 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Posted: |
Jan 19, 2012 - 3:47 PM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
|
From the BBC:
Hammer Horror Classics to be Restored
Dozens of horror movies produced by Britain's Hammer studios are to be restored for their release on Blu-Ray.
More than 30 films will be resurrected, with several gaining new or extended scenes that were cut from the original.
Among them is Terence Fisher's Dracula, which will incorporate a recently-discovered extended death scene considered too gruesome in 1958.
Hammer was established in 1934 and became synonymous with the horror genre in the 1950s.
Its run of monster movies included Dracula and The Curse Of Frankenstein, which made stars of British actors like Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
After lying dormant since the 1980s, the company and its back catalogue were bought in 2007 by a consortium, and recently started producing new films including Let Me In and The Woman In Black.
The restoration of its older titles is a large undertaking, with the likes of Pinewood Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros, Studio Canal and Paramount Pictures all contributing material.
In a press release, Hammer added that the Blu-Ray discs would contain "newly-filmed extras, including interviews with cast members".
The company is also asking members of the public to help it track down lost footage and deleted scenes from its movies.
Some discoveries have already been made - the original UK title sequence has been reinstated on The Plague of The Zombies, while the UK title cards for Dracula: Prince of Darkness will be included on its release.
Other classic gothic titles slated for restoration are Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter, The Mummy, Frankenstein Created Woman, The Lost Continent, The Reptile Slave Girls and The Vengeance of She
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is very exciting! I have all the available Hammer DVDs, and it will be a pleasure to upgrade them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I wonder who will be releasing the restored Blu-rays in the U.S. Will they be like the DVDs, and come from the studios that originally released the films in the U.S.? Or will a single company release the Blu-rays? "Vampire Circus" was recently released on Blu-ray by Synapse, even though Fox released the film theatrically in the U.S.
That's an interesting question. Anchor Bay put out the majority of Hammer DVDs, but I'm not sure if Anchor Bay is still operating. Did they get sucked up by Blue Underground?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Lustig of Blue Underground allegedly has the U.S. home video rights to the first bacth of Hammer titles that Anchor Bay released, but has indicated in the past that he is not interested in releasing them.
Clearly, Lustig has lost his mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bill Lustig of Blue Underground allegedly has the U.S. home video rights to the first bacth of Hammer titles that Anchor Bay released, but has indicated in the past that he is not interested in releasing them.
Clearly, Lustig has lost his mind.
IIRC, he made these remarks maybe two years ago or so. He seemed to feel that the titles he controlled had already come out and made available, and there just wasn't a strong market for them. Rumor is that the sales figures on the Hammer titles were never very good.
That is probably (sadly) true. I haven't looked at any of the Anchor Bay DVDs on a HD TV yet. I'm kind of afraid to considering that many of them were released in 1998, and I suspect they are going to look terrible (and not anamorphic?). If anybody has watched them on a HD TV, do share your experience...
|
|
|
|
|
|
On Twitter tonight:
Hammer (@hammerfilms)
1/19/12 6:40 PM
To all asking re. US Blu-ray releases of restored films, our US distribution partner will hopefully be announced soon! bit.ly/xp73qP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Jan 20, 2012 - 6:55 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
johnjohnson
(Member)
|
In a recent announcement, Hammer Films revealed that 2012 will see the first results of a significant effort to restore popular titles in the Hammer library. Spearheaded by Studio Canal, the restoration initiative includes Anolis Entertainment, Pinewood Studios, illuminate Hollywood fka HTV, Warner Brothers, and Cineimage; over the next few years, more than thirty movies will receive newly remastered and restored Blu-ray editions.
Currently, the United Kingdom will benefit most significantly from this news - Studio Canal has already planned the first wave of Hammer Blu-rays in the UK. On March 5th, the distributor will release Blu-rays of Dracula: Prince of Darkness, The Reptile, and The Plague of the Zombies.
In addition, Hammer's press release also indicated upcoming Blu-rays for the following titles:
The Devil Rides Out
Rasputin the Mad Monk
The Mummy's Shroud
The Curse of Frankenstein
Dracula (AKA Horror of Dracula)
The Mummy
Concerning the aforementioned six titles, no further details - including technical and supplementary specifications as well as release dates - are known. The press release does claim that all Hammer films in this initiative will boast "fully-restored HD picture and restored sound...[and] a host of newly-filmed extras, including interviews with cast members. These documentary extras are being produced by Hammer expert and historian, Marcus Hearn – author of the recent The Hammer Vault."
Of particular note are the plans regarding the Dracula (AKA Horror of Dracula) restoration. The press release claims that "recently-discovered footage...originally cut from the British version...has been restored...courtesy of The National Film Center at The Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. The Japanese footage features an extended and particularly gruesome death scene for Dracula, as well as a moment considered too erotic by the censors of the day [1958]."
Hammer hopes that similarly themed cut material will surface for other pictures and is calling on private collectors in possession of rare Hammer film footage to contact any company involved with this project.
For greater reference, Hammer has started a "Restoration Blog" to chart the ongoing work done in service of their catalog; http://blog.hammerfilms.com/ leads directly to the blog.
Again, as of now, the more specific Blu-ray release plans only apply in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, the press release suggests that the restoration involvement of US companies Warner Brothers Motion Picture Imaging and Thought Equity Motion bodes well for North American Hammer aficionados in the near future.
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8069
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is great new's
cant wait ,
i must get time to have a look at the new quatermass blu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Jan 22, 2012 - 4:32 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
|
For my own edification, I put together a list of the major Hammer releases during the 25-year period from 1955 to 1979, along with the U.S. theatrical and DVD/video releasing outfits. There are 90 titles. All but 6 have had some video release (3 more have pending releases). DVDs were released by Anchor Bay of 31 of them. Corrections are welcomed.
The Quatermass Xperiment [The Creeping Unknown] (1955) ... United Artists / DVD: M-G-M
X: The Unknown (1956) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Abominable Snowman (1957) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Quatermass II: Enemy from Space (1957) ... United Artists / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
The Snorkel (1958) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) ... Columbia / DVD: Columbia Tristar
Horror of Dracula (1958) ... Universal / DVD: Warner Bros.
The Camp on Blood Island (1958) ... Columbia / DVD: No release
The Stranglers of Bombay (1959) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Mummy (1959) ... Universal / DVD: Warner Bros.
Yesterday's Enemy (1959) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony MOD pending
The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959) ... Paramount / DVD & Blu-ray: Legend Films
Ten Seconds to Hell (1959) ... United Artists / DVD: No release
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959) ... United Artists / DVD: M-G-M
Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
Stop Me Before I Kill! (1960) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960) ... American International / DVD: Sony
The Brides of Dracula (1960) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
Hell Is a City (1960) ... Columbia / DVD: Anchor Bay
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) ... Astor Pictures / DVD: Sony
The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) ... Universal-International / DVD: Universal
Scream of Fear (1961) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Terror of the Tongs (1961) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
Passport to China [Visa To Canton] (1961) … Columbia / No release
The Phantom of the Opera (1962) ... Universal-International / DVD: Universal
Night Creatures (1962) ... Universal-International / DVD: Universal
Cash on Demand (1962) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Pirates of Blood River (1962) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Old Dark House (1963) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
Kiss of the Vampire (1963) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
Maniac (1963) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
These Are the Damned (1963) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
Paranoiac (1963) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
The Secret of Blood Island (1964) ... Universal / DVD: No release
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Gorgon (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
The Evil of Frankenstein (1964) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
Nightmare (1964) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
The Crimson Blade (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: No release
The Nanny (1965) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Fox Video
The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) … Columbia / No release
Hysteria (1965) ... M-G-M / DVD: Warner Archive
She (1965) ... M-G-M / DVD: Warner Archive
Die! Die! My Darling! (1965) ... Columbia / DVD: Columbia Tristar
One Million Years B.C. (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Fox Video
The Witches [The Devil’s Own] (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Reptile (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Plague of the Zombies (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Five Million Years to Earth [Quatermass and the Pit] (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / VHS: Anchor Bay
The Viking Queen (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Mummy's Shroud (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Prehistoric Women (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
The Devil Rides Out (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Lost Continent (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Vengeance of She (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Anniversary (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
Moon Zero Two (1969) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
Scars of Dracula (1970) ... American Continental Films / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) ... American Continental Films / DVD: Anchor Bay
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
The Vampire Lovers (1970) ... American International / DVD: M-G-M
Crescendo (1970) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Archive
Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971) ... American International / DVD: Anchor Bay
Hands of the Ripper (1971) ... Universal / DVD: No U.S. release (Synapse release pending)
Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971) ... American International / DVD: Anchor Bay
Twins of Evil (1971) ... Universal / DVD: No U.S. release (Synapse release pending)
Creatures the World Forgot (1971) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony MOD
Countess Dracula (1971) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: M-G-M
Lust for a Vampire (1971) ... American Continental Films / DVD: Anchor Bay
Vampire Circus (1972) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD & Blu-ray: Synapse
Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
Straight On Till Morning (1972) ... International Coproductions / DVD: Anchor Bay
Fear in the Night (1972) ... International Coproductions / DVD: Anchor Bay
Demons of the Mind (1972) ... International Coproductions / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973) ... Dynamite Entertainment / DVD: Anchor Bay (and many PD labels)
Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter (1974) ... Paramount / DVD: Paramount
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) ... Paramount / DVD: Paramount
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974) ... Dynamite Entertainment / DVD: Anchor Bay
Shatter (1975) ... Avco Embassy / DVD: Anchor Bay
To the Devil a Daughter (1976) ... Cine Artists Pictures / DVD: Anchor Bay
The Lady Vanishes (1979) ... Group 1 International Distribution Organization Ltd. / Laserdisc: Image
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here's the list in alphabetical order:
1. Abominable Snowman, The (1957) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
2. Anniversary, The (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
3. Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971) ... American International / DVD: Anchor Bay
4. Brides of Dracula, The (1960) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
5. Brigand of Kandahar, The (1965) … Columbia / No release
6. Camp on Blood Island, The (1958) ... Columbia / DVD: No release
7. Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter (1974) ... Paramount / DVD: Paramount
8. Cash on Demand (1962) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
9. Challenge for Robin Hood, A (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / VHS: Anchor Bay
10. Countess Dracula (1971) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: M-G-M
11. Creatures the World Forgot (1971) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
12. Crescendo (1970) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Archive
13. Crimson Blade, The (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: No release
14. Curse of Frankenstein, The (1957) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
15. Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, The (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
16. Curse of the Werewolf, The (1961) ... Universal-International / DVD: Universal
17. Demons of the Mind (1972) ... International Coproductions / DVD: Anchor Bay
18. Devil Rides Out, The (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
19. Devil-Ship Pirates, The (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
20. Die! Die! My Darling! (1965) ... Columbia / Columbia Tristar
21. Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971) ... American International / DVD: Anchor Bay
22. Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
23. Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
24. Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
25. Evil of Frankenstein, The (1964) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
26. Fear in the Night (1972) ... International Coproductions / DVD: Anchor Bay
27. Five Million Years to Earth [Quatermass and the Pit] (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
28. Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974) ... Paramount / DVD: Paramount
29. Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
30. Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
31. Gorgon, The (1964) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
32. Hands of the Ripper (1971) ... Universal / DVD: No U.S. release (Synapse release pending)
33. Hell Is a City (1960) ... Columbia / DVD: Anchor Bay
34. Horror of Dracula (1958) ... Universal / DVD: Warner Bros.
35. Horror of Frankenstein, The (1970) ... American Continental Films / DVD: Anchor Bay
36. Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1959) ... United Artists / DVD: M-G-M
37. Hysteria (1965) ... M-G-M / DVD: Warner Archive
38. Kiss of the Vampire (1963) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
39. Lady Vanishes, The (1979) ... Group 1 International Distribution Organization Ltd. / Laserdisc: Image
40. Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, The (1974) ... Dynamite Entertainment / DVD: Anchor Bay
41. Lost Continent, The (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
42. Lust for a Vampire (1971) ... American Continental Films / DVD: Anchor Bay
43. Man Who Could Cheat Death, The (1959) ... Paramount / DVD & Blu-ray: Legend Films
44. Maniac (1963) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
45. Moon Zero Two (1969) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
46. Mummy, The (1959) ... Universal / DVD: Warner Bros.
47. Mummy's Shroud, The (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
48. Nanny, The (1965) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Fox Video
49. Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) ... Astor Pictures / DVD: Sony
50. Night Creatures (1962) ... Universal-International / DVD: Universal
51. Nightmare (1964) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
52. Old Dark House, The (1963) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
53. One Million Years B.C. (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Fox Video
54. Paranoiac (1963) ... Universal / DVD: Universal
55. Passport to China [Visa To Canton] (1961) … Columbia / No release
56. Phantom of the Opera, The (1962) ... Universal-International / DVD: Universal
57. Pirates of Blood River, The (1962) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
58. Plague of the Zombies, The (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
59. Prehistoric Women (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
60. Quatermass II: Enemy from Space (1957) ... United Artists / DVD: Anchor Bay
61. Quatermass Xperiment, The (1955) ... United Artists / DVD: M-G-M
62. Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
63. Reptile, The (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
64. Revenge of Frankenstein, The (1958) ... Columbia / DVD: Columbia Tristar
65. Satanic Rites of Dracula, The (1973) ... Dynamite Entertainment / DVD: Anchor Bay (and many PD labels)
66. Scars of Dracula (1970) ... American Continental Films / DVD: Anchor Bay
67. Scream of Fear (1961) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
68. Secret of Blood Island, The (1964) ... Universal / DVD: No release
69. Shatter (1975) ... Avco Embassy / DVD: Anchor Bay
70. She (1965) ... M-G-M / DVD: Warner Archive
71. Snorkel, The (1958) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
72. Stop Me Before I Kill! (1960) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
73. Straight On Till Morning (1972) ... International Coproductions / DVD: Anchor Bay
74. Stranglers of Bombay, The (1959) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
75. Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
76. Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
77. Ten Seconds to Hell (1959) ... United Artists / DVD: No release
78. Terror of the Tongs, The (1961) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
79. These Are the Damned (1963) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony
80. To the Devil a Daughter (1976) ... Cine Artists Pictures / DVD: Anchor Bay
81. Twins of Evil (1971) ... Universal / DVD: No U.S. release (Synapse release pending)
82. Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, The (1960) ... American International / DVD: Sony
83. Vampire Circus (1972) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD & Blu-ray: Synapse
84. Vampire Lovers, The (1970) ... American International / DVD: M-G-M
85. Vengeance of She, The (1968) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
86. Viking Queen, The (1967) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
87. When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Warner Bros.
88. Witches, The [The Devil’s Own] (1966) ... 20th Century Fox / DVD: Anchor Bay
89. X: The Unknown (1956) ... Warner Bros. / DVD: Anchor Bay
90. Yesterday's Enemy (1959) ... Columbia / DVD: Sony MOD pending
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: |
Jan 27, 2012 - 7:33 AM
|
|
|
|
By: |
CinemaScope
(Member)
|
I think the Dracula, Prince Of Darkness original negatives were missing for a good long while, so the DVD's were done from the blow-up neg (or maybe even a print), so this should look miles better than any previous release. I saw it when it was first released (in the UK you had to be 16 to see X films, I wasn't yet, but was quite tall for my age so I got in), good film, but I don't like the anemic end to Dracula.
In the Hammer vampire cannon I'd put it forth, behind; Dracula, Brides Of Dracula & The Kiss Of The Vampire.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
