Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter in 2012

[DetroitSportsFan]

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of speaking with the radiant Caroline Munro, star of such genre films as The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, The Spy Who Loved Me and of course the horror favorites *Maniac and Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter. The latter is my favorite of all the Hammer movies, and Munro's gypsy girl Carla is my favorite of the Hammer heroines; so needless to say I was thrilled to hear from Munro herself that Kronos is finally coming to Blu-ray in the UK. (If a US release doesn't soon follow – and God knows the film deserves one – this will be the title for which I'll finally break down and buy a region-free player.) Find out what Munro had to say about this Blu-ray release, as well as her thoughts on the upcoming remake of William Lustig's Maniac, after the jump.
Munro remarked that she did the audio commentary for the Captain Kronos Blu-ray "about six weeks ago."
"Myself; [writer-director] Brian Clemens; Shane Briant, who played Lady Durward's son; John Carson, who played Dr. Marcus; and Ian Wilson, the cinematographer – we were all there and talking as we watched the film. All of us hadn't seen the film in some time, so it came as a delight to see it again. And to see it through fresh eyes. I think it still holds up today."
"I actually didn't see [the new transfer], because they didn't have it at that time. We were working to an old print. I'd be fascinated to see it, because I bet it's rather good. I suppose it'll be out in the New Year, maybe spring time or something. Arrow Films is doing it, and it's in conjunction with the new Hammer."

http://www.fearnet.com/news/intervie..._munro_on.html

[NoirFan]

From Cult Labs:

I'm afraid Captain Kronos isn't being released by Arrow. Would have been nice if it were true, but alas, unfortunately not.

[Monroville]

Sooo... who IS doing it then?

[shogun123]

I'm glad that Arrow aren't releasing it, they would only dnr it all to hell and over-brighten the image like they do with most of their releases. My guess is Optimum since they released Quatermass and are releasing other Hammer titles in the new year.

[rattyfinky]

If got this from Oz and it looks stunning...great xtras also its worth ordering it...not sure when its getting a UK release but go and treat ya selfs its Fantastic

[Monroville]

Originally Posted by rattyfinky

If got this from Oz and it looks stunning...great xtras also its worth ordering it...not sure when its getting a UK release but go and treat ya selfs its Fantastic

Do you have a link, and do you know if they ship to the US (and what region it might be)?

[drsyn71]

I'm here in the U.S. as well and I'm itching to get this Australian Blu import. But I have yet to see an in-depth review of it. Picture, Sound, Extras. I THINK there's a new audio commentary different than the one on the Paramount R1 DVD.

[isaacredfield]

Originally Posted by drsyn71

I'm here in the U.S. as well and I'm itching to get this Australian Blu import. But I have yet to see an in-depth review of it. Picture, Sound, Extras. I THINK there's a new audio commentary different than the one on the Paramount R1 DVD.

My copy arrived yesterday so I'll be giving it a watch over the weekend hopefully

[drsyn71]

Cool. Give us your thoughts on it after you check it out.

[isaacredfield]

Originally Posted by rattyfinky

If got this from Oz and it looks stunning...great xtras also its worth ordering it...not sure when its getting a UK release but go and treat ya selfs its Fantastic

I'll second that, I'm halfway through and it is surprisingly good quality picture wise, audio is spot on as well. I'll get round to watching the extras once I've finished the film. Nice to add another Hammer to the collection.

[drsyn71]

Any updates? How are the extras? I was reading the interview with Caroline Munro from 2011 and she said she'd just recorded the audio commentary about 6 weeks ago. So, apparently this is an ALL NEW commentary from what is on the R1 US DVD from Paramount that came out in 2003. The commentary I have is her, Brian Clemens and Jonathan Sothcott. Guess I'll hang onto my DVD after all.

And what's is the proper aspect ratio? My DVD is 1.85:1, but I see the blu-ray has two different versions? All I know is that I want to see the most picture as possible. I always hate the picture being cropped at the top and bottom. Give me an "open-matte" picture. Hey, if I see boom-mics, that's OK.

BTW, I have some extra Kronos t-shirts if anyone from the lower 48 U.S. is interested. For me to ship anywhere else the postage rates are just outrageous. Send me a private message if you're interested. Shameless plug, I know. I looked on eBay and no one was making them, so I decided to have some made for me and my friends.

[oddbox83]

1.85:1 would be the most accurate ratio to mimic theatrical screenings, but the Australian release (with the new Munro commentary) carries on the erroneous belief all UK films should be 1.66:1 even though in reality UK cinemas were well on their way to all being 1.85:1 by 1974. It also has an open matte version as an extra which should suit you.

I haven't a clue why the UK release still hasn't even been announced for release. Loads of sales will have already been lost to Australian imports. Mine has!

[Trampled]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I haven't a clue why the UK release still hasn't even been announced for release. Loads of sales will have already been lost to Australian imports. Mine has!

I suspect you have answered your own question, I have no idea who would own the rights to Kronos in the UK (Icon was the last company to release it in the UK) but I would image they think there would be very little to be made on a Blu-ray since it's available elsewhere already and therefore not worth the expense and bother.

Same argument goes for dozen's if not hundred's of other genre offerings from the likes of Hammer, Amicus, Tigon and any number of small independent horror films that will likely never see the light of day on Blu-ray here in the UK.

Sad, but probably not too far from the truth.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Trampled

I suspect you have answered your own question, I have no idea who would own the rights to Kronos in the UK (Icon was the last company to release it in the UK) but I would image they think there would be very little to be made on a Blu-ray since it's available elsewhere already and therefore not worth the expense and bother.

Same argument goes for dozen's if not hundred's of other genre offerings from the likes of Hammer, Amicus, Tigon and any number of small independent horror films that will likely never see the light of day on Blu-ray here in the UK.

Sad, but probably not too far from the truth.

Thing is though, this is the transfer and extras package that were made for an Icon Blu-ray which Shock licenced so it's all the odder it hasn't been released over here since it's finished and ready to go.

[Trampled]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Thing is though, this is the transfer and extras package that were made for an Icon Blu-ray which Shock licenced so it's all the odder it hasn't been released over here since it's finished and ready to go.

I didn't know that so thanks for the information, so Icon in the UK produced the Kronos HD master and all the extras and have done nothing to try and commercially exploit them and make money other than license them out to Shock the Australian distributor? That really does sound odd and quite frankly makes no logical sense to me, maybe there are other issues with rights and so forth?

I haven't seen Kronos in a few years but I do remember liking it so would probably be up for a UK release, having said that I am glad Icon decided to release Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell first as I think it's a better film and maybe my favourite Hammer horror.

[drsyn71]

Has Icon fallen on hard times?

[tommynorcal]

Honestly wondering if anyone has information about this in limbo release?

[donthitpause]

Link for the JB Hi-Fi website for the Australian Hammer release -

Captain Kronos



I own this Blu/DVD combo and can vouch for both the film/audio quality and extras.

Currently sitting at just over AUS $23, if you've got the ability to wait for a sale, you can grab this for approx AUS $16 on a good day.

Also available on this set -



JB Link -

Hammer

[tommynorcal]

Thanks a million!