I just pulled out my DVD of Hammer’s PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVER last night and watched it through, finding it an eminently entertaining film with a very good transfer. Well-acted, great cast, nice music score, pleasant visuals, etc. And wow, Christopher Lee looks great in black! Tonight I will listen to the commentary track. I suspect that this and DEVIL SHIP PIRATES and a couple more of the adventure series will appear on a future Indicator box set. (I also suspect a future Hammer box from them will contain the sci-fi titles such as THESE ARE THE DAMNED…hope they can go beyond the Columbia titles and include X-THE UNKNOWN and QUATERMASS II, neither of which have been released on true 1080p Blu-ray anywhere in the world).
Most Hammer fans do not think of the adventure/oriental thriller (TERROR OF THE TONGS, STRANGLERS OF BOMBAY) films to be on the same level as its horror titles, but some of them certainly rival many of the 70’s horror titles. The suspense box that includes CASH ON DEMAND, NEVER GIVE SWEETS TO A STRANGER, etc. has some terrific stuff as well. Time to begin re-evaluating the non-horror Hammer titles! Indicator will help fill in the gaps, perhaps on region-free Blu’s, but domestically we may see some of this from Mill Creek.
Moving on, many of the Hammer’s that have been released on Region B-only Blu-rays in Europe (BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY’S TOMB, THE REPTILE, PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES, THE DEVIL RIDES OUT, SCARS OF DRACULA, etc.) are not yet released domestically. This need not be an issue if those who complain about it would simply invest in an inexpensive region-free player. I know it is a well-worn topic on HTF to try to convince region-locked collectors to make this small but important purchase, but it is so true…being region-free opens up a whole new world of available Blu-rays to all, including a generous number of Hammer films.
Even so, a few titles remain m.i.a. LUST FOR A VAMPIRE and the aforementioned QUATERMASS II and X-THE UNKNOWN (mistakenly thought to be true Blu-ray on a triple-bill with QUATERMASS XPERIMENT) are as yet unreleased anywhere on Blu worldwide. And, of course, Warner Bros. continues to sit on what might be improved transfers of CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE HORROR OF DRACULA. From the UK, FRANKENSTEIN is almost unwatchable for me — blurry to the point to showing nearly zero detail — and DRACULA, which I find OK after the first reel or two, although there is a bluish color balance — can both look better, and we look to WB to offer them.
So, although the last couple of years have brought out dozens of sought-after Hammer titles, which is great. But much remains undone, and it may be up to Indicator & Studiocanal to get these out.
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You know Pirates of Blood River was released by Twilight Time, right? Currently on sale for $19.95.
Oct. 16 Sword of Sherwood Forest …Twilight Time … Dec. 18 Dracula, Prince of Darkness …. Shout Factory
Indicator stated awhile back that they do not have the rights to Pirates of Blood River.
Oops. I will be ordering…
I happened to watch the BD of Pirates of Blood River last night. Go for it. It's quite luscious.
Still no sign of Quatermass and the Pit US?
Nope.
That’s the one I’ve been waiting for. Love that film.
http://dvddrive-in.com/features/lustforvampirecampaign18.htm
Campaign to get LUST FOR A VAMPIRE released on Blu-ray.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quatermass…r=1-1&keywords=quatermass+and+the+pit+blu+ray
I had my Sammy 8500K made region free to enjoy what I couldn't get here. The movie starts as if you're watching the DVD, but then turns into BD quality soon afterwards.
Just announced from Warner Archive: Dracula AD 1972 (new 2018 HD master) and Satanic Rites of Dracula (new 2018 HD master)
That first set of Hammer films from Warner on BD must have sold pretty badly for them not to include these in a second volume?
Warner stopped releasing catalog titles that are new-to-Blu through Warner Home Video altogether in 2016.
Correct I think it sold pretty well or we wouldn't have got these two plus When Dinosaurs ruled the Earth from WAC but WHV stopped releasing any catalog titles in 2016 as Brandon said.
Quatermass and the pit with the old BBC mini series included would be great.
That would be great, but they don’t have the rights.
But they DO have the rights to (HORROR) OF DRACULA (1958), and CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN. You wouldn't know it, though, would you?
Thanks WBArchive ! It's about time you released the last 2 Hammer Dracula films on Bluray ! I am still in Shock, and a Very Happy Hammer Fan today ! Can't wait to see both in HD ! : ) : ) : )
Guys, what movie is that from the top? The one where Christopher Lee is dressed in a brighter cape staring at the blonde girl.
James
If you mean the first post, that's Mike Raven and the film is Lust for a Vampire.
OCT.16 th Release date for Dracula A.D. & Satanic Rites ! Hammer Halloween 2018 !
This photo depicts Yutte Stensgaard from LUST OF A VAMPIRE, still unreleased anywhere in the world on Blu-ray. The vampire looking at her is not Christopher Lee. I believe it is Mike Raven as Count Karnstein.
Sorry. My mistake.
james