Nostalgia Kinky

Cult Epics’ hits the 4K market with an exciting new edition of Tinto Brass’ 1992 work, Così fan tutte. Known to English language audiences as All Ladies Do It, Brass’ erotic classic starring the delectable Claudia Koll is perhaps the defining film of Brass’ later career.

Inspired by Mozart’s 1790 opera Cosi fan tutte, All Ladies Do It concerns the many sexual escapades of an adventerous married Italian woman named Diana. Powered by the beautiful cinematography of Silvano Ippoliti and Massimo Di Venanzo, All Ladies Do It is visually amongst the most sumptuous and colorful works in Brass’ wild canon. Helping out the film’s gorgeous photography are the incredible set designs and art direction from the team of Paolo Biagetti and Bruno Cesari who both ensure that All Ladies Do It is one of the most memorable looking films of the early nineties.

Scripted by Brass and a slew of other screenwriters, All Ladies Do It is funny and erotic, although it is lacking the more nuanced elements of similar classic earlier Brass works like The Key (1983) and Miranda (1985). Also mostly missing is the sharp-edged political satire found in Brass’ greatest films like The Howl (1970) and Action (1980). That said, as far as Brass’ strictly erotic films go, All Ladies Do It is amongst his finest.

All Ladies Do It main asset is the gorgeous Claudia Koll, one of Brass’ great discoveries and key figures in his filmography due to just this one unforgettable performance. Born in Rome in 1965, Koll was a near complete novice when Brass hired her to star in All Ladies Do It, and it remains her most recognizable role. Koll gives a remarkably assured and quirky performance as Diana and Brass obsessively films every inch of her, capturing one of the screen’s great beauties of the period.

Cult Epics has previously released All Ladies Do It on DVD, but this new 4k/Blu-ray edition blows that one away. Mastered in 4k from the original uncut film negative, Cult Epics new release is a grand-slam visually, bringing out all the film’s brilliant colors in often startling ways. Brass’ film (and Pino Donaggio’s score) has also never sounded better due to the new DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo English & Italian language tracks.

Housed in a slipcover with alternate artwork, Cult Epics new special edition of All Ladies Do It adds a number of enticing special features. Ported over the original DVD is an interesting 15-minute interview with Brass discussing the film and its genesis. Even better is the ten-minute outtake reel featuring a variety of material not seen in the final film. Trailers and a photo gallery are included as well.

New to this edition of All Ladies Do It is a terrific 20-page booklet about the career of Claudia Koll, written by Eugenio Ercolani and Domenico Monetti. It’s a fantastic edition and a great guide to the mysterious actress’ life and career. Ercolani also delivers a solid new audio-commentary for the film (along with Troy Howarth). Ercolani brings his expertise in Italian cult and genre cinema and packs the commentary with much information on Brass, Koll and the film. A solo Ercolani commentary might have been preferable but still a very strong track indeed. A collection of lobby card reprints are also included with this impressive set. Highly recommended.

All Ladies Do It’s new release coincides with Cult Epics new book THE FILMS OF TINTO BRASS: FROM THE AVANT-GARDE TO EROTICA. Up next from Cult Epics is another Brass classic in 4K, the marvelous Frivolous Lola from 1998.

-Jeremy Richey, March 2024-