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

ADDITION: Cult Epics Blu-ray (March 20211): Cult Epics have transferred Just Jaeckin's Madame Claude to Blu-ray. It is cited as being from a "New 4K HD Transfer (from original 35mm negative) supervised by cinematographer Robert Fraisse". I identified some macro-blocking (see below) but its seemed isolated in a few spots not blanketed across the presentation. Despite appearing a shade green the 1080P visuals look better than you might anticipate. Heavy soft lens permeate - as per this 70's genre - but overall it was a decent presentation considering the age and noted imperfections.  

NOTE: We have added 52 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Cult Epics use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel stereo and linear PCM dual-mono track (both 16-bit) options in the original French language (some English and Italian.) There is also a lossy Dolby English DUB option that could appear awkward at time due to the sync. Overall the audio is about the level of the video - I preferred the LPCM after sampling all three options. It is another advancement in the film's audio and score credited to Serge Gainsbourg (Je t'aime moi non plus) with "Diapositivisme", "Discophoteque", "Mi Corasong", "Yesterday Yes a Day" and others - most performed by Jean-Pierre Sabar Et Son Orchestre with one track by his muse Birkin. Cult Epics offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Cult Epics Blu-ray offers an audio commentary by Jeremy Richey (author of the upcoming book "Sylvia Kristel: From Emmanuelle to Chabrol.") He talks about the performers like Françoise Fabian (My Night at Maud's), gorgeous Toronto-born Dayle Haddon - former Miss Montreal, recognizable Robert Weber (12 Angry Men), Jaeckin's interest in cinematography, the real life Fernande Grudet - whom the story is based and much more. He digs quite deep and makes some interesting connections to this film and others in French cinema. I enjoyed his measured pace and detail. There is also a new 1/2 hour interview with Just Jaeckin, vintage French theatrical trailer, promotional gallery and a handful of Cult Epics trailers.

You are probably not wrong if you can guess what Just Jaeckin's Madame Claude is all about. Reference the director's Gwendoline, Emmanuelle, The Story of O, Lady Chatterley's Lover etc. Transparent Euro sleaze or arty sex-bio with a touch of class - depending on your view point. I can only say that this was better than I was expecting and the commentary helped me appreciate it a bit more. The Cult Epics Blu-ray has delivered a good product that will definitely appeal to fans in this genre space. There are positives worthy of some collections. The whole milieu for this envelope-pushing 70's erotic cinema has an artistic consistency that will appeal to many. Others not so much. 

Gary Tooze