ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray October 17': Kino's new Blu-ray is another of the restored Wertmuller transfers. We've reviewed Swept Away, Ferdinando and Carolina and Summer Night. Like those previously compared this is a dramatic difference from the decade-old DVD. The frequent golden hue is reportedly more accurate to the theatrical presentation. I don't know. We seem to have a little less information on top and more on the right edge. The Blu-ray is 1.85:1 as opposed to 1.66:1 (which IMDb states is correct). The SD transfer looked strong despite lack of 16X9 enhancement but the higher resolution advances in detail, depth and film grain. I can't tell you what Seven Beauties looked like originally but I can tell you that this 1080P is pretty sweet and crisp in-motion. I really enjoyed the HD viewing.

Like the DVD, the audio remains out-of-sync at times - we presume this to be accurate. The Blu-ray offers an adept DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel at1916 kbps (24-bit) in the original Italian. There are aggressive effects that carry depth and a score by Enzo Jannacci (Gran Bollito) that balances the swagger and pathos. It sounds supported well in the lossless. There are optional English subtitles on thye Region 'A'-locked Blu-ray disc.

We get a 1/4 hour excerpt from Behind the White Glasses, Valerio Ruiz's 2015 documentary on Lina Wertmuller. There is another 9-minute interview with director Amy Heckerling who extols the film and describes her admiration for the director. There are also a batch of Wertmuller trailers and the package has a liner notes booklet with essays by director Allison Anders and film historian Claudia Consolati, Ph.D.

Powerful and unforgettable film - I'm unsure if there will be a debate about the ratio or appearance but I can only say that I was far more deeply impacted by Seven Beauties on Blu-ray than in any other viewing I've had. Positively, a must-see film.

***

ON THE DVD: As already reported throughout the web, this is the same feature presentation that can be found in the The Lina Wertmuller Collection (Summer Night / The Nymph / Swept Away / Seven Beauties / Ferdinando and Carolina). It is still in the original aspect ratio of 1.66 and still NOT 16X9 enhanced. We have noted previously that a few DVD production houses won't anamorphize 1.66 features because they feel the black borders on the side of most systems will be confusing to the viewer. Regardless of that silliness - this image doesn't look too bad at all. It's progressive, colors are well balanced and it has some detail to it. Black levels are acceptable and the transfer is generally very bright. The optional subtitles are an ugly yellow font and there excessive audio options (3 original language and 3 English DUBs!). I noted a few instances of out-of-sync audio which seems common with many Italian films of this era (or before).

The long interview with Wertmüller on the 2nd disc covers quite a lot - as much as anyone might wish to know of her career and some of her personal life. It was interesting to view. She has a very charming side to her.

The package has had some effort put into it, but it is not at Criterion level. As opposed to the 1:17 interview I'd have preferred a commentary, but perhaps I'm looking a gift-horse in the mouth. The film is certainly worthy of masterpiece status - a harrowing extravaganza - and almost universally regarded as Wertmüller's best. For that reason alone it should be viewed. We consider this a very worthy addition to any DVD collection.

Gary W. Tooze