The Key

Made almost ten years earlier than All Ladies Do It, this second Tinto Brass offering stars the unlikely figure of Frank Finlay in the centre of an erotic drama, set in a wintry Venice shortly before Italy entered WW2.

Finlay is Nino Rolfe, an elderly academic involved in the arts, and married to the younger and voluptuous Teresa (Stefania Sandrelli). Unable to sexually satisfy her, he becomes increasingly anxious and terrified, and in an almost masochistic decision arranges an affair for his wife. In fact, he goes as far as taking erotic photographs of her and asks her would-be lover to develop them.

The key of the title relates to the locked away diary which his wife keeps, and which Nino reads in order to keep on top of the game (if not on top in the bedroom). Far from being stupid, Teresa also reads the diary of Nino, which he is fully aware of…

Although the film contains several explicit scenes, they are tastefully done (some even very funny), and are performed by serious actors. The strong sense of period feel and a beautiful score by the great Ennio Morricone further make this a sensual affair, despite being uncut and uncensored.

The special features on the dual format deluxe edition (DVD and HD-Blu-ray) are:

* Optional English and Italian audio
* Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian audio
* Original trailer
* Reversible sleeve
* Collector’s booklet (Illustrated) featuring new writing by Tinto Brass scholar Alexander Tuschinski