A Bell From Hell (aka The Bells/1973)
Picture: B- Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Film: C+
A Bell From Hell (La Campana del infierno,
1973) was made in Spain, cost director Claudio Guerin Hill his life when he
fell from the tower holding the bell to his death on the last day of shooting,
and made when Fascist dictator Franco was in power. That it got made at all is interesting at any time, but it is as
interesting off screen as it was on at least.
John (Reynaud Verley) was sent by his Aunt to an insane
asylum for no good reason, but the experience drove him crazy. Now, he is out to get revenge on her and her
three daughters in an elaborate plot.
Starting with a brief stint at a slaughterhouse (one of the more graphic
you will see) to learn how to treat his victims the same way, he sets up
everyone, including raping all the daughters.
This is all handled in awkward ways and this U.S. cut runs about 93
minutes, versus the 106 minutes length of its original release. Some of this is recovered in the supplement,
but one wonders if some censorship still remains. The film has a cult following which makes sense, but it has not
aged well and the parts are often better than the sum.
The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image features a
print that shows its age with slightly dull colors, but is in decent shape
otherwise and has definition advantages it would not have if it were not
anamorphic. The framing is odd and
awkward throughout, as if this frame has lost something. Maybe the film was more like 1.66 X 1 to
begin with, but cinematographer Manuel Rojas offers some good (if inconsistent)
shooting throughout. It was issued in
EastmanColor. The Dolby Digital 2.0 is
in the original Spanish, plus dubbed English and French. They all show their age and Adolfo
Waltzman’s score is not bad. Extras
include the original Spanish opening and closing, an extended scene, text
filmo/biographies of cast and crew, a stills section, and audio commentary by a
DVD text writer who identifies himself by the penname Chris D. He is informative enough to make this more
worth your time, but to say the film is worth a look overall is pushing
it. A Bell From Hell is for
Horror fans who will want to see it at least once.
- Nicholas Sheffo
