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Horror Fans: Is DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (1973) on DVD? - Page 2

post #31 of 142
7/15/06 at 5:31am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Great thread...I remember this movie well.
I want to jump in and ask you guys if anyone remembers Frankenstein: The True Story? It was a four hour TV movie written by Christopher Isherwood (his life and short stories formed the basis for the musical "Cabaret") and starring Leonard Whiting (Romeo and Juliet) as Dr. F and Michael Sarrazin as the creature. It's really an amazing film with terrific special effects and an incredible cast: James Mason, John Gielgud, Agnes Moorehead, Ralph Richardson, Jane Seymour, etc.
Anyway, the four hour version is very rarely shown anywhere. I caught it on Sci-Fi many years ago and it has never been re-run since. It's another film from my childhood that scared me silly. A man has his arm sawed off and it comes back to life and crawls across the floor. A woman has her head ripped off at a formal dance. Lots of creepy moments. And I love the fact that the "creature" begins his second life as a beautiful, cultured man until his flesh begins to rot and decay.
I would LOVE to see this on DVD. I contacted Tim Lucas at Video Watchdog to inquire who owns the rights and he told me to contact Universal. But I'm sure this is so far off their radar.
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post #32 of 142
7/15/06 at 5:43am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Another great macabre movie from that era that I'd like to see on DVD is DR COOK'S GARDEN with Bing Crosby as small town doctor who "weeds out" undesirable residents.
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post #33 of 142
7/15/06 at 6:47am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Frankenstein: The True Story was excellent, and if I remember, James Mason, John Gielgud were told that it was going to be a theatrical release, not made for TV.
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post #34 of 142
7/15/06 at 6:56am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

No offense meant to anyone , but i revived this thead to get interest in a dvd release of dont be afraid of the dark . It has turned into what horror movie you want to see released, lol !!!
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post #35 of 142
7/15/06 at 7:23am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

And you're surprised by this turn of events? Heheh.
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post #36 of 142
7/15/06 at 12:40pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Man, I remember Satan's Triangle and Trilogy of Terror. As a kid, I vaguely remember Satan's Triange as being scary as hell (no pun intended). Trilogy of Terror with Karen Black had it's moments and of course those little critters running around the kitchen with knives wanted to stab the hell out of Karen. Man, they don't make 'em like that anymore : )
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post #37 of 142
7/15/06 at 1:35pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Dont you mean little critter, instead of critters? I recall there was only 1 chasing her. Man, its going to be a treat seeing that dvd released at the end of this summer.
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post #38 of 142
7/15/06 at 9:27pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

yep one critter. in trilogy.
dont be afraid had critters.

btw someone over in tv section said the trilogy of terror demon doll appeared in a tv episode on the new stephen king anthology series the other day.
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post #39 of 142
7/16/06 at 5:23am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

I just read an older thread here at home theatre forum , where someone mentions dont be afraid of the dark is owned by warner bros, is this true ? Specifically it was in a thead titled abc movie of the week.I wonder if warner bros even knows their is a decent demand for the dvd.
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post #40 of 142
7/16/06 at 7:01am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

It could be a good sign if the movie is owned by Warners. They won't have much left in terms of horror product after their Halloween stuff comes out this year, so perhaps they will turn to their TV movies.
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post #41 of 142
7/17/06 at 11:08am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Yeah, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (1973) is currently owned by Warner Bros, due to it being a Lorimar release. However, apparently WB's catalog movie division, which has given us so much over the last few years, can't release it themselves, since the old TV-movies the company controls belong to WB's separate TV-on-DVD division. This info came out in one of the threads in this forum's "Home Theater Software - TV Shows and TV Movies" section, around the time of the last big HTF chat with George Feltenstein & co.
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post #42 of 142
7/17/06 at 2:49pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter M Fitzgerald
Yeah, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK (1973) is currently owned by Warner Bros, due to it being a Lorimar release. However, apparently WB's catalog movie division, which has given us so much over the last few years, can't release it themselves, since the old TV-movies the company controls belong to WB's separate TV-on-DVD division. This info came out in one of the threads in this forum's "Home Theater Software - TV Shows and TV Movies" section, around the time of the last big HTF chat with George Feltenstein & co.

Well, that's less than good news. As great as WB's film division is at getting out high quality titles, their TV-on-DVD division is inept to an inversally proportional degree.

In other words, we can probably look forward to finally seeing DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK on DVD in some kind of 100th Anniversary Special Edition (right around the year 2074 or so).
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post #43 of 142
7/19/06 at 10:37am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bradley Newton
Great thread...I remember this movie well.
I want to jump in and ask you guys if anyone remembers Frankenstein: The True Story? It was a four hour TV movie written by Christopher Isherwood (his life and short stories formed the basis for the musical "Cabaret") and starring Leonard Whiting (Romeo and Juliet) as Dr. F and Michael Sarrazin as the creature. It's really an amazing film with terrific special effects and an incredible cast: James Mason, John Gielgud, Agnes Moorehead, Ralph Richardson, Jane Seymour, etc.
Anyway, the four hour version is very rarely shown anywhere. I caught it on Sci-Fi many years ago and it has never been re-run since. It's another film from my childhood that scared me silly. A man has his arm sawed off and it comes back to life and crawls across the floor. A woman has her head ripped off at a formal dance. Lots of creepy moments. And I love the fact that the "creature" begins his second life as a beautiful, cultured man until his flesh begins to rot and decay.
I would LOVE to see this on DVD. I contacted Tim Lucas at Video Watchdog to inquire who owns the rights and he told me to contact Universal. But I'm sure this is so far off their radar.

Bradley, here is some news that you might find VERY pleasing...

According to DVD Times:

"Universal Studios Home Video have announced the Region 1 DVD release of Frankenstein: The True Story for 26th September 2006 priced at $19.98 SRP. Released alongside the Frankenstein 75th Anniversary Edition is this 1973 TV movie starring James Mason, Leonard Whiting and Jane Seymour. At three-hours it’s touted as a more psychological telling of the Mary Shelley story which has a different kind of monster...

Presented in 1.33:1 Full Frame with English DD2.0 Mono and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, extras (if any) are TBC."

Source: http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=62205
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post #44 of 142
7/19/06 at 3:26pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Roy,

Holy Crap! You've just officially made my day. Thank you so very much for the info! I cannot believe it's being released. I want this, Shock Treatment (October), Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and eventually, someday, Lindsay Anderson's "if..." and I will be a happy, happy man.
Oh, hell, I already am a happy man, but thanks again for the terrific news about a Halloween favorite!
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post #45 of 142
7/20/06 at 2:59pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

What about "DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW"? Any news on that coming to DVD?
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post #46 of 142
7/20/06 at 9:08pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

I bring up Frankenstein: The True Story, and then i read it is coming to DVD September. I must have the touch?
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post #47 of 142
7/28/06 at 8:58pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark is now available in Japan on DVD double-featured with 1972's Gargoyles
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post #48 of 142
7/28/06 at 10:33pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

There's also another company that owns rights into the film, which could be another reason this won't see the light of day anytime soon in this country. There was a smaller horror company that looked into buying the rights several years ago and they were told that Warner and this other company couldn't come to an agreement about a release and that was why the film was off the market for so long.
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post #49 of 142
7/29/06 at 8:46am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony Richards
Wasn't The Night Stalker on DVD at one time?

It sitll is. I just picked up the double-feature disc with the sequel, The Night Strangler from Deep Discount for about $10.

Regards,

Joe
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post #50 of 142
7/29/06 at 7:27pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Anyone remember The Norliss Tapes with Roy Thinnes? Something about a making a statue of a demon out of clay mixed with blood. That one creeped the crap out of me. 'Course when I saw it many years later it was nowhere near as scary.
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post #51 of 142
7/29/06 at 8:12pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Quote:
Anyone remember The Norliss Tapes with Roy Thinnes?

Yeah, I remember kinda liking it when I first saw it, but at the same time being annoyed by it. It seemed so obviously a rip-off of The Night Stalker. Fred Mustard Stewart (The Mephisto Waltz) is credited with the story and William F. Nolan (Trilogy of Terror) the screenplay, so maybe I'm not being fair to them - or maybe Curtis had Nolan tailor the material to more closely match his previous success. (People forget that The Night Stalker was the highest-rated TV movie in U.S. history up to that time, and it would hold that place for many years.)

Dan Curtis had bought Jeff Rice's unpublished novel, The Kolchak Tapes, for Richard Matheson to adapt to the screen. The conceit of a character in danger recording his account of some horrible event and then vanishing - leaving only the incomplete tapes - is taken directly from the original Jeff Rice story.

Rice's book was published as a paperback original after the success of the film. Ironically he also wrote the novelization of The Night Strangler which was based on Richard Matheson's original screenplay for the sequel to the first film. So there was an interesting game of literary ping-pong between the two.

I can't remember that last time I saw the film, and what I do recall is hazy. I'd be interested to see what I think of it now. I do know I was seriously creeped out when I did see it.

Regards,

Joe
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post #52 of 142
7/29/06 at 10:19pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

I'm surprised no one hasn't mentioned Crow Haven Farm and The House That Would'nt Die, which came out during the same time period. (The early to mid seventies). Good Stuff!
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post #53 of 142
8/3/06 at 9:02am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Looks like Anchor Bay will be releasing THE NORLISS TAPES (1973) on R1 DVD on Oct 3. Likely licensed to AB from Fox. I saw it listed on today's DVD PRICE SEARCH upcoming DVD list, and several e-tailers offer it for pre-order.
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post #54 of 142
8/3/06 at 12:42pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter M Fitzgerald
Looks like Anchor Bay will be releasing THE NORLISS TAPES (1973) on R1 DVD on Oct 3. Likely licensed to AB from Fox. I saw it listed on today's DVD PRICE SEARCH upcoming DVD list, and several e-tailers offer it for pre-order.

Sweet mary! That's awesome news! With Trilogy of Terror and Frankenstein: The True Story coming as well, it looks like the classic made for TV horror films are starting to see the light of day on DVD.

Add in the upcoming release of Let's Scare Jessica to Death, and we'll soon be able to have our very own marathon of creepy 70's horror classics.

Apparently this is some kind of magical thread. Someone just has to mention their favorite made for TV horror film from the 70's and a week later it is scheduled for release!
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post #55 of 142
8/4/06 at 8:50am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Wow, I was just thinking of The Norliss Tapes the other day when I started figuring out my October DVD list. Excellent news!
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post #56 of 142
8/4/06 at 9:03am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Lol ! I wish you guys would stop doing that, every time i see this thread updated im thinking , that its finally confirmation from warners that their releasing dont be afraid of the dark!
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post #57 of 142
8/4/06 at 10:14am

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Quote:
btw someone over in tv section said the trilogy of terror demon doll appeared in a tv episode on the new stephen king anthology series the other day.

The doll was visible in the first installment of Nightmares and Dreamscapes. The story featured William Hurt as an assassin-for-hire who kills the head of a toy company and later finds himself locked in mortal combat with a bunch of green army men made by the same company. Different set-up, but similar ultimate situation to that in Trilogy of Terror, where Karen Black likewise struggles with a tiny killer in the claustrophobic confines of a darkened appartment.

The King story that the teleplay was based ("Battleground") on predates thatTV movie, but he may have been influenced by the Richard Matheson story ("Prey") the Trilogy segment was based on and I'm sure he got a chuckle out of the fact that someone put the original devil doll (or a reproduction) on top of William Hurt's curio cabinet in Nightmares. (The person responsible may have been the screenwriter who adapted that episode - who just happens to be Richard Matheson's son, Richard Christian Matheson. )

Regards,

Joe
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post #58 of 142
8/4/06 at 1:10pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Where can I buy the Region 2 DVD of Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark?
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post #59 of 142
8/4/06 at 1:13pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Never mind! Found it here!
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post #60 of 142
8/4/06 at 1:56pm

Re: Horror Fans: Is this TV "classic" on DVD?

Is there any site where they sell the movie on its own, without gargoyles?
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