Pass The Marmalade......AGAIN

 

It was five years ago that the Warner Archive released a restored version of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN on Blu-ray, with a number of new extras. I wrote a blog post on it and at the time I thought it was the best-looking version of the film I had ever seen. 

Now, there's been another major restoration of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, and the present-day Hammer company has gone all out to promote it, with a special showing of the movie at the very theater in London at which it premiered in 1957 (more about that later). This restored CURSE is also the basis of a super-special 4K/Blu-ray set released by Hammer. 

Unfortunately due to rights issues those in North America are not allowed from even attempting to buy this limited edition set from Hammer (it is a Region B release). The Warner Archive has stepped up to produce a Region A version of the set, a three-disc release. 

The Warner Archive COF release doesn't have all the bells & whistles that the Hammer version does, but it does feature three different aspect ratios of the film, four audio commentaries, and various extras on each of the three discs. 

I'm sure the first thing those reading this are wondering is, "How does this restoration look??" I purchased the Blu-ray version (I don't have a 4K player), and I have to say that the movie looks much brighter....and the colors are very vivid, almost to the point where at certain times they look enhanced. 

It's a fine restoration, to be sure, but the main reason I bought this was due to the many new extras. Included in them are programs on Hammer legends such as screenwriter Jimmy Sangster, makeup artist Phil Leaky, and cinematographer Jack Asher, with rare audio of Leaky and Asher discussing their work (this audio was provided by Richard Klemensen). There's also a look at the costume design for THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, with an appearance by actor Melvyn Hayes (who played the young Baron Frankenstein). 

This release also has a fourteen minute-long image gallery, with plenty of photos even I have never seen. I do have an issue with the gallery--the stills go by so fast one only gets a second or so to view them. (I guess if the gallery had been slowed down a bit, it would last twenty+ minutes long.) 

My favorite of the new extras is a wonderful feature where Hammer historian Wayne Kinsey and actress Madeline Smith (THE VAMPIRE LOVERS) visit the seaside town of Whitstable, in Kent, England. Whitstable is where Peter Cushing lived for many years, and Kinsey and Smith discuss Cushing's life while stopping by a number of places that the legendary actor had a personal connection with. 

If you're a major Hammer fan like me, you've more than likely bought THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN several times over the years on VHS, DVD, Blu-ray......so should you buy it again?? I'm not the type of person to say "You have to own this if you are a REAL fan", because, in the real world, most people have bills to pay and families to take care of. I will say this is a worthy purchase--but the Warner Archive Blu-ray from 5 years ago is more than acceptable. 

I love the fact that the present-day Hammer is releasing all these jam-packed box sets, but let's face it, they're not cheap, and because they are produced in England, you're going to have to pay plenty when it comes to shipping & handling due to current events. And there's something else to consider--how many times can you buy the same movies over and over again?? There's already a few Hammer titles I've bought multiple times on Blu-ray, including a special version of a title that arrived at my house today, and which I'll be writing a blog post on soon. How many times have you heard or read, "This is the ultimate version of this film", only to find out a couple years later there's another release that supposedly is even better looking and has unearthed footage and/or brand new extras? 

I think the most important thing about this new COF Blu-ray is the fact that Warners and Hammer worked closely together to make it happen....and that may mean other Hammers that were released in the U.S. by Warners could be on the docket for super-special restorations and home video releases. I'm referring to Hammer titles such as THE MUMMY, DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE, FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED, and, of course, HORROR OF DRACULA. 

In a way, the films made by Hammer are like the supernatural creatures contained in them--you keep encountering them over and over again, and just when you believe you are done with them, they come back, stronger than ever. 

As for that recent London showing of the new restoration of THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, my great buddy Joshua Kennedy was in attendance--and he was Martine Beswicke's escort!! No Blu-ray extra can match that!!