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Product Description
Available for the first time on Blu-ray. In Liliana Cavani s scintillating drama, a concentration camp survivor (Charlotte Rampling) discovers her ex-torturer/lover (Dirk Bogarde) working as a night porter at a hotel in post-war Vienna. When the couple attempt to re-create their sadomasochistic relationship, his former SS comrades begin to stalk them. Operatic and disturbing, The Night Porter deftly examines the cruelty and decadence of Nazi culture.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When this came out there was outcry, naturally; you've got an ex-SS officer in hiding and a concentration camp victim stumbling upon him. Oh yes, and there's a violent S&M relationship between them. That's your money shot, baby. How could it get anymore crass, right? Not quite.
Set in 50's Vienna (shot in mute, subdued and dank colours), Max is undercover as a night porter in a hotel when Lucia, his captive, turns up with her other half for a stay. They set eyes on each other and fall back into their old relationship. The 'sex scenes' are not quite sex orientated, it's all about the power struggle, which is depicted in unflinching realism. The glass shards in the feet moment is eye watering, to say the least.
Dirk Bogarde is utterly captivating, strong and wormily weak simutaneously as he grapples with the reappearance of Lucia and the fact that he is being interrogated by a group of his fellow SS officers with regards to keeping a lid on their actions and pasts, but indulging in some creepy confessions to one another as a purging tool.
Night Porter is a confusing film. The end comes quickly and suddenly but leaves some very opened ended plot lines. It's political and dark, sometimes beautiful but ultimately sad. Forget the shock tactics of using Nazis, this is really about the complexity and decay of human emotion, and the cruelty of mankind when there is the scent of power in the air.
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
By Pandora
Format:DVD
I was pleased to find this film on DVD at last, and keen to replace my old VHS video of it. It is a stunning, powerful film,that evolves with every viewing.
It is a classic.
BUT...
This DVD is watchable but the picture quality is awful in some areas.The film becomes very dark, brown and grainy till you can hardly see the actors faces.Sometimes the faces are a blur!
This does ruin the film in places, for me...as I know the film so well.The dramatic power of the scenes is damaged by this in my opinion.
I assume the film stock has decayed beyond repair? Why has it not been moved to DVD with care? Why has such a poor copy been selected for distribution?
And yet I have a video recorded from British television that is pristine! The film is crystal clear, full of light, with sharp contrasts between the reds, whites and blacks. The 'Reunion'scene in the hotel room instead of being a murky-black fog is visible again, the actors faces revealed.
If you love this powerful film I advise recording a TV copy for a good home copy.
As with 'The Dogs of War' and 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'(both edited before DVD release) It looks as if this film has not made its transition to a new format either. I shall be hanging onto my old old VHS copy again!!!!
It is a classic.
BUT...
This DVD is watchable but the picture quality is awful in some areas.The film becomes very dark, brown and grainy till you can hardly see the actors faces.Sometimes the faces are a blur!
This does ruin the film in places, for me...as I know the film so well.The dramatic power of the scenes is damaged by this in my opinion.
I assume the film stock has decayed beyond repair? Why has it not been moved to DVD with care? Why has such a poor copy been selected for distribution?
And yet I have a video recorded from British television that is pristine! The film is crystal clear, full of light, with sharp contrasts between the reds, whites and blacks. The 'Reunion'scene in the hotel room instead of being a murky-black fog is visible again, the actors faces revealed.
If you love this powerful film I advise recording a TV copy for a good home copy.
As with 'The Dogs of War' and 'Picnic at Hanging Rock'(both edited before DVD release) It looks as if this film has not made its transition to a new format either. I shall be hanging onto my old old VHS copy again!!!!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Robert
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This review is rightly for the UK BLU-RAY RELEASE of the 30th of July 2012. This transfer is excellent- sharp, clear picture and lovely sound. When I first heard that Anchor Bay were issuing this classic on Blu-ray I was at first worried as they made a real mess of the UK DVD a few years ago. However, another organisation has actually done the transfer which I believe is the same party who did it in France not long ago. Anchor Bay own the UK rights and they have simply just packaged it for a piece of the action. So we can all be at ease! I give 5 out of 5 for the picture and sound quality but sadly there are no extras hence my rating. But for the price of just £8.00 that I paid it's great value!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Dave
Format:DVD
Welcome to the true wellspring of the most controversial and generally hated sub-genre in all of Exploitation cinema's vast universe; Naziploitation.
Although the idea of WW2 concentration camp detainees and their Nazi captors being used for exploitative `thrills' was first spat out at the screen in the form of infamous `Nasty' "Love Camp 7" in 1969, that film actually played like a `Women in Prison' flick more than anything else.
It was certainly not erotic, fetishist, violently nasty or decadent.
In the same year Visconti's excellent "The Damned" (also starring Bogarde with Rampling in a support role) offered up our first real mix of eroticism and sumptuous decadence with the fetishistic power of the Nazi image.
But Visconti's film was a serious dramatic work and importantly set pre-war so as such none of the other essential trappings of the Naziploitation genre were present.
Then, a surprisingly long 5 years later, Liliana Cavani gave us "The Night Porter".
Here for the first time the controversial elements of out and out Nazi imagery and ideology mixed with the sight of naked men and women huddled into a dank concentration camp at the sadistic mercy of their all powerful captors was unleashed upon the worldwide cinema audience.
And it all came with the coating of art house credibility.
But for all its art house trappings, philosophical musings and moments of deftly acted deep character study (from two excellent lead performances) it is in fact the glue of out and out exploitation that ultimately holds the film together.... Read more ›
Although the idea of WW2 concentration camp detainees and their Nazi captors being used for exploitative `thrills' was first spat out at the screen in the form of infamous `Nasty' "Love Camp 7" in 1969, that film actually played like a `Women in Prison' flick more than anything else.
It was certainly not erotic, fetishist, violently nasty or decadent.
In the same year Visconti's excellent "The Damned" (also starring Bogarde with Rampling in a support role) offered up our first real mix of eroticism and sumptuous decadence with the fetishistic power of the Nazi image.
But Visconti's film was a serious dramatic work and importantly set pre-war so as such none of the other essential trappings of the Naziploitation genre were present.
Then, a surprisingly long 5 years later, Liliana Cavani gave us "The Night Porter".
Here for the first time the controversial elements of out and out Nazi imagery and ideology mixed with the sight of naked men and women huddled into a dank concentration camp at the sadistic mercy of their all powerful captors was unleashed upon the worldwide cinema audience.
And it all came with the coating of art house credibility.
But for all its art house trappings, philosophical musings and moments of deftly acted deep character study (from two excellent lead performances) it is in fact the glue of out and out exploitation that ultimately holds the film together.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A young and beautiful Rampling.
La Rampling is ueber sexy in her nazi outfit just showing her small tits. She has also a sexy look in her eyes. Read more
Published 7 days ago by sunrisespacelab
2.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting film, but rather shabby print.
The dvd did not look so hot frankly. May as well stick with the videotape, unless the blu-ray looks fab?
Published 2 months ago by Suzy Geeson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Seen in Geneva when it first came out
I had remembered this film as a black and white. It was very pleasant to see it in colour.
Somehow I remember the scenes of food deprivation and broken glass were more... Read more
Somehow I remember the scenes of food deprivation and broken glass were more... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. John A. Oxenford
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Night Porter First Time on HD in the UK
The picture is significantly improved over the old Anchor Bay release - the colours are far more natural. Sound is likewise. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rob W
4.0 out of 5 stars
A superior high-definition transfer of Cavani's moody psychosexual...
Anchor Bay offers up the same clean transfer of THE NIGHT PORTER on blu-ray as the French Wild-Side version (negligible for its forced French subtitles). Read more
Published 10 months ago by Gary Vidmar
4.0 out of 5 stars
Troubling work of art...
The Night Porter's claustrophobic take on obsessive and dangerous sexuality, set against a background of concentration camps and the decadence of the Third Reich will always... Read more
Published 11 months ago by SamJones99
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dreadful Transfer
The Anchor Bay release of this film is the worst DVD transfer I have ever seen. I am just amazed that a film could be released in this state. Will be sending it straight back.
Published 14 months ago by CineMan
3.0 out of 5 stars
What possessed Me....?
...to buy The Night Porter? I'd not heard of either it nor its director, Liliana Cavani. Had no idea of the hype, the controversy. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Tim Kidner
1.0 out of 5 stars
Scandanavian Blu-ray review
Great movie, however I would avoid the Scandanavian blu-ray release. Picture quality is terrible, on a par with previous releases, I would suggest it is the worst transfer I have... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. C. De Mello
2.0 out of 5 stars
lackery
I wish more people would give a review of the product and not of the film, after all critics corner should be elsewehere. Read more
Published 16 months ago by S. Oram
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