Warner, Hammer, and Christopher Lee (1 Viewer)

[Ben Motley]

I just realized that all of the remaining Hammer Chris Lee Dracula's still not on dvd are in Warner's tightly sealed vault. *sigh* Dates are for U.K. release. Some U.S releases were delayed, up to as much as over three years!
Dracula, a.k.a. Horror of Dracula, 1958 - Warner, unreleased on dvd
Dracula, Prince of Darkness, 1966 - on Anchor Bay dvd
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, 1968 - Warner, unreleased on dvd
Taste the Blood of Dracula, 1970 - Warner, unreleased on dvd
Scars of Dracula, 1970 - on Anchor Bay dvd
Dracula A.D. 1972, 1972 - Warner, unreleased on dvd
The Satanic Rites of Dracula, 1973 - on Anchor Bay dvd
Come on Warner, please either put these out, or license them to Anchor Bay. Pretty please??

 

[Jeff_A]

Ben,
The moment I saw the subject header for this thread I came running! Thank you so much for being such a strong advocate for HAMMER releases.
Considering all of the Hammer films yet to be released. It is the titles you have listed here that I desire the most - Christopher Lee, the one (and only) Dracula! Upon announcement, each and every one of these would be immediate pre-orders for me.

Come on Warner, please either put these out, or license them to Anchor Bay. Pretty please??

I would actually prefer they license to Anchor Bay. They have demonstrated great skill (and respect) for Hammer classics.

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The Dark Tower

 

[Jeff Swindoll]

Hey Ben,
I was hopeful when WB announced the Mummy. That the Hammer gates have finally broken at WB, however, it was all just to cash in on the Mummy Returns release. So dont expect Horror of Drac or Curse of Frankenstein (unless Universal decides to remake them soon).
Mummy is supposed to be anamorphic widescreen, but it could be Wonka-ed.
I thought I heard that the UK was getting Horror of Dracula on DVD??
Cheers.
PS..Another thought, with LOTR coming in December maybe some smart person will think of getting more Christopher Lee movies on DVD. However, I sure would like them to get the Anchor Bay treatment (commentaries, etc.)
PPS..AB's Scars of Dracula is one superb DVD, especially if you get the one with the bonus disc.
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Dear MGM : Quality over quantity & Consistency!
I didnt play Dungeons and Dragons all those years and not learn something about courage.
--Bernie Faulkner
[Edited last by Jeff Swindoll on August 08, 2001 at 12:07 PM]

 

[PhilipG]

Absolutely. Warner, if you don't want to bring out quality releases like you used to be known for, please license these great films to Anchor Bay.

 

[carl.k]

Great topic! Warner really has underestimated the appeal of these films. I already own the released dvds that Ben listed and wouldn't hesitate to purchase all the unreleased Hammer films Warner holds. If Warner chooses to release these themselves hopefully they will also include extras similar to those seen on many of the AB dvds such as the commentary tracks recorded by Christopher Lee and others.

 

[Derek M Germano]

In addition to making sure the film is in 16:9 enhanced wide screen, it would be nice if Warner included a Christopher Lee / Michael Gough commentary on a HORROR OF DRACULA DVD.
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Derek M. Germano
THE CINEMA LASER
DVD reviews, news and more...
www.thecinemalaser.com

 

[Wes Ray]

I love the old Hammer movies. Count me in.
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Help urge Fox to release Terror Train on DVD Uncut!
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/uub/.../003324.html#0

 

[Jim_K]

I'm in!!!!
C'mon Warner don't you want my $$$$$$$?

 

[John Fleming]

Warner,
Please put these on your release schedule soon or license them to Anchor Bay (who we know will treat these films with the respect they deserve). If you do decide to release them however, please don't insult Hammer film fans by doing a "hack job" on 'em. You folks are in the biz...you know by now what qualifies as a "quality release". Please...do it right, or don't do it at all - but don't sit on them when there are companies like Anchor Bay who'll do a good job. Thanks.
John

 

[Peter M Fitzgerald]

By all means, Warner, please follow the sage advice offered in this thread. HORROR OF DRACULA, in particular, should be Priority One, with a properly-restored anamorphic widescreen Technicolor print, the staking scene completely intact (unlike your first run of the LD a decade ago), and a Christopher Lee & Michael Gough commentary, at the very least.
Also, given the ongoing popularity of the JURASSIC PARK series, and the imminent release of JURASSIC PARK III on DVD this holiday shopping season, it would behoove you to pull Hammer's WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH (1969) out of storage (and perpetual airings on American Movie Classics), and present it uncut in anamorphic widescreen, unlike your long-ago LD release. TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA also has significant amount of footage cut, that still exists, and needs to be reinstated.
If, for whatever reason, such things don't fall into your DVD release plans, please license these, and your other Hammer films, to Anchor Bay, who have proven (over and over again) that they'd treat them with the proper respect.
[Edited last by Peter M Fitzgerald on August 09, 2001 at 12:12 PM]

 

[Steve Christou]

I'm in too, Hammer/Dracula/Christopher Lee, must have DVDs.

 

[Ben Motley]

Oh yes, indeed. I did not mention it at first, but Warner, we definitely want these uncut. Also, I didn't feel the need to originally ask for anamorphic, OAR transfers, as therse are not childrens titles and would presumeably not fall prey to your "Family Classics" treatment, but with recent events, maybe it is a good idea to reinforce the fact that we want these in anamorphic OAR as well as uncut. Your release of The Mummy will speak volumes about how you view the series. Please do right, and give us the uncut, OAR anamorphic transfer that we ask for on The Mummy, and all Hammer films in your vault.
Thank you.

 

[DeanKap]

I will gladly snap up "The Mummy" come October just as I would every Hammer film in Warners library. It took far too many years for them to spit out some of the titles on laserdisc so let's all politely ask Warners to release them soon.
I'd love to get the Lee Dracula films especially an uncut "Taste the Blood of Dracula".
[Edited last by DeanKap on August 09, 2001 at 01:15 AM]

 

[Jeff Swindoll]

The ending of Horror of Dracula still holds up today IMHO. I guess Big D could disentigrate more kewly with CGI, but I just love it when Peter Cushing dashes down the table and grabs the draperies

. Cheers.
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Dear MGM : Quality over quantity & Consistency!
I didnt play Dungeons and Dragons all those years and not learn something about courage.
--Bernie Faulkner

 

[Ben Motley]

That's a great finale Jeff! At least for now we can enjoy it in the flashback segment that opens Dracula, Prince of Darkness.