The Curse of Frankenstein 4K UHD (1957) Hammer Pre-order

[koberulz]

Originally Posted by Cat Vision

Not really. Warner owns the film; Hammer does not. They are essentially "allowing" Hammer to release their own edition, with stipulations of course.

Region-locking is still outside the UHD-BD spec.

[brainofj72]

Originally Posted by Braktastic

That's some straight up bullshit, but it does make it easier to pass on the UK set as there really isn't a way to easily make your player region-free for 4K UHD.

You can get region-free UHD players; I have one. Still, I prefer to use my Panasonic for UHDs, so I might opt for the US release anyway. The book and LE disc would be nice, but the US version is probably gonna be like $70 cheaper, so I'm not sure I can justify splurging on the UK box.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Cat Vision

Not really. Warner owns the film; Hammer does not. They are essentially "allowing" Hammer to release their own edition, with stipulations of course.

Warner hold film materials, and the restoration as well as US rights.

Hammer own UK rights to this, but rely on Warner for master materials.

It's a co-operation, which makes a lot of sense. I imagine it's less about the allowing, and more to do with reaching an agreement to share materials (including extras) and not compete with each others version.

This all bodes well for a collaboration on a new (Horror of) Dracula 4K, where the rights are split the same way. Probably more of an in-depth sharing of master materials too since Warner have some bits, and Hammer have others like the censored footage.

The Mummy will probably end up likewise! Though that's a more straightforward restoration as I believe the negative is complete and fine for that one.

[DrCushing]

There should be a limited edition replica marmalade included with the first orders.

[zepol]

Originally Posted by brainofj72

This is, for me, Hammer’s greatest work, and one of the best films ever made. I know there’s gonna be a cheaper US option from Warner Archive…but I gotta have all these features, so this is the edition I want.

This is worth over paying for.
Hope HORROR OF DRACULA is not far behind.

[zepol]

I'm confused.
I thought any 4k can be played on any player in the world.
I thought 4k and UHD are the same thing.
I know blurays are region.

[RossyG]

Originally Posted by zepol

I'm confused.
I thought any 4k can be played on any player in the world.

They are almost always are region free. The region locking of CoF is the exception not the rule. 99.9% of 4K discs are region free.

I thought 4k and UHD are the same thing.

In terms of discs they are.

I know blurays are region.

Region locking affects a good half of Blu-Ray discs released, maybe more. Criterion blu-rays are routinely region locked. Their 4K UHDs never are.

[Joppers]

Originally Posted by NJPete

Just in case anyone was wondering about the Hammer UK box, I just had confirmation from them via email that all 6 discs, including the UHDs, in their UK Box Limited Edition will be region B locked.

That's rather baffling, considering Warner's own stance on region locking, and the fact that they didn't require Second Sight to region lock The Hitcher.

[zepol]

The Curse of Frankenstein | 4K Restoration | Official Trailer - YouTube

[Deadend45]

Originally Posted by Tchotchke

If they actually region lock the 4K discs that would be Horrible! Almost nobody locks 4K and it would set a nasty precedent for sure!

Shout did it on a UHD years ago.

[zepol]

So bottom line will America be the one that will be locked 4k that they won't be able watch?

[ste71]

Perhaps Warners considers Curse Of Frankenstein to be one of their 'money-spinners', hence the locking. I hope this isn't the shape of things to come.

[franzsanchez]

Great news, fabulous set

I sold the warner archive blu-ray not so long ago in anticipation of this coming out before the end of the year

Why do i get the feeling the £10 i made selling that blu isn't going to make much of a dent in the price of this set?

What are the odds of being in the first 30 to get the exclusive poster on the hammer site? Just wandering whether to try or work on other discounts. TBH they'd have to pay me to keep a signed picture of Melvyn Hayes

As Dr Terror himself said when introducing the film on BBC1: "The Curse of Frankenstein introduces that seminal double act of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee and was directed by the great Terence Fisher. It also features that annoying little Melvyn Hayes who's in Summer Holiday with Cliff Richard. But don't worry, he doesn't last very long"

[The Hornets]

Originally Posted by ste71

Perhaps Warners considers Curse Of Frankenstein to be one of their 'money-spinners', hence the locking. I hope this isn't the shape of things to come.

Would expect this means all future Hammer releases of Warner titles will be locked as well.

[The Hornets]

Originally Posted by zepol

I'm confused.
I thought any 4k can be played on any player in the world.
I thought 4k and UHD are the same thing.
I know blurays are region.

See below. Some are, but it’s rare.

Originally Posted by RossyG

They are almost always are region free. The region locking of CoF is the exception not the rule. 99.9% of 4K discs are region free.

In terms of discs they are.

Region locking affects a good half of Blu-Ray discs released, maybe more. Criterion blu-rays are routinely region locked. Their 4K UHDs never are.

There have been a number of French and Italian UHDs were they are locked to RB.

These are releases by independent labels where the rights owner must have mandated the locking so they can restrict access and deter sales to North America so as not to impinge of the value of the film rights there.

[Ivanhoe52]

Originally Posted by Cat Vision

Not really. Warner owns the film; Hammer does not. They are essentially "allowing" Hammer to release their own edition, with stipulations of course.

Who actually owns the film?

Hammer or Warner?

Warner certainly has the distribution rights but that doesn't mean they own the film itself.

Even after Disney bought Lucasfilm and they owned the original movie (which Lucas acquired in a separate deal to do with the SE's and prequels) 20th C Fox still owned the distribution rights hence it was the only movie with the Fox Fanfare while the rest had replacement Lucasfilm logo music for a time until Disney acquired the Fox assets for themselves and so could return the Fox Fanfare to the openings of Eps I-III, V & VI.

[Cat Vision]

Originally Posted by Ivanhoe52

Who actually owns the film?

Hammer or Warner?

Warner certainly has the distribution rights but that doesn't mean they own the film itself.

Even after Disney bought Lucasfilm and they owned the original movie (which Lucas acquired in a separate deal to do with the SE's and prequels) 20th C Fox still owned the distribution rights hence it was the only movie with the Fox Fanfare while the rest had replacement Lucasfilm logo music for a time until Disney acquired the Fox assets for themselves and so could return the Fox Fanfare to the openings of Eps I-III, V & VI.

Warner owns the US rights, and they have the negatives/elements. Hammer owns the UK rights (apparently).

Originally Posted by koberulz

Region-locking is still outside the UHD-BD spec.

As we all know. But, as we all know, this isn't a typical scenario, so carry on.

[Ben_C]

I’d be surprised if the UHD was region locked, but I guess we will see.
Could have just been the person responding to the email mistakenly assuming that UHDs are usually locked on a regular basis like Blu-rays are, but again, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.

[oddbox83]

The 2012 Icon Blu-ray (Hammer's physical media distributer of the time) says copyright renewed 1985 Hammer Film Productions Ltd, and doesn't credit Warner with copyright (though we know Warner supplied the IP element they scanned for it).

Warner Home Video did used to handle physical distribution of the title over here in the UK on VHS and the initial DVD (in the box with Dracula and The Mummy). This may have just been a distribution deal similar to Icon, since remember Warner UK also released on VHS and early DVD many titles owned the Studiocanal including Dracula Prince of Darkness which is definitely not a Warner owned movie.

Without overcomplicating things it's probably a similar sort of setup as any movie with split territorial rights. So the only important thing for us as customers is that they've signed whatever to work together to make high quality 4K releases for their own territories.

I'm just guessing, but Warner already did the 4K scanning, and because Hammer wanted to release it, they reached agreement together to share this source restoration, do a 4K HDR mastering pass and both release this with the same newly commissioned artwork (though each use it their own way) and sharing of extras previously exclusive to either territory, etc.

So, just to repeat, imagine how much more likely this makes a bells and whistles 4K restoration for Dracula if both studios/labels have a good relationship and may share costs?

[ste71]

Let's hope they continue to work together. I know the big 'prize' is getting access to Studio Canal's catalogue but '(Horror Of) Dracula and the 'The Mummy' must be strong contenders for the deluxe treatment.