The Phantom Creeps (1939) 2k Restored Special Edition - January 21, 2020

[tangerinewolf]

This was the last update that I could find anywhere (09-14-2020):

Originally Posted by jimqk

Hello James,

Unfortunately, that release that Amazon has put up is not accurate. We are trying to work out access with Sony, however they are just coming back to corporate life after the pandemic, so that will take more time. The Library of Congress is also backed up, after being closed during the pandemic and they are swamped with requests. With that said, we're now hoping to have our Blu-ray out sometime in 2022.

Thank you for your interest!

Best regards,
Bob

I did send them a chat question, but no response.

Amazon.com has a release date of 12-31-2022 which seems like a guess as that date is a Saturday.

[tangerinewolf]

I finally did get a response from someone on the chat line, who basically said the project is still ongoing, but did not give a projected release date.

[Mikezilla3k]

Well, if one is impatient, the Serial Squadron has done a Blu-Ray release of this serial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lXUTXlYNfw

After his wife is killed in an accident for which he feels responsible, embittered scientist Dr. Alex Zorka, who has discovered a new powerful element that fell to Earth as a meteorite, becomes an insane megalomaniac. He plans to rule the world with an army of invincible robots and his invisibility device which he uses as "the Phantom." He is assisted in his mad schemes by an ex-crook named Monk he has sprung from prison and his "iron man," a ferocious robot. A military intelligence agent supported by a persistent and attractive reporter and his former partner, a benevolent scientist, stand against Zorka and his arsenal of scientific weapons, which include explosive spiders and a "Z-Ray," while at the same time a group of enemy agents led by DRACULA's Edward Van Sloan try to steal the secret of the meteorite for themselves.

The result is cliffhanger serial madness designed to thrill 10-year-old moviegoers in 1939, which has never had a decent video release and will be seen in superb original condition in the new Squadron HD Blu-Ray edition.

This edition is the Best quality ever made available of this serial, and will very likely be the best quality that it is even possible to create considering the condition of the original material.

It is also the first and only release ever to include the original Universal Pictures titles, which apparently exist nowhere else but in the print the Squadron has used for this transfer. It was fully transferred in HD from this original "pristine" print made from the Universal Pictures negative as it existed in the 1950s/60s before the "Commonwealth" TV titles were cut into it and before decomposition damage set in to that negative and apparently destroyed some chapters. The transfer and restoration are complete, covers are done, cases etc. have all arrived. Will begin shipping this week as soon as final burn proof is double-checked and approved.

https://www.serialsquadron.com/

[jimqk]

Has anyone picked this up? If so, can you share details about it? Does it include optional subtitles? The website states there is no logo in the corner of the screen, but what about that serialsquadran.com logo on the middle left of the screen like in the YouTube clip? Is it pressed Blu-ray or BD-R?

The picture looks fantastic in the clip but need more info before buying.

[mike6001]

Originally Posted by jimqk

Has anyone picked this up? If so, can you share details about it? Does it include optional subtitles? The website states there is no logo in the corner of the screen, but what about that serialsquadran.com logo on the middle left of the screen like in the YouTube clip? Is it pressed Blu-ray or BD-R?

The picture looks fantastic in the clip but need more info before buying.

I bought it, and have on sold it as I do with all my discs after watching.
I don't think there's any subtitles.
There is a logo in the corner of the opening credits but nowhere else that I could see, and a small restoration credit on the title card. It's barely noticeable.
The restoration is good. Not sure it could get any better given the elements available.
There are no extras. It's in one disc, and is less than 4 hours so easily fits on a dual layer disc.
Is it perfect? No. Is it better than any version around? Absolutely.
Will this other long advertised VCI version be better? Or even released? I don't know. The last VCI I watched was White Zombie, which was the most appallingly bad restoration I've ever seen on blu.

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by mike6001

I bought it, and have on sold it as I do with all my discs after watching.

Wow! So you never watch anything more than once? I imagine you only buy movies, then, that are not available on streaming?

Just surprised to see this in a physical media loving community forum.

[mike6001]

Originally Posted by filmlover22

Wow! So you never watch anything more than once? I imagine you only buy movies, then, that are not available on streaming?

Just surprised to see this in a physical media loving community forum.

I can't afford to collect. And I would rather others enjoy a movie than sit on my shelf for years. If I want to watch something again I can always buy it again. I've seen Phantom Creeps on Vhs, dvd and now blu ray. That's probably enough for this title!
I don't stream whatsoever.
But hey, judge away. I can watch a lot more Blus because I sell on ebay. And perhaps one day when a movie is OOP you'll be thankful that others like me are not hoarders.

[jimqk]

Originally Posted by mike6001

I bought it, and have on sold it as I do with all my discs after watching.
I don't think there's any subtitles.
There is a logo in the corner of the opening credits but nowhere else that I could see, and a small restoration credit on the title card. It's barely noticeable.
The restoration is good. Not sure it could get any better given the elements available.
There are no extras. It's in one disc, and is less than 4 hours so easily fits on a dual layer disc.
Is it perfect? No. Is it better than any version around? Absolutely.
Will this other long advertised VCI version be better? Or even released? I don't know. The last VCI I watched was White Zombie, which was the most appallingly bad restoration I've ever seen on blu.

Mike, do remember whether if it was pressed or a BD-R?

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by jimqk

Mike, do remember whether if it was pressed or a BD-R?

Their Captain America release was a BD-R so I'd guess this is too.

[filmlover22]

Originally Posted by mike6001

I can't afford to collect. And I would rather others enjoy a movie than sit on my shelf for years. If I want to watch something again I can always buy it again. I've seen Phantom Creeps on Vhs, dvd and now blu ray. That's probably enough for this title!
I don't stream whatsoever.
But hey, judge away. I can watch a lot more Blus because I sell on ebay. And perhaps one day when a movie is OOP you'll be thankful that others like me are not hoarders.

Not judging, just trying to understand. Different perspective.

[mike6001]

Originally Posted by jimqk

Mike, do remember whether if it was pressed or a BD-R?

I can't say for sure, but I'd say BDR. It had a simple label. But it had a decent menu with each chapter, so it wasn't a crap job.
I've bought a few DVDs from them in the past and all worked fine. This was the first blu from them.

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by jimqk

Mike, do remember whether if it was pressed or a BD-R?

I have the Serial Squardron release as well. It's definitely a BD-R. The audio / visual quality is good, although the visual quality is a little bit variable at times (given the condition of the elements) but the YouTube clip will definitely give you a good idea of what this blu-ray release looks like. Now that I have this, I'm not going to double-dip for the VCI release if it ever becomes available.

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by mike6001

I bought it, and have on sold it as I do with all my discs after watching.
I don't think there's any subtitles.
There is a logo in the corner of the opening credits but nowhere else that I could see, and a small restoration credit on the title card. It's barely noticeable.
The restoration is good. Not sure it could get any better given the elements available.
There are no extras. It's in one disc, and is less than 4 hours so easily fits on a dual layer disc.
Is it perfect? No. Is it better than any version around? Absolutely.
Will this other long advertised VCI version be better? Or even released? I don't know. The last VCI I watched was White Zombie, which was the most appallingly bad restoration I've ever seen on blu.

There are far worse restorations than White Zombie on Blu. It’s the best the film has ever looked, not bad at all IMO considering the elements they had to work with. WS is never going to look pristine.

[mike6001]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

There are far worse restorations than White Zombie on Blu. It’s the best the film has ever looked, not bad at all IMO considering the elements they had to work with. WS is never going to look pristine.

Actually I misremembered. It was the Kino one that had that horrible washed out look. The VCI was a very low bit rate, but a bit better. The Kino raw version was the best.
I'm sure they can do better on White Zombie. Some films like Metropolis extended looked a lot better and they only have a single print to work with (for the extended scenes).
Anyway, VCI doesn't have a great track record for quality the only other title i saw feom VCI was The Human Monster. It was awful compared to the UK release (under Dark Eyes of London title).

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by mike6001

Actually I misremembered. It was the Kino one that had that horrible washed out look. The VCI was a very low bit rate, but a bit better. The Kino raw version was the best.
I'm sure they can do better on White Zombie. Some films like Metropolis extended looked a lot better and they only have a single print to work with (for the extended scenes).
Anyway, VCI doesn't have a great track record for quality the only other title i saw feom VCI was The Human Monster. It was awful compared to the UK release (under Dark Eyes of London title).

VCI issued a corrected version with a higher bitrate, which is the one I have. I prefer it to the raw wobbly unrestored Kino scan.

[MovinRightAlong]

I guess this is never happening?

[Damonstein]

I doubt it unfortunately.

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by MovinRightAlong

I guess this is never happening?

Amazon says December 31st this year but that's probably a temp date more than anything.

What a mess.