Color, 1968, 91m. / Directed by Jack Cardiff / Starring Marianne Faithful / Anchor Bay (US R0 NTSC) / WS (1.66:1)
The mildly letterboxed image looks fine if unremarkable; the film was obviously shot on less than ideal stock and features a number of image-altering and laboratory effects which increase the grain and darkness of a few shots. However, this is easily the best transfer this film has received. Unfortunately, the sound is shallow and scarcely an improvement over the old video editions (contrary to the liner notes, Monterey issued this uncut print - complete with full frontal Faithfull - in the mid-'80s). The music should come roaring out at the beginning; instead, it's a mild whimper. This is one movie in great need of a sonic overhaul to restore its psychedelic punch, but in the meantime, the DVD and laser are nice buys; the DVD features more extras than usual for Anchor Bay, including cast and director bios and the US trailer in addition to the aforementioned commentary.
This dizzy example of '60s Eurotrash has been stunning late night viewers for decades now, and the wonders of DVD are now bringing to a new audience who will doubtless be left just as speechless (or extremely amused). Skilled cinematographer Jack Cardiff (who provides a very sparse commentary on the disc) helmed this fetishistic romantic fable about a young woman (chanteuse Marianne Faithfull) who leaves her newlywed husband and tears across the German countryside to see her ex-lover (Alain Delon) on the motorcycle he gave her. Due to both Faithfull's black leather garb (and nothing else) and the numerous dreamy love scenes and fantasies, the film was also titled Naked Under Leather on its original release. Perhaps the most memorable sequence features the fetching Faithfull imagining herself riding horseback while Delon gradually whips away her leather garb, and lots of solarized landscape and sky shots make this prime material for acidheads. Unprepared audiences, however, may not respond so respectfully; this one has really dated, folks. Nevertheless, it's fun to see pros like Faithfull and Delon together, and the cinematography and editing are often breathtaking. The startling ending is really the perfect capper - totally outrageous and beyond description. Of course, mention also must be made of the funky Les Reed score (recently reissued on CD), which should prove to be popular considering the recent resurgence of interest in lounge and funk music (Peter Thomas, et al).
