Unashamed: A Romance / Elysia Blu-ray

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

Directed by Allen Stuart
USA 1938

In an unusual reversal of the usual exploitation formula—in which scenes of sex, violence, and drug abuse were wrapped in a dire warning of moral degradation—the nudist film took a more positive approach to its subject matter. Arguing for the health benefits of sunlight and the detrimental effects of constrictive clothing, films such as Unashamed: A Romance and Elysia (Valley of the Nude) presented nudism as a positive lifestyle choice, and proved their point with only slightly unobstructed views of naked flesh. But more surprising than the nudity is that Unashamed reveals itself to be a remarkably poignant drama about the unrequited love between a mixed-race woman (Rae Kidd) and her employer (Robert Stanley).

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Theatrical Release: April 20th

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Review: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime	Unashamed: 1:06:22.375 Elysia: 0:45:41.947
Video	Unashamed: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 29,959,636,688 bytes Feature: 13,306,512,960 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.47 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video	Elysia: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 29,959,636,688 bytes Feature: 9,180,706,368 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.81 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Unashamed Blu-ray:
Bitrate Elysia Blu-ray:
Audio	LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit Commentary on Unashamed: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Kino Unashamed: 1.33:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 29,959,636,688 bytes Feature: 13,306,512,960 bytes Video Bitrate: 23.47 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary for Unashamed by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas • Nudist-Land (1937, 11:01) • Why Nudism: An Exposé of Nudism (ca. 1938, 21:59) • Hollywood Script Girl (1938, 5:29) Blu-ray Release Date: February 25th, 2020 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 8 / 1

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (February 2020): Kino have transferred two of the earliest 'Nudist Colony' films to Blu-ray, Unashamed: A Romance made in 1938 and Elysia (Valley of the Nude) from 1933. This is Volume 3 of their Forbidden Fruit: Golden Age Exploitation Pictures. They both look rather weak with frequent damage and, what appears to be, weak original sources. There has been no film-level restoration but the appeal of the movies is more as a curiosity than anything else. There is some grain in both but generally a soft, damage-marked (see samples below) image transferred in 1080P. I'd say the earlier film, Elysia, may have marginally better quality.

NOTE: There is a cut version of "Elysia" on VCI's out-of-print DVD, part of their, "Sex and Buttered Popcorn Volume 3: Granddad's Forbidden Follies" which does not include several minutes from the opening prior to arrival at the 'Elysia' nudist camp. It appears in this BD version.

On their Blu-ray, Kino use linear PCM mono tracks (16-bit), in the original English language, for both films. The film's audio is as rough as the video with some predictable weakness from the less-effectual source - also due to the original production limitations. The score for Unashamed is by Frederick Chapin - better known as a writer - this was his only film composer credit. Again - about the same quality as the video. Kino offer no subtitles for either film on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

Highlight of the Kino Blu-ray package is a new audio commentary for Unashamed by film historian Alexandra Heller-Nicholas who does a great job discussing themes like liberty, race, class, autonomy, gender and sexuality providing some interesting factoids on the Rae Kidd, who claimed to be a descendant of the pirate William "Captain" Kidd. This was far better than the film and helped me appreciate the production, why it was made and details surrounding it's development and Euro (German) roots. There are also three shorts; Nudist-Land from 1937 showing "Hesperia," a nudist camp in Oregon, Why Nudism: An Exposé of Nudism from 1938 (that starts with the caveat "This 2K master was scanned from an original 35mm print. Due to the poor conditions under which this print was made, the soundtrack is obscured and distorted during most of the film.") and lastly Hollywood Script Girl from 1938 about a movie director who needs a script girl and a strip girl, misunderstanding the job title, shows up.

Well, not your usual Blu-ray fare. Those keen on unique vintage cinema won't find a more appropriate package. The a/v quality is poor (but easily the best available) and both films have unabashed, but refreshingly carefree, nudity. I appreciated the educational commentary and peering into this rarely exposed world of the 30's. For the adventurous and curious cinephile.