting in the ’70s, she didn’t truly arrive in America until the 21st Century. This is when several of her major movies were transferred uncut to DVD. A few played the less prestigious theaters and were eventually given VHS releases that might not been optimal picture quality. The Cult of Edwige grew fast when her giallo films directed by Sergio Martin were transferred to digital in the proper aspect ratio. Her charms and talents were allowed to finally shine and only improved on Blu-ray. She’s arrived on 4K UHD as an angel stuck in a hellish situation in The Case of the Bloody Iris.
Luna, a prostitute calls her next client who gives her instructions to come up to his apartment. On the elevator ride, a gloved stranger attack Luna with a knife and vanishes. When the doors open on the top floor, Professor Issacs (A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin‘s George Riguad), Mrs. Moss (Maria Tedeschi), and Mizar Harrington (Carla Brait) discover the body. Mizar can’t wait for the police since she’s got to get to a nearby nightclub for her floorshow routine that involves roughing up the customers. When she gets home after a long night, Mizar takes her final bath. Andrea Antinori (Sartana’s Here… Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin‘s George Hilton) drops by a photography studio in hopes of getting the camera guy to shoot photos for the apartment building. He spots Jennifer Langsbury (Edwige Fenech) and Marilyn Ricci (Hercules‘ Paola Quattrini) posing and wants them in the campaign. In order to lure them into the deal, he offers the ladies an apartment in the building. Which one? How about the one that Mizar was just taken out of in a bodybag? A free apartment is a free apartment. While it seems like Andrea is interested in hooking up with Jennifer, she’s got past baggage. She once belonged to the cult. The leader who is also her spiritual husband isn’t done with her. When things get creepy around her, we have to wonder if it’s the elevator killer or the cult leader wanting to slit Jennifer’s neck.
This is the classic tale of real estate going wrong and nobody wants to break the lease. Who wants to go through the burden of apartment hunting, putting down another deposit and hiring movers? What’s a homicidal manic compared to that nightmare? The film is a bit twisty, but worth the journey to see Edwige Fenech in jeopardy. She has a great scared look without having to scream so much.
While The Case of the Bloody Iris wasn’t directed by Sergio Martino; the producer is Luciano Martino, who produced his brother’s films and was married to Edwige Fenech at this time. The film also featured the screenwriting of Ernesto Gastaldi who had worked on Edwige and Sergio Martino’s collaborations Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, Your Vice Is A Locked Room and Only I Have the Key and The All the Colors of the Dark. George Hilton starred in Strange Vice and All the Colors opposite Edwige. The films have a similar vibe although they have different plots. That’s not to say that Giuliano Carnimeo (Have a Good Funeral, My Friend… Sartana Will Pay) is merely impersonating the style of Sergio Martino. He gives us his view of apartment living in a suspicious building. Most importantly, he allows Edwige Fenech to be the Giallo queen once more.
This is the first release from Celluloid Dreams. The new company has done an excellent job in the transfer and bonus features for The Case of the Bloody Iris. If you’re a fan of Giallo films or Edwige Fenech, you’ll be more than thrilled to have the 4K UHD in your collection. If you order directly through their website, the 4K UHD/Blu-ray set will also include an exclusive slipcover and a set of six beautifully restored 12″x8.25″ color reproductions of the original Italian fotobuste (lobby cards) that are suitable for framing. Their next movie is slated to be The Black Belly of the Tarantula starring Giancarlo Giannini, Barbara Bouchet, and Barbara Bach. I’m looking forward to more Giallo from them.
And if you’re looking for Gelato to enjoy with your Giallo, we suggest Talenti’s Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip for The Case of the Bloody Iris.
Video is 2.35:1 anamorphic. The transfer for the 4K UHD disc brings out the beauty of Edwige Fenech. You’ll be transported back to 1972 Italy with the defined details. The Audio is DTS-MD Mono for both the Italian and English soundtracks. You have to choose the track before starting the movie since the Italian version has the Italian titles and English titles are on the English dub. The movie is subtitled in English.
Blu-ray with the movie and bonus features like the 4K UHD.
Ernesto Gastaldi & Giuliano Carnimeo Interview (29:26) has the two recount meeting at film school in 1955 and been friends ever since. Carnimeo directed the film under the name Anthony Ascot. What’s interesting is Gastaldi points out that during the era of the Spaghetti Western and Giallo, he was completely occupied writing and selling scripts that sometimes he didn’t know that the film had been made. The producers often changed the name. Carnimeo passed away in 2016.
George Hilton Interview (20:43) talks about his career in Spaghetti Westerns, Giallo and working with the Martino brothers. He had worked with Carnimeo on Sartana films before this. He gets into his relationship with Edwige Fenech since they made quite a few films together. Hilton passed away in 2019.
Paola Quattrini Interview (11:50) has he rewatching the film to spur up memories. She likes her performance in the movie.
Outtake Reel (1:44) are the trims from the shots so lot of slates in the shots. Any excuse to see more Edwige Fenech is welcomed.
Image Gallery (0:42) includes 21 slate stills, newspaper ads, press photos with the title Erotic Blue, Italian lobby cards, posters and a press summary.
Italian Trailer (2:54) opens with the stabbing on the sidewalk.
English Trailer (2:54) is the same as the Italian version except with the dub track and title cards in English.
Audio Commentary by Guido Henkel has one of the heads of Celluloid Dreams discuss the film. He went on Google street view to point out how one of the stores near the apartment location is still in business. He points out the similarities to Brian De Palma’s Dressed To Kill especially in the elevator murder. Henkel is passionate about the film which is great that he’s releasing it.
Celluloid Dreams present The Case of the Bloody Iris. Directed by Giuliano Carnimeo (as Anthony Ascot). Screenplay by Ernesto Gastaldi. Starring George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Paola Quattrini, Giampiero Albertini, George Rigaud, Franco Agostini, Ben Carra, Carla Brait & Annabella Incontrera. Running Time: 95 minutes. Ratig: Unrated. Release Date: June 25, 2024.
