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!

 

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST AND EARLIEST PURCHASES OR FINDS??

OVER AT THE FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE THIS POST is gaining a fair bit of attention! REMEMBER WHEN??? 😉 Here's a great question from follower Dan Barrett which he posted to us a few days ago! Here Dan's QUESTION: What are your earliest Peter Cushing discoveries? One childhood memory I have is of heading into my local Woolworths and finding this absolute gem in a bargain bin of vhs tapes: The Uncanny. Despite the 18 rating and being substantially under age, I managed to buy it unchallenged. I think I watched it, practically, until I wore the tape out. Cushing is brilliant as the terrified and fidgety eccentric author Wilbur Gray and there's a cracking performance from the wonderful Joan Greenwood. Wilfred Josephs' score is brilliant too (he composed music for The Prisoner and, although his theme tune was rejected in favour of Ron Grainer's, lots of his quirky score is used throughout the series). The Uncanny kicked off my love of Peter Cushing and portmanteau horror movies. IF YOU would like to join in the chat, just click that BLUE LINK at the top of this text!

 

ABOVE A FACEBOOK UPDATE ON OUR LAST PCASUK COMPETITION! We will be posting a FULL REVIEW along with SCREEN CAPS on the TWO SECIOND SIGHT FILMS AMICUS BLU RAYS featured here as prizes, ASYLUM and THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' VERY SOON!

CLICK AND PLACE YOUR ORDER DIRECT! WHILE STOCKS LAST! 

SECOND SIGHT FILMS : PCASUK COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED : ASYLUM LIMITED EDITION BLU RAYS PRIZES!

CONGRATULATIONS James Pearcy, Vivienne Dunston, David Little and Carl Beach! You are ALL Winners and have all bagged yourself a copy of the Second Sight Films Limited Edition Blu Ray release of Amicus films 'ASYLUM'..... Well Done! You will need to message us please 😉 MANY thanks to Second Sight Films for sponsoring your competitions over the last two weeks! They are VERY good releases, prints and extras! Look out for our PCAS review of BOTH Second sight Film releases 'House that Dripped Blood' and 'Asylum' this week. For everyone who entered and didn't win, thanks for taking part and your support . Make sure YOU are around on FRIDAY 😉 - Marcus

THE COMPETITION ANSWER : MR SMITH 😉

#SECONDSIGHTFILMS Limited Edition BLU RAYS of BOTH 'ASYLUM'  and 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' are available NOW for PRE-ORDER HERE!

FOUR PRIZES! THE ENTRIES ARE IN AND THE WINNERS WILL ANNOUNCED TODAY!

OUR FINAL and very popular #SecondSightFilms / PCASUK Competition closed last night at midnight GMT. All entries are now in and the FOUR LUCKY WINNERS names will be announced HERE and at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY! We'll be publishing a full review of both Second Sight Amicus Films Limited Edition Blu Ray releases this THURSDAY at the website, a long with screen captures and GIFS. The response to both these competitions has been extremely positive. You can pre-order both 'The House That Dripped Blood' and 'Asylum' from #SecondSightFilms now, while stocks last HERE!. This is a limited edition release and the addition extras on 'House' make these two Cushing and Lee #Amicusfilms, a very worthy addition to any collection. You'll be pleased to hear the quality of both films make these particular releases, the new benchmark if you are wanting to purchase these TWO titles 😀 Meanwhile, sit tight . . . YOU could be a #WINNER 😛 - Marcus

ABOVE: MEANWHILE, you might wanna be around on Friday, for this weeks PCASUK #FRANKENSTEINFRIDAY!

THE BRAVE AND GENTLE SOUL OF PETER CUSHING PICS AND COMPETITION

THE 1972 AMICUS FILM, 'Asylum' which is featured in our Second Sight Films / PCAS competition this week, was a film that contains quite a sad and poignant role for Peter Cushing, both his character and Cushing in his own life, were dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. After the release of Asylum in the UK, the connection of the role and Cushing own loss, prompted quite a few interviews and features in magazines and newspapers. A few weeks ago, we posted the quite well known photo of Peter sitting at a dresser in his home in Whitstable, with framed photographs of Helen at his side. On posting this pic, I received quite a few messages from many of you out there who were very moved to see Peter looking so remorseful. So, I looked into our files and to find this 'other' photograph from this photo session and post the two here today 😀 The loss of Helen was something from which Peter Cushing never truly recovered, but being the gentleman and brave soul he was, he always managed to push on, to another day ... I hope you like the insert photo - Marcus 😉

ABOVE: YOU CAN bag your chance to win a copy of the LIMITED EDITION BLU RAY SECOND SIGHT FILMS  release of  'ASYLUM' in our PCASUK COMPETITION  right now at our FACEBOOK PCAS FAN PAGE! The competition is open until SATURDAY 29th of June 2019, so there's still time to take the opportunity now!

COMPETITION: WIN FOUR COPIES! LIMITED EDITION AMICUS BLU RAY 'ASYLUM'

HERE WE GO EVERYONE! Many thanks to Second Sight Films for their sponsoring of this and our last AMICUS CUSHING COMPETITION!... Asylum is one of my all time favorite Amicus / Peter Cushing films, and I think this release is going to go quite crackers and sell out very quickly on its release day 29th July2019. You CAN PREORDER NOW RIGHT HERE! THIS COMPETITION is now LIVE at the FACEBOOK PCAS FAN PAGE. IF you feel like giving yourself a go!? The last PCAS competition to win FOUR COPIES of SECOND SIGHT FILMS LIMITED EDITION OF ' 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' was very popular and already it looks like THIS comp will make and hit some new numbers for our entries again!

THE SECOND SIGHT FILMS release not only presents us with a very neat and much improved print of the film, which stars some of the best of 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 has 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 a few Amicus films and was in demand until 1998, sadly passing at the grand age of 88 in 2002. 



CAMERA OPERATOR NEIL BINNEY, who made a very firm mark of quality on several of Amicus films rival, Hammer films over the years, makes everything appear in the set design of the titled 'Asylum' building, look every inch clinical, but not-quite-in-the-world-of-the-real! Roy Ashton, provides his skilled eye and hand on the make up of everything from quite nasty scars to 'what is trying to break out of that manikin?'  plus Douglas Gamley -  The City Of The Dead (61) , The Road to Hong Kong (62),  A Shot In The Dark (63) The Land Thar Time Forgot (74)- and moves the scrapes, thuds and off time clanks of Elisabeth Lutyens. Gamley thankfully was yet to discover the art of naff 'The Beats Must Die' score and sets a terrific and powerful kick off bringing in his arrangement of Mussorgsky's 'Night On Bald Mountain' and pieces of his own making, to make a film that not only looks frightening but also rips a score, that gets the toes a curling! So much to watch and hear. Along with this we have a VERY nice assortment of goodies in the EXTRA FEATURES department . .  

ABOVE: JUST LIKE AMICUS, the art and timing of the 'good build-up' in how we set the scene, ready for the lauch of this the SECOND AMICUS PCAS and SECOND SIGHT FILMS competition, was about to go live on facebook, shortly . . 

OUR PART FIVE of the FILMS OF PETER CUSHING which includes ASYLUM complete with rare stills gallery : HERE! 

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 

DID YOU MISS our FIRST AMICUS BLU RAY competition? IF SO, grab your opportunity to catch this one, at the FACEBOOK FAN PAGE of the Peter Cushing Appreciation Society : RIGHT HERE!

COMPETITION WINNERS BAG SECOND SIGHT 'HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' LIMITED EDITION BLU RAYS!

OVER AT THE FACEBOOK PCAS FAN PAGE, we have just reveled and announced our FOUR PCAS 'HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' BLU RAY COMPETITION WINNERS! Each of them have bagged a copy of the Second Sight Films LIMITED EDITION BLU RAY release of Amicus films, 'The House That Dripped Blood', starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Jon Pertwee and Ingrid Pitt 🙂 Well DONE! 🙂 Many thanks to the HUGE number of you who entered this very popular competition, and a BIG thank you to Second Sight films for sponsoring this PCAS competition. Don't despair, if you are not a WINNER, we have another PCAS /Second Sight EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION launching HERE and at the Facebook PCASUK Fan Page in just TWO HOURS time 🙂 You can win yourself, a copy from FOUR prizes of Amicus films ASYLUM, on blu ray, also from Second Sight Films, in what promises to be another great competition too.

MEANWHILE, BOTH titles are released on JULY 29th 2019 and you can PRE ORDER BOTH of these terrific Second Sight releases, by, CLICKING HERE and HERE!

#COMPETITION! WIN FOUR COPIES OF 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD'

HERE WE GO! This is the FIRST of TWO AMICUS COMPETITIONS PCAS and SECOND SIGHT FILMS  will be launching over the next TWO WEEKS here at the PCASUK website and the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! 😃 Here is your chance to bag yourself a copy of the 1971 AMICUS FILMS classic horror, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Jon Pertwee and Ingrid Pitt! This LIMITED EDITION is also a FIRST TIME release on BLU RAY for the UK, with a host of extras, a 40 page booklet with new essays by Allan Bryce, Jon Towlson and Kat Ellinger and FOUR spine chilling stories that makes it one of the best of the Amicus portmanteau series of films. To WIN YOUR COPY, all you have to do is correctly answer the COMPETITION QUESTION and either send it to us via our email petercushingpcas@gmail.com OR you can ENTER at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE! We must give our grateful thanks to SECOND SIGHT FILMS for sponsoring our TWO AMICUS COMPETITIONS and we look forward to announcing the WINNERS NEXT SATURDAY! Remember there will be another competition to win copies of Second Sight Films BLU RAY of ASYLUM the following day, Sunday 23rd of June! These competitions are open to everyone, who ever, where ever YOU are 😃! GOOD LUCK 😃😉😊 - Marcus 

YOU CAN PRE ORDER YOUR COPIES of BOTH films RIGHT HERE!

FOUR COPIES OF SECOND SIGHT FILMS BLU RAY RELEASE OF AMICUS FILMS ASYLUM NEXT WEEEKEND!

HEADS UP UP ON PRIZES THAT DRIPPED BLOOD AND REMEMBERING SANDOR ELES

REMEMBERED: TODAY WE REMEMBER Hungarian born actor SANDOR ELES…. Known for a lot of work on TV he guest starred in shows such as The Saint, One Step Beyond, The Avengers, Danger Man and a regular role in the UK Soap 'Crossroads'. Eles did a lot of good and interesting work, given the chance. He made appearances in The Avengers, The Professionals Strange Report and Upstairs, Downstairs. One of his most memorable film roles was as the mysterious Paul in the Brian Clemens thriller 'And Soon the Darkness' in 1970. The screenplay was written by Brian Clemens and Terry Nation, both of whom had contributed to The Avengers, as well as to several ITC crime series made in Britain. The film was directed by Robert Fuest.

ABOVE: You can read more about SANDOR ELES and his work in #Hammerfilms 'The Evil of Frankenstein' in a feature written for PCAS by Troy Howath, at the time of it's first time release on blu ray from Final Cut. It's complete with a gallery of great publicity stills rarely seen form the PCAS archive RIGHT HERE!

ELES CO STARRED with #PeterCushing in #Hammerfilms third Frankenstein film,  'The Evil Of Frankenstein' and presented a quite different style of Baron's assistant. Sympathetic and sensitive to the Baron's plight and dedication to his work, it was an angle that didn't arrive again until Shane Briant's excellent portrayal of Simon in 'Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell' from Hammer films in 1974. 

ABOVE IS A PHOTOGRAPH is a still I thought Frankenstein and Hammer fans would appreciate! It's a never before shared or published studio photographer still during the making of the Peter Cushing and Sandor Eles Hammer films 'The Evil of Frankenstein' in 1963 at Bray studios. Cushing and Eles can be seen at the back of the marquee tent, with their mask disguises, but note the top of the still. It just shows how LOW in height the back lot buildings were at Bray studios. The lighting, the rigging and boom microphone is just a few feet from the actors heads!!! 

ELES WAS IN MANY WAYS a jobbing actor, but capable of so much more, just watching his work as Paul Ross in the UK low budget, but extremely popular almost daily soap opera, 'Crossroads' from 1982 until 1985, he gave more than any of the scripts required. A guest role as himself in the film 'Surviving Picasso' 1996, is a raw and sad exit, for an highly skilled actor, who when given the chance on screen or stage, was anyone but himself....

SANDOR ELES, sadly died on September 4th 2002, in Kilburn, London. He was just 66 years old . .   

A HEADS UP and what many of you have been waiting for! The PCASUK and SECOND SIGHT FILMS COMPETITION kicks off TOMORROW -Sunday 16th June 2019 HERE and at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE. There are FOUR COPIES of the SECOND SIGHT FILMS REMASTERED BLU RAY of Amicus films, 'THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD' starring Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Jon Pertwee and Ingrid Pitt up for grabs and MUST be won! Look out for our PCASUK COMPETITION post tomorrow, and make sure to send us YOUR ENTRY! NEXT WEEK we'll be launching ANOTHER PCASUK Competition where FOUR COPIES of Amicus films, ASYLUM BLU RAY will be up for grabs too! Here's your chance to bag some great prizes TOMORROW! Are YOU up for it??

REMEMBERING MAX J ROSENBERG AND A HAMMER FILM PREMEIR!

REMEMBERING: Max J. Rosenberg (September 13, 1914 – June 14, 2004) Rosenberg was an American film producer, whose career spanned six decades. He was particularly noted for his partnership with co founder of Amicus films, Milton Subotsky who both found much of their success while working in England, producing #supernatural and fantasy cinema, many of which starred #PeterCushing and #ChristopherLee. Max was a clever businessman, Subotsky was the brains and imagination behind what was for most part, the only true competitor of the UK based #Hammerfilms. Sadly, the business partnership soured, then court and libel cases strangled the whole thing to death...a climax worthy of any Amicus film's big finish!

YOU CAN FIND OUR MORE about MILTON SUBOTSKY AND MAX ROSENBERG and AMICUS FILMS in our PCAS feature and REVIEW of THE UNCANNY RIGHT HERE 

 . . AND IN OUR SEVEN PART series on The AMICUS Films of PETER CUSHING HERE!

ABOVE: A RARE press photograph taken at the PREMIER of #Hammerfilms 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' with #PeterCushing, #VeronicaCarlson, #ThorleyWalters, #CatherineSchell and producer, Anthony Nelson Keys, posing for the press with two Hammer fans in fancy dress! Schell was in attendence while working on Hammer's other film at this time, #MOONZEROTWO!