Mr. Bongo came out with a DVD version of Casanova ’70 (1965) for foreign audiences last year. While that version was solid enough, I feel that Lorber has really stepped their game up with this Blu-Ray release. This means that there is an absolutely lush restoration for this Mario Monicelli (Toto and the Women, Big Deal on Madonna Street) film.
The flick is absolutely out there, focusing on Andrea (Mastroianni) unable to get sexually aroused. It later is revealed that ey is unable to become aroused unless ey is in considerable trouble; rather than end up dead, ey decided to take up residence with a pristine woman in Gigliola (Lisi). The film surrounds whether Andrea is able to find satisfaction with Gigliola, or if ey will have to go back into eir old sexual behaviors. Casanova ’70 has a cast that showcases the best and brightest Italian actors of the time, with Marcello Mastroianni and VirnaLisi taking up the most of the picture.
The strength of this Monicelli flick is the timeless quality of the humor employed here; what worked in 1965 in Italy still seems extremely funny when viewed in the United States of 2011. The Blu-Ray release of the film contains two additional features- there is a trailer for the film, along with a set of stills that would work admirably as a background or printed out for framing. If anyone in your friend or family circle fancies themselves a fan of sixties cinema (whether Italian or not), make it a point to purchase this Blu-Ray; at about $23, it is cheap compared to other restorations that are on the market.
Rating: 9.1/10
Casanova ’70 (Blu-Ray) / 2011 Lorber Films / 115 Minutes / http://www.kinolorber.com