Reviving Cult Classics: The World Premiere of 'Deadly Sweet' at the Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival is gearing up for its upcoming edition with the world premiere of the restored version of the 1967 cult classic film "Deadly Sweet," directed by Italian filmmaker Tinto Brass. The new digital 4k version of the movie, starring Jean-Louis Trintignant and Ewa Aulin, has been restored by Rome's Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia film archives with support from Netflix. It will be screened on September 1 at the festival and included in the Venice Classics program.
"Deadly Sweet" is an erotic pop thriller set in London, following Trintignant's character as he uncovers a murder and decides to protect a young woman, played by Aulin, at the crime scene. The film, produced by Ermanno Donati and Luigi Carpentieri, was loosely inspired by the novel "Il sepolcro di carta" by Sergio Donati. It was presented out-of-competition at the 1967 Venice International Film Festival and features cinematography by Silvano Ippoliti, production design by Carmelo Patrono, and music by Armando Trovajoli.
Tinto Brass, known for his erotic epics like "Salon Kitty" and "Caligula," shot several films in London, including "Deadly Sweet," "Attraction," and "Dropout." His controversial film "Caligula" faced production issues when Penthouse founder Bob Guccione took control of the project and added adult content against the wishes of Brass and screenwriter Gore Vidal, leading to legal disputes over the final cut of the film.
The 84th edition of the Venice Film Festival is scheduled to take place from September 2 to 12, with the festival's lineup set to be announced on July 23. The restored version of "Deadly Sweet" will be a highlight of the festival, showcasing Tinto Brass's unique filmmaking style and contribution to the world of cinema.