Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud
Screenplay: Andrew Birkin, Gérard Brach, Howard Franklin, Alain Godard
Based on the novel by: Umberto Eco
Starring: Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham, Elya Baskin, Feodor Chaliapin Jr., William Hickey, Michael Lonsdale, Ron Perlman, Volker Prechtel, Helmut Qualtinger, Valentina Vargas, Christian Slater
Country: Italy, West Germany and France
Running Time: 131 min
Year: 1986
BBFC Certificate: 18
There are some films that just stay with you, even if you haven’t seen them for years. Films that have a lasting effect and a hold on you. For me, I could list many that have had this effect on me, and one is most definitely Jean-Jacques Annaud’s The Name of the Rose.
I had a VHS video copy of the 1986 film in the early 1990s and watched it a number of times, finding it be a gripping mystery film. I then wouldn’t see it again until I picked up the UK DVD not long after it came out. Again I really enjoyed it, yet I probably only watched the DVD twice.
Now, Second Sight are bringing us a lavish dual-format 4K UHD and Blu-ray edition and I have experienced the masterful film once more, its power over me being retained, yet with me gaining even more of an appreciation for the film thanks to a wonderful audio-visual presentation and hours of insightful extra features.
The film is an adaptation of Umberto Eco’s novel of the same name and sees respected Franciscan friar William of Baskerville (Sean Connery) and his young novice, Adso of Melk (Christian Slater), arrive at a remote Italian abbey in 1327.
The pair are there to attend a theological debate but soon they turn detective when a monk is mysteriously found dead, with foul play suspected. More bodies soon turn up and the pair continue their investigation. The church sends in the revered inquisitor Bernardo Gui (F. Murray Abraham) to uncover the truth. Bernardo and William are old adversaries who lock horns again, whilst a deadly conspiracy hidden within the abbey’s walls is uncovered and a race for the truth begins.
Filmed in Rome and at the former Eberbach Abbey in Germany, first and foremost The Name of the Rose is an incredibly atmospheric film, and that’s due to the location work, the sets, incredible production design by the great Dante Ferretti, and costume design by Gabriella Pescucci.
It’s lensed beautifully by director of photography Tonino Delli Colli, from the opening moments, with beautiful shots of Connery and Slater riding horses to the abbey, to the closing sequence involving a shot of the pair leaving the setting, that tracks back to capture the breathtaking landscape.
In between those shots is a claustrophobic film, with the thick robes the clergy wear hampering movement, the abbey location itself oppressive and the life the monks lead restrictive with them focused on their scriptures. It’s also a very visceral film, old food chucked over the walls surrounding the abbey to the poor, animals gutted. The muted colour scheme also adds the oppressive feel.
The Name of the Rose is full of creepy and distinctive characters, headlined by a BAFTA award-winning performance by Sean Connery, who portrays a character that is far removed from the 007 he would be famed for. William is an astute elder who is always observing his surroundings and those around him, piecing together what happened. It is among Connery’s best performances.
Another James Bond alumni, Michael Lonsdale, who played the villain Hugo Drax in the Roger Moore outing Moonraker (1979), also gives a strong performance as The Abbot, trying to keep the secrets of the abbey safe.
A very young Christian Slater represents the audience on screen as Adso, going along with, and always one step behind, Connery’s William, though doing his best to figure out the mystery himself, yet feeling like an outsider who hasn’t yet found his way in the world.
Ron Perlman – in only his third film after debuting in director Annaud’s Quest for Fire (1981) – is excellent as the mentally challenged hunchback Salvatore and some of his latter scenes are tough to watch, mostly due to what the character is put through, but also due to the heartbreaking performance.
The solitary main female character, a mute peasant woman whom we never learn the name of, is played by Valentina Vargas. She’s an intriguing character and the Chilean actress plays her part well in her small number of scenes, animalistically trying to make a life in a harsh world and forming a bond with Adso that leads to his sexual awakening.
F. Murray Abraham turns up well into the second half as Bernardo Gui, a rival of William. He’s a sinister character, part of the inquisition sent in to investigate the case, who takes the film into ever darker territory as he seeks out the truth by any means necessary.
There are a number of standout sequences in The Name of the Rose, including several that involve the creepy crypts and catacombs of the abbey. One is played like horror with Adso scared by skulls and as shadows dance around him.
Another sees William and Adso discover a secret stairway down to the labyrinthian catacombs beneath the abbey where they uncover some of the secrets held within. Skulls play a key role here too. It also becomes a creepy sequence as William and Adso are split up and we watch the latter frantically trying to find his master as he hears unnerving footsteps. And then there’s the final act fuelled by Gui and the inquisition which ups the ante in death and threat, building to a fitting finale.
All of this is marvellously scored by James Horner, who provides an ominous soundtrack to the dark mystery that unfolds.
The Name of the Rose is an excellent historical mystery, anchored by some wonderful performances, not least a career highlight for Sean Connery. The film exudes atmosphere, the mystery is gripping and the production and costume design is exquisite. Beautifully lensed and scored, the film is an excellent adaptation of Umberto Eco’s acclaimed novel.
Film: 
The Name of the Rose is released on limited dual-format 4K UHD and Blu-ray by Second Sight Films on 10th August 2026. It is also available in separate standard 4K and Blu-Ray editions without the booklet, art-cards and deluxe packaging. I reviewed the film on the 4K disc. The image quality is very good throughout. There is a natural filmic quality. Detail shines through, with the textures of the monastery set and the costumes a particular highlight. The muted colour scheme is presented faithfully. Audio is also great. Overall, Second Sight provide a very strong audio-visual presentation for the film.
Special features:
- Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
- UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
- New audio commentary by James Marsh
- Audio commentary with Director Jean-Jacques Annaud
- Charm of Humanity: a new interview with Jean-Jacques Annaud
- A Boy and His Dog: a new interview with Actor Christian Slater
- Bringing the Mustard: a new interview with Actor Ron Perlman
- Liquidating the Disk: a new interview with Writer Andrew Birkin
- The Abbey of Crime: Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose
Limited Edition Content
- Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Liza Shumskaya
- 120-page book with new essays by Eugenio Ercolani and Gian Giacomo Petrone, Francesco Massaccesi, Sam Moore, Gregory Mucci, Dan Schindel and Nadine Whitney
- 6 collectors’ art cards
Film critic James Marsh is a huge fan of the film and provides an entertaining, informative and affectionate appreciation in an audio commentary that is well worth a listen. He covers the original novel that the film was based on, the challenge Sean Connery faced with the role which also provided an opportunity for him to flex his acting muscles, the plot and themes and plenty more besides. It is a very good commentary.
A second commentary is included, which is an archival one with director Jean-Jacques Annaud. He shares his recollections on the making of the film, which he is incredibly passionate about. We hear about how he got involved in the film, interesting thoughts on the monastery set and other anecdotes from the production. It’s another really good chat track.
Annaud also turns up for a new 38-minute interview which is also strong. Annaud again shares how he first came across Umberto Eco’s novel, and why he is so fascinated with it. Annaud is very engaging and explains the background to securing the rights to the book, the challenges of adapting it, casting, filming and the movie’s release. It’s an excellent piece.
Equally good is a new interview with actor Christian Slater, which runs for 23 minutes. Slater is on fine form, sharing how he got into acting, starting in theatre before transitioning into film. There are some warm anecdotes about his early acting career, which were new to me, and how he moved into films. Slater shares details of his audition for The Name of the Rose, his memories of filming in Germany and Italy and what it was like on the set. Slater’s recollections feel very fresh and he clearly had a great time making the film as a teenager.
Actor Ron Perlman opens another fabulous interview by sharing how Annaud directed him in cult classic Quest of Fire, which was Perlman’s first film. Perlman is an entertaining interviewee who shares plenty over the course of 23 minutes, including recollections of Quest of Fire and The Name of the Rose. He shares the challenge of the role he played and much more.
Writer Andrew Birkin concludes the fantastic new interviews, with a 22-minute piece which opens on how he became involved in adapting the novel to the screen. This one is a bit more of a technical interview but it gives an insight into adapting screen adaptations and the process of bringing book to screen.
The final on-disc extra is a 45-minute archival German making of called The Abbey of Crime: Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose which is really good. It features footage from the film, archival interviews and on-set footage and tells us the story of the production. It’s a really good documentary. The behind-the-scenes footage is particularly illuminating.
The booklet and art cards were not provided, so I am unable to comment on these.
In closing, Second Sight have provided a fantastic package for their limited edition dual-format 4K UHD and Blu-ray release of The Name of the Rose. The all-important audio-visual presentation is excellent, and Second Sight have included some incredibly worthwhile extras. The standard of the two commentaries – one of which is new – the four new interviews totalling almost two hours, and the 45-minute archival documentary is incredibly high. A contender for my best of the year list of releases and a quality package that director Jean-Jacques Annaud’s fabulous film adaptation of Umberto Eco’s novel deserves.
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