The Panther Women (1967) / The Bat Woman (1968) (Indicator)

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by nin74

From a post on Indicator collectors group, Facebook:

"THE EPIC JOURNEY OF THE BAT WOMAN: A DRAMA THAT CLAIMS A TRIUMPHANT ENDING.

In 2018, with much effort by Charles Horak and other friends, we undertook the challenging task of acquiring the rights to my family's films for which I had a special love. My mission was not only to restore them on par with the great classics but also to give them a new identity and redemptive purpose and remind the world that this cinema also has a vital place in the hearts of the audience.
Everything was progressing perfectly: we had signed a contract with Kino Lorber to release the first collection of Luchador@s films on Blu-ray, thus beginning a collaboration that promised to restore and share many more gems with fans and reach a new audience.

I built a castle in the air: I imagined all the possible combinations between genres, divided the films into collections, and made hundreds of extra contents in my head. Everything collapsed on me in a second. I remember in detail when I saw on my phone that VCI had released the Blu-rays of "The Bat Woman" and "The Panther Women". This was an unexpected and devastating turn because they also promised that their versions were restored in 4K from the original negative. Overnight I went from living in a rainbow to wanting to lock myself in a cave and bury all my big dreams...
The shame I went through with Kino Lorber was horrible. The cancellation of the contract and the tremendous stain on my reputation. And all because those who sold me exclusive rights resold them mercilessly, taking advantage of my vulnerability and my lack of resources to sue them. VCI, for its part and in its desire for profit, lied by claiming to have access to the original negatives that only I had, once again deceiving all those who trusted its sales strategy and questioning from the rooftops whether I, in fact, I had access to the original negatives.

In a limbo of desperation, I lost my investment and credibility.
Five years after that dark tragedy, on the eve of my 50th birthday, thanks to Indicator comes redemption: the true 4K restoration, born from the original negative and lovingly restored by an intimate but passionate team, composed of me, my partner Peter Conheim and Andrew Drapkin.
This Blu-ray is not only the best version of the film that exists to date, but it is also a testament to resilience, dedication, and love for cinema. It is full of wonderful extras and respect for those who will collect this limited edition.
If you want to be part of a dramatic fight and be on the side of justice, please buy the Blu-ray and witness the quality of our work. Each purchase supports this project and drives us to overcome obstacles and continue our complex mission with a renewed spirit. Long live The Bat Woman and the great Maura Monti who inspires me and many other women to fight for what we believe."

/Viviana García Besne (related to the Calderon family, film producers Cinematografica Calderón).

Wow, we all know how incompetent most VCI releases are but who knew they were so shady.