Dracula: Prince of Darkness

[Sam@Cult Labs]

STUDIOCANAL

in association with HAMMER FILMS present

DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS

Fully restored, remastered and available on Blu-ray double play March 5.

Directed by Terence Fisher

Starring Christopher Lee With Barbara Shelley, Andrew Keir, Francis Matthews & Peter Latham

STUDIOCANAL are pleased to announce the fully restored HD release of iconic Hammer classic, DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS. The first in an ongoing collaboration with HAMMER to restore and re-release some of the most celebrated titles from their extensive library, DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS will be released on double play March 7th. Over the course of 2012 the project will see subsequent remastered HD releases of THE REPTILE and THE PLAGUE OF ZOMBIES in May, and THE DEVIL RIDES OUT, RASPUTIN THE MAD MONK and THE MUMMY’S SHROUD later in the year in a continuation of STUDIOCANAL’s commitment to investing and restoring the best of British Cinema. Preceding the Home Entertainment release fans will be delighted to know the restored version of DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS will screen alongside THE REPTILE AND THE PLAGUE OF ZOMBIES at a special Frightfest Extra event in Glasgow February 16th and 17th.

The third in the landmark series, following HORROR OF DRACULA and BRIDES OF DRACULA, DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS features Christopher Lee’s much anticipated return to the role after many years of refusing to ‘resume the cape’, and as such is widely regarded as the true sequel to the original. It also features Hammer fan favourites Barbara Shelley (Village of The Damned, Quatermass and The Pit) and Andrew Keir (Quatermass and The Pit). Opening with a spectacular pre-titles sequence from HORROR OF DRACULA showing the climactic slaying of the count, the story begins ten years later with a group of unwary English travellers – Charles Kent (Francis Matthews, The Revenge of Frankenstein), his brother Alan (Charles Tingwell) and their wives Diana (Suzan farmer, Rasputin The Mad Monk) and Helen (Barbara Shelley) – journeying through the Carpathian woods. Foolishly ignoring the wise advice of gun-toting abbot, Father Sandor (Andrew Keir), the Kent’s spend a night at the infamous castle at Karlsbad, where a mysterious retainer named Klove (Phillip Latham) tends to their every need. Later that night Klove slaughters one guest in a bloodthirsty ritual to resurrect his vampire lord to feast on the living once more.

The remastered release is accompanied by a host of specially created new extras, produced in collaboration with Hammer expert and author Marcus Hear (author of “The Hammer Vault”) including a brand new making of featurette featuring interviews with original cast members

Notes on restoration

DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS has been restored in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1 and scanned at 2K resolution from the original negatives stored at Pinewood Studios.

Extras

• Audio commentary featuring Christopher Lee, Suzan Farmer, Francis Matthews and Barbara Shelley
• World of Hammer episode “Hammer Stars: Christopher Lee”
• Back To Black: The Making of Dracula Prince of Darkness
• Super 8mm behind the scenes footage
• Restoration comparison
• Trailer
• Double bill trailer
• Original USA Titles
• Original Print UK Theatrical titles

[Rik]

So excited for this release, doubt I'll be able to afford it on release day though because there's a new Iron Maiden BD/CD/DVD steelbook out in March too that I'll be buying in every format.

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Here's hoping Rik.

There's a tantalizing clip from the all new documentary to whet your appetite elsewhere in the Home of Hammer forum.

[Rik]

Originally Posted by Sam@Cult Labs

Here's hoping Rik.

There's a tantalizing clip from the all new documentary to whet your appetite elsewhere in the Home of Hammer forum.

Sod it, after watching that I'm pre-ordering!

[the blob]

I already have it pre-ordered, which is actually quite rare for me but I sold my DVD pretty much as soon as I heard and it's just one of those films I cannot do without for long. Lord knows how many times I've watched it!

[Rik]

Originally Posted by the blob

I already have it pre-ordered, which is actually quite rare for me but I sold my DVD pretty much as soon as I heard and it's just one of those films I cannot do without for long. Lord knows how many times I've watched it!

I'm watching it right now, never get tired of the Hammer Dracula/Frankenstein films

[the blob]

It's there. Really noticeable when they arrive at the castle and are standing outside, then goes on for a while through dinner with Klove.

It also seems to be out in some of the recap at the beginning. There's about a second gap between Dracula closing the trap door and the sound of it slamming.

I checked the DVD as well in those parts and it's happening there too so I can only assume it happened during synching the master. I can't remember it being this bad on the old AB and Optimum discs but they're long gone so can't check.

[robw285]

Does anyone know if they're going to do recall and replace with this one or should i just send it back to amazon for a refund

[Bringer Of Funerals]

this is an instant buy for me - even though i already own it in the 21 hammer horror film box set

[the blob]

Originally Posted by robw285

Does anyone know if they're going to do recall and replace with this one or should i just send it back to amazon for a refund

I'm going to send them an email this week. I don't even know if they're aware if it.