Customer Reviews

The Bloody Judge

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an amazing movie. It's basically an exploitation movie with the production values of an historical drama. The acting is outstanding, particularly Christopher Lee and Maria Rohm. Blue Underground have scraped together a magnificent print, taking elements from the various released and unreleased versions of the movie to produced an excellent film that's never existed in this form before. Given the patchwork history it seems like the movie should be a mess, but it all hangs together very well. The inclusion of alternate versions of some scenes in the extras department is very educational. The interview segments from this and the other Blue Underground released of Jess Franco/Harry Alan Towers collaborations could probably be edited into a great feature-length documentary.

Speaking of which, Blue Underground have now released all the Franco/Towers movies except for Count Dracula. I hope that's on the drawing board for the not-too-distant future!

A great improvement on the earlier 94 minute video.Blue underground have produced a version of this film that is both of excellent quality and quantity,approximately 10 minutes extra.As for the film itself Franco fans should not be disappointed.The battle scenes are somewhat tedious but Maria Rohm's exploits more than make up for that slight criticism.Anyone who has Witchfinder General or Mark of the Devil in their collection should certainly buy this.

By this time franco was making movies with plots , gone are the lsd inspired early 70's plotless type of flicks, this one instead is a straight story from the past that is similiar to 'witchfinder general'. Blue Underground which always does things right put together this fine film from several existing edits and came out with the best looking and edited version of the film possible. This one is about a sadistic judge who wreaks havoc on the people of his time. the 1600's or some such era. Christopher lee is of course excellent and this one is a must for horror fans. ALthough the horror is from the actions of the judge and not some nonhuman monster.

Christopher Lee is tremendously effective as the pompous, sadistic, and perverse Judge George Jeffries. Lee and director, Jess Franco battled over the way in which Jeffries should be presented -Lee wanting a more historically accurate approach, while Franco (of course) wanted a more salacious portrayal. Both sides won! In THE BLOODY JUDGE, Lee is able to play it fairly straight, unaware of the twisted, gory, and somewhat demented touches that Franco would add later! The finished product is a historical drama w/ nudity, blood, and torture! Mr. Lee has refused to watch the film, not being a fan of anything graphic or gratuitous. Maria Rohm is stunningly beautiful and makes the perfect object of Jeffries' carnal desires. Howard Vernon is also good as the torturer-in-chief! Great stuff!...