Don't Torture A Duckling 4K UHD (1972) (Arrow Video)

[Brian81]

In my copy of Trick R Treat is a teaser postcard for Don't Torture A Duckling. Arrow Video already has a standard BD release for this, so it might be safe to say that a UHD or at very minimum yet another BD release is on the way.

Originally Posted by “ARROW VIDEO”

From Lucio Fulci, the godfather of gore (City of the Living Dead, The House by the Cemetery), comes one of the most powerful and unsettling giallo thrillers ever produced: his 1972 masterpiece, Don't Torture a Duckling.

When the sleepy rural village of Accendura is rocked by a series of murders of young boys, the superstitious locals are quick to apportion blame, with the suspects including the local "witch", Maciara (Florinda Bolkan, A Lizard in a Woman's Skin). With the bodies piling up and the community gripped by panic and a thirst for bloody vengeance, two outsiders - city journalist Andrea (Tomas Milian, The Four of the Apocalypse) and spoilt rich girl Patrizia (Barbara Bouchet, The Red Queen Kills Seven Times) - team up to crack the case. But before the mystery is solved, more blood will have been spilled, and not all of it belonging to innocents...

Deemed shocking at the time for its brutal violence, depiction of the Catholic Church and themes of child murder and implied pedophilia, Don't Torture a Duckling is widely regarded today as Fulci's greatest film, rivaling the best of his close rival Dario Argento. Arrow Films is proud to present this uniquely chilling film in its 4K debut.

Product Features

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

Brand new 4K restoration from the original 2-perf Techniscope camera negative by Arrow Films
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Newly restored original lossless mono Italian and English soundtracks
Optional English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
Giallo a la Campagna, a video discussion with Mikel J. Koven, author of La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film
Hell is Already in Us, a video essay by critic Kat Ellinger
Lucio Fulci Remembers, a rare 1988 audio interview with the filmmaker
Who Killed Donald Duck, an interview with actress Barbara Bouchet
Those Days with Lucio, an interview with actress Florinda Bolkan
The DP's Eye, an interview with cinematographer Sergio D'Offizi
From the Cutting Table, an interview with editor Bruno Micheli
Endless Torture, an interview with makeup artist Maurizio Trani
Theatrical trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
Illustrated collector's booklet featuring writing on the film by Barry Forshaw and Howard Hughes


MARCH 2025

[Brian81]

I know some weren't too hot on their BD (same for The Black Cat) but I was fine with both. What I'd love to see is a UHD of Lizard In A Woman's Skin with multiple cuts. I still own the Shriek Show DVD for the censored Schizoid cut. Surprisingly it upscales and projects fairly nicely. It was an unpopular disc at the time. Everyone loved the remastered one that followed, but it looks poor projected. All the sharpening of the DVD era shows up. The sharpening looked better on small CRTs. Soft, minimally futzed with DVDs have held up better as they upscale and project better at larger sizes. Blurry > Halos.

[King O.A.]

There was also a Jason X postcard.

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by Brian81

I know some weren't too hot on their BD (same for The Black Cat) but I was fine with both. What I'd love to see is a UHD of Lizard In A Woman's Skin with multiple cuts. I still own the Shriek Show DVD for the censored Schizoid cut. Surprisingly it upscales and projects fairly nicely. It was an unpopular disc at the time. Everyone loved the remastered one that followed, but it looks poor projected. All the sharpening of the DVD era shows up. The sharpening looked better on small CRTs. Soft, minimally futzed with DVDs have held up better as they upscale and project better at larger sizes. Blurry > Halos.

Mondo Macabro released a BD of A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin too.

[BluProofie]

They often have cards for existing titles so I wouldn’t say this is confirmation of anything, unfortunately. Would definitely double dip, though.

[El Sleezo]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

Mondo Macabro released a BD of A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin too.

Their release did go OOP recently, which could mean someone has picked it up.

I can’t say I’ve bought many Arrow releases and they had postcards for films released years previously, but like others have said it could just be overstock.

[Kakihara]

Originally Posted by El Sleezo

Their release did go OOP recently, which could mean someone has picked it up.

I can’t say I’ve bought many Arrow releases and they had postcards for films released years previously, but like others have said it could just be overstock.

Umbrella also just released it a few months ago but I don’t know if it’s a new transfer.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by Kakihara

Mondo Macabro released a BD of A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin too.

It was a hybrid cut, seems as more footage is found the film gets longer. Preferable to the censored Schizoid cut, but it's nice to have all cuts. There are several I believe.

[Alexcap]

in the UK woman in a woman's skin was released by Optimum Releasing which is studio canal so I presume it's still with them.

[Kyle15]

Originally Posted by Alexcap

woman in a woman's skin

I have to see this film.

[rafaelsalguero]

I can't wait for "Don't Torture A Duckling" in 4K UHD

[Driver78]

There was a card for this under the Italian title in The Great Escape 4K in an unboxing video I watched. Does anyone remember if there were cards in previous releases under the ‘Duckling’ title? Really stoked for a 4K if it’s happening

[dallywhitty]

Michael MacKenzie just logged this on Letterboxd.

[fabio_p]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Michael MacKenzie just logged this on Letterboxd.

Postcard + Michael logging on Letterboxed = UHD incoming

He also logged Dressed to Kill twice recently. Imagine a month with both titles

[Hammerlover]

Yep, I think we can expect a DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING 4K in 2025. Wonder if Arrow will do a deluxe hard box edition. I hope so!

[Cheddar Goblin]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Michael MacKenzie just logged this on Letterboxd.

Five stars too

[MifuneFan]

Coming in March!

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

Brand new 4K restoration from the original 2-perf Techniscope camera negative by Arrow Films
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Newly restored original lossless mono Italian and English soundtracks
Optional English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
Giallo a la Campagna, a video discussion with Mikel J. Koven, author of La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film
Hell is Already in Us, a video essay by critic Kat Ellinger
Lucio Fulci Remembers, a rare 1988 audio interview with the filmmaker
Who Killed Donald Duck, an interview with actress Barbara Bouchet
Those Days with Lucio, an interview with actress Florinda Bolkan
The DP’s Eye, an interview with cinematographer Sergio D’Offizi
From the Cutting Table, an interview with editor Bruno Micheli
Endless Torture, an interview with makeup artist Maurizio Trani
Theatrical trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Barry Forshaw and Howard Hughes

[BluProofie]

That new art is…something. I actually really like the art on the booklet and wish they would’ve gone with that instead. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R63MB...4705521&sr=8-6

[exzachary]

Wow, that cover art is hideous

[BigDmo531]

Surprised and disappointed this isn't a rigid case with an original art version