The Case of the Scorpion's Tail (1971) coming from Arrow

[Akijama]

just announced

UK/US/CA TITLE: The Case of the Scorpion's Tail (Blu-ray)

The second giallo by genre master Sergio Martino

Pre-order in the UK via Arrow: https://arrowfilms.com/product-detai...lu-ray/FCD1760
Pre-order in the US via DiabolikDVD: https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/...arrow-blu-ray/
Release dates: 16/17 July

One of the major consequences of Western Europe’s post-war Economic Miracle was the proliferation of international travel. Eager to tap into audiences’ desire to experience the glamour of the jet set lifestyle, the popular filmmakers of the day rushed to make the most of the exotic locales at their disposal.

Arguably no other giallo captured this trend as vividly as The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail. The film begins in London, where Lisa Baumer (Evelyn Stewart, The Psychic) learns that her husband has died in a freak plane accident. Summoned to Athens to collect his generous life insurance policy, she soon discovers that others besides herself are keen to get their hands on the money – and are willing to kill for it. Meanwhile, private detective Peter Lynch (George Hilton, The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh) arrives to investigate irregularities in the insurance claim. Teaming up with a beautiful reporter, Cléo Dupont (Anita Strindberg, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key), Lynch resolves to unearth the truth… before he too ends up on the wrong end of the murderer’s straight razor.

The second giallo by genre master Sergio Martino (Torso, The Suspicious Death of a Minor), The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail combines stunning views of Athens and the Greek coastline with brutal bursts of violence, a typically tangled script by Ernesto Gastaldi (Death Walks on High Heels), and a cast overflowing with Euro cult talent, including Alberto de Mendoza (A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin), Janine Reynaud (Jess Franco’s Succubus) and Luigi Pistilli (A Bay of Blood).

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original lossless mono Italian and English soundtracks
• Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
• Audio commentary with writer Ernesto Gastaldi, moderated by filmmaker Federico Caddeo (in Italian with English subtitles)
• New interview with star George Hilton
• New interview with director Sergio Martino
• New analysis Sergio Martino’s films by Mikel J. Koven, author of La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film
• New video essay by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
• Theatrical trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Chris Malbon

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Rachael Nisbet and Howard Hughes, and a biography of star Anita Strindberg by Peter Jilmstad

[tommynorcal]

FANTASTIC news!!!!

[splintersan]

Hate the artwork. Super excited to own this on blu. Love the score.

[babybreese]

Wow, Gastaldi on the commentary, now that's something special.
Well done.

[leoganzi]

Thank God Shameless brats couldn't get this one. I just hope US Arrow could release Martino's All the colours of the dark, Strange Vice and Torso with a decent job, too.

[AlexIlDottore]

That artwork is absolutely terrible. Chris Malbon needs to stop with the drugs, because they're turning his mind into mush.

I'm very much looking forward to this release. The airplane

[Show spoiler]mid-air explosion should look, ahem, special on a 2K remaster taken from the negative .

[dwk]

Originally Posted by AlexIlDottore

...
I'm very much looking forward to this release. The airplane

[Show spoiler]mid-air explosion should look, ahem, special on a 2K remaster taken from the negative .

It is pretty "special" on the crappy NoShame DVD, so it should be extra unbelievable on Blu.

[AlexIlDottore]

Originally Posted by dwk

It is pretty "special" on the crappy NoShame DVD, so it should be extra unbelievable on Blu.

Indeed

[tommynorcal]

Originally Posted by leoganzi

Thank God Shameless brats couldn't get this one. I just hope US Arrow could release Martino's All the colours of the dark, Strange Vice and Torso with a decent job, too.

God, this so much. I’d kill for all mentioned titles getting an arrow or synapse treatment but I’m stuck with what we have

[cakefactory]

Is there anything stopping Synapse from doing All the Colours of the Dark/Strange Vice? They don't care about the UK market.

[leoganzi]

Originally Posted by AlexIlDottore

That artwork is absolutely terrible. Chris Malbon needs to stop with the drugs, because they're turning his mind into mush.
[/SPOILER]

Indeed, he did misspell the director's name "Serio" on the new artwork instead of Sergio
It kinda reminds me of Uggero Deodato or Ruggero Deodata

Originally Posted by tommynorcal

God, this so much. I’d kill for all mentioned titles getting an arrow or synapse treatment but I’m stuck with what we have

Yes, tell me about it. I also wonder if MM have any interest in Martino's gialli. At least we have three options here : US Arrow, Synapse and Mondo.
So, let's hope

[AlexIlDottore]

I wouldn't mind Synapse getting hold of them. Only problem is that we'd have to wait 5 to 10 years for them to be released.

[dressedtokill]

The Arrow Video Story:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcd7u...&frags=pl%2Cwn

Can't wait!

[dressedtokill]

Over at Rock Shock Pop there's a review with screenshots and as expected it looks terrific. I can't wait to get it! Here's hoping Strange Vice or All The Colors are next.

[horroru]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

Over at Rock Shock Pop there's a review with screenshots and as expected it looks terrific. I can't wait to get it! Here's hoping Strange Vice or All The Colors are next.

And they also confirm that the spelling of Sergio on the cover art has been corrected.

[Muyfa666]

I'm catching up on lots of giallos now, and this was was one of the better I've seen. The Arrow release is really nice also. :-)