HAMMER HORROR: 8-Film Collection from Universal!

[Mr. Thomsen]

Originally Posted by JohnCarpenterFan

If Brides is in OAR then this will be a day one for me. I heard about material being destroyed in a fire but surely there is some material out there that could be used to restore it. If it is in Storarovision then I'll just stick with the DVD set.

IIRC it wasn't the film material itself that was destroyed by that fire on the Universal Studio lot, but rather the latest transfer/ restoration, which was the one Universal used for their last DVD release.

Supposedly Universal just dug out an even older transfer for the UK and DE BD releases and called it a day instead of making a new one. Hopefully they will do the correct thing this time around.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by EManT2200

I also own this set on dvd. Very happy to see that it is getting a blu release, day one purchase. Hope that this and the coming Warner release will get other companies on the ball. Would love to see region one blu releases of The Gorgon, The Reptile, Plague of the Zombies, Scars of Dracula, The Mummy's Shroud, Curse of the Mummy's Tomb, The Devil Rides Out, Lust for a Vampire and more.

We might see the bold ones, the others you're going to have to import. Studiocanal hates the USA.

I'm not really sure what the status is on Lust for a Vampire. First AB released it which would make me think Studiocanal, but then Lionsgate rereleased it! I guess either way, we're not going to see a bluray in the US.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by babybreese

Uni said they found'documentation' that supported their choice.

Yes, but was it written in crayon?

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

We might see the bold ones, the others you're going to have to import. Studiocanal hates the USA.

I'm not really sure what the status is on Lust for a Vampire. First AB released it which would make me think Studiocanal, but then Lionsgate rereleased it! I guess either way, we're not going to see a bluray in the US.

Isn't it Lionsgate that distributes/releases all Studiocanal stuff in the US?

It might be that Lionsgate hates releasing Stuciocanal stuff in the US, not that Studiocanal hates the US. I know there is a deal between them, I just don't understand why they do the deal and then release very little.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by AgentOrange

Isn't it Lionsgate that distributes/releases all Studiocanal stuff in the US?

It might be that Lionsgate hates releasing Stuciocanal stuff in the US, not that Studiocanal hates the US. I know there is a deal between them, I just don't understand why they do the deal and then release very little.

You're probably right. I don't really know how that works. If accurate, that's all the more reason to dislike Lionsgate. Seems like they have the rights to virtually everything people request! Warner has really been stepping up their game recently, but Lionsgate's vaults remain sealed.

[BobbyPeru]

Originally Posted by Bugg

I hope Kiss of the Vampire is a new transfer, the Final Cut Entertainment UK disc was terrible it had a smudgy artificial look like some of the poorly transferred Italian films. The print seemed in decent condition and the colors looked nice but it looks like they tried to smear out the film grain. You can see some of it in the shots at dvdbeaver. The shot of the woman with the keys in back of her, is a prime example. The facial details seems almost melted and the texture of her shirt looks like it was run through a photoshop posterize filter. http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-r...re_blu-ray.htm

Final Cut's Captain Clegg and Kiss of the Vampire are horrible. Some shots in Kiss of the Vampire look great. While others have excessive DNR. They look like someone smeared grease on the negative.

[LeeFanatic007]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I would really really like a Region A playable Blu-ray of The Devil Rides Out. I've always wanted to see that movie.

I would also love to upgrade my DVD set, The Icons of Suspense Collection: Hammer Films, because those movies are all gems. Especially These Are the Damned.

Definitely check out The Devil Rides Out whenever you get a chance, it is one of Hammer's best in my opinion and a rare hero role for Christopher Lee.

Keep an eye out on Turner Classic Movies as they occasionally air it as The Devil's Bride which was the US title as the distributor felt people would think the original title was a Western. Luckily I have the old Anchor Bay DVD.

[sa5150]

Well were certainly getting ready for a great Halloween this year. So many titles coming out!

I'm so glad I did not buy this on dvd , I almost bought it a few months ago but held out for blurays . I have all ready bought a few of these from Germany,Uk and Aussie .

We really do not know what transfers would be here but I can't imagine there going to restore anything , It's the same cover and title of the dvd set that came out years ago .

I can see wanting to own them individually but not wanting to buy this because it's not in alphabetic order is just freaky weird .

Come on Universal surprise us with new transfers of the ones that were messed up from wrong coloring to wrong oar

[jimqk]

Originally Posted by movieman1979

HELL. YES. I've been pining for 'Son Of Frankenstein' ever since that first Universal set

Yes, more classic monsters would be awesome. Universal is apparently planning to soon release a 3D version of It Came From Outer Space, which would be fantastic. U.K. company Panamint had planned to release it, but decided not to when Universal decided to release it in the states (possibly Region-Free.)

What is unknown, however, is whether It Came From Outer Space will be a lone release or part of a collection. Of course, a collection would be awesome, especially if Universal included some of its other classic 50s titles like This Island Earth, Tarantula, The Mole People and a 3D version of Revenge of the Creature.

With Universal planning this huge Hammer release (which is a Day One purchase for me), I believe there's a great chance we'll get some other collections, like more of those great monster movies from the 30s and 40s, and those sci-fi greats from the 50s.

[jacksparrow900]

I'm hoping these are new transfers that's the only reason I would purchase this since I just had to track down the Anolis blu ray of Brides Of Dracula because Amazon wouldn't ship it to the US and some places were charging like $18.00 for shipping. The video masters that were destroyed in the fire wouldn't they have to make new scans since those masters were probably SD instead of HD.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by jimqk

With Universal planning this huge Hammer release (which is a Day One purchase for me), I believe there's a great chance we'll get some other collections, like more of those great monster movies from the 30s and 40s, and those sci-fi greats from the 50s.

I'm not complaining as I'm much more interested in the Hammer movies, but it seems odd that they're doing this before the second set of Universal horror films. I'd think those would have considerably wider appeal, and there was that news a year or two that they were working on transfers for them. Maybe they're going to just go on a streak with old genre flicks.

[jimqk]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

I'm not complaining as I'm much more interested in the Hammer movies, but it seems odd that they're doing this before the second set of Universal horror films. I'd think those would have considerably wider appeal, and there was that news a year or two that they were working on transfers for them. Maybe they're going to just go on a streak with old genre flicks.

I think that's exactly what they're going to do. If they're coming out with this Hammer collection, that tells me they're going to release other collections. When they initially released the classic Universal Sci-fi collection on DVD, it sold out, and for a while you could only get the set by paying gigantic prices from private sellers. This caused Universal to release it again, as well as a second volume.

Regarding the Hammer collection, I have the DVD set for years and love it. Of course, Brides of Dracula is the marquee film, but I enjoyed all of the movies here. I can't wait to get the set on Blu-ray. It's about time to beef up my Hammer collection. I have a ton of stuff on DVD, but the only thing I own so far on Blu-ray is Dracula: Prince of Darkness (which is one of Hammer's best in my book).

[EManT2200]

[QUOTE=jimqk;12404999]I think that's exactly what they're going to do. If they're coming out with this Hammer collection, that tells me they're going to release other collections. When they initially released the classic Universal Sci-fi collection on DVD, it sold out, and for a while you could only get the set by paying gigantic prices from private sellers. This caused Universal to release it again, as well as a second volume.


I've had the same thoughts. I hope that this is only the beginning. Hoping to see blu releases of their Universal Horror Legacy Collection. Of course, This Island Earth, It Came From Outer Space (3D), The 2 Classic Sci-Fi Ultimate Collections would all be great on blu ! ! !

[Ray_Rogers]

Awesome news!

But the only Hammer Production release I own on Blu-ray disc is below. Yes, I should be getting more since I've greatly enjoyed the movies I've seen which they made. I haven't even gotten around to doing the research as to which releases I should pass on and those I should buy.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

Awesome news!

But the only Hammer Production release I own is below. Yes, I should be getting more since I've greatly enjoyed the movies I've seen which they made. I haven't even gotten around to doing the research as to which releases I should pass on and those I should buy.

The link in my sig is to a thread that's about just that. Basically, import versions are better for almost everything other than Quatermass Xperiment, the four that Synapse put out and maybe The Vampire Lovers, but the US has some exclusives, and you should probably hold off on the 7 that are available elsewhere that will be in this set. There are a LOT which are import-only, unfortunately, thanks to Studiocanal being distributed by Lionsgate in this country.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

The link in my sig is to a thread that's about just that. Basically, import versions are better for almost everything other than Quatermass Xperiment, the four that Synapse put out and maybe The Vampire Lovers, but the US has some exclusives, and you should probably hold off on the 7 that are available elsewhere that will be in this set. There are a LOT which are import-only, unfortunately, thanks to Studiocanal being distributed by Lionsgate in this country.

Great thread and I always seem to forget about it, unfortunately. I should browse through it to see if there are any titles worth doubling up on to get the most "definitive" set.
Obviously I want to get started on the Dracula, Frankenstein, and Mummy titles first. Then Branch off to the Quatermass films, eventually pick and choose from there. Too many choices already and it's great many of the errors are explained in the releases if any of them have some.

[jimqk]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

Great thread and I always seem to forget about it, unfortunately. I should browse through it to see if there are any titles worth doubling up on to get the most "definitive" set.
Obviously I want to get started on the Dracula, Frankenstein, and Mummy titles first. Then Branch off to the Quatermass films, eventually pick and choose from there. Too many choices already and it's great many of the errors are explained in the releases if any of them have some.

Speaking of Quatermass, I forgot that I do own The Quatermass Xperiment on Blu and it is great. Lots of good extras including an interview with John Carpenter.

[Partyslammer]

Just my 2 cents, but Hammer films on Blu-ray in general is a prime reason for any even casual fan to invest in a region free BD player. It's really impossible to get even the few very best films they produced, much less everything on the format without shopping all over the world.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by jimqk

Speaking of Quatermass, I forgot that I do own The Quatermass Xperiment on Blu and it is great. Lots of good extras including an interview with John Carpenter.

Nice.

Originally Posted by Partyslammer

Just my 2 cents, but Hammer films on Blu-ray in general is a prime reason for any even casual fan to invest in a region free BD player. It's really impossible to get even the few very best films they produced, much less everything on the format without shopping all over the world.

I don't own a Region Free BD player or any player whatsoever. Yet I'm still able to watch Blu-rays regardless of region. Thanks to my self-built computer with an ASUS BD burner in it and the necessary software to remove region coding along with watching them.
I've been Multi-Region since 2003. Only problem with these Hammer releases are the extensive research needed to choose which single or duplicates I want to own regarding the titles.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

I've been Multi-Region since 2003. Only problem with these Hammer releases are the extensive research needed to choose which single or duplicates I want to own regarding the titles.

General rule of thumb with the multi-country ones is Germany>UK>Australia. I'm guessing that the UK version of Horror of Dracula will be superior to the upcoming German one, though. With Frankenstein Created Woman and Dracula Prince of Darkness the UK and Australian ones both have lossless audio IIRC and the US one doesn't, but the extras and PQ are mostly the same.