Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter 4K UHD Limited Collector’s Edition (Hammer Films)

[Marv Inc.]

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter 4K Blu-ray

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter 4K Blu-ray CE

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter 4K Blu-ray CE (Import)


Legendary creator Brian Clemens writes and directs this stylish, revisionist Hammer Horror – pitting a swashbuckling hero, his hunchbacked assistant and a feisty gypsy ingenue against a cunning and malevolent vampire. Starring Horst Janson as Kronos and Hammer Glamour icon Caroline Munro as Carla, cult classic Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter makes its worldwide debut as a brand-new 4K restoration from the original negative film elements.

A rash of mysterious deaths due to accelerated ageing compels Dr Marcus to summon his brother-in-arms, Captain Kronos – once a soldier but now a professional vampire hunter. As the deaths continue, however, Kronos realises that this is no ordinary vampire he’s hunting.

This limited collector's edition comprises:

Five discs in a stylish digipak: two UHDs and three Blu-rays, with the content duplicated across both formats
Three iterations of Captain Kronos: the widescreen 1.66:1 UK Theatrical Version, the fullscreen 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version and the widescreen 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
Brand-new Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mixes for each version alongside the original mono film soundtrack
English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese subtitles on each version of the film
Packaged in a high-end, leather-feel slipcase with debossed red foil titling
Rigid inner box featuring new artwork by cult favourite artist Graham Humphreys
Double-sided poster of the original UK and US one-sheets
Eight art cards featuring facsimiles of the original US cinema lobby cards
136 page booklet featuring interviews, articles and reproductions of original paperwork
100 page comic featuring a reprint of the Kronos strips from legendary 1970s magazine The House of Hammer

The discs feature:

New 2024 introduction by Caroline Munro on 1.66:1 UK Theatrical Version
New 2024 commentary featuring Caroline Munro and Sam & George Clemens on 1.66:1 UK Theatrical Version
New 2024 introduction by Sam & George Clemens on 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version
Archive 2011 commentary featuring Brian Clemens, Caroline Munro, Shane Briant, John Carson and Marcus Hearn on 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version
Archive 2011 commentary featuring Brian Clemens, Director of Photography Ian Wilson and Marcus Hearn on 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version
Archive 2013 introduction by Brian Clemens on 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
Archive 2020 commentary featuring film historian Bruce G. Hallenbeck on 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
Archive 2003 commentary featuring Brian Clemens, Caroline Munro and Jonathan Sothcott on 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
The House of Clemens: a brand-new 59-minute documentary looking at Brian Clemens and his body of work, with contributions from his family, friends and colleagues
Original UK Theatrical Trailer
Original Foreign Theatrical Trailer
Original US Theatrical Trailer
Original UK Censor Card
Original US Radio Spots
Original Textless Titles and Backgrounds
Kronos Returns: archive featurette on the 2008 reunion of cast and crew
Brian Clemens 1991 interview from the Festival of Fantastic Films archive
Brian Clemens 2000 interview from the Festival of Fantastic Films archive
Horst Janson 2010 interview from the Festival of Fantastic Films archive
Lois Daine 2017 interview from the James McCabe archive
Anything Goes: Hammer Horror in the 1970s - 2020 featurette featuring Kim Newman and Stephen Jones
Extensive stills gallery including many rare behind-the-scenes pictures and featuring music from Laurie Johnson's outstanding score
The booklet features:

New article on the making of Captain Kronos by actor and author Bruce G. Hallenbeck
Archive interviews with Horst Janson, Caroline Munro, Laurie Johnson, John Cater, Lisa Collings and William Hobbs, courtesy of Little Shoppe of Horrors magazine
New article examining why Kronos never made it to a franchise by film historian Laura Mayne
New article on Laurie Johnson by Movie Music International's John Mansell
Archive Brian Clemens interview from a 1974 edition of Monster Times
Archive review of Captain Kronos from 1974 by Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas
New article examining the film's UK cinema distribution by Steve Rogers
Reproduction pressbook, call sheet and US PR material
The features, packaging and specification on this page are not final and are subject to change

https://hammerfilms.com/products/cap...ctor-s-edition

[dallywhitty]

That's a lot of stuff.

[BarnDoor]

I love this film but this does seem somewhat excessive. And I dread to think how much it will cost. Wonder how long we'll have to wait for a 'standard' edition?

[ste71]

I'll more than likely get this! Hopefully the start of many more Hammer UHDs.

[The Sovereign]

I'm interested, just not sure I'm that interested.

[dml1988]

Originally Posted by The Sovereign

I'm interested, just not sure I'm that interested.

Right, I love the film personally and am glad to see it get this treatment, but imagine if this was any of the following: Horror of Dracula, Curse of Frankenstein, Brides of Dracula, Dracula PoD, Curse of the Werewolf, Revenge of Frankenstein or The Mummy. Those are the heavy hitters that should get the big 4k box set treatment, in my opinion

[cakefactory]

Yeah, this is stupid. I hate these giant sets for movies that I would buy if they were remotely reasonably priced. This (probably) won't be nearly as ridiculously priced for stuff I don't care about as The Neverending Story, but it's also Captain Kronos, a movie with a FAR smaller fanbase.

I'd be all over it if it was one 4K disc and one extras disc. I sure don't need 5 discs with tons of repeat content and a bunch of physical extras I don't care about. It's too bad, cause this is one of the movies that actually doesn't have a great blu-ray release available right now. The Shout version has a crummy transfer (same deal with the other Paramount license they had, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell), and the Australian and German versions with the better transfer have been OOP for ages.

[oddbox83]

I want to support this, but it depends on price. I want them to know a market is there but don’t want them to think they can inflate the price all the time with superfluous aspect ratios. I’d be happy with a single 4K disc with the optimum ratio (which ain’t 1.66, but I digress…) and leave the rest BD only.

[kellyway]

I am pretty much priced out of the market for new releases now. I will have to see what is available in 2025 from 2023-2024

[ste71]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I want to support this, but it depends on price. I want them to know a market is there but don’t want them to think they can inflate the price all the time with superfluous aspect ratios. I’d be happy with a single 4K disc with the optimum ratio (which ain’t 1.66, but I digress…) and leave the rest BD only.

I'm sure if this was released in just one aspect ratio there'd be people having meltdowns. These days the saying 'You can't please everyone' rings so true. Although I'm sure some will find fault regardless.

[ApeRyan10]

Description

Legendary creator Brian Clemens writes and directs this stylish, revisionist Hammer Horror – pitting a swashbuckling hero, his hunchbacked assistant and a feisty gypsy ingenue against a cunning and malevolent vampire. Starring Horst Janson as Kronos and*Hammer Glamour*icon Caroline Munro as Carla, cult classic*Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter*makes its worldwide debut as a brand-new 4K restoration from the original negative film elements.
A rash of mysterious deaths due to accelerated ageing compels Dr Marcus to summon his brother-in-arms, Captain Kronos – once a soldier but now a professional vampire hunter. As the deaths continue, however, Kronos realises that this is no ordinary vampire he’s hunting.

Special Features

This limited collector's edition comprises:
* Five discs in a stylish digipak: two UHDs and three Blu-rays, with the content duplicated across both formats
* Three iterations of Captain Kronos: the widescreen 1.66:1 UK Theatrical Version, the fullscreen 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version and the widescreen 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
* Brand-new Dolby Atmos and 5.1 mixes for each version alongside the original mono film soundtrack
* English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese subtitles on each version of the film
* Packaged in a high-end, leather-feel slipcase with debossed red foil titling
* Rigid inner box featuring new artwork by cult favourite artist Graham Humphreys
* Double-sided poster of the original UK and US one-sheets
* Eight art cards featuring facsimiles of the original US cinema lobby cards
* 136 page booklet featuring interviews, articles and reproductions of original paperwork
* 100 page comic featuring a reprint of the Kronos strips from legendary 1970s magazine The House of Hammer
The discs feature:
* The House of Clemens: a brand-new 59-minute documentary looking at Brian Clemens and his body of work, with contributions from his family, friends and colleagues
* New 2024 introduction by Caroline Munro on 1.66:1 UK Theatrical Version
* New 2024 commentary featuring Caroline Munro and Sam & George Clemens on 1.66:1 UK Theatrical Version
* New 2024 introduction by Sam & George Clemens on 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version
* Archive 2011 commentary featuring Brian Clemens, Caroline Munro, Shane Briant, John Carson and Marcus Hearn on 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version
* Archive 2011 commentary featuring Brian Clemens, Director of Photography Ian Wilson and Marcus Hearn on 1.37:1 As-Filmed Version
* Archive 2013 introduction by Brian Clemens on 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
* Archive 2020 commentary featuring film historian Bruce G. Hallenbeck on 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
* Archive 2003 commentary featuring Brian Clemens, Caroline Munro and Jonathan Sothcott on 1.85:1 US Theatrical Version
* Original UK Theatrical Trailer
* Original Foreign Theatrical Trailer
* Original US Theatrical Trailer
* Original UK Censor Card
* Original US Radio Spots
* Original Textless Titles and Backgrounds
* Kronos Returns: archive featurette on the 2008 reunion of cast and crew
* Brian Clemens 1991 interview from the Festival of Fantastic Films archive
* Brian Clemens 2000 interview from the Festival of Fantastic Films archive
* Horst Janson 2010 interview from the Festival of Fantastic Films archive
* Lois Daine 2017 interview from the James McCabe archive
* Anything Goes: Hammer Horror in the 1970s - 2020 featurette featuring Kim Newman and Stephen Jones
* Extensive stills gallery including many rare behind-the-scenes pictures and featuring music from Laurie Johnson's outstanding score
The booklet features:
* New article on the making of Captain Kronos by actor and author Bruce G. Hallenbeck
* Archive interviews with Horst Janson, Caroline Munro, Laurie Johnson, John Cater, Lisa Collings and William Hobbs, courtesy of Little Shoppe of Horrors magazine
* New article examining why Kronos never made it to a franchise by film historian Laura Mayne
* New article on Laurie Johnson by Movie Music International's John Mansell
* Archive Brian Clemens interview from a 1974 edition of Monster Times
* Archive review of Captain Kronos from 1974 by Video Watchdog's Tim Lucas
* New article examining the film's UK cinema distribution by Steve Rogers
* Reproduction pressbook, call sheet and US PR material
The features, packaging and specification on this page are not final and are subject to change

[MifuneFan]

Whoa, are Hammer putting this out themselves?

https://hammerfilms.com/products/cap...fUn_foHR36gpgS

[ApeRyan10]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Whoa, are Hammer putting this out themselves?

https://hammerfilms.com/products/cap...fUn_foHR36gpgS

Yes they are! Looks like the pre-order will go up on Halloween. Sign up for the email to get early access.

[JohnCarpenterFan]

I hope it does well enough that they decide to remaster and release more of their catalog on UHD but such a lavish set for this film doesn't appeal to me. Open matte presentations don't really interest me at all so I hope there's a standard release with just the 1.85:1.

I'm kind of surprised they're still saying these films were 1.66:1 in UK theaters given how that misconception has been pretty much debunked by Bob Furmanek. IIRC, Hammer used to do a blog and they actually said something along the lines of the 1.37:1 versions of these films having the original intended aspect ratio with the widescreen versions being compromises for theatrical showings which is of course ludicrous.

[cakefactory]

I think it would please more people if they had multiple versions, like they sold the blu-ray feature film discs and the 4K feature film discs in separate editions so we weren't paying for 5 discs where most people don't care about 2 of them. I don't mind having a blu-ray copy, but I do mind when I'm paying ~$100 for the privilege (my guess is this is going to be about 75 USD minimum).

I wish they had a release history so I had any idea if there'd be a standard release somewhere down the road. I just could not care less about comic reprints or lobby cards or posters and that on top of all the superfluous discs make me think this is going to be a turnoff for all but people with ludicrous amounts of disposable income. I hope they are pulling a Synapse and will release a standard as soon as the limited sells out, but we might be waiting a long time if that's their plan.

[John Hodson]

Flashbacks to 2012 and the UK CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN release, with a superfluous open matte version, justified at the time by Hammer's advisor as being (without any evidence) Terence Fisher's preference. By 1974, UK cinemas were overwhelmingly for 1.85:1, the 'as filmed' nonsense is just that. Nonsense.

[Titus37]

Wow! This is an amazing deluxe release. I'm very impressed that they included 3 UHD versions and the huge list of supplements. Naturally, I just picked this up in the Shout going-out-of-print sale.

[brainofj72]

Whaaaaaat, please tell me this is just the beginning of these!

One of my favorite Hammers, have to have this.

[JRcanReid]

I'm very torn. I very badly want to support Hammer titles on 4K and would gladly spend about $30 apiece for my top 20 favorite Hammer titles in standard sets, but I can't afford 20 of this type of package.

[CelestialAgent]

Wonder if this was originally set up as a Network release like Doctor Jekyll before the liquidation?

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I'd be all over it if it was one 4K disc and one extras disc. I sure don't need 5 discs with tons of repeat content and a bunch of physical extras I don't care about.

Some labels like Second Sight do dual format 4K LEs and it does seem a little silly to me.

Has the comic been reprinted before? Society, Battle Royale and Poe also feature comics.