Question:
Quick reviews of Carlton's "Hands of the Ripper" and "The Uncanny" discs, being released as part of a box set with "Monster" (aka "I Don't Want to be Born") on October 7th:
The bad news is that "The Uncanny" is presented in non-anamorphic widescreen (at about 1.85:1). Why this should be I have no idea, since I'm pretty certain that this is a brand new transfer, (and a pretty good one at that).
The good news - the *very* good news - is that "Hands of the Ripper" is an anamorphic transfer (1.78:1).
With both films there's a slight haziness, but I'd be willing to put this down to deficiencies of the original source elements. There are signs that Digital Video Noise Reduction has been used, but it seems to have been kept to a acceptable levels.
The "Hands of the Ripper" disc also includes the film's trailer (also 1.78:1 anamorphic) - a significant bonus because IIRC it doesn't appear on either of the two commercially available discs of Hammer trailers (the Anchor Bay freebie or Allday's "The Horror of Hammer").
just had alook at play247.com and they have a 6 disc box set with countess dracula, monster,uncanny,twins of evil ,vampire circus and hands of the ripper £29.99 bargain depending on the specs! here http://www.playserver4.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=107480
There was no mention of a six-disc edition with the press release that Carlton sent out. The RRP for each set is on £19.99 anyway, so at Play's prices, that'll be £29.98 for the two.
It's entirely possible that there will be a 6-disc set - Carlton never seem to know what the heck they're doing (remember the "is there / isn't there a Protectors box set?" farrago?!)
Has there been any news regarding the aspect ratios for Twins Of Evil, Vampire Circus and Countess Dracula ? I did e-mail Carlton asking them this same question but they responded by telling me that the discs would be available in October:confused: completely ignoring my question!
For £15 for three I’m :shocker: they’ll be pan and scan jobs but even so it still beats paying $50 per disc for full frame jobs from Japan.
Before I got the two discs I wouldn't have put money on any of them even being letterboxed. Carlton have generally been improving, turning the corner around the time The Last Seduction was released.
I can't fathom any reason for releasing The Uncanny with a letterboxed, but non-anamorphic transfer, but seeing Hands of the Ripper done properly does give me hope that these will receive similar treatment. I'm fairly certain all the films in the box sets will need new transfers. It would be ridiculous not to telecine them in widescreen format.
I'm contacting Carlton on Monday. Maybe I can prise some more information from them then!
Look forward to hearing any news you can prise from them. Thinking about it now you may well be right. I got the Michael Caine box set from them because I wanted Without a Clue. Got rid of the lousy versions of Ipcress and Eagle Has Landed on EBay and was overjoyed to see that WOC was transferred from a virtually pristine print in approx 1.85:1 widescreen ratio. If Twins Of Evil, Vampire Circus and Countess Dracula are in their proper aspect ratios from new prints it’s gonna be the bargain of the year at £15 the lot.
It would seem that Carlton don't know their a**e from their elbow. I've just looked at Blackstar and according to a photograph of the Hammer Horror box set, Countess Dracula, Twins Of Evil and Vampire Circus will be on one set and not spread across two (As indicated on the Carlton site):brickwall
The bad news is that "The Uncanny" is presented in non-anamorphic widescreen (at about 1.85:1). Why this should be I have no idea, since I'm pretty certain that this is a brand new transfer, (and a pretty good one at that).
The good news - the *very* good news - is that "Hands of the Ripper" is an anamorphic transfer (1.78:1).
With both films there's a slight haziness, but I'd be willing to put this down to deficiencies of the original source elements. There are signs that Digital Video Noise Reduction has been used, but it seems to have been kept to a acceptable levels.
The "Hands of the Ripper" disc also includes the film's trailer (also 1.78:1 anamorphic) - a significant bonus because IIRC it doesn't appear on either of the two commercially available discs of Hammer trailers (the Anchor Bay freebie or Allday's "The Horror of Hammer").
Answers:
just had alook at play247.com and they have a 6 disc box set with countess dracula, monster,uncanny,twins of evil ,vampire circus and hands of the ripper £29.99 bargain depending on the specs! here http://www.playserver4.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=107480
Answers:
There was no mention of a six-disc edition with the press release that Carlton sent out. The RRP for each set is on £19.99 anyway, so at Play's prices, that'll be £29.98 for the two.
It's entirely possible that there will be a 6-disc set - Carlton never seem to know what the heck they're doing (remember the "is there / isn't there a Protectors box set?" farrago?!)
Answers:
Has there been any news regarding the aspect ratios for Twins Of Evil, Vampire Circus and Countess Dracula ? I did e-mail Carlton asking them this same question but they responded by telling me that the discs would be available in October:confused: completely ignoring my question!
Answers:
For £15 for three I’m :shocker: they’ll be pan and scan jobs but even so it still beats paying $50 per disc for full frame jobs from Japan.
Answers:
Before I got the two discs I wouldn't have put money on any of them even being letterboxed. Carlton have generally been improving, turning the corner around the time The Last Seduction was released.
I can't fathom any reason for releasing The Uncanny with a letterboxed, but non-anamorphic transfer, but seeing Hands of the Ripper done properly does give me hope that these will receive similar treatment. I'm fairly certain all the films in the box sets will need new transfers. It would be ridiculous not to telecine them in widescreen format.
I'm contacting Carlton on Monday. Maybe I can prise some more information from them then!
Answers:
Look forward to hearing any news you can prise from them. Thinking about it now you may well be right. I got the Michael Caine box set from them because I wanted Without a Clue. Got rid of the lousy versions of Ipcress and Eagle Has Landed on EBay and was overjoyed to see that WOC was transferred from a virtually pristine print in approx 1.85:1 widescreen ratio. If Twins Of Evil, Vampire Circus and Countess Dracula are in their proper aspect ratios from new prints it’s gonna be the bargain of the year at £15 the lot.
Answers:
It would seem that Carlton don't know their a**e from their elbow. I've just looked at Blackstar and according to a photograph of the Hammer Horror box set, Countess Dracula, Twins Of Evil and Vampire Circus will be on one set and not spread across two (As indicated on the Carlton site):brickwall
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