To be a lover of classic cinema is more exciting than ever as you often get to experience a hidden gem that a specialty label rescues that never would have been on your radar otherwise. When looking at the career of the great Faye Dunaway, you cannot help but be impressed by the wide range of undisputed classics that are associated with the famed actress. Dunaway came out of nowhere and hit it big with her iconic performance in Bonnie and Clyde and subsequently cemented her A-list status with roles in hits such as The Thomas Crown Affair and Little Big Man. One title released around this time period that was not on my radar previously is the 1970 drama Puzzle of a Downfall Child which featured Dunaway in a tragic lead role. The film was the directorial debut of fashion photographer Jerry Schatzberg based on recordings he had made of his friend, model Anne St. Marie. The film may not have the cultural cache of later Dunaway favorites such as Network or Chinatown, but Puzzle of a Downfall Child is a film that deserves to be seen if only to delight in one of Dunaway’s strongest performances.
The semi-autobiographical tale finds Barry Primus (Boxcar Bertha) standing in for Schatzberg-inspired character of Aaron Reinhardt. Aaron is a photographer and aspiring filmmaker who is trying to connect with present-day Lou Andreas Sand (Faye Dunaway) as she recalls her life as a model and all of the tragedy that has come along with that lifestyle. These days Lou is a shell of her former self; her mind is clouded from years of substance abuse and depression weighs on her heavily. Through flashback, we experience her entry into the world of modeling as framed through her recollections. The film is given an added layer of sorrow as you watch how these events played out and compare them to how Lou relays them to Aaron. More than ever, the present-day Lou wants to protect her reputation and put forth the ideal version of herself, but anyone can clearly see that this is a woman who is struggling in more ways than one. The way in which Dunaway effortlessly blends the bright-eyed optimism of the young ingenue version of her character with the world-weary, broken present day version is a showcase in nuance that elevates it to one of her most enveloping performances.
The plot itself is fairly straightforward; we have seen a tragic downfall on more than one occasion. Yet, the film remains very engrossing thanks to a well-rounded and striking world created by Schatzberg. Lou is very much unlucky in love as she gravitates towards toxic men and keeps those who might be good for her at arm’s length. Roy Scheider (Jaws) plays the unrepentant bastard who does more harm than anyone to perfection. Time after time we see Lou make decisions that serve as a roadmap that leads to her inevitable mental breakdown. The story is very bleak, but it knows how to evoke a visceral emotion that makes the journey worthwhile. For this being a first-time feature for Schatzberg, he wields the direction of a much more experienced filmmaker. He uses his eye as a photographer to compose some shots that elevate the picture above your average cookie-cutter misery-porn. It can become a bit difficult to sit in the poor decisions of such a flawed character, but Dunaway remains a very transfixing figure that makes the film worth exploring.
Video Quality
Puzzle of a Downfall Child comes to Blu-Ray with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 that appears to be derived from an older restored master. The presentation is pretty solid throughout most of the runtime, although there are elements that could have been cleaned up or stabilized with a fresh master. This release does not seem to be plagued by digital tinkering, which allows this transfer to maintain the natural film grain of the presentation. The picture runs slightly on the soft side in many shots, most likely due to limitations of the original source material. Colors are well saturated in a lovely way, and instances of print damage have been cleaned up immensely with fluctuations in density popping up as the most obvious issue. Overall clarity and detail is very nice, and skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up well with crush not serving as an overwhelming issue. This film is not a drop dead gorgeous presentation from start to finish, but it offers pleasing consistency that is admirable.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that captures the artistic intention of the film. The memorable score from Michael Small sounds great throughout the duration of the film, as it creates a sparse, tragic tone for the film. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. Environmental sounds such as the waves on the beach are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any majorly noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Kino Classics has given this film the perfectly preserved, faithful audio presentation it deserves.
Special Features
- Audio Commentary: Film Historian/Filmmaker Daniel Kremer and Film Historian/Podcaster Bill Ackerman give a very impassioned and entertaining commentary track that includes loads of rich detail about the history and creation of the film. These two thoughtfully analyze various aspects of the picture that give one a deeper appreciation for what this first time director was able to accomplish.
- Interview with Director Jerry Schatzberg: A fifteen-minute self-filmed interview conducted during quarantine in which Schatzberg details his history, discusses what made him fall in love with cinema, his experiences with Puzzle of a Downfall Child, reveals behind-the-scenes drama concerning creative struggles and gives his thoughts on the film’s reception. This is more than worthwhile if you enjoy the film.
- Alternate Studio-Edit Opening: A two-minute alternate opening in standard definition which clumsily lays out the stakes of the film in a way that treats the audience as if they are idiots. The theatrical version is much preferred, as it actually has some nuance.
- Trailers From Hell: A two-minute episode of Trailers From Hell with screenwriter Larry Karaszewski that provides a quick overview and history of the film.
- Trailers: The two-minute trailer of the film is provided here which does a decent job of teasing the movie. Kino Classics has also provided trailers for The Thomas Crown Affair and Diary of a Mad Housewife.
Final Thoughts
Puzzle of a Downfall Child is quite the tragic tale, but it is told so compellingly thanks to the craftwork of director Jerry Schatzberg. Faye Dunaway has had a career of magnificent performances, but this heartbreaking turn has to be placed firmly in the top tier of her career. Kino Classics has given this film its long-awaited US Blu-Ray debut with a solid A/V presentation and some really worthwhile special features. If you are a fan of the film or are intrigued by anything you have read here, this is worth adding to your collection.
Puzzle of a Downfall Child is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
