Fifth Cord (Franco Nero, 1971 Italian Giallo) Blu-Ray NEW/SEALED

aka Giornata Nera Per L’Ariete

The success of Dario Argento’s The Bird with the Crystal Plumage ushered in a host of imitators, seeking to capitalise on this new, modern take on the giallo thriller. Many were highly derivative, but a number nonetheless rose above the crowd thanks to skilful execution and a willingness to experiment stylistically. Once such example is The Fifth Cord which, in the hands of director Luigi Bazzoni (The Possessed, Footprints on the Moon), turns a conventional premise into a visually stunning exploration of alienation and isolation.

When a man barely survives a brutal assault en route home from a New Year’s party, washed-up, whisky-swilling journalist Andrea Bild (Franco Nero, Django) is assigned to report on the case. Before long, the maniac strikes again, this time with fatal results. As the body count rises, Andrea falls under suspicion himself, making it even more imperative that he crack the case. His only clue lies in a series of black gloves found at the location of every attack, each with a finger cut off…

Adapted from a novel by David McDonald Devine, The Fifth Cord boasts a complex, Agatha Christie-esque plot, outstanding cinematography courtesy of future Oscar-winner Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now) and supporting appearances by a raft of genre stalwarts, including Silvia Monti (A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin), Edmund Purdom (Nightmare City) and Rossella Falk (Sleepless). Debuting here in high definition, arguably the most visually stunning giallo ever made now shines like never before.

DIRECTOR Luigi Bazzoni CAST Franco Nero, Silvia Monti, Wolfgang Preiss, Edmund Purdom

CONDITION New/Sealed
COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE UK
REGION B (please ensure your machine will play the disc)
LABEL Arrow Video
NUMBER OF DISCS 1
RUNNING TIME 91 mins
SPECIAL FEATURES brand new 2K restoration of the full-length Italian version of the film from the original 35mm camera negative, original English and Italian soundtracks, titles and credits, newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack, new audio commentary by author and critic Tim Lucas, new video interview with composer Nora Orlandi, “The Many Faces of Nora Orlandi” a new appreciation of the varied career of the film s composer by musician and soundtrack collector Lovely Jon, “The Terrifying Dr. Freda” a new video essay on Riccardo Freda’s gialli by author and critic Amy Simmons, extensive image gallery from the collection of Christian Ostermeier, including the original German pressbook and lobby cards, and the complete Italian cineromanzo adaptation, original Italian and English theatrical trailers, reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
LANGUAGE(S) Italian, English (Dubbed)
SUBTITLES English
ASPECT RATIO 1.85:1 (approx.)
RATING 15