31 August 2011

Hammer titles to UK Blu-ray and DVD

Nine Hammer titles come to UK Blu-ray and DVD in September. On October 10th (delayed from September 19th), Studio Canal release Quatermass And The Pit in fully-restored HD on Blu-ray (in the film's original aspect ratio of 1.66:1).

Also, Icon release the following titles on September 12th:

"The Dick Barton Trilogy" (Secret Agent, Strikes Back & At Bay) [all 1.33:1 OAR]

"The Quatermass Double Bill" (The Quatermass Experiment & Quatermass 2) [both 1.33:1 OAR; NB: the print used is titled "The Quatermass Experiment"]

X The Unknown [1.33:1 OAR]

The Abominable Snowman [2.35:1 aka "Hammerscope" OAR]

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter [1.66:1 OAR]

Browse the covers below!

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UPDATE 13 Sep 2011:

Prints/masters used (to the best of our knowledge):

All Dick Barton films
Icon editions use unrestored 1.33:1 UK prints 4x3
DD editions use the same prints

The Quatermass Xperiment
Icon edition uses an unrestored 1.33:1 UK first-release "Xperiment" print 4x3
(Icon edition was planned to use an unrestored 1.33:1 UK re-release "Experiment" print 4x3)
DD edition used restored 1.33:1 UK first-release "Xperiment" master 4x3 (lost in VDC fire)

X The Unknown
Icon edition uses an unrestored 1.33:1 UK print 4x3 including original BBFC card
DD edition used an unrestored (though better condition) 1.33:1 US print 4x3 (master lost in VDC fire)

Quatermass 2
Icon edition uses an unrestored 1.33:1 UK print 4x3
DD edition used the same unrestored 1.33:1 UK print 4x3

The Abominable Snowman
Icon edition uses the restored "Hammerscope" 2.35:1 UK print (presented 16x9) including original BBFC card
DD edition used the same print (without BBFC card)

Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter
Icon edition erroneously used 1.33:1 unrestored UK print 4x3
Icon edition re-pressed will use restored 1.66:1 UK master 16x9
DD edition used the same restored 1.66:1 UK master 16x9

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UPDATE 16 Sep 2011:

If you would like to exchange your incorrectly-pressed version of Captain Kronos for the 16:9 version, please email your contact name and address to dvdteam@sonopress.co.uk. You will then received a pre-addressed freepost envelope which will give you further instructions on how you can return your copy of the 4:3 version and receive your copy of the 16:9 version by return. Once again, please accept Icon's and Hammer's apologies for any inconvenience caused. 

Photos

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