Erik the Conqueror (1961) - Italian Peplum from Arrow! (1 Viewer)

[Konstantinos]

I thought to start this thread here, because I was very happy that one of my favourite genres that we have refered to here a few times, gets - what I think is - the first release on Bluray with English subtitles!
(correct me if I'm wrong but i don't remember any other bluray release of italian peplum films with subtitles)

In 1961, director Mario Bava (Rabid Dogs, Kill Baby Kill) turned his hand to the historical adventure genre, capitalising on the recent success of 1958’s Kirk Douglas vehicle The Vikings. The result was a colourful, swashbuckling epic of treachery, heroism and forbidden love: Erik the Conqueror.

In 786 AD, the invading Viking forces are repelled from the shores of England, leaving behind a young boy – Erik, son of the slain Viking king. Years later, Erik (George Ardisson, Juliet of the Spirits), raised by the English queen as her own, becomes Duke of Helford, while across the sea, his brother Eron (Cameron Mitchell, Blood and Black Lace) assumes leadership of the Viking horde and sets his sights on conquering England once again, setting the two estranged brothers on a collision course that will determine the fates of their respective kingdoms…

Featuring a bombastic score by frequent collaborator Roberto Nicolosi (Black Sunday) and memorably co-starring the stunning Kessler twins (Sodom and Gomorrah), Erik the Conqueror showcases Bava’s immense talent for creating awe-inspiring spectacle with limited resources. Now restored in high definition for the first time, Arrow Video is proud to present this cult classic in all its original splendour.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
• Original Italian and English mono audio (lossless on the Blu-ray Disc)
• Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
• New audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava – All the Colors of the Dark
• Gli imitatori, a comparison between Erik the Conqueror and its unacknowledged source, The Vikings • Original ending
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Kat Ellinger


The bluray will be available both in UK and USA.
I guess this gets released due to Mario Bava (so maybe we'll see Hercules in the Haunted world, or even Giant of Marathon, although he's uncredited there)
If you care for more peplum films, please show your love in Arrow's post about the film:
https://www.facebook.com/ArrowVideo/posts/1555846221116033:0

Trailer:

 

[madfloyd]

I received this and watched it today. While the film was obviously cleaned up and colors are good, detail was poor - It almost looked like a DVD (at least on a large screen).

The movie was amateurish overall but admittedly I enjoyed the story so I watched it in its entirety.

 

[Robin9]

I received this and watched it today. While the film was obviously cleaned up and colors are good, detail was poor - It almost looked like a DVD (at least on a large screen).

The movie was amateurish overall but admittedly I enjoyed the story so I watched it in its entirety.

Thanks for the warning. I do like peplum when it's done properly which didn't happen very often. I have no time for badly done peplum.

 

[Konstantinos]

detail was poor - It almost looked like a DVD (at least on a large screen).

I strongly disagree.
I watched this film too, though on a small screen, 24'', and I was sitting in front.
But seeing the screenshots too from this review:
http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film6/blu-ray_reviews_77/erik_the_conqueror_blu-ray.htm

it hardly looks like DVD.
I found the detail and grain outstanding!
(I agree with the Beaver's review)

If only many releases of catalogue films from major studios looked like this!
It was indeed gorgeous.

 

[skylark68]

I thought the film looked beautiful. The colors were very vibrant, grain was perfect, a far cry from the crummy 50 films on DVD peplum that I am used to. I am watching on an old Oppo BDP-83 through a likewise old Sony Bravia XBR46 (circa 2010). I completely recommend this release to anyone interested in these films. Now, I just hope to see Hercules and Hercules Unchained in a proper blu ray release soon.

 

[OliverK]

Thanks for alerting us of this one - the caps on the giant rodent site show very good grain reproduction and vibrant colors that one does not find on a DVD. With good grain reproduction detail will follow - if it was captured by the camera in the first place which may be the problem here.

 

[skylark68]

giant rodent site

Thanks for the laugh. I needed that today.