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

ADDITION: Criterion Blu-ray (September 2021): Criterion have transferred Luchino Visconti's The Damned to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 2K digital restoration by the Cineteca di Bologna and Institut Lumière". A screen comes up before the presentation stating: "The digital restoration of The Damned (La caduta degli dei, 1969) - supported by Cineteca di Bologna and Institut Lumitire (Lyon) - was based on the original camera negative and sound negative. The original master was scanned and then transferred on 35mm, without losing any of its original features. After film scan, images were digitally stabilized and cleaned of ageing marks, such as white spots, scratches and splice marks. Digital color correction has been carried out following a 1969 reference print and with the invaluable help of Daniele Nannuzzi. Sound digital restoration was based on the 35mm optical negative, which was in an extremely poor condition. A sound positive was printed from the negative to carry out a digital cleaning of all background noise caused by time and extensive screenings." This is a significant improvement with flesh tones cooler and more realistic, the 1080P hue looks passive beside the blown-out Italian DVD but is actually exporting rich, colors with depth. It does have a green bias. The 1.85:1 image is reasonably consistent with gorgeous lavish sets and detailed close-ups. There is appreciated texture and the overall HD presentation is warmly received.  

NOTE: We have added 60 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Criterion use a linear PCM mono track (24-bit) in the English language and the option of the alternate-Italian track. The Damned has aggressive and violent sequences that come through with slight depth and the track has imperfections that can sound a bit rougher (scattered or negligibly out-of-sync) but none that hindered my viewing. NOTE: Helmut Berger was re-dubbed for the German-language release, due to his heavy Austrian accent. The majestic score is by Maurice Jarre (Crossed Swords, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds The Tin Drum, The Man Who Would Be King, The Black Marble etc.) sounding supportive in the uncompressed transfer. Criterion offer optional English (SDH) and English subtitles on their Region 'A' / 'B' Blu-ray. It is released in the UK on October 25th. 

The Criterion Blu-ray offers plenty of supplements. In an extensive 40-minute 1970 interview with director Luchino Visconti for RAI television, he discusses many aspects of The Damned, from the historical accuracy of its portrayal of Fascism to its political dimensions to its reception worldwide. There are also archival interviews with actors Helmut Berger for 5-minutes from a 1969 episode of the French television show Le monde du cinema, where he discusses working with director Luchino Visconti to create the role of Martin von Essenbeck. We get 10-minutes with actor Ingrid Thulin who discusses working with director Luchino Visconti on The Damned in this excerpt from the French television program Pour le cinema, originally broadcast on April 21st, 1969, and directed by Pierre Mignot. Dominique Delouche conducts the interview. We also have a short interview with actor Charlotte Rampling about The Damned in a segment from the French television program Musiques au coeur. It was originally broadcast on May 13th, 1990, and was directed by Ariane Adriani. Visconti: Man of Two Worlds, is a 1969 behind-the-scenes documentary by John Abbott that features director Luchino Visconti at work on the set of The Damned. It runs less than 10-minutes and was also found on the 2004 Warner DVD. There is a new 1/4 hour interview with scholar Stefano Albertini about the sexual politics of The Damned. There is a trailer and the package has a liner notes booklet with an essay by scholar D. A. Miller.

Luchino Visconti's The Damned is brilliant, deep, harrowing, historic, wonderfully acted and another masterpiece from the director that brought us Death in Venice, The Innocent, The Leopard, La Terra Trema, Ossessione, and Rocco and his Brothers. It's a draining, curious experience - cited as Rainer Werner Fassbinder's favorite film. The new restoration and Criterion Blu-ray transfer provide a significant upgrade over the past DVDs. The extras are another huge enticement to picking this one up. A strong recommendation and must-own for world cinephiles!

Gary Tooze