AMICUS FILMS 'ASYLUM' WELL DRESSED AND REVIEWED AS SECOND SIGHT FILMS SCREAMINGLY GOOD LIMITED EDITION BLU RAY

 

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS of SECOND SIGHT FILMS LIMITED EDITION BOXED BLU RAY release of Amicus films, 1972 'ASYLUM' just a few weeks ago, they have now released a standard BLU RAY package of the film, available NOW for PRE-ORDER and will be released on JANUARY 6th 2020.  Their LIMITED EDITION BLU RAY PACKAGE of Amicus films, 'The House That Dripped Blood' is also available as a standard release on January 6th 2020 and can be PRE-ORDERED NOW too!

THE VISUAL QUALITY:

SECOND SIGHT HAVE transferred ASYLUM, to a neat dual-layered blu-ray, with a pretty much maxed out bitrate. I have read some reviews that claim that this 'master transfer' is the same master as used a while ago by Severin, in their box set, that included ASYLUM. Having watched both, I see no similarities at all!  We reviewed the Severin release at the time of its release, and it seemed that it wasn't just the characters in the 'madhouse' were way off it, the print we watched was far from 'all there', as they say. The first thing some of you may notice, who have previous releases of this film is, the framing is just a little different. Just a snip off the bottom and top, but nothing that drastically changes or challenges your viewing. I found the colours, clarity and sharpness of the film through out, to be very good, what i hoped for as a marked improvement on other releases I own. So soft have been those previous releases, little details of light and exposure are different here, but you can see now, are intended! You will no doubt notice your visuals on this release are sharper, contrast sitting just right, even in darker shots and scenes. What you'll see complements, the excellent score and effects . .  

HOW DOES IT SOUND? THE AUDIO SPEC: 

IF YOU KNOW THIS FILM WELL, from your previous releases, you'll know JUST how it sounds and that the SCORE and MUSIC here makes up a rating on its own! If you are new to ASYLUM, you are in for a treat. Regulars,will notice it's the transfer is the film's familiar audio, using its original mono via an uncompressed 24-bit 1.0 channel linear PCM tack. All the assorted unsettling sound effects, are here and  sound clearer on Second Sights chosen mono track. An improvement then on the previous up converted 5.1 attempts on other releases of late. Douglas Gamley's score is probably the best of all Amicus films title sequences, with his Mussorgsky 'Night On Bald Mountain' clanking it up, even before we get past the titles. The musical accompaniment to Robert Powell's climb up the stairs of the Asylum, while glazing at the framed portraits and drawings of the Mentally Ill and Bewilderd, put a frightening and crueller twist on even Hogarth's etchings of 'Gin Lane and Beer Street' of the 1700's. It's all scary stuff and Gamley, does it so well . .   

THIS SECOND SIGHT FILMS RELEASE not only presents us with a very neat and much improved print of the film, which stars some of the not only past Amicus casts, but a neat crew in 'post production' and behind the camera too. The film has a pretty tight story and each of the four tales of terror skip along, just pausing for breath under Peter Tanner's editing. Tanner had a very good understanding of the pace needed for Brit Fantasy and strange stories, having edited some of the best of the TV series 'The Avengers' in nine episodes during 65 and 66. Tanner worked in a few Amicus films and was very much in demand until 1998, sadly passing at the grand age of 88 in 2002.

IN TODAY'S OFTEN COMPETITIVE MARKET MANY BLU RAY RELEASES have to contain a great package, but you would think judging by the case artwork and packaging that the box holds a horrendous bargain basement crapooey movie! All that work and they fall at the fence because they couldn't drum up decent artwork and packaging! Thankfully, THIS high-definition Blu-ray release of 'Asylum' comes in rigid slipcase packaging with eye-catching new artwork by Graham Humphreys, and really presents the whole deal as something special...and it IS!  They have more than made a VERY good effort  and a lot of thought has gone into design and the actual extras content. This release has some very worth while extras features on it's menu. Having watched film, video and dug around in archives, libraries, scrapbooks and footage for the last thirty five years, most of what is presented here, personally I can vouch I have never seen most of these gems before!

TO KICK OFF, there's a very good audio commentary with the late director, Roy Ward Baker, also a brilliant 1972 BBC report on the making of ASYLUM, featuring candid on the set pieces, with producer Milton Subotsky and many of the cast. David J Schow’s analysis of the career of Robert Bloch gives some interesting background on the author that provided quite few ideas and screenplays to Amicus releases. Milton Subotsky’s widow, Fiona Subotsky also provides some detailed and interesting memories of her husband and his career, along with some never before seen personal photographs. Next, ‘Inside the Fear Factory’ featurette from about twenty years ago, it isn't a new  one, but well worth the watch as it features Amicus producer, the late Max J Rosenberg back peddling and banging his drum! All this and a nice theatrical trailer. There’s also a very worth while 40-page booklet and a reversible poster. It makes an impressive and very entertaining package for any Amicus fan!

SO HERE IS THE LIST OF THE EXTRA VALUE OF EXTRAS!

Audio Commentary with Director Roy Ward Baker and Camera Operator Neil Binney
 

Two’s a Company: 1972 On-set BBC report featuring interviews with Producer Milton Subotsky, Director Roy Ward Baker, Actors Charlotte Rampling, James Villiers, Megs Jenkins, Art Director Tony Curtis and Production Manager Teresa Bolland Screenwriter David J. Schow on Writer Robert Bloch Fiona Subotsky Remembers Milton Subotsky
 

Inside The Fear Factory: Featurette with Directors Roy Ward Baker, Freddie Francis and Producer Max J. Rosenberg
 

Theatrical Trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by Graham Humphreys and original artwork
Limited Edition Contents

Rigid Slipcase Featuring New Artwork by Graham Humphreys
40 page booklet with new essays by Allan Bryce, Jon Towlson and Kat Ellinger
Reversible poster featuring new and original artwork 

 

 

YOU CAN WIN YOUR COPY of SECOND SIGHTS FILMS REMASTERED BLU RAY of Amicus films 'ASYLUM ' in one of our many CHRISTMAS PCAS COMPETITIONS this CHRISTMAS! Look out for a whole SACK LOAD of PRIZES AND COMPETITIONS over the next TWO WEEKS! You can ALSO place YOUR PRE-ORDER direct with Second Sight Films RIGHT HERE!  

 

 

READ AND SEE MORE on the making of AMICUS FILMS 'ASYLUM' in the above PCASUK feature and gallery with DIRECTOR ROY WARD BAKER : HERE!

 

CHRISTMAS EVE :CHRISTOPHER LEE A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS EVE IS HERE, at last! And maybe for some of you, the shopping, the cooking, the preparation is now over. I DO hope so! If not, put this little post in your bookmark, for later. Preferably a time, when it's quiet. Switch off the lights, settle in and prepare yourself, for that OTHER great Christmas tradition . ..  The Christmas Ghost Story. I've especially picked this one from the BBC television series, that Christopher Lee appeared in 2000. The episode I've selected is in my humble opinion, the best of the series, also forgive my indulgence, it's my favorite Ghost Story. Maybe because I first hear it, in another BBC televised drama of the story, starring ROBERT HARDY, way back in 1971, when I was but a terrified little chap, hiding behind my grandmother's sofa! Christopher Lee really does a fabulous reading, that I am sure you'll enjoy. You'll probably need to get that mulled wine on the boil, as this is a real Christmas Chiller! Merry Christmas! Enjoy!

 

REMEMBER! IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA

WATCH 'AND NOW, THE SCREAMING STARTS!' #GETTHECUSHIONSUNDAY!

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHINGSUNDAY! INDEED! One of a handful of Cushing frighteners, that passed my dear ol Mum's 'GetTheCushion' test!  . .  she always hid her eyes behind a cushion on sofa, if the tenstion became, TOO MUCH! Yeees, that's where this themed concept comes from ;)

'In 1795, in England, the young woman Catherine moves to the house of her fiancé Charles Fengriffen in the country to get married with him. When she arrives, she feels interest in the portraits of the Fengriffen family, particularly in the one of Charle's grandfather Henry Fengriffen, which seems to have a sort of evil entity possessing it. While admiring Henry's face, a severed hand attacks Catherine through the picture on the wall. Later, she gets married with Charles, beginning her journey of mystery, eerie apparitions, secrets and deaths, and having her days filled with fear and the nights with horrors in a cursed family.'

'AND NOW, THE SCREAMING STARTS' was AMICUS FILMS only production that ventured into the field of 'GOTHIC GHOST STORY'. The Amicus trademark, were films that were set and based in a contemporary setting. Even though a tale like, 'THE DOOR' in 'FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE' (1974) has a toe in the Ghostly World of time past, it confines the setting of the story, to a modern home, with ONE ROOM that appears to be trapped in the 1700's. Maybe it was a question of cost? Films sets for period films, have lots of ZERO'S on the budget sheet, something that would have certainly given producer Milton Subotsky nightmares! With that in mind, don't look too closely at the interior sets of this film, instead admire Cushing calm performance..IGNORE the hairpiece, we've been over it. Beacham is very good, as is Herbert Lom, Magee, and Geoffrey Whitehead. Special mention to a young Ian Ogilvy and director Roy Ward Baker, who both along with Cushing, keep the whole thing, entertaining and moving along nicely....

YOU CAN FIND OUT  MORE ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION, PETER CUSHING'S ROLE AND HIS MANY ROLES WITH OVER THE YEARS IN OUR SERIES ABOVE: LOADS OF RARE PHOTOGRAPHS AND MUCH MORE: CLICK HERE!

MORE ON PETER CUSHING AND THE CAST OF

 'AND NOW, THE SCREAMING STARTS' 

 

IF YOU LIKE what you see here at our website, you'll  love our daily themed posts at our PCAS FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.  Just click that blue LINK and click LIKE when you get there, and help us . . Keep The Memory Alive!. The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society website, facebook fan page and youtube channel are managed, edited and written by Marcus Brooks, PCAS coordinator since 1979. PCAS is based in the UK and USA       

JOAN COLLINS DISCOVERS SANTA HAS ARRIVED !

#GETTHECUSHIONITSCUSHING: This week's classic clip is from 'And All Through the House' segment from Amicus's Tales From The Crypt (1972)

After Joanne Clayton (Joan Collins) kills her husband (Martin Boddey) on Christmas Eve, she prepares to hide his body but hears a radio announcement stating that a homicidal maniac (Oliver MacGreevy) is on the loose. She sees the killer (who is dressed in a Santa Claus costume) outside her house but cannot call the police without exposing her own crimes.

A WONDERFULLY SUSPENSEFUL story with Joan Collins really going all out with her performance and stylishly directed by Freddie Francis. The story was remade in 1989 as an episode of the TV series Tales From The Crypt (1988-96) directed by Robert Zemeckis.

How do you think the two versions compare?

The Peter Cushing Appreciation Society is ON FACEBOOK! Join our  FAN PAGE

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REMEMBERING : MICHAEL HORDERN : FISHING AND MAKING THE BEST CATCH

REMEMBERING : Actor Michael Hordern Born Today.... here is an actor as prolific as Cushing,who from the beginning cast his net wide and played quite an eclectic and diverse collection of roles. Both he and Peter Cushing had established theatre careers before appearing in film and on tv. Hordern, sticks in most fantasy films fan minds for his portrayal as the pompous theatre crictic George Maxwell in Vincent Price's Theatre of Blood and the M.R James BBC Ghost story, Whistle and I'll Come to from 1968. He also chimes a sweet memory for me as the narrator of the BBC Paddington Bear stories. Hordern appeared with Cushing in the 1956 film , Alexander the Great as Demosthenes. Hordern like Cushing played many Shakespearean roles, and his worn and conservative looks made him the go-to-guy for civil servants in Brit 1950's movies and the character of Jacob Marley in several productions of 'A Christmas Carol'.

A quality actor, whose autobiography 'A World Elsewhere' is worth looking up. Among the stories of his obsession with fly-fishing, there are some very interesting insights to this most gentle of men.

  

 

ALEXANDER THE GREAT: It had the cast, the budget . . it also had Cushing! So, what went wrong. Feature later this week!

 

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#SHERIDAN LE FANU 200TH BIRTHDAY : THE MAN WHO PUT THE CHILL INTO VICTORIAN GHOST STORIES

#tbt #throwbackthursday.... ok we're going back. BACK 200 years in fact! Because, today is the anniversary of the birth of one Joseph Thomas SHERIDAN Le Fanu...200 years ago this very day in 1814. Born at 45 Lower Dominick Street, Dublin, into a literary family of Huguenot origins, Le Fau would become a celebrated writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels, the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century and central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. We salute Mr Le Fanu today, for his vampire novella "Carmilla", which formed the framework for the 1970 Hammer film, 'The Vampire Lovers' starring Ingrid Pitt and Peter Cushing.. Please join us in wishing a Happy 200th Birthday to #SheridanLeFanu!

 Sheridan Le Fanu

The Vampire Lovers

DATE LINE: AUGUST 1983: CUSHING, LEE, PRICE AND CARRADINE : HOUSE OF THE LONG SHADOWS

AUGUST 1983: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price and John Carradine, started shooting at Rothersfield Park, East Tisted on 'House of the Long Shadows'

Date Line: August 1983

The House of the Long Shadows

PCASUK COMPETITION WITH DIRECTOR AND AUTHOR STEPHEN WEEKS THIS WEEKEND

Your PCASUK Competition THIS WEEKEND and a great one it's going to be! Please join us and stay tuned for more details.

Stephen Weeks now lives in Prague, the Czech Republic. In 2003 his epic novel, DANIELA, set mainly during 1944-45 in Prague at the end of the Nazi occupation was published in the USA. In 2007 the first of his Prague detective novels, HRABENKA V NESNZICH, was published in Prague. It will appear in the UK as THE COUNTESS OF PRAGUE. He continues with his conservation activities in restoring castles and other historic buildings. Movies? – he now feels ready for a comeback: ‘I was too young when I started out – what did I know then? Now, at least, I am wise!’

LINKS: Stephen Weeks AWAKING AVALON Book 

Stephen Weeks Amazon Page 

 

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