Rabid Dogs/Kidnapped Blu Ray – Lea Lander, Riccardo Cucciolla 

1970s Italian crime thriller from director Mario Bava. Following a botched robbery three thieves, Dottore (Maurice Poli), Bisturi (Don Backy) and Trentadue (George Eastman), take a woman (Lea Lander) hostage and hijack a man (Riccardo Cucciolla)’s car in their attempt to get away. As the man, under their orders, drives them out of Rome to a safe location, he becomes increasingly concerned for his sickly son who is in desperate need of medical attention.

Following difficulties in his career Mario Bava happened across an idea that would enable him to compete with the younger directors lighting up the Italian box office such as Dario Argento and Sergio Martino. Rabid Dogs begins as $70 000 of wages are being transferred when the Ajaccio gang hit. With a hail of bullets in a quick raid they speed off in their waiting getaway car. Tough violent and realistic Bava’s film ramps up the tension and doesn’t stop as hostages are added and the film builds to its dizzying finale. Unfolding in real time a rare device seen only in earlier films such as High Noon and 12 Angry Men yet totally unheard of in Italian cinema at the time Rabid Dogs is a singular film in Bava’s filmography and one of the greatest crime films of the period. Special Features: High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of two versions of the film; ‘Rabid Dogs’ – Bava’s original version posthumously completed from his notes and ‘Kidnapped’ – the re-edited re-dubbed and re-scored version supervised by Bava’s son and assistant Lamberto Bava and producer Alfredo Leone Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on both versions Audio Commentary with Bava biographer and expert Tim Lucas End of the Road: The Making of Rabid Dogs – A documentary featurette including interviews with Lamberto Bava Alfredo Leone and star Lea Lander Original Trailer Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Stephen Thrower a history of the multiple versions of the film from Semaforo Rosso to Rabid Dogs to Kidnapped by Peter Blumenstock illustrated with original stills and posters Much more to be announced!