The Bloody Judge — The Bloody Judge( Blu Ray, DVD,& CD boxset)
Before we get into the film it’s self- we’ve got to talk about the packaging here. The five discs are presented in a fold-out digipak- on the back of this is garish artwork from the film. The set features: two Blu Rays(Region B), two DVD’s(Region 2), one CD, and a glossy sixteen-page booklet with pictures & German text. The whole thing is presented in a thick card box, this features a yellow, black & red color scheme- with Christopher Lee dressed in his red judge's gown & white wig pointing out ominously with one of his hands. A Really nice and classy presentation.
The Bloody Judge( aka Throne of the Blood Monster, Witch Killer of Broadmoor, Night of the Blood Monster) appeared in 1970- it's an Italian, West German, Spanish production. It was one of three films Franco helmed in the year 1970’s- the others been- Count Dracular( also with Mr. Lee), and the more low-key/ trippy Nightmares Come At Night. By Franco standards this must stand as one of his higher budgeted films- and really matches similar period production of the time. As we have good & well made period costumes, grand set designs, and at points a fairly large cast. There’s are one or two large & dramatic battles too- as well as some very grand cinematography- so the most certainly highlights a very competent & talented filmmaker, and not the perverse hack some of called him.
The film features in its lead role Christopher Lee as Judge Jeffries- taking place in 1685 during the Monmouth's Rebellion, where the real Jeffries undertook the trail of over 700 rebels- many of which were tortured then executed. The film primarily focuses on the more witch hunter side of the story( whether or not this is true I’m unsure). It all begins with the capture & torture of a young woman who they claim is a witch- her sister Mary Grey(Maria Rohm) comes forward to try & save her, but her sister gets final burned to death. After this Ms. Grey is stalked by Jeffries & his sadistic goons, and she gets tangled up with the rebels. The film moves along at a fairly typical period pace, but this been a Franco film we get sprinkles of sleaze, torture, and touches of trippy unease.
Lee as you’d expect is wonderful as the authoritarian Jeffries- with his tall dark presence, booming voice, and great intimidating manner. The rest of the cast is good enough too by period standards- with a few more recognisable Franco cast turning up like Howard Vernon as the judges lead torture, Jack Ketch- he makes for a decidedly freaky figure dressed all in black with a face showing hood, big gloves, and a large gold-colored belt buckle. The are more typical exploitation moments pop-up here & there- we get leering but very much softcore fleshy encounters, fake blood splattered torturing- taking in brandings, whippings, and the occasional limb chopping. From time-to-time we get the more heady-to-sleazed Franco camera work, but both of these elements are fairly fleeting, though a little more prolonged in the longer cuts of the film. The film score is by Bruno Nicolai- moving between grand & dramatic scoring, and more woozy-to-discordant tracking on the more exploitation F/ranco moments. On the whole, The Bloody Judge is a rather schizophrenic affair-moving between the more formal period action, horror/ exploitation tropes, and Franco sleazy queazy-ness.
Moving onto the boxset it’s self- we get three versions of the film- the International version, this runs for one hour, forty-two minutes, and forty seconds. The Integral version, this is the longest version here at one hour, forty-four minutes and eight seconds. Then lastly the German language version( with no English subs)- this is the shortest version at one hour, nineteen minutes, and four seconds. I watched the international version- and this had a good clean & crisp new scan- with like the Integral version having german & English language versions, as well as optionally sub-titles. On the extra front over the set, we get Franco-Philes: Musings on Madrid's B-Movie Maverick- this is a doc that first appeared on 88 Films release of Devil Hunter. It’s extended/ full version of the doc-featuring two new interviews with actress Caroline Munro and Daniel Lesoeur from Eurocine. It runs at around the one-hour five-minute mark, and is largely focused on various genre experts/ academics talking about Franco’s career- going from summing up his whole output, moving into focus on certain more key/ known films, before going onto discuss his films that landed on the video nasty list, and general afterthoughts now that Franco pasted a few years back. Mixed in with these we get interviews with Daniel Lesoeur talking about his time working with Franco, and Caroline Munro talking about working with on his late 80’s film Faceless. On the whole, it’s an enjoyable and worthy doc, though hardly the definitive Franco doc, I’d say it will be of most interest to those who don’t really know Franco’s work, or have seen a few of his films already. On the same disc as the doc, we get a thirty-minute super eight version of the film. Other extras wise on the other discs get an Introduction from Christian Kessler who co-wrote Obsession: The Films of Jess Franco- this is German only. Two additional scenes- one is from the Spanish version [5m.45] and one from the German version [2.35]. A selection of different English & euro trailers for the film, and a Still gallery – featuring Poster art, Lobby Cards, On Set Stills, and some Behind the Scenes shots.
Lastly, we of course have the films CD soundtrack- this is a reissue of the 1998 Lucertola Media release of the soundtrack under it’s Il Trono Di Fuoco title. The CD runs for fifty-three minutes and takes in thirty-five tracks. It’s certainly a nicely varied & versatile score from the respected Italian composer Bruno Nicolai- it moves between grand & epic sweeping-to-galloping string topped orchestrated scoring. Swooning & moody darker string works, and more lo-key/sinister fare that goes from creepy gothic organ work-outs, more discordant & taut scoring, and blends of the two. So a great score, as well as a good stand-alone listen too.
In finishing this boxset has to be one of the most deluxe & classy presentations of a Franco film I’ve seen- with Koch Media presenting a very well put together and eye-catching looking release. So if you’re a Franco collector this is most certainly a must, if you have more of a passing interest in Franco, and enjoy his more period set/ bigger budgeted film’s I’d also say this is worth picking up too. Head to Koch Media here to pick up a copy direct