The Key Blu-ray Review

• 10th Jun 2013

Most films which attempt to be erotic are rarely any good and which would include such classics as 9½ Weeks (1986) and, dare I say it, the overrated Last Tango in Paris (1972). This is not to compare any of Tinto Brass’s films to the latter, but only to say that at least Tinto Brass’s films explore his own perverted fantasies and for him The Key (1983) is ‘about eroticism’ rather than the usual excuse to show lots of sex and full frontal nudity for titillation. As with most films from this period Italian films, and particularly those by Tinto Brass the women are wonderfully voluptuous and more than a little hirsute. The Key covers all sorts of quirky erotic fantasies including urologia, transvestitism and voyeurism among other perverted fantasies.

The film is set in Venice in 1940 when fascist Italy is on the precipice of war with Mussolini firmly in power following victories in Albania and Abyssinia. The film proceeds to focus on a party attended by Professor Nino Rolfe, curiously played by British actor of stage and predominantly TV, Frank Finlay who is married to the beautiful and voluptuous Teresa (Stefania Sandrelli). Between them they have a daughter, Lisa who is married to Laszlo. Once home from the party she falls asleep and he photographs her naked form and is further excited by almost having been caught taking a pee in an alleyway on their way home. But his ardour is aroused further when he notices the affections of the son-in-law with his wife and proceeds to encourage this flirting which results in a full blown erotic affair. To satisfy all his quirky peccadilloes he keeps a diary locked away with a key hidden in plain sight in order to tempt his wife to read it.

The disc is presented by Arrow Films, promoters of cult soft porn, horror and action and is merely a re-packaging of their previous release, but is now presented in Blu-ray and is shown in both the English and Italian language versions – but do yourselves a favour and play the film in the Italian audio, the English dubbing is awful even is Finlay speaks using his own voice; at least in Italian the film is given some arthouse dignity. Added to this is the equally curious casting of Sandrelli who had appeared in the classic Il Conformista from 1971 and therefore it is very surprising to say in complete nudity in all sorts of positions leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. Of course, as with nearly all films of this type it is cult exploitation but in spite of that it is nicely shot by Silvano Ippolita aided by the atmospheric Venetian exteriors additionally helped by Ennio Morricone’s classical score giving the film an almost Peter Greenaway look to it. Other than a trailer there are no other extras in this soft porn classic.

Chris Hick