Blu Ray Review: Violent City/The Family

I first saw the Charles Bronson movie Citta violenta (Violent City) via its American re-edit under the title The Family in the early 1970s. It is a wildly disjoined action crime drama and it left an impression. Kino Lorber has now released a blu ray containing all three versions of the film on two separate discs.

Disc one is Violent City, a complete English language version of Citta violenta that restores footage removed for its release as The Family. However, since this footage was never dubbed in English, it is in Italian with subtitles.

Disc two is Citta violenta, the original Italian cut in Italian with optional English subtitles, and The Family, the most noted American release of the film.

Of the three different versions, it is the American version The Family that I found most interesting despite the edits. This appears like I am toppling into sentiment, having seen this cut originally 50 years ago. But this HD master is from 35mm and retains all of the dings, pops, and emulsion marks that adds an organic sort of earthiness to the visual. The other two versions are 2K (Violent City) and 4K (Citta violenta) and have a sharper, cleaned-up visual image. Of course, it doesn’t really matter which version I like and whether or not you agree. All three versions are contained in this set, so you can comfortably make your own choice. Each has its own significant merit.

There is a historical importance to this film. Charles Bronson was already a veteran actor whose career dated back to the 1950s, but at age 50 was just starting to establish himself as an action star. He had done so in the European market, but the same level of fame in his own country would not happen until the release of Michael Winner’s Death Wish a few years later. In fact, when Death Wish was enjoying massive popularity at the box office, The Family was re-released into the mainstream.

The supporting cast includes Telly Savales (with whom Bronson had appeared in The Dirty Dozen and The Battle of the Bulge), Jill Ireland (Bronson's real-life wife) and veteran Italian actor Umberto Orsini. The film is further enhanced by Ennio Morricone's excellent score.

Sergio Sollima directed from his script which he co-wrote with filmmaker Lina Wertmüller and the movie is filled with action and excitement. The quick edits, succession of shots, and action within the frame are immediately impressive with an opening auto chase, and the fast pace is maintained throughout. A special feature on the Violent City disc features an interview with Sollima, as well as a commentary track by Charles Bronson expert Paul Talbot which is typically enlightening and informative.

An excellent, thorough, blu ray release even by Kino Lorber’s lofty standards, Violent City/The Family is highly recommended and can be purchased at this link: VIOLENT/FAMILY