Firstly, a HUGE thanks to our Patreon supporters. Your generosity touches me deeply. These supporters have become the single biggest contributing factor to the survival of DVDBeaver. Your assistance has become essential. We are always trying to expand Patron benefits... you get access to the Silent Auctions and over 10,000 unpublished screen captures (in lossless PNG format, if that has appeal for you) listed HERE. Please consider helping with $3 or more each month so we can continue to do our best in giving you timely, thorough reviews, calendar updates and detailed comparisons. Thank you so much. We aren't going to exist without another 100 or so patrons.


 

Search DVDBeaver

 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski
USA 1969

 

Alex Cord (Chosen Survivors), Britt Ekland (The Wicker Man), Patrick O’Neal (The Kremlin Letter) and Roy Scheider (Jaws) co-star in this ultimate spellbinding thriller from Harold Robbins, the creator of The Betsy and The Carpetbaggers. Count Cesare Cardinali (Cord) is a rich jet-setting playboy with a secret life as a professional hitman for the mob. He becomes a human target when he tries to retire, and gets embroiled in an investigation of New York’s mafia kingpin, who had once saved his life. The stellar cast includes Joseph Wiseman (Dr. No), Barbara McNair (The Organization), John Dehner (The Day of the Dolphin), Eduardo Ciannelli (Gunga Din), Lincoln Kilpatrick (The Omega Man), James Tolkan (Back to the Future), Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck), Charles Durning (True Confessions), Raul Julia (The Addams Family) and M. Emmet Walsh (Blood Simple). Directed by Bernard L. Kowalski (Macho Callahan, Krakatoa: East of Java).

***

A rich, jet-setting playboy has a secret life: he's also a professional Mafia hitman. When he decides it's time to retire from that life, he finds that his former employers don't like the idea that someone who knows so much about them won't be under their control anymore, and decide to send their own hitmen to eliminate him.

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 30th, 1969

Reviews                                                                                                       More Reviews                                                                                       DVD Reviews

 

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

Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Bonus Captures:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:40:52.004        
Video

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 34,529,406,000 bytes

Feature: 31,235,985,408 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.46 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:

Audio

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1554 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1554 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles English, None
Features Release Information:
Studio: Kino

 

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 34,529,406,000 bytes

Feature: 31,235,985,408 bytes

Video Bitrate: 37.46 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

Edition Details:

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Filmmaker David David DeCoteau


Blu-ray Release Date: March 30th, 2021
 Standard Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Blu-ray (February 2021): Kino have transferred Bernard L. Kowalski's Stiletto to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "Brand New 4K Master". It looks quite strong in the 1.66:1 aspect ratio, on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It's very clean, no blemishes and colors seem deep and detail is pleasing. It looks very adept in 1080P.

NOTE: We have added 66 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Kino use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original English language. There aren't an abundance of effects. The score is by Sid Ramin and has a lot of lounge-music which can be considered 'cool' now. Kino offer optional English subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-ray.

The Kino Blu-ray offers a new commentary by film historian David Del Valle (author of Lost Horizons Beneath the Hollywood Sign) and filmmaker David DeCoteau. They discuss the AVCO Embassy logos, very interesting details on Harold Robbins, they recommend Britt Ekland's autobiography True Britt, their love of 'trash' cinema, Joseph Wiseman, filming locations in Puerto Rico, how Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins owe something to Robbins, and much more. It was excellent - filled with fascinating details. 

Bernard L. Kowalski's (who directed many Columbo episodes and Mission Impossible, Rockford Files) Stiletto has plenty of future and current, memorable - but often uncredited, stars like Patrick O'Neal, Joseph Wiseman, Barbara McNair, Roy Scheider, Olympia Dukakis, Charles Durning, Raul Julia, M. Emmet Walsh etc.. But it doesn't translate Harold Robbins 'trash elements' very well to the screen. It has the jet-set flair but the crime angle is poorly realized. Highlights include Britt Ekland and the supporting cast. It's a film that carries nostalgia for some and the impressive commentary on the Kino Blu-ray is very much worth indulging.

Gary Tooze

 

Menus / Extras

 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

 

 
Box Cover

CLICK to order from:

Bonus Captures:
Distribution Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

Search DVDBeaver

 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

Hit Counter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DONATIONS Keep DVDBeaver alive:

 CLICK PayPal logo to donate!

Gary Tooze

Thank You!