Most DVD releases of this film are sourced from surviving 35mm prints. While viewers should expect some natural film grain and minor print damage, reputable cult distributors have stabilized the colors to preserve the rich, red liturgical robes and dark, damp dungeon tones. Audio options typically include the original Italian mono track and an English dub track, accompanied by English subtitles.
Set in a strictly cloistered convent, the story follows a classic "Romeo and Juliet" style narrative. The young and beautiful (played by the iconic Jenny Tamburi ) is banished to a convent by her overprotective father, designed to keep her away from her lover, Esteban (Paolo Malco).
While some critics of the era found the film less "exploitative" or intense compared to its peers (like Behind Convent Walls ), its strength lies in the atmosphere created by Grieco and the cast. Jenny Tamburi, a prolific Italian actress of the time, brings a vulnerability to Lucita, while Prévost provides a commanding, sinister presence as the Abbess. Finding the DVD: A Collector’s Guide The sinful nuns of saint valentine - 1974 -DVD...
Since its original theatrical release, The Sinful Nuns of Saint Valentine has seen multiple home video editions. For collectors, the DVD and Blu-ray releases are crucial for accessing the film with decent video quality and original language tracks. The most notable releases include:
While promotional materials for Sergio Grieco's feature frequently claimed inspiration from the classic writings of Victor Hugo or Aldous Huxley's The Devils of Loudun , the film functions primarily as a beautifully shot, highly melodramatic slice of Italian "Euro-sleaze". It successfully reflects the deep political and spiritual skepticism targeting both church and state structures in 1970s Italy. 🎭 Plot Analysis: Seduction, Heresy, and the Inquisition Most DVD releases of this film are sourced
Most current releases, including those from Kino Lorber and Redemption Films , focus on the technical restoration rather than supplemental content:
The story follows Lucita, a young woman forced into a convent by her noble family to prevent her from marrying her lover, Esteban. Within the stone walls of Saint Valentine, the film explores the clash between natural human desire and the rigid, often hypocritical, structures of the Church. Unlike some of its more lurid contemporaries, Grieco’s film leans heavily into the "Gothic" aesthetic—utilizing shadows, damp dungeons, and a sense of impending dread to mirror the psychological imprisonment of the protagonists. Set in a strictly cloistered convent, the story
For modern cinephiles and physical media collectors, tracking down The Sinful Nuns of Saint Valentine on DVD is a journey through cult film preservation. Due to its controversial subject matter, the film was heavily censored, retitled, or outright banned in various international territories during its initial run.
Lucita and Esteban are separated when their families feud.
A must-own for collectors of European exploitation, gothic sleaze, and anyone who’s ever wondered what happened after the lights went out in the convent. Forbidden, feverish, and fiercely unforgettable.
