Madhouse (1974) | Vincent Price’s Dr Death gets re-mastered in HD!

UPDATE FROM KINO: 'It has come to our attention that Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray of MADHOUSE (1974) has some errors in the audio synchronization. We are reviewing the master materials now, and determining how significant the problem is. We will also determine whether the dialogue can be re-synched without compromising the timing of the music and sound effects, since the issue appears to be in the source elements. Based on what we find, Kino Lorber will decide whether or not to re-author the disc and set up an exchange program for the first-pressing discs. Thank you for your patience and your continued support.'

From Kino Lorber comes the US HD Blu-ray and DVD release on 21 July of the 1974 AIP chiller, Madhouse, starring those masters of the macabre, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing and Robert Quarry give terrifying performances to die for in this diverting little chiller.

After being accused and aquitted of his fiancée's murder, successful horror film star Paul Toombes (Price) is put in an institution. Years later he returns to his former role of Dr. Death in a new TV series in London, working with his writer friend Herbert Flay (Cushing). Paul realises his past has come back to haunt him, however, when the murders carried out by Dr Death are replicated in real life on the cast and crew...

Featuring a newly re-mastered widescreen print of the film in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the Kino release will also include an audio commentary from David Del Valle, a new featurette, and trailers. No word on what the featurette will entail or if it will be available to play in multi-region players (Amazon says its multi format, however). Cross fingers it will be better than the bare bones, cut-price UK DVD release from Altitude Film Distribution.

ON THIS DAY IN…1973 | Madhouse starts filming in London

It was on Sunday 15 April in 1973 that Vincent Price started filming what would be his last film for AIP, Madhouse (aka The Revenge of Dr Death). Shooting took place in London over 13 weeks, finishing on Sunday 8 July.

During this period, Price also worked on the first five stories in his Price of Fear BBC Radio horror anthology series, and took time out to attend the London premiere of Theatre of Blood, which occurred on 24 May in Leicester Square.

Here's the campaign book of Madhouse for you to enjoy, and a video of Vinnie and Peter Cushing chatting during filming.

Distinctive Dummies unveil their Vincent Price as Paul Toombes in Madhouse Megostyle Action Figure

From Distinctive Dummies comes their third action figure in their Vincent Price collection: it's Paul Toombes from Madhouse (1974). Limited to just 50, this really is a covetable item. The sculpt is by Steve Thompson sculpt, while the artwork is by Robert Aragon.

Full details, shipping and pricing info at http://www.distinctivedummies.net/madhouse.html

On this day in 1973 | Vincent Price starts filming Madhouse in London

Yes, it was on this day back in 1973 that Madhouse (aka The Revenge of Dr Death) began shooting, with Vincent Price and Peter Cushing finally sharing equal screen time as aging former horror star Paul Toombes and actor-turned-writer Herbert Flay, who unite to revive Toombes' screen character Dr Death for a TV series. But death stalks the corridors of the television studio in the form of a skull masked killer and several members of the show's cast and crew are murdered in grisly reenactments of Dr Death's greatest movie moments (as depicted in clips from some of Price's Poe/Corman films).

While the film in general is a bit of a letdown, the scenes between Price and Cushing are priceless as the two vets brilliantly play off each other leading to a big showdown when it transpires that Cushing is behind the killings. 

Here's some rare behind-the-scenes footage from a UK TV news report from the set back in 1973.

Altitude Films release Scream and Scream Again and Madhouse on DVD in the UK

Just found these two Price titles are being re-issued on Region 2 DVDs from a new outfit called Altitude Films, part of a package of horror classics being released on Monday 27th May, the others are The Black Cat, The Raven, The Legend of Hell House, Phantom Lady, and Black Friday.

Other genre titles to be released include The St Valentines Day Massacre and Fugutive Kind (also 27th May); Hot Rock, McLintock! and Story of GI Joe on 3rd June;  Desiree and Arabian Nights on 10th June.

Will they be any different from the US MGM Home Entertainment releases? Will they come with new extras? Below is the blurb from the distributors. As soon as they arrive, I will update this post.

Scream and Scream Again, 1970 (Order Here)
Starring – Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing.
Police are called in to investigate a series of brutal murders. At first they believe the deaths are unrelated, until pathologist David Sorel (Christopher Matthews) performs a post-mortem revealing that each body has been sucked dry of blood, giving the appearance of the work of vampires. Ordered by a government official to destroy the evidence, the police drop the case. But Sorel refuses to stop looking into the mystery. In an attempt to capture the crazed killer he is led to the mysterious mansion of Dr. Browning (Vincent Price), where he finds a secret operating theatre; a workshop for the creation of super humans out of limbs and organs from living bodies. But in a sadistic twist, the mastermind behind Browning’s evil deeds pushes him into a vat of acid, putting a grisly end to his diabolical plans.

Madhouse, 1974 (Order Here)
Starring – Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry.
Paul Toombes (Vincent Price), veteran Hollywood horror film star, is making a comeback in a new TV series based on the old “Dr. Death” movies which first made him world famous. The trouble with Paul is his past. A beautiful young actress to whom he was engaged to be married was found murdered in strange circumstances. Although acquitted after standing trial for the killing, Paul’s career was shattered and the breakdown he suffered left him an unbalanced wreck. Now twenty years on, his old actor-friend Herbert Flay (Peter Cushing) welcomes him back to the role. But the curse of Dr. Death strikes again as a series of gruesome murders drag Paul into his past and he begins to wonder if he is in the grip of impulses totally beyond his control.