LA MOGLIE PIU BELLA (THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WIFE / 1970)
(BLU-RAY)
Company: Twilight Time
Starring: Ornella
Muti, Alessio Orano, Tano Cimarosa, Joe Sentieri, Enzo Andronico, Amerigo Tot
My Review and Thoughts:
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Yet again this is another blinded choice on my part. Never
heard of or even knew this movie existed. That’s a total bonus for me going
into this. I love going into to movie's with no knowledge of them. Twilight Time
has done a great job in picking forgotten about films. Movies that seem to need
dusting off and given a new chance, and this is one of those films.
This 1970’s
crime drama is another fantastic choice for a special edition Blu-ray. I have
often said in the past when reviewing some of the Twilight Time titles that I
hope they adventure into some of these forgotten about Italian films, or obscure
films that never see the light of day on a proper outlet like a Blu-ray. I was
super excited to adventure into this reality with their release of the
forgotten film 1974’s Appassionata, which might not be everyone’s taste but for
a diehard movie lover it’s always a must. Also Twilight Time’s shocking
adventure of resurrecting the forgotten 1969’s giallo film The Doll of Satan, I
love overlooked films.
Directed by a one of a kind person. Screenwriter, director,
actor, writer, Damiano Damiari. His films no matter of the style, drama, crime,
Spaghetti Western, always tended to have a political or moral statement. The films
always had a statement to say in one way or another. From 1966’s Spaghetti
Western Classic, A Bullet for the General, to the Italian Crime drama films like
Confessions of a Police Captain, to the one I am reviewing, The Most Beautiful
Wife, which Twilight Time has lovingly brought out on a new outlet so this
generation can experience it in a fresh way with a top quality high definition transfer.
Starring the very young, sweet, gorgeous Ornella Muti as the
main character. This was her first movie and you can see her newness and yet as
I have stated before in the Twilight Time Review of another release starring her,
(which was her 12 movie Appassionata 1974) even with her newness you can see
the sophisticated talent that shines on screen. She is still acting strong
today, and as of this writing has a new movie coming out this year. She really
captures in LA MOGLIE PIU BELLA and Appassionata truly dramatic role’s. Many
will know her from the 1980’s Cult Classic Flash Gordon playing the character
of Princess Aura.
To me I have a diehard movie loving need for these classic
70’s Italian crime drama’s. For some reason the Italian’s always did the right
choices of crime stories, creating a whole world around themselves that only
they could, and this film is a prime example of that overall reality of
storytelling and filming.
The plot to this is a unique and perfected storyline. It’s
really based on a real life event that happened in 1965. The life of a young
teenage girl named Franca Viola who decided to take on the world by denying the
Mafia and denying to go along with what her community wanted. She was supposed to
submit to a young Mafia Don. She was kidnapped and raped over and over again
and would be forced into marriage. Instead she said no, and would not go along
with this horrible unspeakable secret that had been allowed to happen as a
tradition. She went to the police and so begins her story of raging mobsters
and her town looking down upon her. She refused to be a victim. What is so
great about this film is the main star Omella Muti was only 14 years old at the
time, giving her that authentic teenage reality, yet her amazing beauty and
stunning model like image is flooring for someone of that age. Her talent is
amazing. Raw, new and so authentic in this film. The movie comes across as very
believable and dramatic in a way that people feel the raw emotions from the
characters, and the haunting situation that is happening.
I have to mention the legend and master of the cinematography
behind this film. He was and possibly is one of my favorite cinematographer’s,
or at least Italian Cinematographer’s. The one and only Franco Di Giacomo. He
was an award winning master. Sadly, he just died this year April 30th
2016, at the ripe old age of 83. He left a world of countless examples of his
mastery and The Most Beautiful Wife is one of those. Many of his movies are some
of my favorite films to return to over and over again. 71’s classic Four Flies
on Grey Velvet. One of my personal favorites is 1972’s Who Saw Her Die? which
starred the child actress Nicoletta Elmi who was in one of the greatest Italian
Giallo horror films ever Dario Argento’s Deep Red. Giacomo did so many amazing
features and it was fantastic as always to see his mastery at work on this
lovely Blu-ray.
Audio/Video:
My Rating:
Audio: 4 out of 5
Video: 3.5 out of 5
What’s really great about this Special Edition is you get both
an Italian and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks. It’s also a plus to hear
the original language of any feature film. Now one can listen to both versions.
The audio is spot on. Crystal clear. Pure ear candy. The visuals are crisp and
vibrant at times. There are some small moments of deeper grain, but for an
older film, lost by time or never given the proper treatment, it has never
looked any better. Twilight Time has done a great job in both Audio and Video,
as they always tend to do.
LANGUAGE: Italian
VIDEO: 1080p High Definition / 2.35:1
AUDIO: Italian 2.0 DTS-HD MA / English 2.0 DTS-HD MA
SUBTITLES: English
1970 / Color
109 MINUTES
Extras:
My Rating: 3 out of 5
Isolated Score Track: Now what makes me giddy with
excitement, is who, is behind the music, to the soundtrack of this film. The
one and only master himself, extraordinary, top-notch of all things music,
Ennio Morricone. And one of the extra features as in most Twilight Time Blu-rays,
is the extraordinary isolated music. You get to listen to just the music, and
trust me, any music by Morricone is listening perfection, at its, crystal
clarity. The special features are pivotal to this Blu-ray, and this extra is
worth the purchase of the Blu-ray just to listen to the master and his
wonderful ways.
Sicily, Ornella, the Mafia, and Beyond: This is an older
feature, little over 45-minute retrospect on the film. Great interviews. A
really wonderful program specially listening to the cast and crew about the
film.
Introduction by Director Damiano Damiani. Runtime of about a
minute. Great to hear the thoughts of the director about his film.
Original Theatrical Trailer
Overall:
Again Twilight Time has chosen an important film to restore
and give to a newer generation of film buffs. Diehard film lovers will take to
this classic Italian crime drama. Fantastic direction, amazing performances,
thick, believable plot. Twilight Time always amazes with the high quality care
they give to their Blu-ray’s.
INFO:
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the wonderful Twilight Time Blu-rays. The main page that gives you these
beautiful releases on top quality Special Editions.
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