I’ve seen this one twice and I’m still not sure of what’s happening or happened through its all too brief runtime. I love Fernando Di Leo’s work but this one was … I’m still not sure about it. Loaded Guns seems to be a parody of his own work.
The plot concerns itself with an airline stewardess (Ursula Andress) who gets embroiled with a bunch of drug dealers and criminals after a mix-up on one of her flights and a request from a charming snake in the grass of a criminal. Di Leo seems to be working within the framework of Yojimbo (something many a filmmaker has ripped or riffed on). Though the way that things play out it feels as much a reference point for both Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch and Tarantino’s adaptation of Leonard’s book as Jackie Brown including star Ursula playing a Stewardess that must use her smarts to outwit everyone.
Di Leo’s film, as the norm with most of his work, is tightly constructed with an eye for character over plot. One cannot fully say that this is a feminist take on a crime film. There are too many leering lingering shots of Andress fully nude to really not feel the ick of exploitation. Though her character is essentially the center of the film and its hero which is a rarity in Italian Crime films, especially a Di Leo film.
Loaded Guns regardless of its faults is highly entertaining, especially for anyone that adores Di Leo’s work or has a fluent knowledge of Italian Crime Films of the 1970s.
The Transfer
The film’s transfer is a definite upgrade from previous editions. The film appears to be a newer source or transfer from prior editions. The image is solid with upticks in quality, sharpness, color, and definition in black levels. The Blu-ray looks more wholly like the film and the detail that they were able to get out of the image is impressive.
The Extras
They include the following;
Audio Commentary by film historian Rachael Nisbet
Fernando Di Leo: Parody of a Genre
The Audio Commentary by film historian Rachael Nisbet opens with her qualifications and the topics that she’ll cover during the run time of the film. Some of the details include the literal translation of Italian title; how the film breaks the conventions of the crime films of Di Leo and how the film does diverge; the genesis and development of the film; a discussion of Di Leo’s career at this point including both writing and writing/directing entries– which led to the development of the film; a deep dive into the career and personal history of Ursula Andress; the way the film was cast by Di Leo – with an aim for comedic talents; Di Leo’s thoughts on the finished film – and its lack of success; the crime comedy genre at the time beyond this film; a larger discussion about the various actors that appear in the film; a discussion of the critical reception of the film; and much more.
Fernando Di Leo: Parody of a Genre (19:53) – a detailed look at the making of the film and specifically what made this so different in Di Leo’s career. The featurette covers the development, casting, production, and release/reception of the film. Featuring interviews with producer Armando Novelli, journalist Davide Pulici, filmmaker/assistant director Luca Damiano, editor Amedeo Diomini, and others.
The Final Thought
Raro has put together another great edition of an Italian Genre film. Recommended.
Ursula Andress teams up with Fernando Di Leo for the wild Loaded Guns. New to Blu-ray from Raro Video.
The Film
I’ve seen this one twice and I’m still not sure of what’s happening or happened through its all too brief runtime. I love Fernando Di Leo’s work but this one was … I’m still not sure about it. Loaded Guns seems to be a parody of his own work.
The plot concerns itself with an airline stewardess (Ursula Andress) who gets embroiled with a bunch of drug dealers and criminals after a mix-up on one of her flights and a request from a charming snake in the grass of a criminal. Di Leo seems to be working within the framework of Yojimbo (something many a filmmaker has ripped or riffed on). Though the way that things play out it feels as much a reference point for both Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch and Tarantino’s adaptation of Leonard’s book as Jackie Brown including star Ursula playing a Stewardess that must use her smarts to outwit everyone.
Di Leo’s film, as the norm with most of his work, is tightly constructed with an eye for character over plot. One cannot fully say that this is a feminist take on a crime film. There are too many leering lingering shots of Andress fully nude to really not feel the ick of exploitation. Though her character is essentially the center of the film and its hero which is a rarity in Italian Crime films, especially a Di Leo film.
Loaded Guns regardless of its faults is highly entertaining, especially for anyone that adores Di Leo’s work or has a fluent knowledge of Italian Crime Films of the 1970s.
The Transfer
The film’s transfer is a definite upgrade from previous editions. The film appears to be a newer source or transfer from prior editions. The image is solid with upticks in quality, sharpness, color, and definition in black levels. The Blu-ray looks more wholly like the film and the detail that they were able to get out of the image is impressive.
The Extras
They include the following;
The Audio Commentary by film historian Rachael Nisbet opens with her qualifications and the topics that she’ll cover during the run time of the film. Some of the details include the literal translation of Italian title; how the film breaks the conventions of the crime films of Di Leo and how the film does diverge; the genesis and development of the film; a discussion of Di Leo’s career at this point including both writing and writing/directing entries– which led to the development of the film; a deep dive into the career and personal history of Ursula Andress; the way the film was cast by Di Leo – with an aim for comedic talents; Di Leo’s thoughts on the finished film – and its lack of success; the crime comedy genre at the time beyond this film; a larger discussion about the various actors that appear in the film; a discussion of the critical reception of the film; and much more.
Fernando Di Leo: Parody of a Genre (19:53) – a detailed look at the making of the film and specifically what made this so different in Di Leo’s career. The featurette covers the development, casting, production, and release/reception of the film. Featuring interviews with producer Armando Novelli, journalist Davide Pulici, filmmaker/assistant director Luca Damiano, editor Amedeo Diomini, and others.
The Final Thought
Raro has put together another great edition of an Italian Genre film. Recommended.
Raro Video’s Blu-Ray edition of Loaded Guns is out now.
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