Biblical-Roman-Egyptian epics not yet on Blu-ray (3 Viewers)

[Vahan_Nisanain]

A few people in this thread (including Robin9) mentioned Belinda Lee. She made some Biblical-Roman-Egyptian epics in Italy, during the final years of her career: 1959's Messalina, and 1960's Constantine the Great and Joseph Sold by His Brothers were among the last films she ever made.


Now keep in mind that I only started hearing about her recently, and I am also in my late 20's. But from what I know about Belinda Lee, she was a British Actress of the 1950's, who was fairly popular in her native Britain. She also had a lovely and elegant voice that was, unfortunately, never heard again in any her post-British films. During her original career in Britain, she was tied to Rank Organisation/Pinewood, the most prestigious film studio there. But then in Winter 1958, during the filming of what turned out to be her last British picture, Nor the Moon by Night, she had an affair with an Italian Playboy named Filippo Orsini. This incident caused her to be disgraced from the UK, and she moved to Europe.


Over the next three years, from the Fall 1958 filming of This Body as Desired, to the Fall 1960 filming of Joseph Sold by His Brothers, she made over a dozen European films; most of them were Italian-made. During this time, she changed boyfriends a few times, before she eventually ended up with filmmaker Gualtiero Jacopetti, who was known for Mondo Cane.


In March 1961, Lee and Jacopetti were vacationing in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he was doing filming for Mondo Cane. On the night of the 12th, the two of them, along with Jacopetti's film crew, decided to drive down to Los Angeles for some filming there. Only Miss Lee refused to wear a seat belt during the drive.


Miss Lee's grave mistake cost her her life. She was only 25.

 

[GlennF]

First, ditto on the Taras Bulba. I was really keen to buy this and then when I heard about the mono sound I gave it a pass.


As for biblical epics....I am going out on a totally different limb...


I would like to see Prince of Egypt in blu-ray. It may be animated, but there are some cool sequences, especially the parting of the Red Sea.

 

[davidmatychuk]

Well, The Egyptian sold out, although Demetrius and the Gladiators hasn't still (maybe it has to do more with the not so good transfer of this specific film).

And at $35 a pop. One of the only ones at that price that did.

You could buy them both for the $70 I paid back in the 90's for "The Egyptian" on laserdisc. I think the full-frame VHS tapes for both titles were $30 each. So these things are all relative, as my Mom the Biblical Epic Nut would have said.

 

[Konstantinos]

I would like to see Prince of Egypt in blu-ray. It may be animated, but there are some cool sequences, especially the parting of the Red Sea.

Of course that too!

A Great animation film!

I could do without the comic relief characters though...

 

[Robin9]

During her original career in Britain, she was tied to Rank Organisation/Pinewood, the most prestigious film studio there. But then in Winter 1958, during the filming of what turned out to be her last British picture, Nor the Moon by Night, she had an affair with an Italian Playboy named Filippo Orsini. This incident caused her to be disgraced from the UK, and she moved to Europe.

Not quite. After completing Dangerous Exile, Belinda Lee went to Rome to play the lead in La Venera Di Cheronea. While making the film she met Count Filippo Orsini whose prestigious family had close connections with The Vatican. Both Belinda and Orsini were married so their affair, in the mid-1950s remember, was regarded as scandalous. Belinda returned to London to make Nor The Moon By Night (aka Elephant Gun) opposite a young Patrick McGoohan. With that film completed, Rank and Belinda parted company. I don't believe it has ever been established if Rank fired her or if they agreed to separate amicably. What is certain is Belinda's career in her own country terminated then and she worked abroad until her tragic death.

 

[Konstantinos]

Correct me if I am wrong, but are any of Steve Reeves' Hercules films on Blu-Ray here in the States?

They aren't available anywhere at all.

I would be interested in these and other italian sword and sandal by Cinecitta studios, but it doesn't seem much hopeful.


though there are already 2 released:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Le-Gladiatrici-Blu-ray/65015/

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Anthar-linvincibile-Blu-ray/68961/

 

[Vahan_Nisanain]

Not quite. After completing Dangerous Exile, Belinda Lee went to Rome to play the lead in La Venera Di Cheronea. While making the film she met Count Filippo Orsini whose prestigious family had close connections with The Vatican. Both Belinda and Orsini were married so their affair, in the mid-1950s remember, was regarded as scandalous. Belinda returned to London to make Nor The Moon By Night (aka Elephant Gun) opposite a young Patrick McGoohan. With that film completed, Rank and Belinda parted company. I don't believe it has ever been established if Rank fired her or if they agreed to separate amicably. What is certain is Belinda's career in her own country terminated then and she worked abroad until her tragic death.

And I read that during the filming of a certain picture in April 1957, her hair got caught on fire. It has never been established, but the picture in question may very well have been Dangerous Exile, which also starred Louis Jourdan.

 

[Ed Lachmann]

They aren't available anywhere at all.

I would be interested in these and other italian sword and sandal by Cinecitta studios, but it doesn't seem much hopeful.


though there are already 2 released:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Le-Gladiatrici-Blu-ray/65015/

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Anthar-linvincibile-Blu-ray/68961/

Damn it! They didn't include English subs for Anthar! I will be buying Le Gladiatrici, however, and DaaVeeDee has it here in the U.S.

 

[Konstantinos]

Has anyone seen Androcles and the Lion (1952)?

I don't like comedies so much especially mixed with Biblical themes, so i have avoided it..

 

[Matt Hough]

Has anyone seen Androcles and the Lion (1952)?

I don't like comedies so much especially mixed with Biblical themes, so i have avoided it..

I reviewed the film on DVD as part of Criterion's George Bernard Shaw on Film set five years ago.


That review is here.

 

[cinerama10]

I love the films already mentioned and ALL are at the top of my "most wanted" list. Keep hope alive for Kawalerowicz's Faroan which was recently restored and can be previewed at . It was listed as "soon to be released" at http://bluedvd.pl/category/filmy-blu-ray-filmy-polskie, a Paypal friendly Polish DVD store, for some time but the pre-order was recently pulled, which seems to suggest that we will see it made available in the very near future. Happily, all the BDs I've bought from that releasing company have an English subtitles option.

Still not available on this Polish site

 

[AlanP]

"Solomon And Sheba"1959

 

[Professor Echo]

Anyone who loves these epics should not pass up the region free German Blu of Lubitsch's spectacular "Das Weib des Pharao" (The Wife Of The Pharaoh/The Loves Of Pharaoh). The Blu is glorious.

 

[Konstantinos]

"Solomon And Sheba"1959

Yes, this is coming from TT in 2 months I think.

 

[cinerama10]

Yes, this is coming from TT in 2 months I think.

It was great when I saw it in 70mm .Surprisingly it stands up well when viewed today.

 

[Konstantinos]

It was great when I saw it in 70mm .Surprisingly it stands up well when viewed today.

I would hope it has a restoration like Samson and Delilah but I doubt it..

 

[OliverK]

I would hope it has a restoration like Samson and Delilah but I doubt it..

It doesn't. It should look decent though judging by what was aired on MGM HD.

 

[Quatermass II]

I wrote an article about THE BIG FISHERMAN a few years ago. Anyone who cares to read it can find it here http://widescreenmovies.org/Highlights/epic.htm

I saw it on its original release (in 35mm) but then it vanished from sight - it's never been shown on TV here in the UK as far as I know. I have a really crappy bootleg VHS version that doesn't do it any favours. Wouldn't mind seeing a decent restoration, though. As a previous post suggests, Disney should be ashamed.

 

[bujaki]

I, too, saw The Big Fisherman in 35mm during its original release. I was a lover of such epics as a child, but found this one to be a crashing bore. It deserves to be restored and seen by a new generation if only to assess a late Borzage work.

And like you, John, I barely remember anything about it.

 

[Alan Tully]

Yup, I can just about remember enjoying The Story Of Ruth in the cinema all those years ago, then I finally got around to buying the DVD...& oh what a crushing bore!