Horror of Dracula (Dracula 1958)

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by JudgeFulton

Wouldn't "standard screen" be a reference to the previous Academy ratio that was being phased out?

The issue isn't whether it should be widescreen (we all know it should be) it's whether it should be 1.66 or 1.75.
Even Bob's post on the previous page referencing The Glass Cage seems to be saying that all British films are shot at 1.66 (as they seemed to be well into the 70's) but if cinemas want to be correct they should be 1.75.

As others have already said, the difference between the 2 is so minimal it isn't going to be an issue when deciding to buy this new release of Dracula.

Weren't you banned for stalking a few days ago under dannywilde and other names?
after filling my message box with obscenities?
You're beginning to give some of us the willies, Nigel.

[DukeTogo84]

So is this coming out next week? Don't see it on Amazon.

[jacksparrow900]

Warner Archive posted this on Facebook it's worded a little different

HORROR OF DRACULA (1958) New 2018 1080p presentation sourced from the Hammer/BFI Restoration Master: bit.ly/HamDrac

Fresh off The Curse of Frankenstein , Christopher Lee began his iconic run as the Prince of Darkness alongside fellow Hammer Horror-mate Peter Cushing in this scarlet and ebon tinged full color adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula." Cushing plays the valiant Dr. Van Helsing who sets off on a vampire hunt after Dracula turns his friend into a bloodsucker leading to a climax that is as electrifying as it is horrific. Terence Fisher directs a chilling Lee, setting a blueprint for New Cinema horror that would last well into the swinging seventies. And the blood runs redder than ever before thanks to this brand-new presentation, sourced from the British Film Institute/Hammer Film restoration master, which bears the UK release title of "Dracula" in the opening credits. Also newly remastered on DVD: bit.ly/HamDracDVD
! 16x9 Widescreen — with Sir Christopher Lee.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

Thanks, it's rather simple when you've done your homework and have the primary source documents on your side!

It also helps when you've actually handled film and original elements.

It's assumed knowledge for those engaged in the practice. One must realize
that film-chemistry and the film-mechanical world of cameras and projectors
are a rapidly disappearing technology. When digital replaces film completely,
it's only a generation away from disappearing from people's consciousness. I
was a researcher on a 19th photography project which required me to learn
how to make daguerreotypes -- a process which involves liquid gold and silver
vapors -- and tintypes from the age when photo capture was so new it was
considered to be a miracle. But the number of people who have that kind of
know-how today can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Nothing can stop
film chemistry and film mechanics from going the same way.

So I understand how all the confusion starts and self-perpetuates.

Originally Posted by Robert Furmanek

Richard, next time you're in New York, hit me up and I'll be happy to screen archival 35mm prints of THE GLASS TOMB or HORROR OF DRACULA in the correct aspect ratio for you!

I appreciate that. My trips back home tapered off to zero but you've just
given me all the incentive I need.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by jacksparrow900

Warner Archive posted this on Facebook it's worded a little different

HORROR OF DRACULA (1958) New 2018 1080p presentation sourced from the Hammer/BFI Restoration Master: bit.ly/HamDrac

Fresh off The Curse of Frankenstein , Christopher Lee began his iconic run as the Prince of Darkness alongside fellow Hammer Horror-mate Peter Cushing in this scarlet and ebon tinged full color adaptation of Bram Stoker's "Dracula." Cushing plays the valiant Dr. Van Helsing who sets off on a vampire hunt after Dracula turns his friend into a bloodsucker leading to a climax that is as electrifying as it is horrific. Terence Fisher directs a chilling Lee, setting a blueprint for New Cinema horror that would last well into the swinging seventies. And the blood runs redder than ever before thanks to this brand-new presentation, sourced from the British Film Institute/Hammer Film restoration master, which bears the UK release title of "Dracula" in the opening credits. Also newly remastered on DVD: bit.ly/HamDracDVD
! 16x9 Widescreen — with Sir Christopher Lee.

I wonder what "16x9 Widescreen" means in this context.

I hope they're not getting signals crossed, I really do.

[RICKBONDOO7]

Why is this Bluray release being called ..Horror of Dracula when the opening titles will say ...Dracula ? I have the UK Bluray for a few years now. I thought this would be Horror of Dracula in the opening titles. I will have to keep the WB dvd forever now with the Horror of Dracula trailer. No choice

[carminepesce]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

So is this coming out next week? Don't see it on Amazon.

Not next week, 12/18. For whatever reason Amazon always gets screwed up with WAC titles. Deep discount & WAC site both have it available for preorder.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by RICKBONDOO7

Why is this Bluray release being called ..Horror of Dracula when the opening titles will say ...Dracula ? I have the UK Bluray for a few years now. I thought this would be Horror of Dracula in the opening titles. I will have to keep the WB dvd forever now with the Horror of Dracula trailer. No choice

Same reason Warner's US releases of Mad Max 2 say The Road Warrior on the cover art but say Mad Max 2 on the film itself - they release the original version when possible, but legally have to retain the US title in the promotion/marketing since that is how the original distribution deal titled it.

[Harryhausen AF]

Originally Posted by Bates_Motel

Since I keep getting silly PMs about it, here's proof the UK scan can easily be re-colored to match the Warner DVD (not that the DVD is correct, it's still too magenta, but just using it as an example).

No new scan is needed to simply re-color, and nothing is "baked in" color-wise. Even the detail in the shadows what's not visible on the UK edition is visible in my very quick re-color.

UK blu (top); US DVD (middle); Re-colored UK blu to match US DVD (bottom)

But look at the white text on your one it is now orange showing that the blanket tint has just been edited from blue to orange. There is only so much that can be done when the tint is baked in this needs a proper restoration.

[Richard--W]

I'd like to see those screen grabs matched to the identical frame from the 35mm film.
I'll bet the color will be different.
DrCushing, are you here?

[Richard--W]

There may be a parallel between Horror of Dracula and another British film
of the same period newly released by Warner Archive.

A month ago Warner Archive released Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)
on blu-ray. I have no idea how it's supposed to look, never having seen the film
projected. I thought some of the day-for-night tints were a bit strong and the
printing not dark enough, but in a way that's so minor it's hardly worth mentioning.
It looks great. The image fills all four corners of my 16x9 screen very nicely, but I
wonder it that's a perfect match for the theatrical aspect ratio. I wonder what the
theatrical aspect ratio was in 1959.

[DrCushing]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

I'd like to see those screen grabs matched to the identical frame from the 35mm film.
I'll bet the color will be different.
DrCushing, are you here?

Let me get the reel on my rewinds today and see what I can do

[Robert Furmanek]

It's been a while since we screened the 35mm 1958 Technicolor print but my memory is the scene is much darker. The castle interiors are not brightly lit at all and the only light is the sunrise coming through the window.

This was done for reference only on a non-professional light table but it gives you some idea how the original theatrical prints were timed. The deep blacks in the dye-transfer print have more visual information which did not come through on my quick scan.



Just like the vintage Universal horrors which have finally been timed properly on Blu-ray, many horror films have been brightened up over the years for television and early home video release. Original theatrical prints - which reflect the director and DP's intent - are much darker.

[Richard--W]

That's my memory as well. But I would qualify the term "darker". It didn't mean so dark
that nothing could be seen. One could see the darkness without it being opaque.

Synapse's Vampire Circus bluray is an example of how to do it wrong. That was graded by
an amateur. All transfers need the backlight, whether it's a dark or bright scene the
backlight has to be on.

[dkelly26666]

Best Buy has come through where Amazon failed, yet again.

I had pre-ordered "Horror of Dracula" and "The Blue Knight" WAC releases through Amazon just to have them cancel my orders and take the pre-order links down.

I ordered them instead from Best Buy last night, and they just shipped today.

This happened recently with the November Sony MOD releases (Young Guns II, Freejack, and Robin and Marian). Amazon cancelled my pre-orders. I ordered from Best Buy and got them before release date.

[Bates_Motel]

Originally Posted by Harryhausen AF

But look at the white text on your one it is now orange showing that the blanket tint has just been edited from blue to orange. There is only so much that can be done when the tint is baked in this needs a proper restoration.

You keep PM'ig me about this, and again you're wrong. The "text" isn't even part of the film image I don't think you're even serious at this point, if all you want to "see" is a text overlay when you don't even look at the actual image. No one can be that obtuse just to try and keep "arguing." You're looking foolish, dude.

And so what if the text that isn't even part of the image is more orange? The rest of the image is 99% identical to the DVD, which is what people like you keep whining about. So my point still stands, backed up by proof, that yes, the film can easily be re-colored to match and doesn't need a new "restoration" to get the DVD colors. Period. End of discussion. This restoration is perfectly fine. It's also hilarious you keep blaming this "blanket tint," but it doesn't even occur to you that maybe the DVD had a blanket orange tint, since it's far too magenta. Again, it's you not even understanding how color grading even works.

You don't understand what a 'blanket" tint even is, but my pictures PROVE it can easily be colored to EXACTLY the colors on the WB disc. I didn't even try to make it match exactly, as I said, but no further proof is needed. If you can't see that, then you need glasses, but it doesn't fit your whole "needs a new remaster" agenda, which it's NOT getting, so it's pointless anyway for you to keep ranting about it. Drop it.

But please, go learn about color grading and leave me alone. I proved my point, you did not. Stop PMing me because you're becoming a stalker at this point.

[Richard--W]

Originally Posted by DrCushing

Let me get the reel on my rewinds today and see what I can do

Many thanks.
Make 'em BIG scans as in LARGE if not HUGE by way of GIGANTIC in the HUMONGUS class.

[Midnight Rambler]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

That's my memory as well. But I would qualify the term "darker". It didn't mean so dark that nothing could be seen. One could see the darkness without it being opaque.

That pic reminds me of when I first saw my Hammers in my home town's small, Vaudeville-era theater house-turned cinema.

[DrCushing]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Many thanks.
Make 'em BIG scans as in LARGE if not HUGE by way of GIGANTIC in the HUMONGUS class.

How's this? ☺

[Show spoiler]

[Jobla]

A thread on the Classic Horror Film Board claims that the Japanese footage is not included in Warner's new BD.