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

ADDITION: 88 Films Blu-ray (June 2024): 88 Films have transferred a 'Pete Walker Double Feature' to Blu-ray with 1971's Man of Violence (aka "Moon" aka "The Sex Racketeers") and The Big Switch (aka "Strip Poker") from 1968. These are on separate dual-layered Blu-rays (max'ed out bitrates) with The Big Switch having both "Domestic" and "Export" versions - not seamlessly-branched. We've already compared the 2009 BFI "Flipside" Blu-ray to the 2015 Redemption Blu-ray HERE. Both films were part of Redemption's five Blu-ray The Pete Walker Collection II from 2015. We reviewed that HERE. There are comparison captures below and the new 88 Films 1080P appears to be from BFI's original 35mm combined negatives. There are slight differences in contrast / color balance but overall the image is clean with a pleasing depth of field. The BFI had the longer, export version of The Big Switch transferred from separate picture and sound negatives with credit to the healthy sources and the HD-DVNR and MTI restoration systems utilized in the transfer. I had no issues with the 88 Film's HD presentations - still remarkable for how good they look.   

NOTE: We have added 58 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, 88 Films use linear PCM dual-mono tracks (24-bit) in the original English language. Both films have aggression with gunfire and worse. There is only modest depth in the authentically flat audio transfers. The score for Man of Violence is credited to British conductor, songwriter and composer Cyril Ornadel (Walker's Die Screaming, Marianne, The Flesh and Blood Show) and for The Big Switch to Harry South (Pete Walker's For Men Only.) There are orchestral brass flourishes in both films that give the sense of drama and tension. 88 Films offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'B'-locked Blu-rays.

The 88 Films Blu-ray offers Simon Sheridan's "Sex & Violence - Pete Walker’s Austerity Films" - a ten minute interview with the director, writer, and producer, who specialized in horror and sexploitation films, frequently combining the two. Likeable Walker talks about making both Man of Violence and The Big Switch. Noir in Colour is a 7.5-minute interview with DoP Norman Langley (The Sweeney) who talks about filming Man of Violence - his second credited cinematography work. There is a brief alternate "Moon" title sequence and theatrical trailers for both films. The package is housed in 2 amaray cases with an outer double walled Slipcase with new artwork by Ben Turner.

Pete Walker's Man of Violence and The Big Switch are British crime dramas that both have some sexploitation envelope-pushing, coming out of the swinging Sixties, with situational nudity - including smok'in Hammer gal Luan Peters (Lust for a Vampire) and pornographic hinting. She has extensive wardrobe changes... even in the same scene! Both films might both sneak into neo-noir territory with disreputable anti-hero characters, gangster activity, crooked cops and... murder. The Big Switch is a fairly crude T+A romp. Man of Violence is quite convoluted but both efforts have a charismatic 'time capsule' edge of style over substance. I enjoyed revisiting them. The 88 Films Blu-ray has spiffy packaging, solid a/v transfers and supplements. Probably not double-dip territory but, of the different digital iterations, this would be the set that I would keep. To each his own.

Gary Tooze