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The Avengers: The Emma Peel Collection (1965-1967)

Blu-ray

[Imprint] Television

1965-67 / 1.33: 1 / Black and White and Color

Starring Diana Rigg, Patrick Macnee

Written by Brian Clemens, Philip Levene

Directed by Roy Ward Baker, Sidney Hayers, Charles Crichton

Though remembered for its idiosyncratic humor, The Avengers made its debut in 1961 as a no-nonsense crime drama. Ian Hendry starred as David Keel, a doctor turned detective, while Patrick MacNee haunted the sidelines as an inscrutable investigator named John Steed. Shot in black and white under grey English skies, the show was unmistakably a product of the Cold War, fueled by John Dankworth’s stentorian theme and an origin story that predicted television’s noirish The Fugitive; Keel’s fiancée has been murdered, prompting our heroes to join in the search for her killer.

It was a brief sojourn for Hendry who left at the end of the season, relinquishing star billing to Macnee and his new partner,...

This meticulous docu-drama is still the best show about the Titanic, the awesome disaster that has never lost its grip on the imagination. Roy Ward Baker leads an enormous cast of Brit character actors through 2.5 hours of true-life terror in the icy Atlantic — Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, David McCallum, Laurence Naismith, Anthony Bushell. No stupid subplots and no insulting anachronisms, just an awful sinking death trap and 1600 passengers facing the freezing water. [Imprint] brings some new extras to the mix, too.

A Night to Remember

Blu-ray

Viavision [Imprint] #135

1958 / B&w / 1:66 enhanced widescreen / 123 min. / Street Date June 29, 2022 / Available from / 39.95

Starring: Kenneth More, Honor Blackman, David McCallum, Laurence Naismith, Anthony Bushell, Alec McCowen, John Cairney, Michael Goodliffe, Ronald Allen, John Merivale, Jill Dixon, Kenneth Griffith, Frank Lawton, Tucker McGuire, Ralph Michael, George Rose, Joseph Tomelty, Jack Watling, Michael Bryant, Bee Duffel, Thomas Heathcote, Andrew Keir, Jeremy Bulloch, Desmond Llewelyn, Derren Nesbitt, Beth Rogan,...

Indicator delivers another in their long line of fan-friendly box sets with Hammer Volume Five – Death and Deceit (a subhead that could be applied to the majority of the studio’s output). This latest release would be for Hammer completists only were it not for the extras that shine a bright light on a few overlooked artists and their work.

Hammer Volume Five – Death and Deceit

Blu ray – Region B Only

Powerhouse Films/Indicator

1961, 1962, 1963, 1965 / 1.85:1, 2.35:1 / 75, 87, 83 and 81 min.

Starring Richard Basehart, Christopher Lee, Lionel Jeffries, Oliver Reed

Cinematography by Arthur Grant, Jack Asher, Reg Wyer

Directed by Michael Carreras, John Gilling

Michael Carreras’s Visa to Canton was a Cold War thriller photographed in Technicolor but released to U.S. theaters in black and white. To add insult to injury it was given a new and even more prosaic title: Passport to China – a fate this unassuming little Cold War thriller didn’t deserve.

Film Movement, a self-described “film service” that traffics in esoteric theatrical and home video product has released two notable examples of post-war British comedy with Whisky Galore! and The Maggie – both are seafaring satires directed by Alexander Mackendrick featuring some of Ealing Studio’s most memorable players.

Whiskey Galore!/The Maggie

Blu ray

Film Movement

1949, 1954 / 1:33:1 / 82 min., 92 min.

Starring Joan Greenwood, Paul Douglas

Cinematography by Gerald Gibbs, Gordon Dines

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick

The men and women of Ealing emerged from the second World War with their cheerful cynicism intact and more than ready to take a bite out of the hand what fed them – from Passport to Pimlico to Kind Hearts and Coronets those artists happily took potshots at the class systems they had fought so hard to defend. Though these satires had teeth (Kind Hearts was especially lethal), romance was never far away – it’s no wonder...

Don’t run away because we use the word ‘profound’ to describe this 1967 sci-fi classic — some call it the best of the Hammer Quatermass films, this time fully written by Nigel Kneale and acted by a terrific cast — Andrew Kier, James Donald, Barbara Shelley and Julian Glover. A subway excavation uncovers strange human skulls, and then a huge bluish craft that the Army dismisses as a secret German V-weapon… until it begins to emanate psychic storms and supernatural phenomena. Sci-fi fans wanting ‘more’ will be intrigued by author Kneale’s incredible ‘origin story’ for the human race as an intelligent, aggressive and literally haunted species. The disc is loaded with extras, information, history and great opinions from a half-dozen qualified film experts. Plus we can hear Nigel Kneale discuss it himself.

Quatermass and the Pit

Blu-ray

Scream Factory

1967 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date July 30, 2019 / Available from Shout! Factory / 27.99

Starring: James Donald,...

Don’t run away because we use the word ‘profound’ to describe this 1967 sci-fi classic — some call it the best of the Hammer Quatermass films, this time fully written by Nigel Kneale and acted by a terrific cast — Andrew Kier, James Donald, Barbara Shelley and Julian Glover. A subway excavation uncovers strange human skulls, and then a huge bluish craft that the Army dismisses as a secret German V-weapon… until it begins to emanate psychic storms and supernatural phenomena. Sci-fi fans wanting ‘more’ will be intrigued by author Kneale’s incredible ‘origin story’ for the human race as an intelligent, aggressive and literally haunted species. The disc is loaded with extras, information, history and great opinions from a half-dozen qualified film experts. Plus we can hear Nigel Kneale discuss it himself.

Quatermass and the Pit

Blu-ray

Scream Factory

1967 / Color / 1:66 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date July 30, 2019 / Available from Shout! Factory / 27.99

Starring: James Donald,...

This week’s horror and sci-fi home media releases feature a stellar array of new and old. Scream Factory is showing some love to a trio of classic titles—Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb, Circus of Horrors and Scars of Dracula—and for those who may have missed it in theaters a few months back, Jim Jarmusch’s zombie comedy The Dead Don’t Die is shambling its way home on various formats. We’re also getting several modern classics released in 4K this Tuesday—Daybreakers and Edgar Wright’s Cornetto Trilogy, and for all you Supernatural fans out there, season 14 arrives on both Blu-ray & DVD, just in time for the final season.

Other Blu-ray & DVD releases for September 10th include Nekrotronic, John Wick: Chapter 3, Paranormal Activity 6-Movie Collection, and Hex.

Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb

A British expedition in Egypt discovers the ancient sealed tomb of the evil Queen Tera.

Scream Factory™ Presents Two Highly Anticipated Hammer Film Cult Classics Arrive on Blu-rays™! Quatermass 2 Starring Brian Donlevy With Sidney James, John Longden, Bryan Forbes, Vera Day, and William Franklyn And Quatermass And The Pit Starring Andrew Keir, James Donald, Barbara Shelley, and Julian Glover Available July 30, 2019 From Scream Factory™ Hobbs End, Knightsbridge, …

The post Quatermass 2 and Quatermass And The Pit – Two Highly Anticipated Hammer Film Cult Classics Arrive on Blu-rays appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.

Just as there have been many spooky villains in Hammer movies over the years, there have also been many protagonists who protect our world from unholy horrors. Having appeared in several British serials and three movies, Professor Bernard Quatermass is one such hero, and Scream Factory is celebrating the iconic character by releasing Quatermass 2 and Quatermass and the Pit on respective Blu-rays. Originally slated to come out in May, the Blu-rays are now scheduled for a July 30th release, and we've been provided with the full list of special features.

Press Release: Hobbs End, Knightsbridge, London. While working on a new subway tunnel for the London Underground, a group of construction workers uncover a strangely shaped skull. Nearby, another discovery: a large, mysterious and impenetrable metal object. Initially mistaken for an unexploded bomb, the object and its strange power turn out to be far more horrific than anybody could have possibly imagined.

While Scream Factory is bringing enough horror movies to Blu-ray this summer to keep you entertained after countless barbecues and bonfires, they also have a bunch of titles to look forward to this September, as they've now announced three more Hammer horror films coming to Blu-ray (including the Christopher Lee-starring Scars of Dracula), as well as 1972's Fright!

From Scream Factory: "If you’re a fan of Hammer Films (like we are) then save up for this Sept when we release three films from them on Blu-ray for the first time in North America! (**Correction: We originally included Fright as in the Hammer library. Our "Oops!" on that. Sorry! Its still releasing though.)

Scars Of Dracula (1970) - The legendary Christopher Lee is back as Dracula, bringing unspeakable horrors upon a local village that defies his evil reign. But when a young man and his luscious girlfriend unwittingly visit the Count's castle,...

If the recent news of a new Quatermass movie being in the works got you in the mood to watch the original horror sci-fi movies featuring the daring professor, then you're in luck, because Scream Factory announced that they will release the Hammer's Quatermass II and Quatermass and the Pit on Blu-ray this May.

From Scream Factory: "Our love for Hammer Films this year continues as we announce today that we are prepping Quatermass II and Quatermass And The Pit for Blu-ray releases on May 14th!

Quatermass II (1957): The sequel to The Quatermass Xperiment! Professor Quatermass (Brian Donlevy) is Britain's most clever scientist. Investigating a series of bizarre incidents that have been reported from a deserted area, he finds a group of soldiers and government officials that appear to be controlled by aliens from another world. When a close friend is brutally murdered by these beings, Quatermass leads a...

Legendary Entertainment said it haas partnered with Hammer Films for Quatermass, a film based on the British mid-20th-century sci-fi hero Bernard Quatermass.

David Farr, who penned the script for The Night Manager and the sci-fi pic Hanna, is adapting. Hammer’s Simon Oakes is producing. Jon Silk and Jay Ashenfelter will oversee production for Legendary.

The character Professor Bernard Quatermass is a rocket scientist originally created by writer Nigel Kneale, As a pioneering force of the British space program, he encounters terrifying extra-terrestrial lifeforms and must draw from science to save humanity. He appeared in a 1950s BBC series and in three Hammer Film movies in the mid-’50s and -’60s including the 1967 pic Quatermass and the Pit (known as Five Million Years to Earth in the U.S.). Andrew Keir played the lead role.

Farr, who also wrote and produced the...

Based on Bram Stoker’s The Jewel of the Seven Stars, this 1971 Hammer release is notable for its troubled production and the presence of zaftig Valerie Leon as a reincarnated Egyptian princess. The cast, led by Andrew Keir, soldiered on and the result was a typically handsome Hammer release thanks to Arthur Grant’s cinematography and Tristram Cary’s score.

The post Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb appeared first on Trailers From Hell.

Can a pirate be a substitute monster? Hammer Films gives yet another genre a spin with this box-office winner that launched a sideline in costume adventures. The Hammer crew makes it work: Christopher Lee, Marla Landi, Marie Devereaux, Michael Ripper, Oliver Reed and Andrew Keir, plus yank assistance from Kerwin Mathews and Glenn Corbett.

The Pirates of Blood River

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1962 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 87 min. / Street Date October 17, 2017 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95

Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Christopher Lee, Andrew Keir, Glenn Corbett, Marla Landi, Michael Ripper, Peter Arne, Oliver Reed, Marie Devereux.

Cinematography: Arthur Grant

Production Design: Bernard Robinson

Art Direction: Don Mingaye

Film Editor: Eric Boyd-Perkins

Original Music: Gary Hughes

Written by John Hunter, John Gilling, Jimmy Sangster

Produced by Michael Carreras, Anthony Nelson-Keys

Directed by John Gilling

Hammer Films didn’t start out as a horror studio, but after their big Technicolor successes in 1957-...

Here’s a spicy hot take—I’m as far as one could get from excited for Universal’s new film The Mummy. This isn’t exactly the movie’s fault, per se, as much as it is the world the movie inhabits, a sort of bizarro realm where a Brian Tyler-scored Tom Cruise action spectacle that’s meant to lay the groundwork for a Marvel-style cinematic universe, complete with Dr. Jekyll in the role of Nick Fury, is the most commercially viable way to make a movie about an ancient mummy’s curse. Now, I can see why the film’s being made, and you can’t exactly fault a studio for wanting to chase the money train that is the McU, but personally, I couldn’t care less about the picture being released. Because when I think of mummies, I don’t think of Tom Cruise, or Brendan Fraser,...

Like its predecessor The Pirates of Blood River, Hammer's second pirate saga overcomes its budget restraints by setting most of the action on dry land. As usual with the studio's forays into historical material, the innate cruelty of those unforgiving eras is given its head, leading to more than a little blood being spilled on all the lovingly fabricated finery. Indispensable Hammer stalwart Jimmy Sangster (Horror of Dracula) did the script and Hammer regulars Andrew Keir and Michael Ripper lend their typically steady support to Sir Christopher Lee, who gets to do some nifty buckling and swashing under Don Sharp's efficient direction.

Glenda Jackson: Actress and former Labour MP. Two-time Oscar winner and former Labour MP Glenda Jackson returns to acting Two-time Best Actress Academy Award winner Glenda Jackson set aside her acting career after becoming a Labour Party MP in 1992. Four years ago, Jackson, who represented the Greater London constituency of Hampstead and Highgate, announced that she would stand down the 2015 general election – which, somewhat controversially, was won by right-wing prime minister David Cameron's Conservative party.[1] The silver lining: following a two-decade-plus break, Glenda Jackson is returning to acting. Now, Jackson isn't – for the time being – returning to acting in front of the camera. The 79-year-old is to be featured in the Radio 4 series Emile Zola: Blood, Sex and Money, described on their website as a “mash-up” adaptation of 20 Emile Zola novels collectively known as "Les Rougon-Macquart."[2] Part 1 of the three-part Radio 4 series will be broadcast daily during an...

Digital Spy presents Doctor Who Week - seven days of special features celebrating the return of the world's favourite sci-fi series, and the arrival of a brand new Doctor on August 23.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Who."

Dr Who. Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 Ad (1966)

As far as odd surnames go, 'Who' has to be up there. But that's just one of many examples where the treatment of the subject matter differs between the two 1960s Doctor Who movie spinoffs and their original TV counterparts. Made to capitalise on the rampant 'Dalekmania' and starring Peter Cushing as the time traveller, a contemporary re-viewing provides a fascinating trip back to a comparatively innocent era where the draw of seeing "motorised dustbins" from Skaro in widescreen Technicolor was a big selling point.

William Hartnell's grouchy alien and his maladjusted granddaughter Susan from the BBC series have been replaced by...

Digital Spy presents Doctor Who Week - seven days of special features celebrating the return of the world's favourite sci-fi series, and the arrival of a brand new Doctor on August 23.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Who."

Dr Who. Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 Ad (1966)

As far as odd surnames go, 'Who' has to be up there. But that's just one of many examples where the treatment of the subject matter differs between the two 1960s Doctor Who movie spinoffs and their original TV counterparts. Made to capitalise on the rampant 'Dalekmania' and starring Peter Cushing as the time traveller, a contemporary re-viewing provides a fascinating trip back to a comparatively innocent era where the draw of seeing "motorised dustbins" from Skaro in widescreen Technicolor was a big selling point.

William Hartnell's grouchy alien and his maladjusted granddaughter Susan from the BBC series have been replaced by...

By Lee Pfeiffer 

Now this is what you call a bargain: three terrific WWII flicks for only $10 on Amazon, courtesy of Shout! Factory's Timeless Media label, which continues to distribute first rate editions of films that were often considered to be second-rate at the time of their initial release. This "War Film Triple Feature" package includes three gems that were not particularly notable at the time of their release. Two have grown in stature, while the third has benefited only from Cinema Retro writer Howard Hughes' enthusiastic coverage in issue #25. The films included in the set are:

"Attack" (1955)- During the period of WWII, both the Allied and Axis film industries concentrated on feature films that were pure propaganda designed to motivate their fighting men and the public at large. By the early-to-mid-1950s, however,  more introspective viewpoints emerged among Hollywood directors and writers. With the conflict now over,...

This week on Trailers from Hell, Brian Trenchard-Smith takes on "Devil Ship Pirates," a troubled 1964 action/adventure maritime adventure film. Like its predecessor "The Pirates of Blood River," Hammer's second pirate saga overcomes its budget restraints by setting most of the action on dry land. As usual with the studio’s forays into historical material, the innate cruelty of those unforgiving eras is given its head, leading to more than a little blood being spilled on all the lovingly fabricated finery. Indispensable Hammer stalwart Jimmy Sangster ("Horror of Dracula") did the script and Hammer regulars Andrew Keir and Michael Ripper lend their typically steady support to Sir Christopher Lee, who gets to do some nifty buckling and swashing under Don Sharp’s efficient direction.

Like its predecessor The Pirates of Blood River, Hammer’s second pirate saga overcomes its budget restraints by setting most of the action on dry land. As usual with the studio’s forays into historical material, the innate cruelty of those unforgiving eras is given its head, leading to more than a little blood being spilled on all the lovingly fabricated finery. Indispensable Hammer stalwart Jimmy Sangster (Horror of Dracula) did the script and Hammer regulars Andrew Keir and Michael Ripper lend their typically steady support to Sir Christopher Lee, who gets to do some nifty buckling and swashing under Don Sharp’s efficient direction.

The post Devil-Ship Pirates appeared first on Trailers From Hell.

The Horror Channel has announced the return of the Hammer double features.

The season, which runs on Saturday nights from February 1 to 22 at 9pm, promises "vampire vixens, creepy castles, mouldy mummies, satanic sadists and Lee & Cushing on top show".

Hammer recently unveiled the trailer for The Quiet Ones, the studio's follow-up to its successful critical and commercial return with The Woman in Black.

The full schedule is below, complete with synopses from the Horror Channel (Sat 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138).

February 1 9pm - Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)

This sequel to the 1958 The Horror of Dracula sees the supposedly dead Count Dracula back in bloody business once his trusty servant Klove entices the English Kents - Charles (Francis Matthews), brother Alan (Charles Tingwell) and their wives Diana (Suzan Farmer) and Helen (Barbara Shelley) - inside his welcoming castle. Directed by Terence Fisher, this is seen as the "quintessential Hammer horror".

February 1 10.45pm -...

The Horror Channel has announced the return of the Hammer double features.

The season, which runs on Saturday nights from February 1 to 22 at 9pm, promises "vampire vixens, creepy castles, mouldy mummies, satanic sadists and Lee & Cushing on top show".

Hammer recently unveiled the trailer for The Quiet Ones, the studio's follow-up to its successful critical and commercial return with The Woman in Black.

The full schedule is below, complete with synopses from the Horror Channel (Sat 319 / Virgin 149 / Freesat 138).

February 1 9pm - Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)

This sequel to the 1958 The Horror of Dracula sees the supposedly dead Count Dracula back in bloody business once his trusty servant Klove entices the English Kents - Charles (Francis Matthews), brother Alan (Charles Tingwell) and their wives Diana (Suzan Farmer) and Helen (Barbara Shelley) - inside his welcoming castle. Directed by Terence Fisher, this is seen as the "quintessential Hammer horror".

February 1 10.45pm -...

Looking forward to Dracula: Prince of Darkness hitting Blu-ray here in the States for the first time? Then get out your calendars because we have a date change to inform you of!

The flick will be releasing on September 17th instead of September 3rd as previously announced. To make up for the bump, you can now check out the official Millennium Films Hammer Blu-ray Facebook Page!

From the Press Release

Millennium Entertainment is pleased to reveal the final artwork and announce details for its upcoming high-definition release of the classic 1966 Hammer film Dracula: Prince of Darkness on September 17th. Directed by Terence Fisher and starring the iconic Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, and Andrew Keir, Millennium's Collector's Edition of Dracula: Prince of Darkness marks the first time that horror fans in the Us will be able to enjoy the film on Blu-ray. Millennium is also planning to release several other Hammer...

Millennium Entertainment was set to release a Dracula: Prince of Darkness Blu-ray on September 3rd and we’ve been told that there’s a slight release delay. Instead of September 3rd, the movie will now be released on September 17th. We’ll have more content and a contest before then, so check back soon for the latest details on this upcoming Hammer release.

“Millennium Entertainment is pleased to reveal the final artwork and announce details for their upcoming high-definition release of the classic 1966 Hammer Film, Dracula: Prince of Darkness on [September 17th]. Directed by Terence Fisher and starring the iconic Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Andrew Keir, Millennium’s Collector’s Edition of Dracula: Prince of Darkness marks the first time that horror fans in the Us will be able to enjoy the film on Blu-ray. Millennium is also planning to release several other Hammer Films on Blu-ray later this year including Quartermass and the Pit,...

Looking forward to Dracula: Prince of Darkness hitting Blu-ray here in the States for the first time? Then get ready to read on as we have everything you need to know about the upcoming release right here!

From the Press Release

Millennium Entertainment is pleased to reveal the final artwork and announce details for its upcoming high-definition release of the classic 1966 Hammer film Dracula: Prince of Darkness on September 3rd. Directed by Terence Fisher and starring the iconic Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, and Andrew Keir, Millennium's Collector's Edition of Dracula: Prince of Darkness marks the first time that horror fans in the Us will be able to enjoy the film on Blu-ray. Millennium is also planning to release several other Hammer Films on Blu-ray later this year including Quartermass and the Pit, The Plague of the Zombies, and The Devil Rides Out.

Special features for the Collector's Edition Blu-Ray of...

Millennium Entertainment has revealed the special features and key art for the forthcoming release of Hammer’s classic Dracula: Prince Of Darkness, starring the immortal Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Andrew Keir. The 1966 film came from director Terrence Fisher, and will join your Blu-Ray collection on September 3rd. You can pre-order it from Amazon for just $19.99 today.

Here are the special features:

Audio commentary with Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Suzan Farmer and Francis Matthews Exclusive still gallery (Never Before Released!) Restored original trailer Dracula: Prince of Darkness restoration comparison Super 8Mm behind-the-scenes footage Brand new documentary- “Back to Black” World of Hammer Episode: “Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee” Printed Memorabilia perfect for every classic Hammer fan out there...

For the first time, Hammer's classic Dracula: Prince of Darkness is coming to blu-ray in the United States, thanks to Millenium Entertainment. A direct sequel to the famed horror studio's Dracula, Dracula: Prince of Darkness stars Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Suzan Farmer, and Francis Matthews. 

In addition to a completely remastered film, Millenium is including a slew of special features:

 

Audio commentary with Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Suzan Farmer and Francis Matthews

Exclusive still gallery (Never Before Released!)

Restored original trailer

Dracula: Prince of Darkness restoration comparison

Super 8Mm behind-the-scenes footage

Brand new documentary- "Back to Black"

World of Hammer Episode: "Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee"

Printed Memorabilia perfect for every classic Hammer fan

In this direct sequel to Hammer's Dracula (1958), Christopher Lee returns for more blood as he encounters a group of stranded English tourists who are holidaying in the Carpathian Mountains. Despite receiving several warnings by the unconventional Father...

Last month, we gave you early word that Millennium Entertainment was planning to release Dracula: Prince of Darkness on Blu-ray this September. We now have official release details, a list of bonus features, and new cover art.

“Beverly Hills, CA– (July 3, 2013) Millennium Entertainment is pleased to reveal the final artwork and announce details for their upcoming high-definition release of the classic 1966 Hammer Film, Dracula: Prince of Darkness on September 3rd. Directed by Terence Fisher and starring the iconic Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Andrew Keir, Millennium’s Collector’s Edition of Dracula: Prince of Darkness marks the first time that horror fans in the Us will be able to enjoy the film on Blu-ray. Millennium is also planning to release several other Hammer Films on Blu-ray later this year including Quartermass and the Pit, The Plague of the Zombies and The Devil Rides Out.

Special features for the Collector’s...

We've known for a bit that efforts were being made to remaster some of Hammer Film's library for Blu-ray.  Now, we're seeing the fruits of those labors here in the U.S.

Millennium Entertainment has revealed the final artwork and details for their upcoming high-definition release of the classic 1966 Hammer Film, Dracula: Prince of Darkness on September 3rd.

Directed by Terence Fisher and starring the iconic Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley and Andrew Keir, Millennium's Collector's Edition of Dracula: Prince of Darkness marks the first time that horror fans in the Us will be able to enjoy the film on Blu-ray. 

Read more...

Gonna be one hell of a haunt season. A bevy of “must own” discs are heading our way and here’s another one to add to that list. The Hammer classic Dracula: Prince Of Darkness.

Originally release in 1966 and starring Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, and Andrew Keir the Blu-ray will be hitting shelves here on Sept. 3rd.

Synopsis:

For many years after becoming one of the definitive movie Draculas in the 1958 Hammer Films … Continue reading →...

A good argument can be made that Christopher Lee's interpretation of Count Dracula is among some of cinema's finest. The man just commands a room and still does to this very day. That's why we're thrilled that Dracula: Prince of Darkness is on its way to Blu-ray here in the States for the first time!

According to Blu-ray.com Millennium Entertainment will release a Collector's Edition of director Terence Fisher's classic horror film Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966), starring Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, and Andrew Keir. The release will be available for purchase on September 3rd.

Synopsis:

For many years after becoming one of the definitive movie Draculas in the 1958 Hammer Films classic Horror of Dracula (in which he was pitted against Peter Cushing as Dr. Van Helsing), Christopher Lee refused to reprise his role as filmdom's most infamous vampire. He finally returned to the role in this belated sequel,...

Millennium Entertainment recently sealed a deal to bring Hammer titles to the Us and Dracula: Prince of Darkness is the first title to be released on Blu-ray. At this time, the only Us-specific news we have is that the movie will be released on September 3rd, but we should have a full press release from Millennium shortly. Because the release is coming straight from Hammer, we believe it will mirror the UK release and here’s a look at that version’s bonus features, transfer, and cover art:

“In this sequel to Dracula (1958), four English tourists are holidaying in the Carpathians when they meet the unconventional Father Sandor (Andrew Keir) at an inn. He warns them to avoid the local castle if they value their lives, but the next day the quartet find themselves stranded in the mountains after their driver abandons them. When a driverless carriage arrives they board it,...

They Came From Beyond Space

Stars: Robert Hutton, Jennifer Jayne, Zia Mohyeddin, Bernard Kay, Michael Gough, Geoffrey Wallace | Written by Milton Subotsky | Directed by Freddie Francis

Amicus has a history of horror and fantasy, be it their famous anthologies or the Doug McClure adventures with dinosaurs and beautiful women. They Came From Beyond Space brings a change to this, being a cross between Quatermass and The Avengers (the Steed and Emma Peel variety), with its storyline very similar to Invasion of the Body Snatchers but much more eccentric, in a way that manages to make it quite unique especially from Amicus.

When a group of meteorites fall into a farm field in rural England Doctor Curtis Temple sends a group of scientists to look into them, one of these being his assistant and girlfriend Lee Mason. When he loses contact with the scientists he decides to take a trip to...

The Amazing Spider-Man (12A)

(Marc Webb, 2012, Us) James Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary. 136 mins

New, improved-formula Spider-Man: does whatever last decade's Spider-Man couldn't! The world was hardly screaming out for a rejigged "origins" story, but this at least gives you less comic-book primary colour and more teen-drama shading. Plus better special effects, although the rooftop monster-battle climax feels same-old. Yes, it's a brazenly commercial exercise, but Garfield's limber geekiness tips the balance.

God Bless America (15)

(Bobcat Goldthwait, 2011, Us) Joel Murray, Tara Lynne Barr, Mackenzie Brooke Smith. 105 mins

American media idiocy literally comes under fire in this outlandish Falling Down-meets-Natural Born Killers shooting spree.

The Hunter (15)

(Daniel Nettheim, 2011, Aus) Willem Dafoe, Frances O'Connor, Sam Neill. 102 mins

Dafoe's craggy gravitas dominates this scenic tale of a hunt for the extinct (or is it?) Tasmanian Tiger.

Strawberry Fields (15)

(Frances Lea, 2012, UK) Anna Madeley, Christine Bottomley.

As predicted last week, Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter didn’t last long at the top of the Box Office and dropped down to sixth place in its second week with Prometheus being the main beneficiary as it moved back up into second spot.

“But Rob, what was in first place?” I hear you all cry. Well dear readers, it’s a little animated number called Ice Age 4: Continental Drift. “But wait, you didn’t include that film in your comprehensive cinema guide last week!” I hear you splutter in shock. You are right there folks and that’s because Ice Age 4 : Continental Drift doesn’t open in England and Wales until the 13th July, but it has already opened in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Sales in those areas alone were enough to send it to the top of the cinematic pile, but as a result, Continental Drift...

Whether they’re male or female, old or young, they’ve illuminated some classic movies. Here’s our top 50 list of sci-fi heroes and heroines…

On the face of it, compiling a list of truly great sci-fi protagonists should be easy. Pick a load of familiar names from a hat, write some breathlessly adoring drivel beneath them, and head off to the pub to reward a job well done.

Except it was never going to be as simple as that – and compiling lists seldom is. For every character making an appearance in the list below, there were at least two other possible candidates who didn't quite make the cut. Some sci-fi heroes were removed, then quickly reinstated. The order was jiggled around, then reordered again.

At one point, your humble writer realised there were more than 50 entries, and then had the unenviable task of hunting back through to decide which poor soul to eliminate.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Although he entered the literary world and, gradually, the public consciousness in the 19th century, Count Dracula is as important and iconic a 20th century character as almost any other. The Dracula story has been told so often in film and every other conceivable medium that seeing a new version is like hearing a cover of a familiar song; perhaps over-familiar, given the relative dearth of recent adaptations. That he is so easily mocked is further evidence of this; common points of reference are easy targets, a fact that took its toll, in some way, on both Bela Lugosi and Christopher Lee. Lugosi only actually played the character twice onscreen, but when he returned to the role on stage late in his career the once-terrified audiences rocked with laughter. Lee too seems to have had a love-hate relationship with his most famous role.

As it is,...

Dracula: Prince Of Darkness

Stars: Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Andrew Keir, Francis Matthews, Suzan Farmer | Written by Jimmy Sangster | Directed by Terence Fisher

With Hammer firmly on the comeback trail following the success of The Woman in Black, the company have gone back into the vaults to restore and remaster some of the classic movies from their past before unleashing them on today’s audience vis the medium of Blu-ray. The first Hammer Horror classic out of the gate is one of the studios most famous, Dracula: Prince of Darkness.

Starring Hammer stalwart Christopher Lee as the eponymous villain, Dracula: Prince of Darkness is the first sequel to Hammer’s original Dracula and picks up the story ten years after Dracula’s death at the hands of Peter Cushing Van Helsing (a death recapped in the opening sequence of the film). Released in 1966, this time round our hero is Andrew Keir...

Studiocanal are pleased to announce the fully restored HD release of iconic Hammer classic, Dracula Prince Of Darkness. The first in an ongoing collaboration with Hammer to restore and re-release some of the most celebrated titles from their extensive library, Dracula Prince Of Darkness will be released on double play March 7th. We have three copies to gives away!

Over the course of 2012 the project will see subsequent remastered HD releases of The Reptile and The Plague Of Zombies in May, and The Devil Rides Out, Rasputin The Mad Monk and The Mummy’S Shroud later in the year in a continuation of Studiocanal’s commitment to investing and restoring the best of British Cinema. Preceding the Home Entertainment release fans will be delighted to know the restored version of Dracula Prince Of Darkness will screen alongside The Reptile And The Plague Of Zombies at a special Frightfest Extra event...

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

It’s the quintessential Hollywood historic epic, full of over the top grandeur, decadence and glamour: and the perfect choice for a Blu-ray release! Available today, read on for our review…

Elizabeth Taylor stars as Cleopatra, the glamorous and cunning queen of Egypt in this sweeping historical epic. To secure her hold on power, she seduces the ruler of Rome, Julius Caesar (Rex Harrison) and uses her influence to increase Egypt’s power. As Caesar’s bride she is ruler of a grand empire, but after her husband’s murder at the hands of his own Senate, the Queen of the Nile meets her match in Mark Anthony (Richard Burton), Caesar’s devout ally. Their passionate romance could now decide the fate of the world’s greatest empire…

Last year I contributed to WhatCulture! a feature listing ten films worthy of a Blu-ray release that were not yet on Blu-ray.

Quatermass and the Pit is the second Hammer film to find its way on to a Blu-ray release. It’s perhaps not the most obvious choice as a contender for an upgrade, but Roy Ward Baker’s excellently tense sci fi/horror looks and sounds fantastic! Released today, our review follows…

During excavations in London a large unidentified object is unearthed. It defies definition although the area has always been associates with diabolical evil. Within its walls Professor Quatermass discovers the remains of intelligent alien creatures that attempted to conquer the Earth in prehistoric times and, through their experiments on early man, altered human evolution to its present state. Though dormant for many centuries, the excavations threaten to unleash the terrifying force of the aliens upon mankind once again…

Quatermass and the Pit was the third episode in Hammer’s series of films based on Nigel Kneale’s fictional scientist.

A classic of British sci-fi makes its Blu-ray debut today. Here’s exactly why you should settle down to watch Quatermass And The Pit…

There are some stories that, despite the ravages of time, continue to resonate down the decades. Quatermass And The Pit is one such example, and perhaps the finest British sci-fi movie ever made.

Already a hit television series in the 1950s, a time when the adventures of Professor Bernard Quatermass were enormously popular, Quatermass And The Pit’s script spent several years in limbo. Other stories featuring the professor had been adapted for the big screen before (these were 1955’s The Quatermass Xperiment, released in the Us as The Creeping Unknown, and Quatermass 2, retitled Enemy From Space), but a lack of interest from American financiers meant that Nigel Kneale’s Pit script sat around unfilmed for six years.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the wait was worth it.

Studio Canal UK are re-releasing the classic British sci-fi movie Quatermass and the Pit on Blu-ray on Monday. The third in the trilogy of films based on Nigel Kneale’s seminal Quatermass series, the film was made by Hammer Studios in 1967. Directed by stalwart Roy Ward Baker the film stars Andrew Keir as the titular scientist who battles evil alien forces that threaten to take over the world, alongside James Donald, Barbara Shelley and Julian Glover.

During excavations in London a large unidentified object is unearthed. It defies definition although the area has always been associated with diabolical evil. Within its walls Professor Quatermass discovers the remains of intelligent alien creatures that attempted to conquer the Earth in prehistoric times and, through their experiments on early man, altered human evolution to its present state. Though dormant for many centuries, the excavations threaten to unleash the terrifying force of the aliens upon mankind once again…...

As our second annual 31 Days of Horror spectacle is now well and truly underway, check out WhatCulture!’s ten best Hammer Horror picks!

They were one of Britain’s most successful film studios throughout their heyday from the late 1950s to mid 1970s and within that time they produced some of the most memorable horror films ever to be made here. After disbanding in the late 1970s, after a slew of commercial flops, today Hammer Picture Productions is a fully-fledged, working company once again. With their production of The Woman in Black, starring Daniel Radcliffe, eagerly awaited in cinemas next year and in celebration of our 31 Days of Horror spectacular, it’s time to get nostalgic and remember the 10 Best Hammer Horrors! So dim the lights, grab a cushion…you’re in for some sheer terror!!

10. Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971)

This has to be one of Hammer’s greatest films from the advertising campaign alone!

In late 1960s London, workers are digging at Hobbs Lane station, in order to extend the London Underground. They suddenly come across ape-like fossils that are unlike any seen before, along with what is initially believed to be an unexploded WWII bomb, but turns out instead to be some sort of missile or space craft of unknown origin, substance and purpose. As the military, the government and the scientific community try to probe it and make sense of it, an astonishing discovery is made about the origin of the craft and its implications for the development of intelligent life on Earth.

*****

Quatermass and the Pit is a Hammer production, though it does not wear its horror credentials on its sleeve as starkly as other productions of the same period. As is justly testified by Kim Newman in one of the many erudite and informative interviews that make up the bulk...

The third in the trilogy of films based on Nigel Kneale’s seminal Quatermass series, Quatermass & the Pit - released on Blu-ray by Studio Canal UK on October 10th – was made by Hammer Studios in 1967. Directed by stalwart Roy Ward Baker and starring Andrew Keir as the titular scientist who battles evil alien forces that threaten to take over the world, the film also stars James Donald, Barbara Shelley and Julian Glover.

During excavations in London a large unidentified object is unearthed. It defies definition although the area has always been associated with diabolical evil. Within its walls Professor Quatermass discovers the remains of intelligent alien creatures that attempted to conquer the Earth in prehistoric times and, through their experiments on early man, altered human evolution to its present state. Though dormant for many centuries, the excavations threaten to unleash the terrifying force of the aliens upon mankind once again…...

Voluptuous vampire vixens, high society diabolists, meandering mouldy mummies, rapacious reptiles, and zillions of zombies… Sound like fun? Well the new Hammer Horror Halloween season on Horror channel will be most definitely for you then! Showing on the channel from October 1st to October 31st, the Hammer season is introduced by author, broadcaster and critic Kim Newman.

The line-up includes:

Sat Oct 1st | 23:10 | Scars of Dracula (1970)

Christopher Lee’s fifth Dracula picture and was directed by Roy Ward Baker who was determined to do it in as gory a style as possible. The film’s greatest innovation, however, was to present a surprisingly verbose Count as Lee had been given very little dialogue in the previous Dracula movies, Bereft of an American pre-sale, Scars of Dracula and its support feature, The Horror of Frankenstein, were both produced on relatively low budgets

Sat Oct 8 | 23:10 |

Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) One of...

With the much anticipated release of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in theatres today, WhatCulture! were challenged with coming up with our 10 best British ensemble casts. With Tinker’s all star British cast – including the likes of Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Tom Hardy, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch – it was a bloody hard challenge to come up with ten that could even come close to rivalling such a solid cast!

Read on to discover what we came up with!

10. Gosford Park (2001)

The murder mystery genre is always one that employs a vast and impressive ensemble cast and Gosford Park is a prime example of how effective a film can be when this is done proficiently. A range of talented British stars fill the screen, disclosing the everyday workings of a 1930s mansion house from the privileged inhabitants and their wealthy guests, right down to the most invisible of servants.