THE DESIGNATED VICTIM

(A.k.a. LA VITTIMA DESIGNATA)

Stefano (Tomas Milian) is a businessman who, when not busy shagging his gorgeous mistress Fabienne (Katia Christine) is keen to buy a new business. He's offered the business at a great price. But there's just one problem - his cold wife, Luisa (Marisa Bartoli).

Stefano meets with Luisa and begs her to sell shares from their joint-owned company (unfortunately they're all in her name) so he can pursue his dream. But the answer is a blunt no.

So Stefano retires to Venice for the weekend to lick his wounds with Fabienne. While there they frequent a casino, where the flamboyant Matteo (Pierre Clementi) catches Stefano's eye. Later, Stefano takes Fabienne for a moonlit boat ride, but discovers the boat they choose is already hired by Matteo and his girlfriend. No worries - Matteo offers to share the boat with them.

Matteo befriends Stefano on deck while the girls natter below, jokingly telling his new mate how he's willing to try anything once - but has never yet murdered anyone. It's an odd conversation that Stefano shrugs off … until he meets Matteo on the dock the following morning, and they begin to discuss Stefano's problematic wife. Matteo says he'd be willing to kill her, if Stefano will return the favour by murdering Matteo's violent brother. It will be the "perfect crime", promises Matteo.

Nervously laughing the suggestion off, Stefano calls a day on the conversation and, he assumes, his relationship with Matteo.

But before long Luisa rumbles Stefano's affair and things get worse for the hapless halfwit when he attempts to forge her signature, in the hope of selling her shares and running off to Venezuela with Fabienne. Matteo doesn't make things any easier by turning up in Stefano's life once more, and leaving a letter for Luisa that explains her husband's intentions to her.

Stefano goes round to Matteo's hotel one evening to put an end to his pranks, only to discover Matteo's popped out for the evening. In actual fact, he's gone to see Luisa at Stefano's home, to fulfil his half of the "bargain".

Stefano soon becomes the police's prime suspect for his wife's murder, while all the time to prove his innocence by catching up with Matteo and avoiding having to murder his brother …

Clearly ripping off STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, THE DESIGNATED VICTIM manages to achieve an identity of it's own thanks to likeable performances, an intelligent twist-laden script and some beautiful misty Venetian photography.

Often gorgeous to look at, the film is a visual treat. It's also tightly edited and, despite a leisurely pace that doesn't truly kickstart until the final 20 minutes, its keen sense of storytelling lends it an intrigue that keeps the viewer watching. The twist ending truly works too.

One of the unsung thriller/giallo crossovers of the 1970s, this film - albeit very homoerotic at times (and doesn't Matteo look like Russell Brand?!) - is ripe for rediscovery.

Shameless go from strength to strength with this excellent "fan's" edition, fully restoring and rebuilding the film into its longest possible version.

The film is presented in a nice 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer. As a written disclaimer at the start of the show suggests, there is the odd difference in quality due to various sources being used to form the most complete version of the film (for example, at one point the screen is briefly 4:3 Windowboxed; there are the odd moment of VHS quality visuals here and there). It's an excellent example of how this small company continue to go the extra mile for their fans. Overall, colours and details are vivid and sharp, and the grain on show is negligible.

The mono audio is available in Italian and English languages. Optional English subtitles are available, but only with the Italian track. Both tracks are mostly clean, with only minor hiss evident on occasion.

An animated main menu leads into a static scene-selection menu allowing access to the film via 12 chapters.

Extras begin with the brilliant original trailer (with what look like new titles added by Shameless?).

There's also a text commentary track from superfan Stefan Novak, who apparently contacted Shameless with the offer of providing this bonus feature as soon as he heard they were planning on this release. It's a good text track that runs in easily readable yellow subtitles along the bottom of the screen while the film plays, when selected. Novak certainly knows his stuff. An audio commentary would admittedly have been preferable, but this inclusion is appreciated regardless.

We also get 9 deleted scenes which look a little ropey, but that's perfectly understandable. It's amazing to see them here, and they're most welcome.

Then there's the traditional trailers for other Shameless releases. In this case, we get WHO SAW HER DIE?, STRIP NUDE FOR YOUR KILLER, OASIS OF FEAR, NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS, THE NEW YORK RIPPER (single-handedly capable of boosting the certificate on the DVD box up from '15' to '18') and PHANTOM OF DEATH.

Finally, there's the ever-appreciated double-sided cover artwork. Beautiful, as always.

Shameless have done it again. An outstanding release for a very worthy film. Recommended.

Review by Stuart Willis