The Bloodstained Butterfly [Blu-ray/DVD]

Director: Duccio Tessari Duccio Tessari

Overview

Prolific Italian filmmaker Duccio Tessari (La Morte Risale a Ieri Sera) returned to the giallo field with this first-rate detective thriller which begins with a French co-ed (Carole Andre) repeatedly stabbed in a park during a thunderstorm. The suspicion falls on sportscaster Alessandro Marchi (Giancarlo Sbargia), who is being framed (or so it seems) by his trysting wife (Ida Galli, aka Evelyn Stewart) and lawyer (Gunther M. Stoll). Unfortunately, while Marchi is being railroaded into prison, the murders begin anew, and Marchi is released to face the dead girl's grieving lover (Helmut Berger), whose motives would later be echoed in even better Italian thrillers such as Tenebre.

Product Details

Release Date:	08/23/2016
UPC:	0760137880394
Original Release:	1971
Rating:	NR
Source:	Arrow Video
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono, Dolby Digital Stereo]
Language:	English
Time:	1:39:00
Sales rank:	26,092

Special Features

New audio commentary with critics Alan Jones and Kim Newman; Murder in B-Flat Minor, a new visual essay on the film, it's cast and crew by author Troy Howarth; Mad Dog Helmut, a new interview with actor Helmut Berger; Exclusive introduction by Helmut Berger; A Butterfly Named Evelyn, a new interview with actress Evelyn Stewart/Ida Galli; Me and Duccio, an interview with Lorella De Luca, actress and wife of director Duccio Tessari; Original Italian and English theatrical trailers; Gallery of original promotional images

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Giancarlo Sbragia	Alessandro Marchi
Evelyn Stewart	Maria Marchi
Helmut Berger	Giorgio
Lorella De Luca	Marta Clerici
Silvano Tranquilli	Inspector Berardi
Carole André	Françoise Pigaut

Technical Credits

Gianfranco Clerici

Duccio Tessari	Director
Gianfranco Clerici	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Chock-full of surprises, the marvelous script (by director Duccio Tessari and Gianfranco Clerici) is only occasionally compromised by some rather ripe performances, notably those of Helmut Berger and Silvano Tranquilli as the investigating inspector. Otherwise, this beautifully assembled giallo is among the best of its time, and certainly the best of Tessari's contributions to the form, combining some brilliantly photographed set pieces by Carlo Carlini with a genuinely intelligent script, a rarity in a subgenre generally known for flamboyant visuals at the expense of narrative cohesion. Stefano Oppedisano co-stars with Wolfgang Preiss and Wendy D'Olive.