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This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover (designed by Adam Maida) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Welcome Vinegar Syndrome Labs (VSL) to the VS Sub-Label family! As with each of our sub-labels we are hoping to expand and defy expectations with the diversity of films we restore and release. As the name implies, VSL will serve as a kind of testing area for releasing genres and eras of film that one might not immediately expect to come from VS. The ultimate objective of VSL will be to see if these types of films will find an audience, and if so, pursue and release more of them…and even if not, still serve as a means of restoring more of the weird, rare, and unusual movies you might not expect from Vinegar Syndrome.
Detective Sergeant Edward X. Delaney has only a few weeks left before he retires after decades of service with the NYPD. Weary after seeing it all in a city now down at the heels, and with his wife just hospitalized with critical organ failure, he finds himself desperate to sort out a few Manhattan serial killings which leave victims with a gaping, round hole in their skulls. His captain wants him out, the department doesn't care, and all that Delaney has left is his dogged determination and a few sympathetic old friends and civilians who lend him a hand. Meanwhile, the killer's mysterious weapon, and completely random means of choosing his victims on the dark, isolated streets of affluent neighborhoods, is all for Delaney to solve in a city that no longer seems to make any sense.
A downbeat, gritty, neo-noir thriller set against sleazy 1980s NYC, director Brian Hutton’s (Kelly’s Heroes) adaptation of author Lawrence Sanders' bestselling novel, THE FIRST DEADLY SIN, marked the final starring role for legendary singer and actor Frank Sinatra (Von Ryan's Express, The Manchurian Candidate). It also boasts supporting roles from Academy Award® winner Faye Dunaway (Network, Mommie Dearest), Tony Award® winner James Whitmore (The Shawshank Redemption, Planet of the Apes), Academy Award® nominee Brenda Vaccaro (Midnight Cowboy, The House by the Lake), and Joe Spinell (Rocky, Maniac). Vinegar Syndrome Labs is delighted to finally bring this underseen, dirty old New York gem to Blu-ray, newly restored and featuring an illuminating assortment of extras.
directed by: Brian G. Hutton starring: Frank Sinatra, Faye Dunaway, James Whitmore, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Spinell 1980 / 112 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm interpositive
Commentary track with author and telefilm historian Amanda Reyes
Commentary track with film critic Travis Woods
A Scene with Sinatra (9 min) - a new interview with actor Jeffrey DeMunn
A Consummate Artist (20 min) - a new interview with Laurent Bouzereau, Director/Producer of FAYE (2024)
A Tender Capstone (21 min) - a new featurette with James L. Neibaur and Gary Schneeberger, film historians and co-authors of Frank Sinatra on the Big Screen: The Singer as Actor and Filmmaker
Sinascapes (10 min) - a new featurette looking at the locations of THE FIRST DEADLY SIN
Original trailer
Still gallery
Reversible sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.571429 / 5 from 35 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
The First Deadly Sin is a gritty neo-noir thriller set in 1980s New York, directed by Brian Hutton and starring Frank Sinatra. This film, adapted from Lawrence Sanders' novel, features a compelling story of a detective solving serial killings. Vinegar Syndrome Labs has restored this film and released it on Blu-ray with several extras, including commentary tracks and featurettes.
Summary topics
Thriller Genre (18%): Many customers expressed satisfaction with the Sinatra thriller, describing it as a cool crime thriller and a fun little thriller.
Film Quality (33%): A substantial number of customers loved the film, describing it as a very good and interesting little film.
"This film does lively up qiute often with some really funny lines, not with any disproportion, they just work well." — Donald M.
"A very well made thriller with great actors (Frank Sinatra, Faye Dunaway)" — Matti I.
"Underrated film with very good cast." — Richard D.
Reviews
Underrated 80s Drama/Thriller
"Filmed against the backdrop of scuzzy NYC, The First Deadly Sin fits nicely with similar studio 'killer' thrillers of the era (Cruising, Windows, Dressed to Kill, The Fan) while having the distinction of featuring a real superstar pairing in Faye Dunaway and Frank Sinatra, who turns in a stellar late-career performance (he ended up playing a detective several times). It's bleak and uncompromising stuff. I was delighted to see this VS release, and I'm hoping for more new-to-Blu gems from the WB vault,"
— Kyle S. (4/5)
The First Deadly Sin
"A little by the numbers but Sinatra is great and the Christmas atmosphere is great. If you can’t face Home Alone 2 this year after the loss of Tim Curry there’s here’s an alternative seasonal film for you."
— Ben S. (5/5)
Deadly sins
"I was really impressed with this slasher/thriller which was a first time watch. It also looked great! Definitely recommended release if you like murder thrillers."
— james b. (4/5)
The First Deadly Sin
"Really excited to watch this, New York 80’s and Sinatra seems like a great combination. Never had heard of this, but looking forward to it. Beautiful packaging as normal."
— Matthew F. (5/5)
A Sinatra classic
"Nice detective thriller with Mr Frank Sinatra himself Dark, brooding and excellent location shots Liked the set up and payoff. This is one of the best in his later career. Nice blu ray release With a fantastic transfer"
— Maximillian G. (5/5)
Lost gem of a film, an amazing discovery
"This is a very good film. It’s definitely for older adults. While it does move along at a deliberate pace, there’s a slowness in several scenes and there is a seeming lacking intensity throughout - though not quite to its detriment, because it’s more seeing this now after so many films which followed its formula with more of that oomph. One factor that is especially strong with this film are the ‘small’ character parts. They’re not scene-stealers, but are indeed essentail to each proggression through the plot. Excellent work by several well recognizable character actors of this era, wonderful to see. One key theme is about older people and how they get retired out of the workforce - back in 1980, especially, hit 65 and you were *out*. There are several instances of this in here, all of which are dealt with quite well - very matter-of-fact, and aside from Sinatra, only details for incidental characters, but well worth considering. A few essential plot points are left to subtext for figuring out, and there’s not enough action to reinforce that type of discovery within the viewer. This film does lively up qiute often with some really funny lines, not with any disproportion, they just work well. A very good film that is exciting to see show up via VinSyn - more people will see it now and it is well deserving. Re: Extras: there is a fabulous documentary short which surveys the locations from the film and shows them as they are now. That’s always fascinates me. The interviews are also quite impressive - especially the author of the Faye Dunaway book, she’s amazing."
— Donald M. (5/5)
It’s slow and occasionally downright turgid
"Bleak Christmas-in-New-York atmosphere, great city locations and eccentric supporting cast keep it afloat. Joe Spinell is, naturally, a highlight, and the whole thing has that strange, cheap, melancholy charm of a forgotten TV movie that briefly gets much darker and nastier than expected."
— Mitchell C. (4/5)
Near Perfect
"The film is the best it’s looked and sounded in my lifetime. Nearly perfect presentation! Very happy with the buying experience."
— Nate T. (5/5)
Original Sinsation
"Delightfully sinful."
— Andrew N. (5/5)
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