The Curse of Frankenstein 4K UHD (1957)

[brainofj72]

The Curse of Frankenstein 4K Blu-ray WAC

The Curse of Frankenstein 4K Blu-ray WAC


Per Hammer, US version coming from Warner Archive: https://hammerfilms.com/products/the...ctor-s-edition

This release is a UK release only. US and ROW release available from The Warner Archive Collection.

Details: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Hz9pjyQNw/

COMING TO 4K UHD and Blu-Ray on OCTOBER 14th from the WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION!
New 2025 restoration from best surviving elements, newly remastered for stunning picture quality with a brand-new 5.1 surround mix and original mono audio options.

THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1957) DELUXE COLLECTOR’S EDITION
4K UHD Edition 3-Disc set with 2 BD-100 with DOLBY VISION and HDR 10 containing the three versions of the feature film and special features, and 1 Blu-ray BD-50 of special features.

Also available:
Blu-ray Edition: 3-Disc set with 3 BD-50s containing BD-50 the three versions of the feature film plus special features.

Feature Running Time: 82 Minutes
COLOR
Aspect Ratios: 16x9 1.85:1 U.S. Theatrical version, 16x9 1.66:1 U.K. Theatrical version, 16x9 1.37:1 with side mattes-Open Matte version
Audio Specs: Original Theatrical DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono and NEW DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround formats.
NOT RATED
Subtitles: ENGLISH SDH, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Cast: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Hazel Court
Directed by Terence Fisher

In 1957 Hammer Films carved out their own place in cinema history by revisiting a classic horror tale, Mary Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN and bringing the fabled story into a modern era with a new take on the material. With a highly original screenplay by Jimmy Sangster, splendid direction from Terence Fisher, and stellar performances by Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN became an instant classic, and began Hammer’s reign as the leading producer of horror films for many years to come. Warner Bros. had the honor of being the film’s original distributor, and the relationship between Hammer Films and WB became a vital partnership between the two companies. Nearly 70 years later, Hammer Films and the Warner Archive Collection have proudly joined together to bring forth THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN in an all-new fully restored 4K HDR presentation (with three different aspect ratios) and an impressive array of new bonus features, as well as legacy pieces, that will allow fans to immerse themselves in the history of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and HAMMER FILMS as never before. In addition to the 3-disc 4K UHD presentation (2 4K UHD BD-100s, and a Blu-ray bonus disc of special features), there will also be a new 3-disc Blu-ray edition featuring the same exact content in High Definition. Both the 4K UHD and Blu-ray Collector’s editions will be available on October 14th from your favorite online retailer.

[Crispy Noodle]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

Per Hammer, US version coming from Warner Archive: https://hammerfilms.com/products/the...ctor-s-edition

You think? It's present tense so aren't they talking about the currently available blu-ray?

[dml1988]

Now this, this is what I have been waiting for Hammer to put out on their own. I really hope they also do Horror of Dracula

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Crispy Noodle

You think? It's present tense so aren't they talking about the currently available blu-ray?

I did wonder about that too. They say the 4K restoration was done in collaboration with WAC, but could they just be referring to the existing release, which is also from a 4K scan/restoration? This does feel like an obvious choice for a WAC 4K though, so I feel optimistic it'll happen.

The Curse of Frankenstein is brought to you in 4K, carefully restored from original film elements by the Hammer team in collaboration with The Warner Archive Collection.

[brainofj72]

Originally Posted by Crispy Noodle

You think? It's present tense so aren't they talking about the currently available blu-ray?

I mean, I wouldn’t consider a 5-year-old BD from a different master to be a viable alternative to this release that would warrant being referenced by Hammer. And it says they worked on the remaster with Warner Archive. I don’t know why they would reference any of this if there weren’t a US 4K coming. This same thing happened with Second Sight and The Hitcher.

[Rizor]

Maybe WAC will release this in 4K like with The Hitcher and Get Carter, but I don't really expect anything of them. They could very well feel their last release was good enough, and it is pretty good.

[Crispy Noodle]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

I mean, I wouldn’t consider a 5-year-old BD from a different master to be a viable alternative to this release that would warrant being referenced by Hammer. And it says they worked on the remaster with Warner Archive. I don’t know why they would reference any of this if there weren’t a US 4K coming. This same thing happened with Second Sight and The Hitcher.

All that is reasonable, although Warner Archive did considerable work on the blu-ray release, so who says it's a different master. And it could also be argued that just licensing that restoration would be working with WA.

In any event, I am collecting the big black box editions, and this sounds like it could make it more difficult to get the Hammer version in the US. Even if WA does their own 4K, I doubt it will be the big box version.

We'll see, of course.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

I mean, I wouldn’t consider a 5-year-old BD from a different master to be a viable alternative to this release that would warrant being referenced by Hammer. And it says they worked on the remaster with Warner Archive. I don’t know why they would reference any of this if there weren’t a US 4K coming. This same thing happened with Second Sight and The Hitcher.

That 5-year old digital restoration is the best source without doing it all again (and why would you need to?).

4K scanned and used the highest quality film materials - preservation colour safety separates - due to the cut camera negative being unusable/presumably junked as a result of it's historic degradation.

Being so modern a 4K digital restoration, it likely has all the RAW or LOG stuff needed to do a true HDR re-grade.

I would say I'm 99.9% certain it's the same core restoration with 2160p HDR/DV mastering this time, as opposed to 1080p rec.709. So if you wanted to consider semantics it's the same digital restoration used with different mastering workflow for the different release format.

So does this mean Warner is doing a 4K too, or are they just clumsily referencing the existing WAC disc? Who knows.

[RICKBONDOO7]

I hate Big Box editions. They take up too much space and are overpriced. I will wait for a Standard version. The WBArchive Bluray is Fine for me. I also have a Digital version.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by RICKBONDOO7

I hate Big Box editions. They take up too much space and are overpriced. I will wait for a Standard version. The WBArchive Bluray is Fine for me. I also have a Digital version.

Worth noting that this time, the 6th disc content is exclusive to the BBoT edition.

[brainofj72]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

That 5-year old digital restoration is the best source without doing it all again (and why would you need to?).

4K scanned and used the highest quality film materials - preservation colour safety separates - due to the cut camera negative being unusable/presumably junked as a result of it's historic degradation.

Being so modern a 4K digital restoration, it likely has all the RAW or LOG stuff needed to do a true HDR re-grade.

I would say I'm 99.9% certain it's the same core restoration with 2160p HDR/DV mastering this time, as opposed to 1080p rec.709. So if you wanted to consider semantics it's the same digital restoration used with different mastering workflow for the different release format.

So does this mean Warner is doing a 4K too, or are they just clumsily referencing the existing WAC disc? Who knows.

I'm just going off what Hammer said themselves:

carefully restored from original film elements by the Hammer team in collaboration with The Warner Archive Collection.

The "same core restoration" or not, this would still be a new master.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

I'm just going off what Hammer said themselves:

The "same core restoration" or not, this would still be a new master.

I'll do a Herzog if they've even touched the film again. They'll have used the digital files from the restoration of 5 years ago.

[brainofj72]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I'll do a Herzog if they've even touched the film again. They'll have used the digital files from the restoration of 5 years ago.

Oh, I don't doubt that at all. I can't imagine why new scans would be necessary.

[Hammerlover]

I wouldn't be surprised if WAC were to announce a 4K of CURSE as one of its October releases. It would certainly make sense.

[BobSimms]

They’re clearly referring to a 4K UHD disc release coming from WAC to the US and rest of the world.

[tangerinewolf]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

I wouldn't be surprised if WAC were to announce a 4K of CURSE as one of its October releases. It would certainly make sense.

It won’t be a big box set like Hammer’s. Which is fine. So we’ll have the choice of Hammer’s box, which undoubtedly OrbitDVD and/or DiabolikDVD will carry and whatever WAC will offer which will probably be a one or two disc set.

[MifuneFan]

Good news, I reached out to Hammer, and just got confirmation that it is indeed an upcoming WAC release too!

Hi Michael,

Thanks so much for your message. It's the upcoming release from Warner Archive.

Best regards,
Michael Cubarrubia Hammer Films Support

[brainofj72]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Good news, I reached out to Hammer, and just got confirmation that it is indeed an upcoming WAC release too!

I dunno, I think it's pretty rich that you actually took initiative and confirmed information. I think the better course of action is to let us all recklessly speculate and argue. How dare you

[Dingus1539]

I just popped in the wonderful Warner Archive blu of this seminal film from Hammer. It's exciting it's getting released by Hammer in partnership with Warner, and if they decide to release it as a Warner Archive 4K as well, I will likely upgrade that way. Does this mean we may actually get the 4K of Dracula (1958, aka Horror of Dracula in the U.S.)!

[Hammerlover]

It's clearly a good time to be a fan of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN!