Hammer Horror Blu-ray Releases

[easydreamer]

Originally Posted by sa5150

There sending me a replacement for Plague. The Icon bluray's did not have slips correct ? Like curse of Frankenstein and the Mummy ?

I have all 4 Icon Hammer Blu-rays, but none has the slip.

[oddbox83]

Nope, I think it's only the SC ones in the UK that have had them.

[Geoffcoll]

Does anyone know if the hammer series was copied to video or film? If it's upscale video then it won't be much different to the dvd version, which looks pretty good.
Edit - Okay, Wikipedia says it was shot on 35 m film but also says itv couldn't find the original negative hence why it wasn't on bluray yet.

[oddbox83]

That Wikipedia reason is nonsense of course, they don't have to have original negatives for Blu-ray. Network have been doing some Blu-rays of 35mm filmed shows where some of the negatives are lost, and are using interpositives instead. The difference in quality is there but not massive. The biggest difference is where the magnetic audio reels are missing and they have to use the optical audio, and that doesn't always match the episodes that have missing negatives.

The old UK DVD was a standard def remaster* taken from 35mm sources too, that's why it doesn't look so bad but they overused the DNR.

*That's why it's not on Blu-ray, new HD scans have had to be made first. That, plus ITV had no interest in Blu-ray so it's taken a third party to bring these out.

[Classic Moviebuff]

Originally Posted by Geoffcoll

Does anyone know if the hammer series was copied to video or film? If it's upscale video then it won't be much different to the dvd version, which looks pretty good.
Edit - Okay, Wikipedia says it was shot on 35 m film but also says itv couldn't find the original negative hence why it wasn't on bluray yet.

The practice of shooting on film then wasting the quality by taking post production to tape was something the UK never did. Unlike the US broadcasters we didn't have money to throw away.
In fact they did the opposite - and routinely shot on tape then used video trickery to give it the appearance of film.
Early attempts to do it just looked rubbish and after they tried it with Casualty the audience complained and they stopped doing it.

Presumably by the time of The Office the technology had improved because that looks great and was a "filmised" tape show.
But a few years after that shooting properly on film or HD video seemed to become the norm.

Back to Hammer and from the Fox series Journey to the Unknown in 1968, through Hammer House of Horror from ITC in 1980 and finally back to Fox with Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense, it was 35mm all the way although some of the prints around were pretty tatty.
The dvd release of Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense particularly had disappointing sources

[oddbox83]

Actually, by the 90s the higher budget productions shot on film did tend to be finished on tape. House of Cards for example, which had to have the text recreated in HD for the Blu-rays to go with the new HD scan. They seemed to be cut on film still in the main though even if the finishing touches were done on tape, which has meant many of these being remade in HD hasn't been as arduous a job as some US series.

This is, of course, irrelevant to the Hammer TV shows which should all exist on 35mm. If only the rights owners can be arsed to do so with the very much neglected Journey to the Unknown and Mystery and Suspense. I've never seen the latter, but apparently the long OOP DVDs did indeed use whatever horrible old tape transfers were lying around.

[Classic Moviebuff]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Actually, by the 90s the higher budget productions shot on film did tend to be finished on tape. House of Cards for example, which had to have the text recreated in HD for the Blu-rays to go with the new HD scan. They seemed to be cut on film still in the main though even if the finishing touches were done on tape, which has meant many of these being remade in HD hasn't been as arduous a job as some US series.

This is, of course, irrelevant to the Hammer TV shows which should all exist on 35mm. If only the rights owners can be arsed to do so with the very much neglected Journey to the Unknown and Mystery and Suspense. I've never seen the latter, but apparently the long OOP DVDs did indeed use whatever horrible old tape transfers were lying around.

Never seen HHOMAS

Overall it's quite an average series but given the passage of time and the pedigree of those who made it and appeared in it I do find it a valuable slice of Hammer these days.
A first time viewer might give it a "meh" but fans of Hammer who know the history and who are familiar with the actors , many no longer with us will likely be more forgiving and enjoy it for what it is. A timepiece.

Overall I think HHOH has stood the test of time far better and is superior.
Mystery and Suspense is handicapped slightly by the longer running time but a nice new set of pristine 35mm copies would be very interesting and likely show the series better than it was ever seen at the time. It always had that dull grey look about it.
Cracking cast though.
The dvd's even include some substantial interviews. Val Guest is one of them IIRC- they are buried away currently

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Classic Moviebuff

Never seen HHOMAS

Nope. They need to get a move on and reissue it.

I've got copies of Journey to the Unknown via alternative means, I'd much rather support official releases though but I'm not paying overly inflated 2nd hand prices for HHOM&S either.

[Classic Moviebuff]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Nope. They need to get a move on and reissue it.

I always had a dream that Twilight Time might chance it with some tv shows. I had assumed that they would do The Outer Limits first but always hoped the scarcity of the 2 Hammer shows from Fox might be enough for them to give it a go.
Now Kino Lorber have beaten them to The Outer Limits. If TT aren't interested in 2 rare Hammer shows I can't think who would be?

I've only seen a few JTTU thanks to the late 80's ITV repeats where for some reason all regions only showed 9 episodes. Sky actually showed more than that but that was in cable only days so never saw any from them

[oddbox83]

I've been prompted to see what is available, are the Italian DVDs any good with the caveat they'll be older masters still? Seems by far the cheapest option via amazon.it.

[Classic Moviebuff]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

I've been prompted to see what is available, are the Italian DVDs any good with the caveat they'll be older masters still? Seems by far the cheapest option via amazon.it.

I didn't even realise they'd come out on dvd in Italy.
A quick look at Amazon and assuming the listing is accurate the most frightening thing would seem to be 4 episodes on one disc. That's almost 5 hours which really is pushing it.
However, as the bonus feature interviews seem to be lifted off the UK discs are we sure this isn't a bootleg?
The Italian disc are showing as released in 2014, years after DD went down the pan presumably taking the rights to all their bonus features with them

Edit - no mention of Fox on the packaging but the name Sinister Film says it all - bootlegs. Although I thought was a Spanish thing

[oddbox83]

Haven't a clue, that's why I'm asking.

[Classic Moviebuff]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Haven't a clue, that's why I'm asking.

With Volume 1 of the UK set available on Amazon for around £35 I'd go for that.
Volume 2 is closer to £70 ( cheaper on ebay) but I'd still say its worth it. You get the genuine article , a booklet and plentiful interview bonuses.
Looks like the Italian bootleg would be still cost around £50 so far too much for an unknown bootleg.

The UK sets really are nice albeit with disappointing prints but only in that they are of the quality we saw on ITV when broadcast. Too tatty for today but still more than good enough to enjoy the show.

Treat yourself.
Its the only way to guarantee a reissue gets announced next week.
And I would certainly envy the thrill of discovery that awaits you. Not very often that is possible these days

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by Classic Moviebuff

Treat yourself.
Its the only way to guarantee a reissue gets announced next week.
And I would certainly envy the thrill of discovery that awaits you. Not very often that is possible these days

That would be typical! I'll have a think about it...

I am quite curious to see the two remade Out of the Unknown episodes.

[Classic Moviebuff]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

That would be typical! I'll have a think about it...

I am quite curious to see the two remade Out of the Unknown episodes.

Which ones are they?

I see you've posted a query on Roobarb about the Sinister release.
Until today I never knew of the Italian Sinister label but the Spanish one is bootleg all the way.

I think its obvious from the titles they've released that they are a bootleg operation. Or do they really have licencing deals with Studio Canal, Warner , Paramount and Universal?

The lack of the Fox logo on the back of the case would be strange for a legit release. Fox own the show outright so any release should carry their logo.

I did say the number of discs listed on Amazon might be wrong so it may not be over compressed at all. It looks like a lot of their discs are clones so the comment that a disc must be legit because the quality is so good is bollocks to be frank.
Its easy to clone a disc and with a computer you can easily add a soundtrack or new menus.
I don't think there's any doubt the label is bootleg all the way - I am surprised that after an early mention on Roobarb the subject didn't crop up again.
They seem more interested in not having to pay the going rate for Warner Archive titles.

I would say buy the UK one - you know its legit. The Italian isn't going to be better.

[oddbox83]

Maybe someone has them and has good things to say but I'm not very confident. I'm pretty sure the DVD of Hammer's The Old Dark House I have was from Sinister and the compression was poor. Like Network before they improved their compression.

I've got about 3 European Hammer DVDs. Yes. Purely to avoid MOD but I've since gone download as well which is better in some cases like Hysteria where the download is in HD and coming from Warner you know it's legit. You can never be sure if they're legit or not from Spain or Italy. I'm much more confident buying German discs.

[Classic Moviebuff]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Maybe someone has them and has good things to say but I'm not very confident. I'm pretty sure the DVD of Hammer's The Old Dark House I have was from Sinister and the compression was poor. Like Network before they improved their compression.

I've got about 3 European Hammer DVDs. Yes. Purely to avoid MOD but I've since gone download as well which is better in some cases like Hysteria where the download is in HD and coming from Warner you know it's legit. You can never be sure if they're legit or not from Spain or Italy. I'm much more confident buying German discs.

I see on Roobarb the silly notion they can't be bootlegs because they are so good persists.
Obviously nonsense. Some of those Spanish bootlegs are very good quality.

As I said earlier, its usual practice for a licenced product to carry the movie owners logo on the case somewhere. The German Blu of Dracula AD 1972 for example has the Warner logo on the back in the same spot as any Warner release would.
Its very unlikely they would have deals with Warner, Universal , Paramount and Fox.
The addition of the bonus features kind of gives away the fact they're bootlegs of the UK discs.
If they were dirt cheap it might be worth a shot but they're not so I'd pay the extra and get the UK ones.
Even at £80 you should have a good time. They're all around 72 minutes so you're basically getting 13 new Hammer films you've never seen before.That chance doesn't pop up too often.
And if you don't like them you should be able to resell them without a problem or very little loss.
The reason the prints are so tatty is because they used the exact same masters that were used for the VHS releases in the 80's.
On some of the episodes you even get the Brent Walker Video jingle at the end of the episode.

[oddbox83]

Cover for HHoH on Network's site. No extras but says both 5.1 and mono. http://networkonair.com/coming-soon/...eries-blu-ray-

It'd be even better if they changed the cover before release.

[sa5150]

Originally Posted by oddbox83

Cover for HHoH on Network's site. No extras but says both 5.1 and mono. http://networkonair.com/coming-soon/...eries-blu-ray-

It'd be even better if they changed the cover before release.

Nice set and on bluray .

Sure lowers the reasons to have some of the uk bluray hammer movies just for there extras anymore.

[oddbox83]

I'm not sure I understand. No HHoH material is on the UK film BDs.