‘The Facts Of Murder’ Blu-Ray Review – A Masterfully Crafted Italian Murder Mystery

Inspector Ingravallo has been called to a Roman apartment building to investigate a robbery. Once there he questions the tenants but soon realises something is amiss. As the investigation progresses a simple robbery leads to a murder case… Directed by and starring Petro Germi (The Railroad Man) as the growling Inspector, The Facts of Murder was loosely adapted from celebrated author Carlo Emilio Gadda’s novel and is shot with inky shadows reminiscent of film noir, while the mystery element prefigures the giallo. Featuring a cast of wonderful supporting actors including Claudia Cardinale (The Day of the Owl) and Claudio Gora (Il sorpasso), the film won multiple awards at Italian institutions including the Golden Globe for Best Film.

For thoughts on The Facts of Murder, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/yU3bl8Lufgs?si=VsilLr5jOX646Szk&t=61]

Video Quality

The Facts of Murder debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Radiance Films with a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative conducted by L’Immagine Ritrovata at the Cineteca di Bologna. The sumptuous black-and-white photography keeps a steady hand on contrast in all environments with crisp highlights and no unwanted instances of black crush. The shadowy corners present some wonderful depth to the image. Hardly a speck remains in the new transfer, as it is clear that this source has been given a careful clean-up.

The new transfer retains the natural grain structure that preserves the noir aesthetic of the feature. The transfer unlocks subtle details that shine through in the outfits and production design. While the transfer may show off brief instances of softness in a few spots, this is a very rare occurrence as the material holds up impeccably. Radiance Films has delivered a fantastic visual presentation that saves this one from relative obscurity. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with an LPCM 2.0 mono track in the original Italian (with optional English subtitles) which handles the material without a hiccup. The score from Carlo Rustichelli is essential in establishing the mood of the narrative, and it comes through with impressive fidelity. Dialogue always holds up with crisp clarity and without any hint of distortion. Conversations never get overshadowed by the environmental effects or the score. The thoughtful approach to the narrative allows for the precise implementation of environmental sounds and other textural elements. This audio track showcases grand fidelity and nothing in the way of age-related wear and tear. Radiance Films has done well here. 

Special Features

The first-pressing of the Radiance Films Blu-Ray of The Facts of Murder includes a booklet featuring the essay “The Facts of Murder and the Hybridization in Italian Cinema” by author and film historian Roberto Curti that gives great insight into the film and Italian cinema of the time. The on-disc special features are as follows: 

• Mario Sesti: A new 47-minute interview with critic Mario Sesti in which he discusses the background of director Petro Germi, the interesting transformation that took place with his career, the way in which they interpreted the source material, the expressive eyes of  Claudia Cardinale, the critical nature of his filmmaking, and more.

• The Man With A Cigar In His Mouth: A 39-minute documentary from 2005 about Petro Germi with insights from his colleagues and collaborators including Mario Monicelli, Claudia Cardinale, Stefania Sandrelli, Giuseppe Tornatore, and more. This is a great piece that gives you insight into his filmmaking style, how he was on a set, his legacy, and more.

• Paul A.J. Lewis: A new 19-minute visual essay that explores film noir trends in Italian cinema and how the genre evolved over the years. There are a ton of great clips and insights that make you want to seek out any title you have not seen yet. 

Final Thoughts

The Facts of Murder is a terrific investigative crime drama that slowly unfurls with great precision and care. Petro Germi pulls double duty both in front of the camera and behind it while completely nailing both roles. His crafting of the film never leaves any room to stumble or get too convoluted. The ensemble completely sells the unraveling narrative with great conviction, especially the grounded performance from Claudia Cardinale. This is such an engaging watch. Radiance Films has released a Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and some welcome special features. If you are a fan of Italian cinema or crime dramas in general, give this a look. Highly Recommended 

The Facts of Murder 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: Radiance Films 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.