As you may be aware, we have been laboring tirelessly on our upcoming Blu-ray/4K UHD combo release of Giuliano Carnimeo’s 1972 giallo “The Case of the Bloody Iris” and the movie’s restoration for this release. The support we have been experiencing has been overwhelming and incredibly encouraging over these past weeks. Working from a brand new scan of the original camera negative, we have been cleaning up and restoring well over 100,000 frames, but time has not been kind to the celluloid that preserves this classic genre cornerstone.
The condition of the negative is such that there are large sections that have been severely damaged over time. The film emulsion is peeling, it’s deteriorating, and there are chemical splotches that cause severe discolorations that riddle several parts of the film. They range from small spatters and noticeable discoloration to blotches that cover the entire frame. We do not know what caused the issues, but something during the last 15 years has terribly affected the negative, causing irreversible damage.
In fact, there are several sequences in which virtually every frame is affected. Entire scenes, sometimes running up to 30 seconds or more, have been damaged to the point that regular clean-up methods no longer work. These shots need painstaking repairs and reconstruction—a task we were prepared to do. We are committed to bringing you the best presentation possible of the film. A presentation that will hopefully bely all the defects and damages we are dealing with and will allow you to enjoy the movie without visual distraction.
However, as it turns out, this process is a lot more time-consuming than we had originally anticipated, especially in light that we have run into many more sequences with such extensive damage than we had initially expected.
As a result, it is unfortunately impossible for us to release the film on April 9 as we originally intended, and we were forced to push back the release date to June 11 instead. We are exceedingly grateful for your understanding and ongoing support, and with every available minute, be assured that we are fully dedicated to bringing this beloved film back to its original glory.
While it may not make the wait any easier, we also wanted to assure you that we have two additional gialli already lined up and in the works. Both of them high-caliber films, and both of them eagerly anticipated movies.
Make sure to follow our social media (Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook) for the latest developments because we will unveil exciting information about our second release in short order. It is a film so many of you have inquired about, and we are proud to be the new home of one of the genre’s most anticipated films!
Watch this space…
The Celluloid Dreams Team
