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Kritzerland is proud to present a world premiere soundtrack release:
THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD
Composed and Conducted by Michael Dress
TERROR WAITS FOR YOU IN EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD!
The House that Dripped Blood was one of the most entertaining of the Amicus anthology horror film series. The four tales were all based on short stories by Robert Bloch (Psycho), who also wrote the screenplay. In the director’s chair was Peter Duffell, whose first major film it was (he’d done one low-budget film a decade prior).
They assembled a first-rate cast, including horror icons Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, as well as Denholm Elliott, Joss Ackland, Jon Pertwee, and Ingrid Pitt. The film received some decent reviews: Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times said, “Richly atmospheric settings, muted color photography, an outstanding cast and competent direction (by Peter Duffell) do justice to Bloch’s fine script, which deals with psychological terror rather than relying on the typical blood-and-guts formula,” while Variety called it “one of the most entertaining of its genre to come along in several years.”
One of the most interesting choices the filmmakers made was the composer, Michael Dress. Not a lot is known about Dress, but his very short filmography does include some very interesting films and scores, including Quackser Fortune Has a Cousin in the Bronx, which starred a very young Gene Wilder, and an interesting sci-fi film, The Mind of Mr. Soames, as well as A Touch of Love, starring Sandy Dennis (called Take a Girl Like You in the United States).
For The House that Dripped Blood, Dress created a wonderfully atmospheric score – some of it lives in the world of Humphrey Searle’s The Haunting, but Dress’s music is his own and it really gives the stories in the film an interesting texture and feel. There’s a lot of percussion and weird effects, organ, a solo female voice floating in the air, harpsichord, vibes, strings – it’s all very hallucinogenic and off-kilter and really wonderful.
This is the premiere release of The House that Dripped Blood. The transfers were made from the 35mm magnetic music-only mixing elements and the mono sound is crisp and clear and really excellent.
THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD is limited to 500 copies only and priced at $19.98, plus shipping. CDs will ship by the by the final week of February, but never fear, we’ve actually been averaging three to five weeks early in terms of shipping ahead of the official ship date. To place an order, see the cover, or hear audio samples, just visit www.kritzerland.com.
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Golly, that was totally unexpected. If I'd had to bet a billion pounds on what the next release from ANY label was going to be, I'd have put the billion on it NOT EVER being this. Just as well that that betting scenario was a feverish dream.
Must give the film another spin. I'm a bit of a fan of those Amicus Portman Toes, but this one always seemed a bit lack-lustre. Can't recall too much about the Michael Dress score either, but if it's sombre and moody I'll probably prefer it over Douglas Gamley's crash-bang-wallop-on-Bald-Mountain approach to some of the other Amici (sp?)
So, colour me interested, as the kids never said. I'm betting a billion dollars that ZardozSpeaks will speaketh here before the end of time to tell us how good this score is.
Check out the audio samples - they'll give you a good idea what you're in for. I really kind of like it.
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Absolutely irresistible! - And I heard a snatch of Schubert's Death and the Maiden Quartet in the samples I think - now, that's a good idea for a horror anthology. Man, how nostalgic I still am for the weird 70's scores of my early years.
I even sprang for my first Ben Bagley CD as a double-up - the Alan Jay Lerner.* Now that's an odd pair of bedfellows.
*Speaking of hint, hint - I wish some of the others in that series had a few audio clips. It was the Nancy Walker clip in the AJL that convinced me.
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FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!
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Ingrid. Oh oh ingrid. Mmmmm. 
I loved this film because it was my favourite girl at her unbeatable best. Similar to the count yorga endings - unlike most hammer good v evil - no happy endings here!
I do recall the score being very decent indeed.
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Must give the film another spin. I'm a bit of a fan of those Amicus Portman Toes, but this one always seemed a bit lack-lustre. Can't recall too much about the Michael Dress score either, but if it's sombre and moody I'll probably prefer it over Douglas Gamley's crash-bang-wallop-on-Bald-Mountain approach to some of the other Amici (sp?)
I *]ove* the Gamley scores - I don't know by what miracle Bruce got his hands on this one, but here's hoping he can access Gamley's portmanteau scores as well as - dare I say it - his sublime LAND THAT TIME FORGOT!
Looking forward to this one...
This came to me in a very odd way, but thank goodness I was there when the call came in, because these 35mm mags were about to be dumped in the trash. I was asked if I wanted them, I said yes. This was almost lost to the trash heap.
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This came to me in a very odd way, but thank goodness I was there when the call came in, because these 35mm mags were about to be dumped in the trash. I was asked if I wanted them, I said yes. This was almost lost to the trash heap.
Unfuckingbelievable that that is still a possibility these days.
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