Dressed to Kill 4K UHD - Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson, Nancy Allen

Firstly, a massive thank you to our Patreon supporters. These supporters have become the single biggest contributing factor to the survival of DVDBeaver. Your assistance is essential to our survival.

What do Patrons receive, that you don't?

1) Our weekly Newsletter and Calendar Updates sent to your Inbox!
2) Access to over 100,000 unpublished screen captures in lossless high-resolution format!

Please consider keeping us in existence with a couple of dollars or more each month (your pocket change! / a coffee!) so we can continue to do our best in giving you timely, thorough reviews, calendar updates and detailed comparisons. I am indebted to your generosity.

Search DVDBeaver

S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Brian De Palma
USA 1980

A disturbed woman, adrift in steamy sexual fantasies. A New York psychiatrist who seems to have taken on one patient too many. A beautiful call girl caught between the cops and a vicious razor-wielding killer…and the killer herself: a tall, blonde, elusive psycho named Bobbi. Dressed to Kill contains all the heart-stopping elements of a classic suspense thriller. But writer-director Brian De Palma (Carrie, The Fury, Blow Out, Scarface, The Untouchables) turns up the heat and takes them one step further to create a masterpiece. Screen legend Michael Caine (The Ipcress File, The Italian Job) stars as a fashionable Manhattan therapist faced with a murderous puzzle: the sudden, hideous slaying of one of his patients—with a straight razor stolen from his office. Desperate to find the slasher before anyone else is hurt, the doctor soon finds himself lost in a provocative and deadly maze of obsession, deviance and deceit. Stunningly scored by Pino Donaggio (Body Double) with terrific turns by Angie Dickinson (Pretty Maids All in a Row), Nancy Allen (RoboCop), Dennis Franz (American Buffalo) and Keith Gordon (Christine), Dressed to Kill is a psychosexual tour de force from the modern master of the macabre.

***

One of Brian De Palma's most divisive films, Dressed to Kill is a spine-chilling Alfred Hitchcock update for the late 1970s. Sexually frustrated wife and mother Kate Miller (Angie Dickinson) visits her New York psychiatrist, Dr. Elliott (Michael Caine), to complain about her unfulfilling erotic life. When she then goes to meet her husband at a museum, she meets an anonymous man whom she follows out to a cab. After an afternoon of satisfying sex, Kate discovers that the man has a venereal disease, but that information becomes a moot point when a razor-wielding blonde woman slashes Kate to ribbons in the elevator of the man's building. Blonde prostitute Liz (Nancy Allen), who caught a glimpse of the murderer, becomes both the prime suspect and the killer's next target. With the police less than willing to believe her story, Liz joins forces with Kate's son Peter (Keith Gordon) to get the psychopath themselves.

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 25th, 1980

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

Review: Kino - Region FREE - 4K UHD

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Coming to 4K UHD by Arrow in the UK on March 3rd, 2025; Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Kino - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Runtime	1:44:50.583
Video	2.35:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 80,125,214,545 bytes Feature: 79,205,621,760 bytes Video Bitrate: 70.00 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate 4K Ultra HD:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio English 1883 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1883 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) DTS-HD Master Audio English 3823 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3823 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit) Commentary: DTS-HD Master Audio English 1976 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1976 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Subtitles	English (SDH), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino 2.35:1 2160P 4K Ultra HD Disc Size: 80,125,214,545 bytes Feature: 79,205,621,760 bytes Video Bitrate: 70.00 Mbps Codec: HEVC Video Edition Details: 4K Ultra HD disc • NEW Audio Commentary by Film Critic and Author Maitland McDonagh Kino - Region FREE - Blu-ray • STRICTLY BUSINESS: NEW Interview with Actress Nancy Allen (17:27) • KILLER FRAMES: NEW Interview with Associate Producer and Production Manager Fred C. Caruso (8:15) • AN IMITATION OF LIFE: NEW Interview with Actor Keith Gordon (14:16) • SYMPHONY OF FEAR: 2012 Interview with Producer George Litto (17:37) • DRESSED IN WHITE: 2012 Interview with Actress Angie Dickinson (29:54) • DRESSED IN PURPLE: 2012 Interview with Actress Nancy Allen (23:05) • LESSONS IN FILMMAKING: 2012 Interview with Actor Keith Gordon (39:43) • The Making of DRESSED TO KILL: 2001 Documentary (43:51) • Slashing DRESSED TO KILL: 2001 Featurette (9:50) • Unrated/R-Rated/TV Rated Comparison: 2001 Featurette (5:14) • An Appreciation by Keith Gordon: 2001 Featurette (6:06) • 1980 Archival Audio Interviews with Actors Michael Caine (4:51), Angie Dickinson (3:31) and Nancy Allen (14:31) • Theatrical Trailer (2:12) (Teaser- 0:54) • 7 Radio Spots (4:05) • TV Spots (1:22) 4K Ultra HD Release Date: October 25th, 2022 Black 4K Ultra HD Case inside slipcase Chapters 10

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: Kino 4K UHD (November 2022): Kino have released Brian De Palma's "Dressed to Kill" 4K UHD. It is advertised as having a "Brand NEW HDR/Dolby Vision Master From a 16bit 4K Scan of the Original Camera Negative". We compared four Blu-rays version of the film, the 2011 MGM the 2013 Arrow and Criterion's first, flawed, printing as well as their second, corrected version - both in 2015, see HERE. The new 2160P transfer, with Dolby Vision, advances in the usual areas - richer contrast and brighter primaries. It handles the less effective 80's film stock, and soft-focus look, much better than the Blu-rays with thick, lush grain and even instances of depth. It supports the film's textures to a higher degree while maintaining the softer focus and emboldening colors. It's on a triple-layered 4K UHD disc with a very high bitrate.

The package includes a second disc Blu-ray with only special features (not the film.)

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.

NOTE: 44 more more full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K UHD captures, in lossless PNG format, for Patrons are available HERE

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date: The Power of the Dog (software uniformly simulated HDR), Escape From Alcatraz (software uniformly simulated HDR), I, the Jury (no HDR), Casablanca (software uniformly simulated HDR), In the Mood For Love (NO HDR applied to disc), The Werewolf vs. the Vampire Woman (software uniformly simulated HDR), Blow Out (software uniformly simulated HDR), Night of the Living Dead (NO HDR applied to disc), Lost Highway (software uniformly simulated HDR), Videodrome (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Last Picture Show (software uniformly simulated HDR), It Happened One Night (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Mummy (1932)(software uniformly simulated HDR), Creature From the Black Lagoon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Bride of Frankenstein (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Amityville Horror (software uniformly simulated HDR), The War of the Worlds (1953) (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Incredible Melting Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), Event Horizon (software uniformly simulated HDR), Get Carter (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Killing (software uniformly simulated HDR), Killer's Kiss (software uniformly simulated HDR), Out of Sight (software uniformly simulated HDR), Raging Bull (software uniformly simulated HDR), Shaft (1971), (software uniformly simulated HDR), Double Indemnity (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Untouchables (software uniformly simulated HDR), For a Few Dollars More (no HDR), Saboteur (software uniformly simulated HDR), Marnie (software uniformly simulated HDR), Shadow of a Doubt (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Fistful of Dollars (no HDR), In the Heat of the Night (no HDR), Jack Reacher (software uniformly simulated HDR), Death Wish II (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Apartment (no HDR), The Proposition (software uniformly simulated HDR), Nightmare Alley (2021) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Godfather (software uniformly simulated HDR), Le Crecle Rouge (software uniformly simulated HDR), An American Werewolf in London (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Hard Day's Night (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Piano (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Great Escape (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Red Shoes (software uniformly simulated HDR), Citizen Kane (software uniformly simulated HDR), Unbreakable (software uniformly simulated HDR), Mulholland Dr. (software uniformly simulated HDR), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Hills Have Eyes (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Servant (software uniformly simulated HDR), Anatomy of a Murder (software uniformly simulated HDR), Taxi Driver (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Wolf Man (1941) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Frankenstein (1931) (software uniformly simulated HDR), Deep Red (software uniformly simulated HDR), Misery (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Silence of the Lambs (software uniformly simulated HDR), John Carpenter's "The Thing" (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Cat' o'Nine Tails (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (software uniformly simulated HDR), Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (software uniformly simulated HDR), Perdita Durango (software uniformly simulated HDR), Django (software uniformly simulated HDR), Fanny Lye Deliver'd (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, (NO HDR applied to disc), Rollerball (software uniformly simulated HDR), Chernobyl (software uniformly simulated HDR), Daughters of Darkness (software uniformly simulated HDR), Vigilante (software uniformly simulated HDR), Tremors (software uniformly simulated HDR), Cinema Paradiso (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bourne Legacy (software uniformly simulated HDR), Full Metal Jacket (software uniformly simulated HDR), Psycho (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Birds (software uniformly simulated HDR), Rear Window (software uniformly simulated HDR), Vertigo (software uniformly simulated HDR), Spartacus (software uniformly simulated HDR), Jaws (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Invisible Man, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucio Fulci's 1979 Zombie (software uniformly simulated HDR),, 2004's Van Helsing (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Shallows (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Bridge on the River Kwai (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Deer Hunter (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Elephant Man (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Quiet Place (software uniformly simulated HDR), Easy Rider (software uniformly simulated HDR), Suspiria (software uniformly simulated HDR), Pan's Labyrinth (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Wizard of Oz, (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Shining, (software uniformly simulated HDR), Batman Returns (software uniformly simulated HDR), Don't Look Now (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Man Who Killed Killed and then The Bigfoot (software uniformly simulated HDR),, Bram Stoker's Dracula (software uniformly simulated HDR), Lucy (software uniformly simulated HDR), They Live (software uniformly simulated HDR), Shutter Island (software uniformly simulated HDR), The Matrix (software uniformly simulated HDR), Alien (software uniformly simulated HDR), Toy Story (software uniformly simulated HDR), A Few Good Men (software uniformly simulated HDR), 2001: A Space Odyssey (HDR caps udated), Schindler's List (simulated HDR), The Neon Demon (No HDR), Dawn of the Dead (No HDR), Saving Private Ryan (simulated HDR and 'raw' captures), Suspiria (No HDR), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (No HDR), The Big Lebowski, and I Am Legend (simulated and 'raw' HDR captures).

On their 4K UHD, Kino offer DTS-HD Master tracks in both the original mono (dual, 2.0 channel) and a 5.1 surround (both 24-bit) in the English language. "Dressed to Kill" is filled with various types of violent and studious effects, with notable separations, and the slasher sequences and tension are strongly accentuated by Pino Donaggio's (Blow Out, Body Double, Don't Look Now, Carrie, Raising Cain, Crawlspace, Meridian, Beyond Evil, Tourist Trap etc.) boisterous score which benefits from the lossless renderings. The 4K UHD disc offers optional English subtitles - and is, like all 4K UHD, region FREE, playable worldwide. The second disc Blu-ray with extras is Region 'A'-locked.

The 4K UHD has a new audio commentary by film critic Maitland McDonagh (author of Filmmaking on the Fringe: The Good, the Bad and the Deviant Directors.) She discusses the film's controversy during its theatrical release with violence - particularly against women. She mentions the comparisons with Hitchcock (not always positive) - notably Psycho (shower scene), Vertigo (art gallery) with specific references in Dressed to Kill. She expands details on the production - Angie Dickenson's body double (1977 Penthouse Pet of the Year model Victoria Lynn Johnson), the gliding camera as if 'stalking' - the story etc. There is a modest amount shared, with pauses, and I found it interesting with specific details and astute character motivations and observations. She's quite laid back and I appreciated inclusion in the package although it wouldn't be considered academic, nor relating history and facts on the cast and crew - more her personal feelings.

As stated the included Blu-ray has only special features. These include about 3/4 of hour's worth of new interviews with actress Nancy Allen (still gorgeous), Associate Producer and Production Manager Fred C. Caruso and actor and filmmaker Keith Gordon. Also included are 2012 interviews with actress Angie Dickinson for 1/2 hour, actress Nancy Allen, again, for 23-minutes, Keith Gordon, again, for almost 40 minutes. These were found on Arrow's 2013 Blu-ray release. From the 2001 MGM digital release we get the 45-minute 'The Making of Dressed to Kill' documentary, the 10-minute "Slashing Dressed to Kill" featurette, the Unrated, R-Rated and TV-Rated Comparison featurette and 6-minute "Appreciation by Keith Gordon". There are 80's archival audio interviews with actors Michael Caine (4:51), Angie Dickinson (3:31) and Nancy Allen (14:31) plus a theatrical plus teaser trailer, seven Radio Spots and three TV Spots. There is a reversible cover - see below.

Kino's 4K UHD release of Brian De Palma's "Dressed to Kill" has the feature in superior 2160P resolution and a Dolby Vision pass, plus is stacked with a new commentary / interviews plus most of the supplements from previous editions. The film follows events leading up to the brutal murder of a bored, depressed New York City housewife (Dickinson) following a sexual dalliance. Then the film centers on a prostitute (Allen) who witnessed the crime, the murdered wife's analyst (Caine) and the geeky inventor son (Gordon) as they seek to expose the killer. It's a prime example of De Palma's flamboyant filmmaking with frequent Hitchcock references. This 4K UHD, as are the previous Blu-rays, is the unrated version of "Dressed to Kill" which runs 30 seconds longer that the R-rated version. This and shows more blonde pubic hair in the opening shower scene, extensive blood in the elevator murder (with throat being sliced open), and explicit sexually-related dialogue between Allen and Caine in his office. There is certainly a connection to Giallo. The director's fans generally love "Dressed to Kill" and this is the most complete release available. A keeper.

Gary Tooze

Menus / Extras