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!

 

INDICATOR REMASTERED HAMMER BOX SET : FACES OF FEAR : RELEASING ON NOVEMBER 25TH 2019

REMINDER: COMING THIS MONTH From Indicator 'HAMMER VOLUME FOUR: FACES OF FEAR'

THIS SOUNDS like a pretty neat release. I don't possess a review copy of the films yet. But, the Revenge of Frankenstein I hope, is worth waiting for. We have needed a remaster of that film, for quite sometime. As of the extras, I CAN'T WAIT to see the raw OUT-TAKES from the film too. I have known of these existing for a while, but never had the opportunity to see them. WHICH EXTRAS do YOU like the sound of too?? 😊 - Marcus

HEADS UP! Ordering directly gets you a Revenge poster (with Jekyll on the reverse) while stocks last!   ONLY IF YOU ORDER HERE!

FOUR CLASSIC HAMMER FILM CHILLERS presented on Blu-ray for the very first time in the UK. Accompanied by a wealth of new and archival extras – including exclusive new documentaries, audio commentaries, alternative versions, new and archival cast and crew interviews, a series of appreciations of their female stars, analyses of their composers’ scores, and extensive booklets – this stunning limited edition box set is strictly 26,000 numbered units.

THE REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN

New 4K restoration : Original mono audio
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary by celebrated horror and fantasy authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2019)
A Frankenstein for the 20th Century (2019): video essay by film historian Kat Ellinger and Dima Ballin
Hammer's Women – Eunice Gayson (2019): profile of the Hammer star by critic and film historian Pamela Hutchinson
David Huckvale on Leonard Salzedo (2019): new appreciation of the renowned composer by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde
Super 8 version: original cut-down home cinema presentation
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by filmmaker Joe Dante
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with new essays by Marcus Hearn and Kieran Foster, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews, and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

THE TWO FACES OF DR. JEKYLL

 

High Definition remaster
Original mono audio
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary by film historians Josephine Botting and Jonathan Rigby (2019)
Interview with Paul Massie (1967): rare archival audio interview with the film’s star
Hammer's Women – Dawn Addams (2019): British cinema expert Laura Mayne explores the life and career of the UK-born star
David Huckvale on Monty Norman (2019): new appreciation of the renowned composer
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by Josh Olson
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with a new essay by Kat Ellinger, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

TASTE OF FEAR

High Definition remaster
Original mono audio
Alternative presentation with US Scream of Fear title sequence
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary with Kevin Lyons, editor of The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film and Television (2019)
The BFI Interview with Jimmy Sangster (2008): archival audio recording of the celebrated filmmaker and screenwriter in conversation with Marcus Hearn at London’s National Film Theatre
The BEHP Video interview with Jimmy Sangster (2008): archival video recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring Sangster in conversation with Jonathan Rigby
The BEHP Interview with Douglas Slocombe – Part Two (1988): archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the renowned cinematographer in conversation with Sidney Cole
Fear Makers (2019): interviews with camera operator Desmond Davis, assistant editor John Crome and clapper loader Ray Andrew
Hammer's Women – Ann Todd (2019): Melanie Williams, author of Female Stars of British Cinema profiles the English star and producer
David Huckvale on Clifton Parker (2019): new appreciation of the renowned composer
Super 8 version of Scream of Fear: original cut-down home cinema presentation
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by Sam Hamm
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with an essay by Marcus Hearn, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

 

THE DAMNED

 

 

New 2K restoration
Original mono audio
Two presentations of the film: The Damned, the original UK theatrical release version; and These Are the Damned, the complete and uncut restoration which first premiered in 2007
New and exclusive documentary about the film, produced by Hammer expert Marcus Hearn (2019)
Audio commentary by film historians Samm Deighan and Kat Ellinger (2019)
Beneath the Surface (2019): new interview with filmmaker Gavrik Losey, son of director Joseph Losey
Interview with actor Shirley Anne Field (2019)
Interview with screenwriter Evan Jones (2010)
Children of 'The Damned' (2019): new interviews with actors Kit Williams, David Palmer and Christopher Witty
Hammer's Women – Viveca Lindfors (2019): profile of the renowned actor by critic and film historian Lindsay Hallam
David Huckvale on James Bernard (2019): new appreciation of the celebrated composer
Beyond Black Leather (2019): appreciation by film expert I Q Hunter
No Future (2019): analysis by author and film historian Neil Sinyard
Original theatrical trailer
Trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation by filmmaker Joe Dante
Image gallery: on-set and promotional photography
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition box set exclusive booklet with a new essay by Richard Combs, archival interview materials, historical articles, contemporary reviews and film credits
UK premiere on Blu-ray

Limited edition box set of 6,000 numbered units
All extras subject to change
REGION FREE

ORDER CLICK HERE! 

 

REVIEW : TWILIGHT TIMES THE SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST BLU RAY

THE CHARACTER of ROBIN HOOD as far as film production is concerned, seems to have revived and arrived as frequently as the BLOKE in the Cloak, Count Dracula. Since 1938, when actor Errol Flynn donned the tights and bow in 'The Adventures of Robin Hood', which hit loads of lolly for the rich and entertainment for the thrill hungry public, Robin and his Merry Men have nearly always been a winner. There have been many remakes and story direction retakes  that not only revived the tale, but such was the power of the story of Mr Hood, you can spot it like a well aimed arrow, providing themes, influences in everything from extended ideas for spin offs, Mel Brooks epics and even down to a Tom and Jerry or Bugs Bunny cartoon! The world of Robin Hood is one of Olde Worlde very rich, but usless kings, lords and ladies, fat monks and pious priest, where every town has men with swords and maidens who are lit and presented in soft focus, having been crafted by a Westmore brother, who  struggle with the caddish-fiend advances of tash tweaking, baddie barons. But I LOVE it!  

HAMMER FILMS 'SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST'  couldn't be and isn't the DISNEY or Errol version. This Hammer film budget, but BUT it is enormously entertaining. Hammer set design guru, Bernard Robinson was and had been tied up with The Mummy, The Brides of Dracula and the Two Faces of Doctor Jekyll, so John Stoll, did the duties. The reason WHY SWORD does so well is because of its excellent cas. which headlines with Peter Cushing as the Sheriff of Nottingham.. in THREE splendid costume changes. Knowing PC he probably pooted along to Berman's and chose them, as he would say 'Mu-self!'...  and Richard Greene as the lead, and for many THE Robin! Others include Hammer's Richard Pascoe, almost 'out stepping' Cushing as a beauty of a bounder and baddie! Oliver Reed gets the better of Cushing's Sheriff, Niall McGinnis makes a very good Friar Tuck and Richard Greene IS Little John! For a tale, almost exclusively set in woodlands and forest, that also has the FOREST word in its title, one wonders if actress Sarah BRANCH was cast and chosen, only for the potentially endless publicity and press office premier inches that could be pushed and published using her surname as an endless pun? BRANCH is very good in the feature, but held a held a carear that only lasted just over four years!? Did Hammer and Chairman Sir James only spot the BRANCH potential as the main and valid reason to another money spinner and quickly slapped together another fim poster to collect the backers cash? Nope. Truth is, the business  and Hollywood has been churning out  Robin Hood films for actually MORE than a century. And Sword of Sherwood Forest, is certainly one of my personal favorites!

SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST is a film from an era, where movies where 'crafted' for the family. No gallons of gore or huge and cavernous miles deep cleavage, to fall into here! You would think, the attraction of such a film of such qualities, would be well passed. BUT just two weeks ago, PCAS offered up SEVEN copies of the Twilight Time remastered blu ray as sponsored prizes in a VERY well supported competition. This gives a fair indication, that Robin and his Merry Men are still very popular. And in THIS EXCELLENT transfer of the feature film, which is typical of the standard of quality we have come to expect from Twilight Time and Sony, the release looks very good indeed! 

SWORD OF SHERWOOD FOREST was directed by Hammer film icon Terence Fisher, who was well prepared and knew exactly how best to present all the 'key Hood' moments, having also directed many of the television series episode, that also starred Richrad Greene as Robin. It looks delicious, having been shot in Technicolor and makes the most of the luscious green forests, fern, flora and fauna of the Irish location, having been shot in beautiful Enniskery, County Wicklow. 

VISION

FOR ALL THOSE who mull of the technical pickings of screen size and frames, this 2.35:1 Megascope production is bang on, properly framed. The visuals in that frame, well meet the standards we have come to expect from Twilight Time, who in the past have brought us other Peter Cushing classics like Hammer films 'The Hound Of The Baskervilles' (1959)  and Amicus films 'THE SKULL' (1965) this transfer is immaculate! The colours are VIBRANT and do justice to the magnificent scenery, that both Fisher and cinematographer Ken Hodges were working to capture on the big screen. Hodges also worked with Fisher on the TV series. 

ABOVE: SEVEN LUCKY WINNERS of our TWILIGHT TIME PCAS competition last month!

SOUND

THE SOUNDTRACK on the disc comes as a  DTS HD-MA mono track, which presents dialogue clearly, with no drop out, hiss or bassey muffle. Even though in mono, the music composed by Alun Hoddinott, as in ALL Hood films and particulary the UK tv series, sounds terific. is as good as it could be, with clear dialogue throughout, supporting the clanking and thrashing of duels and sword fights very well. All of this drama, sometimes takes a break and presents Alan-a-Dale played by Denis Lotis singing and yodeling, medieval melodies with harp, flute and his mandolin! Charming! English SDH subtitles are available. 

EXTRAS

IN THE PAST, Twilight Time extras have included, documentaries, galleries, trailers and posters. This release offers a very nice isolated music and effects track. Which personally, would always get my vote, over endless talking heads of types who weren't even breathing when the film was released, let alone a twinkle in some daddy's eye! Also included is the theatrical for the film and the very nice thought of a short but appreciative glossy brochure / booklet on the film.

FOLLOWERS who are interested in purchasing it can skip along to the Twilight Time website or the Screen Archives website to order their copy. A GREAT watch for the family at Christmas.