Kino Lorber Marches in the Classic Horror!
Words alone cannot express our admiration for Kino Lorber and their commitment to bring some of Hollywood’s lost horror films to the forefront on Blu-ray! The batch they have lined up for March has us giddy!
THE SKULL (1965)
Blu-ray & DVD Street Date: March 14, 2017
Director: Freddie Francis
Starring: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Nigel Green, Patrick Wymark, Jill Bennett, Michael Gough
Synopsis:
The Skull once again teams up horror legends Peter Cushing (Horror of Dracula) and Sir Christopher Lee (House of the Long Shadows) in a chilling, supernatural tale of murder from beyond the grave. Based on a short story by Robert Bloch (Psycho), The Skull introduces us to Dr. Christopher Maitland (Cushing), a collector of the occult. When he is given the opportunity to purchase the skull of the infamous Marquis de Sade, he leaps at the chance. What he doesn’t know is that his friend, Matthew Phillips (Lee) is the former owner of the skull – and quite happy to be rid of it. Possession of The Skull leads to a terrifying series of nightmarish events for Dr. Maitland as he tries to keep control of his life and the of unspeakable evil bearing down upon him. Hammer horror great and Oscar-winning cinematographer Freddie Francis (The Creeping Flesh, The Innocents) directed this bone-chilling thriller with a script by Milton Subotsky (Tales from the Crypt, The Vault of Horror). The stupendous cast includes Patrick Wymark (The Psychopath), Nigel Green (The Ipcress File), Patrick Magee (A Clockwork Orange) and Michael Gough (The Crimson Cult).
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas
- Jonathan Rigby on The Skull” featurette (24:14)
- Kim Newman on The Skull” featurette (27:18)
- “Trailers From Hell” with Joe Dante
THE MAN WHO COULD CHEAT DEATH (1959)
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: March 14, 2017
Director: Terence Fisher
Starring: Anton Diffring, Hazel Court, Christopher Lee
Synopsis:
His Terrifying Secret… His Hideous Obsession… Made Him The Man Who Could Cheat Death! Dr. Georges Bonnet has figured out a way to live forever, all he needs are glands from some very unwilling donors! Anton Diffring (Where Eagles Dare, Circus of Horrors) stars as the mad doctor in this chilling Hammer Horror classic. As he struggles against the inevitable icy grip of death, the doctor begins a descent into madness that threatens to destroy the laws of nature and the lives of those he cares for the most; the only person who could stop his unholy quest is horror legend Christopher Lee (The Oblong Box). Great direction by Hammer legend Terence Fisher (Horror of Dracula) with a screenplay by Jimmy Sangster (Dracula: Prince of Darkness) based on a play by Barré Lyndon (The Lodger). Co-starring the beautiful Hazel Court (Premature Burial).
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian Troy Howarth
- Interview with critic and novelist Kim Newman (17:09)
- Interview with author and historian Jonathan Rigby (16:52)
CHAMBER OF HORRORS (1940)
Newly Mastered in HD!
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: March 21, 2017
Director: Norman Lee
Starring: Lilli Palmer, Leslie Banks, Gina Malo, Romilly Lunge
Synopsis:
Chamber of Horrors was based on the classic novel, The Door with Seven Locks by Edgar Wallace (King Kong, The Terror) – it was the second Wallace adaptation brought to the States by Monogram Pictures. Dr. Manetta (Leslie Banks, The Most Dangerous Game) holds one of the seven keys that will open the crypt of Lord Selford, who was entombed with a fortune in jewels. Before long, the other six key holders start turning up dead… is the doctor the killer or just the next victim? Chamber of Horrors drips with atmosphere, adding all the classic “The Old Dark House” trappings – fog, chambers, corridors, rats, coffins and more. Norman Lee (The Monkey’s Paw) directed this old-fashioned murder mystery co-starring the beautiful Lilli Palmer (The House That Screamed).
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle and Filmmaker Kenneth J. Hall
INVISIBLE GHOST (1941)
Newly Mastered in HD!
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: March 21, 2017
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Polly Ann Young, Clarence Muse, Betty Compson, Ernie Admas
Synopsis:
The great Joseph H. Lewis (Gun Crazy, My Name is Julia Ross) directed this classic Monogram horror film about a man who unknowingly carries out a series of grisly murders while under the power of his insane and domineering wife (Betty Compson, The Docks of New York). Horror legend Bela Lugosi (Dracula, Chandu the Magician) stars in this dark Jekyll & Hyde tale as a kindly doctor whose thought-to-be-dead wife hypnotizes him, turning him into an unwitting homicidal killer. This was the first and the best of nine Monogram Pictures made by producer Sam Katzman (Earth vs. the Flying Saucers, It Came from Beneath the Sea) – co-starring Polly Ann Young (The Man From Utah) and Clarence Muse (The Black Stallion).
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Film Historians Tom Weaver, Gary Rhodes and Dr. Robert J. Kiss
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