How to Kill a Judge [Blu-ray] [Region A & B]

I think Damiano Damiani, the director of "How to Kill a Judge" (1974) is a masterful Italian director that is somewhat misunderstood and also a director of considerable importance now that I am seeing some of the scope of his career. One of his earlier pictures that was quite controversial, and in my opinion, quite brilliant was 1964's "The Empty Canvas" with Horst Buchholz, Bette Davis and Catherine Spaak, all giving superb performances and he followed this with another equally brilliant film, "The Witch in Love" with Richard Johnson and Rosanna Schiaffino, not as well known, but quite good. That same year, 1966, he directed a thoughtful spaghetti western, "A Bullet for the General" and later directed things like "The Day of the Owl," "How to Kill a Judge" and in 1982 he was the director of "Amityville 2: The Possession." "How to Kill a Judge" stars a frequent collaborator with Damiani, star Franco Nero, who as one of the extras in Blue Underground's wonderful edition on DVD participated in 15 minutes of interviews entitled, "The Damiano/Nero Connection" with Damiani also, of their relationship and the demise of their collaboration which is very enlightening. Other extras are an English trailer and an Italian trailer. The film, based on a story by Damiani and the screenplay by Damiani, Fulvio Gicca-Palli and Enrico Ribulsi with a memorable score by Riz Ortolani, is fascinating and reflects Italy's infamous decade of political violence. Damiani's influence on the story makes "How to Kill a Judge" important and a different artistic spin on the crime and corruption genre this could normally be relegated as a sample. Damiano has Nero play a film director whose film about the assassination of a prosecutor becomes a success when the judge is then murdered after the film is shown and sparks controversy. Francoise Fabian stars opposite Nero. The color film is presented on Blue Underground's edition in an English version and an Italian with optional subtitles. This is supposedly the first time the film is presented this way ever in America and is quite welcome. It is an artistic vision of its political undertakings that is truly fascinating and well-done. Damiano got little recognition through the years, his "The Empty Canvas" grossly miscalculated by many critics. At this writing, I am not sure his directing "Amityville 2" was such a misfire, and I am interested enough to find out for myself. "How to Kill a Judge" is the fourth film I watched that he directed and I have not been disappointed, nor uncertain of his talent, yet.
I think Damiano Damiani, the director of “How to Kill a Judge” (1974) is a masterful Italian director that is somewhat misunderstood and also a director of considerable importance now that I am seeing some of the scope of his career. One of his earlier pictures that was quite controversial, and in my opinion, quite brilliant was 1964’s “The Empty Canvas” with Horst Buchholz, Bette Davis and Catherine Spaak, all giving superb performances and he followed this with another equally brilliant film, “The Witch in Love” with Richard Johnson and Rosanna Schiaffino, not as well known, but quite good. That same year, 1966, he directed a thoughtful spaghetti western, “A Bullet for the General” and later directed things like “The Day of the Owl,” “How to Kill a Judge” and in 1982 he was the director of “Amityville 2: The Possession.” “How to Kill a Judge” stars a frequent collaborator with Damiani, star Franco Nero, who as one of the extras in Blue Underground’s wonderful edition on DVD participated in 15 minutes of interviews entitled, “The Damiano/Nero Connection” with Damiani also, of their relationship and the demise of their collaboration which is very enlightening. Other extras are an English trailer and an Italian trailer. The film, based on a story by Damiani and the screenplay by Damiani, Fulvio Gicca-Palli and Enrico Ribulsi with a memorable score by Riz Ortolani, is fascinating and reflects Italy’s infamous decade of political violence. Damiani’s influence on the story makes “How to Kill a Judge” important and a different artistic spin on the crime and corruption genre this could normally be relegated as a sample. Damiano has Nero play a film director whose film about the assassination of a prosecutor becomes a success when the judge is then murdered after the film is shown and sparks controversy. Francoise Fabian stars opposite Nero. The color film is presented on Blue Underground’s edition in an English version and an Italian with optional subtitles. This is supposedly the first time the film is presented this way ever in America and is quite welcome. It is an artistic vision of its political undertakings that is truly fascinating and well-done. Damiano got little recognition through the years, his “The Empty Canvas” grossly miscalculated by many critics. At this writing, I am not sure his directing “Amityville 2” was such a misfire, and I am interested enough to find out for myself. “How to Kill a Judge” is the fourth film I watched that he directed and I have not been disappointed, nor uncertain of his talent, yet.