Sex will always sell. It forms a part of the worlds oldest profession and the newest obsession. From the business pages of today to the first flickers on the silver screen to the lust in the dust of biblical times. Sex is front and centre. When Dove Linkhorn (Laurence Harvey) stumbles into the town of New Orleans, accompanied by Kitty Twist (Jane Fonda), he is dripping with it. The heat and dust of his home in Texas left him thirsty for it. However its not Kitty, nor the kind cafe owner, Teresina (Anne Baxter) that draw his eye. Its the long lost love of Hallie (Capucine). She is the one that got away. The one that he pines after and claws for.

Like all good love stories however Dove is going to meet issues. Love is never simple or runs a straight road, with eash routes to navigate along. The issue here is complicated. Namely the complication of a woman who is keeping a firm eye on Hallie, Jo Courtney (Barbara Stanwyck). She is a local madam and runs the “Doll House”, a high society bordello for boys that like women that come with a price tag. The bordello thugs are eager to also join in the working over to Dove. Jealous and fear mean Jo  wants Hallie for her business and maybe herself. The problems only get more complicated when one woman who shouldn’t get involved, gets involved. Kitty.

Arrow have restored to us a classic of the end of the golden age. A film that glows in the last twinkles of Hollywood lighting and black and white camera. Starring greats. Directed by a genius and magnetic within its slender frame. Somethings are overtly nodded at. Some are hinted. Or insinuated. Or suggested at. All of the A list cast, be it Fonda, Harvey,  Stanwyck and Capucine give exceptional, emotive performances. Director Edward Dmytryk captures with a step back and a sweep, everything. This heavy dust and sex is intoxicating. Lust and desire are simmering under the celluloid and I think anyone with a passing interest in cinema, will desire this.

DISC

I already suggested that the 4K new restoration is beautiful. What I mean is that it is STUNNING!! You can almost smell the cinema as you watch the (already well preserved film) film flicker on. Now some are under impressed by the way 4K makes anew some films. Here I was stupefied at its subtle genius. White and Black. All clear. All clean. No loss on the edge. On the depth of field. On the shallow frame.

EXTRAS

Here is where the extra dough will be rewarded.  The best extra is the feminist pondering, film thinking new commentary by critics Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan. They arent just a bunch of factoids looking for a home, more a serious and spritely reflection on the films sexual, female and intellect undertones. Then interview with director Edward Dmytryk is all but simple in its communication but divines a path to something even more interesting.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
– High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of a brand new 4K restoration from Sony Pictures
– Original lossless mono audio
– Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
– Brand new commentary by critics Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan
– Brand new interview with historian and critic Richard Dyer
– Brand new interview with Pat Kirkham, co-author of Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design
– Archival interview with director Edward Dmytryk
– Still Gallery
– Theatrical Trailer
– Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Scott Saslow

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet with new writing by critics Lee Gambin and Eloise Ross.