The Hot Nights Of Linda (Blu-ray + DVD Combo) (1975)

When writer/director Jess Franco died in April 2013, cinema lost its legendary master of Euro-Cult. Now in memory of his extraordinary 50+ year career, Severin is proud to present one of his most notorious slabs of uber-sleaze: Alice Arno (of JUSTINE DE SADE fame) stars as a secretary sent to the seaside estate of a depraved millionaire, his nymphomaniac daughter (Franco's beloved muse Lina Romay), her invalid cousin (Catherine Lafferiere of EXORCISM) and their grunting houseboy. But when her day's work ends, a nightmare of depraved new duties will begin! Paul Muller (BARBED WIRE DOLLS) co-stars in this Uncle Jess jaw-dropper packed with incest, lesbianism, sadism and murder, restored from a 35mm print discovered in a Barcelona bordello, loaded with Bonus Features and presented in high definition for the first time ever in America! Bonus Features: Hot Nights - Exclusive Interview with director Jess Franco; Jess and Lina talk LINDA - Exclusive Interview with Director Jess Franco and Star Lina Romay; Fantasticfest Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation to Jess Franco; NIGHTMARE USA/BEYOND TERROR Author Stephen Thrower on LINDA; Out-takes; Trailer

Great looking bluray with minor print damage & telecine wobble here and there. It features many obvious cutaways and very little nudity IMO. The "hard banana cut" featured on the limited to 2500 copies edition seems to be the real cut to me. It is the film I expected to see, with plenty of flesh on display during the sunbathing scenes and just about everywhere else (completely different takes by the way with the actors). The hardcore scenes (very few) also feature Lina Romay, not some inserts. I really feel this is the true cut, though the poor quality tape source hampers things quite a bit (it is anamorphic widescreen however & in French with English subs). This reminds me a lot of Shreik Show's first attempt at Lizard in a Woman's Skin; good quality edited print, poor quality for the uncut. Anyhow, I'm glad I was able to see it, but without the bonus disc, this might be a complete waste, despite Lina's lovely eyes often zoomed upon (Leone style) in the cut Bluray version. I'll even go so far as to say that the film plays much better in the "hardcore cut" and the ending works better for me. If anybody can offer further info about the various cuts, I'd love to know. For now, I consider the Blu just an awkward tease & not worth owning without the bonus. The banana rape scene doesn't exist, nor is it even eluded to on the bluray. If you've ever read anything about this film, sorry, that's not on the Blu. Get the limited edition while it's available.