If you thought Tinto Brass can only churn out high end softcore films, then you are in for a real treat. Tinto Brass’ 1967 giallo film COL CUORE IN GOLA, or otherwise titled DEADLY SWEET is a great example of Tinto as auteur rather than just a stylist.

The film stars Ewa Aulin ( from CANDY, here at 17 years old) as Jane Burroughs,  and Jean-Louis Trintigant (THE GREAT SILENCE, MY NIGHT AT MAUD’S) as Bernard, who first sees Jane at a club. Entranced by her beauty he follows her to the back room only to discover a dead man on the floor with her backed in the corner repeating to herself, “I didn’t do it”. 

So there is our set up. Bernard is only willing to help this woman out and finds himself suddenly pitted against mobsters and thugs in a world of 60’s iconic pop and comic book culture. Jane is a rather frail character who relies heavily on Bernard’s machismo to take out the problems that beset their path, and while looking for Jane’s brother to discover the true killer. 

  If you are familiar with Brass’ softcore works, like PRIVATE, ALL LADIES DO or MIRANDA (all Cult Epic releases), you will see glimpses of his style in this film, particularly his editing. Tinto Brass says in an interview on this disc, “I direct in order to have something to edit.” And it is more true in DEADLY SWEET than any other film. Here he takes this film and really manipulates the visuals to give it a musical rhythm that few can really create. You can really see it in both the editing and camera work, which vacillates between color and black and white seamlessly (and almost effectively, but after a while you get the idea that black and white does not offer a symbolic suggestion, but rather a contrast to the color). 

I am emphasizing the editing in this film because it is quite flashy and makes note of itself, and that is exactly the style that Brass likes, to make known who is working the controls. His later works again, like an artist, letting the viewer know by the master strokes on the canvas. The best editing sequence is when Bernard is being tortured by some thugs and a swinging light bulb. A creepy and effective scene that is heightened by a musical and visual marriage. 

Some have criticized Brass’ work by copying some of the 60’s New Wave cinema such as Godard, Truffaut and Fellini. DEADLY SWEET was released in 1967 and some of these directors are more firmly established, while Brass was just getting his feet wet. If anything, he was showing homage and influence rather than copying and developing his own tastes for cinema. Brass was less concerned with his psychological relationship to cinema and society, but rather how it looked on the screen to an audience.

DEADLY SWEET has a lot of fun getting to its destination, even if it meanders at times and does not have a beeline path to the next point of inquiry. The relationship between Bernard and Jane is a rocky one from the get-go and continues to have its own strain, despite that these two seem to like each other. Ewa Aulin is very attractive here and shows herself off in a few scenes, but not in the typical Brass fashion. Here is where he is most restrained and probably due to the story that needs to come forward.

Cult Epics releases this film among the many Tinto Brass titles already released. Like the previous Brass titles, this one is a must for his fans, even though it does not have the explicit charm of his later works. You will certainly find it a nice change of pace and see Brass as a real filmmaker here, and not just a voyeur of beautiful women. 

Cult Epics does a nice job in their presentation, although some reviewers have criticized it being a PAL conversion, as mentioned by 10k Bullets, “This transfer has not been flagged for progressive playback and there are instances of ghosting / blurring that vary in degree. Also the actual running time of the film is about 100 minutes and not the 105 minutes stated on the DVD back cover. The difference in time appears to be a PAL to NTSC conversion issue.” I only noticed this once it was pointed out, but even then, I was not horrified by it.

Special features offers an audio commentary by Tinto Brass, his first, I believe, in English. It is rather hard to hear him at times, first with his raspy voice (all those cigars!) and then his broken English. But he does give a good commentary overall and makes some interesting observations about his own style and practice as a director. Trailers and photo galleries round this set out to make a solid release. Recommended! The back cover of the DVD states “Also available THE HOWL (L’Urlo) and ATTRACTION (Nerosubianco). These are titles Cult Epics is preparing for a 3rd Tinto Brass set, all being his earlier works. So keep an eye out. All three films are currently playing theatrically in Loas Angeles. See Cult Epics website for more details about the theatrical viewings and the DVD.

Below is the Tinto Brass Collection as released by Cult Epics. For more information, visit them at www.cultepics.com.