The Damned (Criterion Collection) UK Only [Blu-ray] [2021]

Although I had seen this film all those years ago when it came out, I have virtually no recollection of it except that it didn't seem to make a lot of sense at the time. Now, however, having read an awful lot about the Third Reich in the meantime, it struck me as a very good recreation of the kind of world inhabited by the rich industrialists of that era - both as regards the arrogance and tacit acceptance of the political scene in which they prospered and did so little to counteract.Although several critics have described it as a somewhat melodramatic soap opera, I am sure that what Visconti tried to demonstrate was probably only a mild version of what really happened. It was never intended to be other than a fictional depiction of an altogether monstrous era, and in that it succeeds admirably.The whole thing is rather on the dark side, and the print, apparently carefully restored on blu ray, is nothing to write home about, although perfectly adequate. The extras on the Criterion edition are well worthwhile.It's not a perfect movie but not all that far short.

The best thing about this reactionary fantasia is to see the sturmabteilung shoot life-size flatties of the offizier klasse who would later betray the National-Sozialistische revolution in Deutschland...bizarre drivel of trannies feature, better shot by the schutzstaffel and the subplot of paedophilia with Anne Frank into the bargain is tacky...about as honest a depiction of NS Deutschland as was pervert Pasolini's equally trashy Salo epic about Fascism based on Masonic pervert De Sade's work.

Having read the official review on blu-ray.com which is on the page for the U.S Region A Criterion release, I was a bit dubious but I thought that I'd try a copy out so I ordered the identical Criterion UK Blu-ray. And yes, that review is right! The video quality is very poor! No better than the Warner 2004 DVD which I still have so I'm returning my Criterion Blu-ray right away for a full refund. If you already have the old DVD, keep it! The U.S and UK Blu-rays are exactly the same Criterion transfer. The only difference being the U.S edition is Region A locked etc. What a terrible disappointment!