We have started a Patreon page with the hopes that some of our followers would be willing to donate a small amount to keep DVDBeaver alive. We are a tiny niche, so your generosity is vital to our existence.

We are talking about a minimum of $0.10 - $0.15 a day, perhaps a quarter (or more) to those who won't miss it from their budget. It equates to buying DVDBeaver a coffee once, twice or a few times a month. You can then participate in our monthly Silent auctions, and have exclusive access to many 'bonus' High Resolution screen captures - both 4K UHD and Blu-ray (see HERE).

To those that are unfamiliar, Patreon is a secure/verified third-party service where users can agree to a monthly donation via credit card or PayPal by clicking the button below.


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Puzzle of Horrors")

 

 

Directed by Riccardo Freda (as Robert Hampton)
Italy / West Germany 1969

 

In the post-war years, the proliferation of transnational European co-productions gave rise to a cross-pollination of genres, with the same films sold in different markets as belonging to different movements. Among these, Riccardo Freda (I vampiri, The Horrible Dr. Hichock)’s Double Face was marketed in West Germany as an Edgar Wallace ‘krimi’, while in Italy it was sold as a giallo in the tradition of Mario Bava’s Blood and Black Lace, combining elements from both genres for a unique and unforgettable viewing experience.

When wealthy businessman John Alexander (the legendary Klaus Kinski, giving an atypically restrained performance)’s unfaithful wife Helen (Margaret Lee, Circus of Fear) dies in a car crash, it initially looks like a freak accident. However, the plot thickens when evidence arises suggesting that the car was tampered with prior to the crash. And John’s entire perception of reality is thrown into doubt when he discovers a recently-shot pornographic movie which appears to feature Helen – suggesting that she is in fact alive and playing an elaborate mind game on him…

Psychological, psychedelic, and at times just plain psychotic, Double Face stands as one of the most engaging and enjoyable films in Freda’s lengthy and diverse career – a densely-plotted, visually-stunning giallo that evokes much of the same ambience of paranoia and decadence as such classics of the genre as One on Top of the Other and A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin.

***

This psychological drama finds Helen (Margaret Lee) wanting a divorce from her adoring husband John (Klaus Kinski). She leaves him and is killed in an auto wreck. John finds himself the target of a police investigation to determine if the death was an accident, murder or suicide. His wife had owned 90% interest in a British auto company and John is the main suspect should foul play be evident.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 4th, 1969

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

Review: Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Distribution Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:31:26.439        
Video

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,646,231,526 bytes

Feature: 29,060,379,264 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.81 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

LPCM Audio English 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
LPCM Audio Italian 1152 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1152 kbps / 24-bit
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps

Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Arrow

 

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 49,646,231,526 bytes

Feature: 29,060,379,264 bytes

Video Bitrate: 33.81 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• New audio commentary by author and critic Tim Lucas
• "7 Notes for a Murder" New video interview with composer Nora Orlandi (32:18)
• "The Many Faces of Nora Orlandi", a new appreciation of the varied career of the film’s composer by musician and soundtrack collector Lovely Jon (43:28)
• "The Terrifying Dr. Freda", a new video essay on Riccardo Freda’s gialli by author and critic Amy Simmons (19:53)
• Extensive image gallery from the collection of Christian Ostermeier, including the original German pressbook and lobby cards, and the complete Italian cineromanzo adaptation
• Original Italian and English theatrical trailers
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Mitchell


Blu-ray Release Date:
June 24th, 2019
Transparent Blu-ray Case

Chapters 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Arrow Blu-ray (June 2019): The Kinski-starring 1969 Giallo from Riccardo Freda ("The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire", "Caltiki") is now released via Arrow Video. This new  Blu-ray transfer of "Double Face" is described as from a 'brand new 2K restoration of the full-length Italian version of the film from the original 35mm camera negative." We are also given the choice of watching the film with either the original English or Italian soundtracks, titles and credits. Both credits are worth watching, as the title sequences are totally unique. The 1.85:1 1080p image is helped along with an appropriately high bitrate, showing an impressive picture even when in motion. A rather robust contrast helps to create even more suspense within the darker moments, of which this picture has many. When faces are shown in close-up they reveal an impressive clarity, showing fine details. Detail is almost a little too impressive during the opening shots in the snowy mountains, which show a well-defined outline between the two lovers and the obviously projected vistas, which is almost laughable. Colors seem to faithfully represented, with bloody red roses, and some trippy kaleidoscopic colors during a surely dated (though totally 'far out') party scene. Fans should not be disappointed with this transfer.

Both the Italian and English soundtracks are presented in 24-bit uncompressed linear PCM 1.0 mono. As the extras will attest to, the score from Nora Orlandi is worthy of praise. The composer is probably best known for "The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh", another Giallo of note. There are newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack as well as optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack. This is a Region FREE
 Blu-ray from Arrow Video.

Double Face gets an audio commentary from the always brilliant Tim Lucas, who states early on that this is one of Freda's most interesting later features, and it is hard to disagree. Lucas provides a greater context for the film, and the cast and crew's careers, while showing deeper insights to the themes and style of this fascinating entry in the Giallo genre. "The Many Faces of Nora Orlandi" is a new appreciation of the varied career of the film’s composer by musician and soundtrack collector Lovely Jon. "7 Notes for a Murder" is another newly produced video, this time a 32-minute interview with composer Nora Orlandi. "The Terrifying Dr. Freda" is a new video essay on Riccardo Freda’s gialli by author and critic Amy Simmons, lasting 20-minutes. Also included on the disc are image galleries, and both the English and Italian theatrical trailers. The
 Blu-ray package also contains a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys, as well as an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Mitchell.

From the late 50's into the early 70's, there were a slew of German adaptations of Edgar Wallace's work, usually produced by Rialto film. This title surely stands out, thanks to the endlessly-watchable Klaus Kinski, and the talented director Riccardo Freda (responsible for many historical epics and early Italian horror-fantasy, such as "Lust of the Vampire" and "
The Horrible Dr. Hichock"). While certainly not in my top 10 list of Gialli, it is hard not to deny the appeal on screen. Arrow Video's new 2K  Blu-ray restoration is worth seeking out, especially to fans of the genre. 

Colin Zavitz

 


Menus / Extras

 


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


  

 

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

    

Distribution Arrow - Region FREE - Blu-ray


 


 

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!