Hammer, Icon Film Distribution and Lionsgate Films have officially announced that they will release Terence Fisher's Gothic classic The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), fully restored in High Definition and for the first time in its original Academy ratio of 1.37:1. Street date is October 15th.
The 3-disc Double Play Edition will include 1 x Blu-ray and 2 x DVD packed full of brand new content. Featuring new documentaries and bonus extras, and including the infamous "eyeball" scene, which was originally banned but has now been fully restored.
Single 50GB Disc
HD Main Feature – Never before released "Academy" ratio 1.37:1 – 83 mins – DTS Master Audio 2.0
HD The Curse of Frankenstein (1.66:1 version) – alternate aspect ratio – 83 mins – DTS Master Audio 2.0
New audio commentary with Marcus Hearn & Jonathan Rigby
Frankenstein Reborn: The Making of a Hammer Classic (new & exclusive)
Life With Sir (new & exclusive Peter Cushing documentary)
Four Sided Triangle (bonus feature film) 80 mins
Tales of Frankenstein (bonus TV pilot) 25 mins
The Tale of Tales of Frankenstein (new & exclusive Ted Newsom documentary)
World Of Hammer: The Curse of Frankenstein 25 mins
Stills show
English HOH subtitles for Main Feature
DVD 1
Main Feature – Never before released "Academy" ratio 1.37:1 – 83 mins – DD 2.0 – English HOH subtitles
The Curse of Frankenstein (1.66:1 version) – alternate aspect ratio – 83mins - DD 2.0
New audio commentary with Marcus Hearn & Jonathan Rigby
DVD 2
Frankenstein Reborn: The Making of a Hammer Classic (new & exclusive)
Life With Sir (new & exclusive Peter Cushing documentary)
Four Sided Triangle (bonus feature film) 80 mins
Tales of Frankenstein (bonus TV pilot) 25 mins
The Tale of Tales of Frankenstein (new & exclusive Ted Newsom documentary)
World Of Hammer: The Curse of Frankenstein 25 mins
Stills show
PDF Original shooting script
PDF all-new booklet "The Creator's Spark: Hammer's Frankenstein Begins" with text by Hammer archivist Robert J. E. Simpson
Baron Victor Frankenstein is the archetypal aristocrat: well-read, cultured and arrogant. Beyond the sophisticated veneer exists a cruel, utterly unscrupulous man, obsessed with ambition. Determined to realise his greatest dream, to create life, he assembles a creature from organs gathered from various unwilling donors. The creature is successful brought to life but the instability of the brain, irretrievably damaged, causes uncontrollable and violent spasms that result in indiscriminate murder... and it is the Baron to whom the blame is laid, with fatal consequences.
The Curse of Frankenstein is a classic 1957 British horror film by Hammer Film Productions, based on the novel Frankenstein (1816) by Mary Shelley. It was Hammer's first colour horror film, and the first of their Frankenstein series. Its worldwide success led to several sequels as well as the studio's versions of Dracula (1958) and The Mummy (1959) and established "Hammer Horror" as a distinctive and uniquely British brand of Gothic cinema. The film was directed by Terence Fisher and starred Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in two of their most iconic roles.
Wow, just look at them extra features! Do we know if the eyeball scene will be included in the actual film or just as a deleted scene? This new ratio is interesting, I've always thought it was originally exhibited in 1.66. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can confirm that? Either way, the 1.66 version is included as well! What a package!
I hope they're not packing too much onto the single BD at the cost of visual fidelty. And are the PDF's located only on the DVD? That'd make it difficult to give away the DVD copies.
One of my all-time favorite movies; Lee's makeup really scared me when I first saw it as a kid! Now, let's get the same deluxe treatment for Horror of Dracula!!
If you read the Hammer blog it discusses the aspect ratio issue. Their view is 1.37 but they listened to the feedback on this and are including 1.66 as well.
The eye ball scene is restored back into the film as confirmed at the premier screening of the restored version last night.
WOW this year just keeps getting better all the time !!!! I hope Dracula, and the Mummy are comming soon also. can't wait !!!!!! uk blurays are the best !!! already have 4 Hammer region b 2 Blurays. Great quality !!!
Quite a package! Hey, there are plenty of carbon units on the other side of the pond who would be glad to part with some cash for a region 1 release. Hint. Hint.
