Scream Factory's The Vincent Price Collection III Artwork Revealed

Just released is the artwork (again by illustrator Joel Robinson) for Scream Factory's THE VINCENT PRICE COLLECTION III Blu-ray box-set.

The titles in this collection will be Master of the World (1961), Tower of London (1962), Diary of a Madman (1963), Cry of the Banshee (1970) and An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe (1970).

While detailed specs and extras are yet to be revealed, word has it that Scream will be releasing both versions of Cry of the Banshee (which I covered in Issue 14 of We Belong Dead). Now if only someone in the UK could do the same.

Pre-order now @ https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/film-horror/the-vincent-price-collection-iii and receive a limited 18” x 24” poster of the artwork that you see pictured here.

From A Whisper to a Scream (1987) | Vincent Price's final horror film on Blu-ray

Back in 1980, The Monster Club, starring Vincent Price, became the final nail in the coffin for horror anthology-styled chillers that had peaked in the 1970s in a series of Amicus-produced frighteners.

Seven years on, however, first-time director Jeff Burr tried his hand at resurrecting the genre in From a Whisper to a Scream (aka The Offspring), and even convinced retired horror movie icon Vincent Price to appear.

Now, the film, which ended up becoming Price’s final role in a horror movie, has been has been given a Blu-ray release from Scream Factory in the US, loaded with specially-commissioned extras, including two audio commentaries and two feature-length documentaries.

WELCOME TO OLDFIELD
On the night that his serial killer niece Katherine (Martine Beswick) is to be executed, historian Julian White (Vincent Price) reveals to a journalist (Susan Tyrell) the sinister secrets of his hometown, Oldfield, Tennessee. But as the town’s murderous legacy is exposed by his chilling accounts – about a necrophiliac (Clu Gulager) and the monstrous offspring that results in his coupling with his dead sister; a centuries-old hermit (Harry Caesar) with life-prolonging powers; a ruthless carnival leader (Rosalind Cash) who uses voodoo on those who dare to leave her troupe; and a Yankee soldier (Cameron Mitchell) who discovers a legion of children with an appetite for murder – White doesn’t realise that he is about the write the final chapter of Oldfield’s horrible history… in his own blood!

ONE IS NEVER TOO OLD FOR NIGHTMARES
Shot on location in Dalton, Georgia and in LA by Burr (who was just 23 at the time) and a group of friends in 1985 and 1986, this low-budget flick was released in the US as The Offspring and everywhere else as From A Whisper to a Scream (the title was changed for the DVD and Blu-ray releases).

In securing Price to appear, the now famous story goes that Burr brazenly rolled up at Price’s LA home, where he was invited inside by the polite Price, who read the script, but later declined to appear until Max Von Sydow's agent convinced him otherwise. Price, wearing his own clothes and a favourite vintage jacket, recorded his sequences in two days at the same studio in Venice, California where he had filmed his classic Poe films with Roger Corman – who ended up visiting Price, along with Hazel Court, Price’s two-time co-star, while he was on set. This incident is well covered in the Blu-ray extra, as is Price's expletive-laden ship-to-shore telephone call to Burr over changes in the script that was to turn in character into a hook-handed, disfigured Dr Phibes character.

For many Price fans, myself included, Vinnie’s scenes in the movie are the only reason for visiting Oldfield. It’s great to see our childhood hero back in the genre that had made him famous, and its nice to hear his iconic voice once more growling out some suitably menacing dialogue. But this wasn't the right vehicle for the veteran horror actor. It was exactly the kind of ‘gore’ picture, as he called them, that he disliked. Not surprisingly, Price later regretted taking on the role (he said he only did it for the money). It's a rather sad cameo, not unlike his brief appearance in another low-budget flick, the 1988 action comedy, Dead Heat. It was only by sheer luck that Tim Burton would give Price the fitting swansong that his Merchant of Menace persona so richly deserved, in the short film Vincent and in Edward Scissorhands.

Thank you card from director Jeff Burr

THE SCREAM FACTORY BLU-RAY RELEASE

The Scream Factory/Shout! US Blu-ray release is based on a new HD transfer, presented in the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio. All previous releases of the film were cursed by being dark and grainy, so this is a huge improvement. I was lucky to get mine direct from Scream, so I got a nice little thank you card from director Burr as well as a film strip, featuring Anglo Rossitto

The special features include:
• Return to Oldfield: The Making of Whisper to a Scream. This labour of love documentary contains lots of new and old interviews with the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes footage, and never-before-seen images of Vincent Price (including his letters to Burr). While you may not like the movie, Burr and his dedicated team should be praised for staying true to their purpose in giving the Hollywood bigwigs a run for their money. Their slick slice of American Gothic may not be perfect, but you can feel the love that went into making their dreams come true. This is the reason I got this release, and it's worth every pence/cent. It even made me want to watch the film again, and not just Price's bits.

Original film cell from A Whisper to a Scream

• A Decade Under the Innocence: Adventures in Super 8 Filmmaking This one explores Burr and his Dalton, Georgia pals’ lifelong obsession for the film medium. Monster Kids will relate to this one (I know I did).
• Audio commentary with writer/director Jeff Burr. From script to screen, Burr leads us through the whole process of getting his film made, and talks about working with Price and Cameron Mitchell. Although packed with insight, there's a bit of repetition in the documentary.
• Audio commentary with writer/producer Darin Scott and writer Courtney Joyner.
• Animated Gallery. Burr comments (with lots of emotion) on the film’s production stills, press reviews and behind-the-scenes shots, including personal letters from Vincent Price.
• Theatrical trailer and TV spots.

Take a look at the Vincent Price Collection II Blu-ray Collection from Scream Factory!

Get ready for seven chilling tales starring the master of the macabre as Shout!'s Scream Factory release the second volume of their Vincent Price Blu-ray collection for the US/Canada markets, all featuring new re-mastered HD presentations, a host of extras and a collector’s book. Here’s the full run down.

While its the first time for most of these features to be presented in HD*, not all of the bonus content is new. What I am looking forward though are the Iowa Public Television Gothic Horrors segments (they were the best part of Vol 1), Elizabeth Shepherd's audio commentary for Tomb of Ligeia, and also the commentaries by David Del Valle, who is always a scream. The Raven, The Comedy of Terrors, and The Last Man on Earth also feature the late Richard Matheson discussing his work on those films (I haven’t seen those before, so am not sure they have exised elsewhere).

Have you got your box set yet and want to share your thoughts, then do leave a comment here.

House on Haunted Hill (1959)
A millionaire offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked in a spooky house overnight.

(1080p HD Widescreen, 1.78:1, DTS Master Audio Mono, Black & White, 75 min)

• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Steve Haberman

• Theatrical Trailer

• Vincent Price: Renaissance Man featurette

• The Art of Fear Featurette

• Working with Vincent Price featurette

The Return of the Fly (1959)
15 years after the tragic death of scientist Andre Delambre, his son Philippe (Brett Halsey) takes up transportation experimentation with equally horrifying results.

(1080p HD Widescreen, 2.35:1, DTS Master Audio Mono, Black & White, 86 min)

• Audio Commentary with actor Brett Halsey and film expert David Del Valle

• Theatrical Trailer

• TV Spot

• Still Gallery

The Comedy of Terrors (1963)
An undertaker and his assistant (Peter Lorre) are forced to commit a murder in order to keep their business from going under.

(1080p HD Widescreen, 2.35:1, DTS Master Audio Mono, Color,  83min)

• Introduction and Parting Words by Vincent Price (IPT Gothic Horrors segment)

• Richard Matheson Storyteller: The Comedy of Terrors

• Theatrical Trailer

• Still Gallery

The Raven (1963)
A magician (Peter Lorre) who has been turned into a raven turns to a former sorcerer (Price) for help in returning him to his human form.

(1080p HD Widescreen, 2.35:1, DTS Master Audio Mono, Color, 86min)• Introduction and Parting Words by Vincent Price (IPT Gothic Horrors segment)

• Richard Matheson Storyteller: The Raven

• Corman's Comedy of Poe

• Promotional Record (I'm liking this)

• Theatrical Trailer

• Still Gallery

The Last Man on Earth (1964)
When a disease turns all of humanity into the living dead, a scientist (Price) becomes a reluctant vampire hunter.

(1080p HD Widescreen, 2.35:1, DTS Master Audio Mono, Black & White, 87min)

Richard Matheson Storyteller: The Last Man On Earth

Still Gallery

Audio Commentary With Authors David Del Valle And Derek Botelho

Tomb of Ligeia (1964)
A man’s obsession with his dead wife drives a wedge between him and his new bride (Elizabeth Shepherd).

(1080p HD Widescreen, 2.35:1, DTS Master Audio Mono, Color, 82min)

• Introduction and Parting Words by Vincent Price (IPT Gothic Horrors segment)

• Audio Commentary By Producer/Director Roger Corman

• Audio Commentary with Elizabeth Shepherd NEW

Dr Phibes Rises Again (1972)
The vengeful Phibes heads to Egypt in an attempt to resurrect his beloved wife Victoria, but he’s not the only one seeking the elixir of life.

(1080p HD Widescreen, 1.85:1, DTS Master Audio Mono, Color, 89min)

• Theatrical Trailer

• Still Gallery

* The Complete Dr Phibes Blu-ray release from Arrow in the UK is actually a far superior release to this one. (check out my review); while a stand alone Region A/1 Blu-ray was released in May 2014 from Cinema Cult.

Order from

Shout! Factory

https://www.shoutfactory.com/film/film-comedy/the-vincent-price-collection-ii

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LMBURV8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00LMBURV8&linkCode=as2&tag=vincpric-20&linkId=RXQZB4UUBVFPJRXK

Blu-ray news | Arrow Films to release The Fall of the House of Usher in the UK

The first of Roger Corman's Edgar Allan Poe cycle of gothic chillers starring Vincent Price is getting a Blu-ray (region B) release in the UK on 26 August from Arrow Films in two versions: standard Blu-ray and limited edition Blu-ray Steelcase. 

In the US, House of Usher will be form part of a Halloween Blu-ray box-set from Scream Factory. The other titles are The Haunted Palace, Masque of Red Death, Pit and the Pendulum, Abominable Dr Phibes (all currently showing on MGM HD, and hopefuly will picked up by Arrow for a UK release) and Witchfinder General (which is already available on Blu-ray in the UK from Odeon Entertainment). More details on the Scream Factory will be available in June/July.

 

Standard Edition:
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Roger Corman audio commentary
• Legend to Legend: Joe Dante reflects on the Poe cycle
• Through the Pale Door: Video essay by critic and filmmaker David Cairns examining Corman’s film in relation to Poe’s story
• Archival interview with Vincent Price
• Original Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring artwork by Graham Humphreys
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by author and critic Tim Lucas and an extract from Vincent Price’s long out of print autobiography, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.

PRE-ORDER

 Steelcase Edition:

• Limited Edition SteelBookTM packaging
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation (as on standard)
• Optional English SDH subtitles (as on standard)
• Roger Corman audio commentary (as on standard)
• Joe Dante interview (as on standard)
• Through the Pale Door: video essay (as on standard)
• Archival interview (as on standard)
• Trailer (as on standard)
• Artwork by Graham Humphreys
• Collector’s booklet (as on standard)

PRE-ORDER