Night of the Demon (1957) coming from Indicator

[Oscar Rothman]

Night of the Demon Blu-ray

(Jacques Tourneur, 1957)
Release date: 22 October 2018
Limited Blu-ray Edition (UK premiere on Blu-ray)

Based on M R James’ classic tale of terror, ‘Casting the Runes’, and adapted for the screen by regular Hitchcock collaborator Charles Bennett, Jacques Tourneur’s (Cat People, I Walked with a Zombie, Out of the Past) Night of the Demon is considered to be one of the seminal horror films of Twentieth-Century cinema. Released on Blu-ray for the very first time in the UK, the film is presented here in four different versions, and is accompanied by an incredible array of new and archival special features. Also includes a Limited Edition exclusive double-sided poster and 80-page book.

INDICATOR LIMITED 2-DISC BLU-RAY EDITION SPECIAL FEATURES:
• The BFI’s 2013 2K restoration of the 96-minute version
• High-definition remaster of the 82-minute cut
• Original mono audio
• Four presentations of the film: Night of the Demon – the original full-length pre-release version (96 mins), and the original UK theatrical cut (82 minutes); Curse of the Demon – the original US theatrical cut (82 mins), and the US re-issue version (96 mins)
• Audio commentary with film historian Tony Earnshaw, author of Beating the Devil: The Making of ‘Night of the Demon’
• Speak of the Devil: The Making of ‘Night of the Demon’ (2007): documentary featuring interviews with actor Peggy Cummins, production designer Ken Adam and historians Tony Earnshaw and Jonathan Rigby
• Dana Andrews on 'Night of the Demon': a rare audio interview with the actor conducted by Scott MacQueen
• The Devil’s in the Detail (2018): Christopher Frayling on Night of the Demon and acclaimed production designer Ken Adam
• Horrors Unseen (2018): a discussion of the celebrated director of Night of the Demon by Chris Fujiwara, author of Jacques Tourneur: The Cinema of Nightfall
• Sinister Signs (2018): an analysis by Kim Newman, author of Nightmare Movies
• Under the Spell (2018): the celebrated British horror writer Ramsey Campbell discusses the unique combination of M R James and Jacques Tourneur
• The Devil in Music (2018): a new appreciation of Clifton Parker's score by David Huckvale, author of Movie Magick: The Occult in Film
• The Devil Gets His Due (2018): film historian and preservationist Scott MacQueen on the release history of Night of the Demon
• The Truth of Alchemy (2018) a discussion of M R James and ‘Casting the Runes’ by Roger Clarke, author of A Natural History of Ghosts: 500 Years of Hunting for Proof
• Cloven In Two (2018): a new video piece exploring the different versions of the film
• Escape: 'Casting the Runes' (1947): a radio play adaptation of James’ original story
• Super 8 version: original cut-down home cinema presentation
• Isolated music & effects track on the US theatrical cut
• Original US Curse of the Demon theatrical trailer
• Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography, including rare production design sketches from the Deutsche Kinemathek’s Ken Adam Archive
• New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• Limited Edition exclusive 80-page book containing a new essay by Kat Ellinger, M R James on ghost stories, a history of the film’s production through the words of its principle creators, a profile of witchcraft consultant Margaret Murray, the film’s history with the BBFC, a look at the different versions of the film, contemporary critical responses, a look at Charles Bennett’s original scripted ending, and film credits
• Limited Edition exclusive double-sided poster
• UK premiere on Blu-ray
• Limited Edition of 6,000 copies
• ...AND MORE!
• All extras subject to change

[SteveBriz]

"It's in the trees. It's coming!"

What fantastic news.

I seem to remember an abandoned Special Edition DVD a few years back with Tony Earnshaw providing a commentary/video contribution. It would be terrific if those extras finally saw the light of day. Peggy Cummins is still about with plenty of tales about this tremendous film (and Hell Drivers of course in the same year).

[Lou24]

Tony Earnshaw did a book on the mid 2000's called 'Beating the devil' which I never picked up and now commands a lot on various sites. I wonder if they'll possibly include that as I know the french blu contains a book and a commentary from Earnshaw. Regardless I'm looking forward to picking up the Indicator blu-ray.

[thewerepuppygrr]

Ooh, hope they go all-out for this! One of my favourite classics.

[rapta]

I think they confirmed to me that it'll have both cuts too, so this is gonna be a gooood release. Day one for me!

[huntauk]

Never seen this, but 100% on my to-see radar. Day one for me! Looking forward to it.

[FelixFlankin]

I can't wait for this. Hopefully it's a great release.

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by Lou24

Tony Earnshaw did a book on the mid 2000's called 'Beating the devil' which I never picked up and now commands a lot on various sites. I wonder if they'll possibly include that as I know the french blu contains a book and a commentary from Earnshaw. Regardless I'm looking forward to picking up the Indicator blu-ray.

There's no commentary on the French disc, and the book - which has some great illustrations, including production sketches - is by Michael Henry Wilson.

[ste71]

I was thinking of selling the French Blu ray/DVD the other day too...might well do now its getting a UK release.

[EManT2200]

Just came across this thread. Great news, will be looking forward to this, even if I do have to order it from the UK. Love this film. Makes me even happier that I finally went multi-region ! ! !

[Member-167298]

yes!!!

[MacEachaidh]

Don't know about Dana Andrews, but I've got the runes just thinking about this ... This was a seminal film for me.

Originally Posted by rapta

I think they confirmed to me that it'll have both cuts too, so this is gonna be a gooood release. Day one for me!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Curse just a cut-down version of Night? I didn't think there was any footage (alternate takes, whatever) in the US version that wasn't in the original. If that's true, I personally wouldn't mind if it only had the original cut.

[sjt]

"but I've got the runes just thinking about this"

Shall we all join in the chorus?

"This was a seminal film for me."

So that was you in the row behind me?

[MacEachaidh]

Originally Posted by sjt

"This was a seminal film for me."
So that was you in the row behind me?

"Oh you beast! You've messed all over my new raincoat!" -- Sir John Gielgud

[Aclea]

Originally Posted by MacEachaidh

Don't know about Dana Andrews, but I've got the runes just thinking about this ... This was a seminal film for me.

That's "the lovely Dana Andrews" according to the (male) BBC2 continuity announcer who introduced it back in the 80s. Hal Chester had a slightly different opinion, especially when Andrews was so drunk during the night shoot that they had to do a Kubrickian number of takes to get him to say the all important final line right.

There's no different footage in the US version, but it works surprisingly well despite deleting one complete sequence and trimming several others, and since it's always been included on the DVD and French Bluray it might as well be included for completism in this release.

[Hawkmonger]

An essential puchase, one of the greatest low budget Brit horror titles of all time. A blu is very much welcome!

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Hawkmonger

An essential puchase, one of the greatest low budget Brit horror titles of all time.

Fixed. Low budget or not, this is a classic of eerie cinema that deserves a cracking release.

[GasmaskAvenger]

Yeah, i'm quite interested in getting this one.

[Hawkmonger]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Fixed. Low budget or not, this is a classic of eerie cinema that deserves a cracking release.

Hhhhmmm, I think it's important to high light that unlike many other low budget fair NotD is a classic in spite of it's production budget. Certainly for a independent company like Sabre.

But like wise, most welcome release indeed.

[Todd Tomorrow]

Between the early Universal horror films of the 30s and the prestige literary horror adaptions of the 60s (The Haunting, The Innocents, Rosemary's Baby) all horror films were low budget. It was considered a disreputable genre.