I just watched Dark Sky's THE LAST HUNTER DVD, and it's nice to finally be able to retire the unwatchable Vestron VHS, though I'm hanging on to it for sentiment's sake (indeed, it was strange popping this DVD in and NOT seeing that old-school, cheesy-synth Vestron logo appearing beforehand). Seen at the correct aspect ratio, this actually looks like a real movie. I can't explain why, but it also seems to be much better-paced in the widescreen version. I'd guess it's because you can finally figure out what the hell's going on.

However, even at 2.35:1, it's still impossible to get "Gianfranco Couyoumdjian" to fit on the screen.

The featurette with Edoardo Margheriti is good. He talks about his dad, David Warbeck, John Steiner, shooting at DePaolis (including a great anecdote about his dad borrowing some props for YOR from Luigi Cozzi, who was shooting HERCULES on the next stage over), and there's also some nice shots of artwork from a slew of Margheriti films, especially his jungle action pics of the '80s. Here's to hoping that TIGER JOE, TORNADO, HUNTERS OF THE GOLDEN COBRA, THE ARK OF THE SUN GOD, JUNGLE RAIDERS, CODENAME: WILDGEESE, COMMANDO LEOPARD, THE COMMANDER, INDIO and INDIO 2 are on some company's release slate in the forseeable future.

I think this disc is framed too tightly, don't you? A lot of heads are cut off, the closeups are way too close, and one shot of a dead man's head resting on a table is so tight that you can just barely see the blood trickling from his neck...and I know that if the director went to the trouble to spurt some blood there, then we were supposed to see it more clearly.

Good movie, though I'm more of an admirer of Bruno Mattei's wild STRIKE COMMANDO myself.

Man, it ALWAYS comes back to STRIKE COMMANDO. I demand a two-disc Criterion edition of that, with STRIKE COMMANDO 2 as a bonus feature, plus a STRIKE COMMANDO audio commentary with Reb Brown, moderated by film historians Marty McKee, William S. Wilson, and Mark Tinta, plus a featurette where we make Reb Brown take us to Disneyworld after seeing how long it takes him to get mad about the way we keep imitating his yell and calling him "Americanski." DVD of the year, right there.

I don't know--there's some tight framing on THE LAST HUNTER, but not so much that it bothers me. I'm only comparing it to the Vestron VHS, in which case, Dark Sky is the clear winner. I'm generally pleased with it, the interview with Margheriti's son is top-notch, though it would be nice if someone...ANYONE...could get an on-camera interview with either Tisa Farrow or John Steiner. Is Luciano Pigozzi still alive? If he is, there's an old dude who could tell some stories.

Although I hate to mention their name, UK video outfittters VIPCO (who employed Duchess Of York Sarah Ferguson, way back in the day) did a DVD of THe Last Hunter. I have it up in the loft, and could have a look for it to check framing. The UK VHS used to be letterbox, don't think it was 'scope. The Australian VHS was full screen and zoomed in.

I just compared the VIPCO and Dark Sky DVDs. The VIPCO shows a considerable sliver more information on the top and bottom, and the Dark Sky shows quite a bit more at the sides. So, we're still not getting the correct aspect ratio for this film. What the...?

The old UK VHS pre-cert on Interlight Video was letterboxed but I'd have to dig it out to check if it was like many of the squeezed titles that came out in those days. Some Warner Shaw-Bros. films were full screen but squeezed to fit the 4:3 screens of the day. When you play them back on these new-fangled 16:9 displays, when you stretch the image to fit, it restores the correct AR more or less.

I'm pretty sure the aforementioned LAST HUNTER had drastically stretched opening credits but I could be mixing up several versions I own(ed). There were uncut and cut versions released and I think one was full screen (the elephant video release?). There are two different Interlight versions with different covers to further complicate the issue. My tapes are out of reach at the moment but i'd have kept the best of all the releases. I was holding off on getting the Vipco release as I was aware the AR was compromised. If the Dark Sky release is not perfect, I might just dig out the Interlight tape and DVD-R it. It'd be great if it turned out to be a squeezed scope image or at least better than the recent dvd releases.

Victor

I love old VHS releases from around the world, and would love to hear if the UK VHS is a good'un - please report back when you have time!

Still only/better on VHS in my collection (quick memory jog through):
Dr Jeckyll And His Women - letterbox Dutch VHS
Bloody Moon - Australian VHS full screen (German DVD is a even a little more zoomed in)
Mardi Gras Massacre - USA VHS full screen
Devil Hunter - UK (or was that the Dutch) VHS
Raiders Of Atlantis - letterbox Swiss(?) VHS - got mine off Tradera

and probably many more I can't remeber right now!

Haven't even seen this one but the Dark Sky DVD sounds promising. Now where is RICCO THE MEAN MACHINE??? They could make up for its cancellation by releasing STRIKE COMMANDO, and yes that would be the release of the decade.

Nathaniel Thompson and I recently did a John Steiner featurette for the upcoming CALIGULA reissue.

As for RICCO, it's my understanding that it *is* on the way.

It's true, there are so many tapes that haven't been improved by DVD releases. I just ripped BLOODY MOON a couple days ago from the UK uncut tape. I'd forgotten how dull it was! Also lined up (although I've still to double check no good DVDs have surfaced):

HARD TARGET (lousy quality workprint long version)
ISLAND OF MUTATIONS (ISLE OF THE FISHMEN/SCREAMERS)
HUNTER'S BLOOD
AIP VERSIONS OF BLACK SABBATH and BARON BLOOD
DEVIL HUNTER (that tape was released in UK alright)
RUN AND KILL (HK tape)
ABSURD

Next attic expedition I will dig out LAST HUNTER and do a side-by side framing comparison with the VIPCO release. A friend does have the disc so I'll bring the tape over there.

Victor

NoShame issued an Italian DVD of ISLE OF THE FISHMEN.

RUN & KILL was issued to DVD in France (I think) with additional gore footage that isn't in the old HK releases. I don't have it myself, yet, but hopefully someone will see fit to license it for the US.

The say what now?

I second that. Please...tell us more!

A four-disc set coming in October:

https://www.tlasecure.com/details/product_d...g=0&enable=true

The only thing in the universe that could ever get me to watch CALIGULA again is a Malcolm McDowell commentary.

Malcolm McDowell and Helen Mirren commentary, eh? Is that them together in a room or two interviews edited together?

I have in no way been meaning to re-visit this, nor can I imagine this is worthy of this kind of treatment, but I find the idea of the two of them talking to be quite fascinating.

The Mirren and McDowell commentaries were recorded separately and as far as I know will remain two distinct tracks.

We took care of the John Steiner and Lori Wagner featurettes, with David Gregory tackling the Tinto Brass interview.

It's a pretty amazing and comprehensive package, especially for the price, and really dissects the film and its controversy from several perspectives.

That box sounds like a real winner (and kudos to whoever greenlighted it). What other Margheriti films can we expect from Dark Sky in the future?

Weird. Just this weekend, thanks to this thread, I broke out my old VHS copy of STRIKE COMMANDO...AND THE VCR CHEWED IT UP! I scrambled to stop it and eject, but the damage was done too quickly.

A little piece of me has died inside.

Did you stand in front of the VCR and do a Reb Brown yell?

Seriously though, I feel for ya on that one. I'd feel exactly the same way. I'm almost afraid to play some of my ancient VHS tapes for that very reason.

Agreed. My ancient VHS release of TOP OF THE HEAP got chewed up beyond salvaging a while back and I've never replaced it. Sure, some enterprising soul has put it out on what is almost certainly a bootleg DVD and the quality at least probably wouldn't be much different... but it's just not the same.

The FATAL FLYING GUILLOTINES tape must've tightened in storage because it wouldn't unspool properly. I do now have lovely DVD rips of the US versions of BLACK SABBATH and BARON BLOOD to compliment my newly acquired AB BAVA boxed set ($20!) and I just watched my tv dupe of THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. What a terrific movie that is. The intro/announcer refers to the UK title of HOUNDS OF ZAROFF but the onscreen title is indeed THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. I assume it's uncut (there is a shot of a mummified and mounted head, a backlit one in a jar, some shark attacks (shown in negative) and a pretty painful looking impalement.

Victor

I just rented this one and have to say that I was very disappointed in it. I didn't find it to be good in a cheesy way (in a Lady Terminator way) or a great genre film, but rather poor and taxing to watch.

You mean this one?

Vestron Video

Yeah!