Hammer Horror Blu-ray Releases

[DasMan]

Originally Posted by 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

It`s the same as the Universal R1 Dvd.

[babybreese]

It's the same in terms of content, but the framing has changed to 1.85.

[MichChrisIp]

On the upcoming releases of Twins of Evil and Countess Dracula (Sep 8), do we have any idea if there will be english subs included?
Or else I will be picking up the us releases with subs, but prefer to pick up Region B releases of the Hammer movies, so I can watch them elsewhere than home!!

[Trigger89]

My copy of 'Phantom of the Opera' should arrive tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to seeing it for the first time!

[oddbox83]

Set your expectations appropriately. It may be better than the DVD in that it has lossless audio and the correct aspect ratio, but the source film material is in poor shape.

[Big-D]

Is The Witches a worthy contender to add to my Hammer Blu-Ray collection? I've never saw it, does anyone have it?

[gitsurfer]

Originally Posted by Big-D

Is The Witches a worthy contender to add to my Hammer Blu-Ray collection? I've never saw it, does anyone have it?

As a film, some people like it and some people hate it. It's not 'top drawer' Hammer and does get a bit silly towards the end but overall I'm in the 'like it' camp. It fits in quite well with the rurally-set British horrors of the late 60s and early 70s (Blood on satan's claw, Witchfinder General, Wicker man) without perhaps reaching those heights.

As a Blu-Ray, it looks and sounds great. There is a 'Hammer glamour' documentary included which is decent, although not tied in with the film in any way. In fact, it looks like it was meant for Frankenstein Created Woman before Studio canal cancelled that release. I believe it appears on the Aussie release of FCW.

[Big-D]

Originally Posted by gitsurfer

As a film, some people like it and some people hate it. It's not 'top drawer' Hammer and does get a bit silly towards the end but overall I'm in the 'like it' camp. It fits in quite well with the rurally-set British horrors of the late 60s and early 70s (Blood on satan's claw, Witchfinder General, Wicker man) without perhaps reaching those heights.

As a Blu-Ray, it looks and sounds great. There is a 'Hammer glamour' documentary included which is decent, although not tied in with the film in any way. In fact, it looks like it was meant for Frankenstein Created Woman before Studio canal cancelled that release. I believe it appears on the Aussie release of FCW.

Much obliged for that. Coincidentally, I actually have the Marcus Hearn book 'Hammer Glamour' highly recommended.

[Wireduck1]

Originally Posted by Big-D

Much obliged for that. Coincidentally, I actually have the Marcus Hearn book 'Hammer Glamour' highly recommended.

I second that, great book.
Have you heard the US news on Warners titles being released? https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=245671 I hope the collection isn't a repackaging of some of the titles we already have access to?

[Partyslammer]

I finally received the Hammer BD of "Phantom Of The Opera" and watched it last night. I knew going in that this wasn't going to be one of the better looking UK Hammer releases, the older US Universal two-disc DVD that included this film was easily the roughest looking print on that set despite it being "restored" several decades ago and including the "eye stab" scene.

But *Ouch,* this is a pretty ugly transfer. You can tell it's the same source used as the Universal DVD source as there's weird color shifting during the opening credits as the camera pans up to the Phantom in his cave (the DVD transfer has the same issue).

Problem is, it looks marginally *worse* than the dvd in many places. It looks like a very old, primitive HD transfer or even an SD upscale, exhibiting some black crush in places, nasty edge enhancement and massive, swirling grain like it was being projected on a screen made of 60 grit sandpaper in many scenes. Much more noticeable than the old DVD, you can tell this film source was cobbled together from a lot of elements in varying conditions and the uneven photography and likely several different film stocks doesn't help (some scenes aren't even in proper focus).

Frankly A/B'ing this BD and the (2 sided) DVD both on an Oppo 103 (upscaling the DVD), there's no much improvement and even some drawbacks to the BD presentation. The only real recommendations is the more or less correct framing and the better audio on the BD. First time viewers will be slack jawed at how terrible the opening scene looks, especially on a larger screen.

Add to that there's really only one extra, a "Making Of" featurette w/stills that's no big deal.

The film itself is one of Hammer's lesser efforts and reportedly flopped upon release. The Phantom played by Herbert Lom is a more or less a subdued villain, sulking in the shadows leaving the few nasty murders to his mute sidekick. The real bad guy is slimy Lord D'Arcy played to borderline parody by Michael Gough. Director Terence Fisher who was responsible for most of Hammer's best horror films seemed bored with the material and occasionally resorted to cheesy zoom effects for shock value and the movie overall feels shackled by Hammer's self-imposed restrictions on gore and violence in the wake of peaking censorship pressure by the BBFC especially after "The Curse Of The Werewolf."

Honestly, I would recommend sticking with or buying the US "Hammer Horror Series" 2 DVD release from Universal which not only features POTO about as good quality as this BD release, but you get a total of 8 classic Hammer films, several of which are very good transfers considering it's a DVD.

[CinemaScope]

Yes that Universal Hammer box was great for its time, & I'm sure it was done in HD, but the trouble is, it looks like Universal are using those years-old HD transfers to license out to these various companies (& no clean-up on them or anything). I'm sure Universal could produce some great looking Hammer Blu-rays if they put some work in & went back to the film, but they're obviously not interested. Phantom (which I think is a really good Hammer film) was the worse looking ones in the box, it looks like it was made from b/w separation masters that sometimes look not quite lined up.

I'd certainly want to read a few reports before buying the expensive German Blu-ray of The Curse Of The Werewolf.

[Partyslammer]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

I'd certainly want to read a few reports before buying the expensive German Blu-ray of The Curse Of The Werewolf.

Same here, that one ranks up in my top 5 or so Hammer films and I really want to pick it up especially if it's any sort of step up from the DVD release.

[Alex DeLarge]

I just noticed that THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN is being released on Blu-ray by Happinet in Japan in October! I have no idea if this is a reliable company. This is one of my Top Ten Hammer (Nigel Kneale & Val Guest!) so willing to take a chance on importing it.

Agree about PHANTOM: a very poor transfer and especially noticeable when projected. Even CAPTAIN CLEGG being 1080i looked far better!

[bgart13]

I didn't think PHANTOM looked worse than the dvd, that's for sure. It would benefit from a modern, expensive restoration -- but that'll never happen. The most problematic issue is the original elements in Universal's possession.

Re: Anolis' CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF release, it'll probably look excellent. Why do I say this? Because they've already rejected other HD masters for other titles that weren't happy with.

[the blob]

Just a heads up that after months of searching, THE MUMMY has finally come up at a decent price from The Entertainment Store. £11.99 via Play or £12 on their ebay store. Still around £18 at the least everywhere else.

http://www.play.com/stores/Entertain...ting/893155395

[Simon Lewis]

Originally Posted by the blob

£11.99 via Play or £12 on their ebay store. Still around £18 at the least everywhere else.

Great spot ! I've been waiting ages for this to come down to a reasonable price (especially after paying £17 for Dracula and then the price dropped to £9 a few weeks later).

Ordered my copy

[Modman]

Originally Posted by the blob

Just a heads up that after months of searching, THE MUMMY has finally come up at a decent price from The Entertainment Store. £11.99 via Play or £12 on their ebay store. Still around £18 at the least everywhere else.

http://www.play.com/stores/Entertain...ting/893155395

Thanks, ordered.

[Leterface]

Originally Posted by Alex DeLarge

I just noticed that THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN is being released on Blu-ray by Happinet in Japan in October! I have no idea if this is a reliable company. This is one of my Top Ten Hammer (Nigel Kneale & Val Guest!) so willing to take a chance on importing it.

Hmm..isn't the best release of Night of the Living Dead released by Happinet too..

[CinemaScope]

Originally Posted by Alex DeLarge

I just noticed that THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN is being released on Blu-ray by Happinet in Japan in October! I have no idea if this is a reliable company. This is one of my Top Ten Hammer (Nigel Kneale & Val Guest!) so willing to take a chance on importing it.

Agree about PHANTOM: a very poor transfer and especially noticeable when projected. Even CAPTAIN CLEGG being 1080i looked far better!

When BBC2 showed a handful of Hammer films in HD over Christmas I'm sure The Abominable Snowman was one of them. It's a while back now, I can't remember.

[gitsurfer]

Originally Posted by CinemaScope

When BBC2 showed a handful of Hammer films in HD over Christmas I'm sure The Abominable Snowman was one of them. It's a while back now, I can't remember.

You remember correctly. Hammer were teasing a BD release of this along with others such as Quatermass in the UK. This was before StudioCanal apparently gave up on releasing Hammer but we are seeing them abroad on BD as well as on HD telly here in dear old Albion.