Young, attractive American music student Susan Roberts arrives at the sprawling French countryside villa of the late, renowned composer Henry Ryman, on whom she is writing her thesis. She’s warmly welcomed by his widow Danielle, who lives there alongside her wheelchair-bound son Georges, snarky maid Lilliane, and stern butler Carter. As her stay progresses, things take on a sinister tone: late at night, the deceased composer’s music fills the air, played by an unseen pianist, and Danielle seems oddly intent on Susan wearing the clothes of Georges’ former girlfriend Catherine, with whom the student bears a striking resemblance. As the mysteries mount, Susan is torn between her growing attachment to Georges and the looming realization that this eccentric household harbors dark secrets—secrets that may threaten her very life.

Hailing from Britain’s legendary Hammer Film Productions and emerging during the tail end of the company’s golden age, 1970’s CRESCENDO – directed by Alan Gibson, who would go on to helm Dracula A.D. 1972 and The Satanic Rites of Dracula – is a gripping, slow-burn psychological thriller brimming with sexual energy and culminating in a shocking, fever-pitch climax befitting its title. Co-written by Jimmy Sangster (The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula) and Alfred Shaughnessy (The Flesh and Blood Show), it stars Stefanie Powers (Fanatic), Jane Lapotaire (The Asphyx), James Olson (The Andromeda Strain), and Joss Ackland (Penny Gold). Vinegar Syndrome is thrilled to orchestrate the release of this underseen Hammer outing, newly restored for its Blu-ray world premiere and accompanied by a symphony of brand new bonus features.

For thoughts on Crescendo, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:

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Video Quality

This Blu-Ray debut from Vinegar Syndrome gives Crescendo an AVC-encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1 derived from a newly commissioned 2K restoration from the 35mm Interpositive. Just when you think nearly all of the Hammer films have gotten a proper release, this beloved label comes through with another deep cut that is now able to have a rich second life. It does not have the materials available to accommodate a full 4K UHD Blu-Ray release like last year’s The Man Who Could Cheat Death, but the quality is nonetheless incredible. If you have been waiting for a proper release of this title, you are in for a visual treat.

The picture has a consistent, natural grain field that retains the filmic look of the presentation, showcasing subtle details in the rich background. This presentation is virtually free of print damage such as specks, scratches, and tears. Black levels stay strong and never come up short with shadow detail. The picture avoids crush, and highlights are firm with no signs of blooming. Colors saturate the screen with particular boldness in elements of the production design and costumes. Skin tones appear natural, with a fetching amount of facial detail present in close-ups. Vinegar Syndrome has treated this with its due respect.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mono track that deftly captures the sonic intentions of the feature. The scope of the soundscape is kept rather contained, but it succeeds in everything it needs to with ease. Dialogue comes through clearly throughout with no obscured interactions. The score from Malcolm Williamson guides the tone with great care, and every note comes through with ideal fidelity. All of the elements in the mix seem deftly rendered. Vinegar Syndrome has preserved the audio with a careful ear for authenticity. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

  • Audio Commentary: Film historians Vic Pratt and William Fowler provide an informative new commentary track in which they discuss the film’s place among Hammer’s output, the state of horror during this era, the background of the performers, the direction of Alan Gibson, the shooting locations, some of the themes explored, and so much more that is worth a listen.
  • Coda – A Featurette on the Making of Crescendo: A new 14-minute piece featuring interviews with clapper loader Mike Brewster and production manager Hugh Harlow, in which they discuss their relationship and history in film production, the experience of making Crescendo, memorable moments from the set, and more
  • Starting Out – An Interview with Assistant Sound Editor Geoffrey Mackrill: A 14-minute interview with the assistant sound editor in which he discusses securing his position on Crescendo, his memories of the performers, the process of dubbing the performers, and more.
  • Hammer Time – An Interview with Broadcaster and Author Matthew Sweet: A 23-minute interview with the film expert in which he discusses this era of Hammer Films and how it impacted their creative output.
  • Notes on a Theme – An Interview with Film Historian David Huckvale: A 32-minute interview with the historian in which he discusses the music in the film, the themes, the creative figures behind the scenes, and more.
  • Still Gallery (1:59)
  • Trailer (2:41)

Final Thoughts

Crescendo is a simmering psychological thriller from Hammer that forces you to question everything you are witnessing. The film does not explode into true insanity even at its most unhinged, yet it manages to provide steady thrills as more gets unveiled and characters are pushed to their limits. The ensemble provides the proper gravitas to this material to make it memorable, even if it feels like a minor effort from Hammer in the grand scheme of things. Vinegar Syndrome has provided a Blu-Ray that features a grand A/V presentation and a valuable selection of special features. Recommended

Crescendo is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Vinegar Syndrome has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.