Hammer Horror Blu-ray Releases

[Wireduck1]

Originally Posted by gitsurfer

That's great! Thanks for taking the time to post. I'm in a similar situation of not being over-worried about the presentation as long as it's a worthwhile upgrade. Looks like I'll be importing this one along with Kronos.

Hound looks very good, no problems at all, I think you'll like Kronos too. I hope the titles keep coming out in Oz.

[oddbox83]

Kronos starts fairly grainy with some compression issues in the grain but stick with it, it settles down after the first scene or so and is pretty good. A shame the extras don't have subs though. I struggled to understand much of the Reunion featurette.

[DasMan]

Any reviews of `Phantom of the Opera` Yet?

[MichChrisIp]

Originally Posted by DasMan

Any reviews of `Phantom of the Opera` Yet?

Mine have just been shipped, along with Clegg, so also very interested in hearing people opinions!

Also, have anybody bought the £25 re-release (???) of Frankenstein and the monster from hell? I assume it's the one with the error fixed?.
Really want it, though not for £25, but under 20 and I would consider it if it's the fixed version!!

[bgart13]

I've heard it's 1.85:1 and 1080p, grainy, passable looking.

[gitsurfer]

Originally Posted by bgart13

I've heard it's 1.85:1 and 1080p, grainy, passable looking.

That's about the size of it. It appears to be a problem with previous home video releases so perhaps the best they could do. Some have reported grain crawling all over the image but others not so much so could be individual set-ups or sensitivity. Colours are nice, though. No problems with the sound plus an enjoyable making of doc.

I'd say to keep your PQ expectations fairly low and just enjoy the film for what it is - worked for me!

[Brett C]

I am glad it is not an interlaced transfer like Clegg.

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by gitsurfer

That's about the size of it. It appears to be a problem with previous home video releases so perhaps the best they could do. Some have reported grain crawling all over the image but others not so much so could be individual set-ups or sensitivity. Colours are nice, though. No problems with the sound plus an enjoyable making of doc.

I'd say to keep your PQ expectations fairly low and just enjoy the film for what it is - worked for me!

I thought Phantom was probably the worse looking film in the Universal DVD Hammer box, not that it looked that bad, very nice in places, but some scenes looked like they were transferred from from separation masters that weren't quite lined-up properly. For me the wait goes on for a really great looking Blu-ray from Hammer's golden period.

[Partyslammer]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

I thought Phantom was probably the worse looking film in the Universal DVD Hammer box, not that it looked that bad, very nice in places, but some scenes looked like they were transferred from from separation masters that weren't quite lined-up properly. For me the wait goes on for a really great looking Blu-ray from Hammer's golden period.

IMO, "The Mummy" looks excellent on BD, far better than any previous home video release anywhere.

There's a short article in the Hammer Films fan magazine "Little Shop Of Horrors #13" that includes an interview with Ron Roloff from around '95 who was (or maybe still is) Universals Home Video Technical Director that sheds light on how difficult it was (and maybe still is) to get decent quality sources of Hammer's best films for home video release.

During the early 90's, Roloff supervised restorations of many of Universal's licensed Hammer films including Brides Of Dracula, Curse Of The Werewolf, Kiss Of The Vampire among others as well as Phantom Of The Opera. The article details the drawn out process in locating satisfactory film elements and indicates that while Universal (had) very good IP and YCM protection elements that included trimmed scenes mostly at their London "vault," some films proved problematic and Universal had to go to the BBC and Hammer themselves for satisfactory film elements.

For Phantom, in '83 they attempted to do a transfer using the original negative but discovered it was badly faded. Years later, they found a YCM protection master and an Answer Print. Using those materials, Roloff created a Internegative and did a digital transfer which is considered to be the best source of the film and what was used for the Laserdisc and later the Universal/MCA Hammer Horror Series DVD set. It is unknown if that digital source was lost in the fire at Universal or if the source elements used to create a new (as of the early 90's) archive print still exist in any usable condition.

Clearly the Universal restorations were not used for at least Brides Of Dracula and Phantom. This doesn't bode well for the upcoming "Curse Of The Werewolf" BD either.

[HuggyBear73]

So I guess Icon ain't fixing MONSTER FROM HELL, then? Hell with it, gonna order the Aus disc.

[bgart13]

It was fixed -- what are you talking about?

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by bgart13

It was fixed -- what are you talking about?

No one in this thread has confirmed that Amazon UK is selling the corrected disc yet. Nothing about a new UPC # or anything. Unless I missed it, but I don't think I did.

EDIT: So the listing on Amazon UK, the one that sells for GBP 24.64 (??), is the corrected version?

[ptb2010]

Originally Posted by DasMan

Any reviews of `Phantom of the Opera` Yet?

It is 1.66:1 a some of it grainy, but on the whole it is not too bad, the colour in particular, is a lot better than Captain Clegg.
It is a shame the Blu Rays of the titles in the Universal collection cannot be sourced from the same materials they were. Brides of Dracula in particular looks far better on the Universal DVD than it does on Blu Ray, and it is in the correct ration. Phantom at least is correct, unlike Clegg.

[CinemaScope]

Thanks for that Mr. Slammer, very interesting. I thought The Mummy looked very harsh & grainy, but I know other people loved it. What these Universal Hammer's really need is a good clean-up, get rid of all the debris on the picture, but Universal seems to have fallen out of love with their Hammer stash. There's Sony, their DVD's of Terror Of The Tongs, The Gorgon & The Curse Of The Mummy's Tomb look really good, but they have all but given up releasing catalogue titles, maybe someone will license them out.

Over at the htf it was hinted that Warner are working on their Hammer titles, so maybe next year we'll get the Warner versions of, The Curse Of Frankenstein/Dracula/The Mummy.

[Anthony Thorne]

And hopefully also TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA / FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED etc. They have a few titles in their cupboard, I think.

[Big-D]

I've picked up Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell for £14.49 from Base.com. Catalogue number on the case is ICON70240.

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by Big-D

I've picked up Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell for £14.49 from Base.com. Catalogue number on the case is ICON70240.

Ok cool. So this copy of yours played fine, then?

[Big-D]

Originally Posted by HuggyBear73

Ok cool. So this copy of yours played fine, then?

Indeed, whilst my family were sunning it today, I was indoors scrutinising the disc. The original fault related to the 1:37:1 version on catalogue number (ICON70235).

The new version (ICON70240) works perfectly and is cheaper than what Amazon is selling it for!!

[Simon Lewis]

Anyone know if "Phantom Of The Opera" is the uncut version ? I received my copy today but wont be watching for a day or two.

The cuts restored in the Universal R1 DVD, were (according to Melon Farmers) :-

edited out the eye-stabbing of the rat-catcher
edited out shots of a hanging body
extensive edits to scenes showing the creation and final unmasking of the Phantom.

Thanks

[HuggyBear73]

Originally Posted by Big-D

Indeed, whilst my family were sunning it today, I was indoors scrutinising the disc. The original fault related to the 1:37:1 version on catalogue number (ICON70235).

The new version (ICON70240) works perfectly and is cheaper than what Amazon is selling it for!!

Thank you so much for that info!