NEWS: PHIBES BLU RAYS GET REGION B RELEASE

NEWS: Both Special Edition Dr Phibes BLU RAYS get a REGION FOUR release on NOVEMBER 10th this year from #ArrowFilms...Both absolute Price classics with wonderful casting. For PC fans '...Rises Again' contains Peter Cushing's fleeting cameo performance as the ship's Captain, worth it alone,  just for the pay off of the following scene.

The Abominable Dr Phibes Rises Again

Release Date: 10th November 2014
Format: Blu-ray
Starring: Vincent Price, Robert Quarry, Peter Cushing, Fiona Lewis, Beryl Reid, John Thaw
Directed by: Robert Fuest
 

Synopsis:The abominable Dr. Phibes is back – and still looking to resurrect his beloved wife, Victoria. His quest takes him to Egypt in search of a Pharaoh’s tomb and the Rivers of Life that will bring her back to him. The Egyptian setting provides Dr. Phibes Rises Again with an air of adventure – the film paying affectionate if slightly camp homage to the cliffhanger serials of the 1930s and the ripping yarns of H. Rider Haggard. Boasting a starrier cast than the original film, Dr. Phibes Rises Again sees Vincent Price joined by an impressive roster of familiar faces, including fellow horror icon Peter Cushing (The Curse of Frankenstein, Dracula), Robert Quarry (Count Yorga, Vampire), Fiona Lewis (The Fury), Beryl Reid (Psychomania) and a young John Thaw.
 

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation transferred from original film elements by MGM
Original uncompressed 1.0 Mono PCM Audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Audio commentary by critic and author Tim Lucas
Daughter of Phibes – Victoria Price discusses Vincent Price’s career
 The Doctor Will See You Now – an interview with Vincent Price’s biographer, David Del Valle
Theatrical Trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring alternate original artworks
Collector’s booklet featuring an interview with Tim Burton conducted by Constantine Nasr, illustrated with original archive posters and stills
 

SPEC DETAILS:
Region: B
Rating: 15
Cat No: FCD1022
Duration: 89 mins
Language: English
Subtitles: English SDH
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: 1.0 Mono
Colour

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
 High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation transferred from original film elements by MGM
 Original uncompressed 1.0 Mono PCM Audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
 Audio commentary by director Robert Fuest
 Audio commentary by the creator of Dr. Phibes, William Goldstein
 Dr Phibes and the Gentlemen – The League of Gentlemen fondly recall a British horror classic
Theatrical Trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring alternate original artworks
Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Julian Upton and the on-set reminiscences of Caroline Munro, illustrated with original archive posters and stills gallery.

SPEC DETAILS:
Region: B
Rating: 15
Cat No: FCD1021
Duration: 94 mins
Language: English
Subtitles: English SDH
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: 1.0 Mono
Colour

EXCLUSIVE PEEP : AMICUS: THE VAULT OF HORROR HARDBACK : A TRUE TREASURE

Amicus : The Vault Of Horror by Donald Fearney:

I love pictorial hardbacks...and this one is exceptional. Here we have a special exclusive peep of a book that is so limited... the run is in SINGLE figures! Rare photographs, full page colour pics, art designs by  Amicus set designers, all lovingly printed in hi res on double heavy quality paper... each of the Amicus fantasy genre productions is represented by it's promotional cinema poster and a raft of full colour and black and white key book stills and contact print rarities. If you are an Amicus fan, and have been waiting for the book that does their films justice...wait no longer, you'll be extremely happy with this impressive 102 paged hardback treasure!

The book is NOT FOR SALE, it can only be WON! The book is part of the promotion rumble behind a very exciting documentary on Amicus films, that Donald Fearney is currently working on, and will be on sale for a limited time early next year. There will only be 300 dvd's produced of the documentary, 'Amicus: The Vault Of Horror'.

Along with the dvd there is also a very nice line in extras and gifts, that are included in 'some' of the dvd's packaging. Think, Golden Ticket and Wonka Bar..and you'll get the idea. Free with ALL 300 dvd's is a packet of suspect looking seeds..these were part of a promotional campaign for Amicus films 'Torture Garden' back in 1967. In SEVENTY EIGHT dvd cases the is one original Waddington's tarot card, just like the cards in the  pack used by Peter Cushing in Amicus films, 'Dr Terror's House of Horrors', each autographed by several actors and technicians who worked for Amicus. Just TWO dvd cases contain a 'GOLDEN TICKET' which entitles the winner to one copy of the book, 'Amicus: The Vault Of Horror'. And finally...   Just ONE dvd also contains another ticket that entitles the winner to the prize of a genuine bankers cheque, signed by Peter Cushing, from his business bank account account, Peter Cushing LTD.  We'll keep you posted of release dates and promotional video ads. - Marcus Brooks

 

 

REMEMBERING: NIGEL STOCK

Remembering Today: NIGEL STOCK a superb Watson in the BBC 'Sherlock Holmes' television series of the 60's, with Peter Cushing as Holmes. Sadly, Stock left us in 1986, aged 66....Today would have been his birthday...

BBC 'THE SIGN OF FOUR' starring Peter Cushing and Nigel Stock

review with gallery HERE

REMEMBERING: JAMES BERNARD : BORN TODAY 1925

Remembering ...Composer JAMES BERNARD: Born 20th September 1925, India. Died: 12th July 2001, London, England, UK

Today, 20th September marks the birthday of the late JAMES BERNARD composer of many of Hammer films greatest music scores,starring Peter Cushing. Probably best remembered for his music score for Hammer films, Dracula (1958). It featured a motif based on the name... Dra-cu-laaaaa.... However, he could also write lushly romantic melodies, such as appear in Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) and Scars of Dracula (1970). Unlike the majority of film composers, Bernard orchestrated almost all of his work.

Bernard's first major break as a composer was at the age of 17 when he met Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, for whom Bernard later wrote a song cycle.

Other memorable Hammer scores include The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), She (1964),The Kiss of the Vampire (1962), The Plague of the Zombies (1966) and The Devil Rides Out (1968).

TRIVIA: James Bernard was educated at Wellington College, where the future actor Christopher Lee was a classmate!

REMEMBERING ANTHONY HINDS : THE MAN WHO BUILT THE HOUSE OF HAMMER

#frankensteinfriday: Today, the nineteenth of September we remember the late ANTHONY HINDS, who sadly left us last year... today he would have been his 93rd birthday. For many Hammer film fans, Hinds represents the 'Golden Years' of the studios output and production. Producer and script writer, he was responsible for some of Peter Cushing's most revered work in the fantasy genre.

In Hammer's early days, it was Hinds idea to hire country houses and to based the production and shooting in the rooms and grounds of the locations, which saved the the studio huge production costs. His script writing skills, have been picked over by many, but few could doubt his skill in managing tight budgets, and building impressive productions, with very limited resources and finance...and for this, he was indeed, the 'Master Builder and Architect of Hammer films'...and for that, we are very grateful.....

Marcus Brooks

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO VERONICA CARLSON TODAY!

A SPECIAL DAY.. A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY: Join us in wishing VERONICA CARLSON a VERY Happy Birthday TODAY!

Image: Veronica Carlson and Peter Cushing pose for a publicity photograph during the making of #hammerfilms 'Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed' at Elstree film studios in 1969

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREE MELLY !

A very Happy Birthday to ANDREE MELLY, who was born this day in 1932. As the 'pretty' Gina in Hammer films, 'The Brides of Dracula' she terrified audiences with her ability to transform into Baron Meinster's victim in 1960 under the direction of Terence Fisher. Three years later she worked with Fisher again in 'The Horror Of It All' as Natalia Marley alongside Anton Diffring and Hazel Court.