Title: new Retromedia DVDs
Description: Steve Reeves and Edgar Wallace
John Black - January 18, 2008 12:58 AM (GMT)
Retromedia has a couple of dandy two-fers streeting on January 29th, as per Amazon.com:
THE STEVE REEVES COLLECTION features widescreen (2:35-1) anamorphic transfers of GIANT OF MARATHON (improved color compared to other home video versions) and WAR OF THE TROJANS (aka THE AVENGER, aka THE LAST GLORY OF TROY).
THE EDGAR WALLACE COLLECTION has a widescreen (reportedly 2:35-1) transfer of THE MAD EXECUTIONERS, plus THE FELLOWSHP OF THE FROG ( I don't know the aspect ratio of that one).
It will be great to see these films transferred properly for the first time in the states.
Eric Cotenas - January 18, 2008 02:12 AM (GMT)
FELLOWSHIP OF THE FROG is supposed to be fullscreen (the German DVD was fullscreen too).
John Black - February 1, 2008 07:37 AM (GMT)
The new Retromedia STEVE REEVES COLLECTION is quite good, overall, Fred appears to have found a genuine widescreen print in English of GIANT OF MARATHON. It is nearly 2:35-1, and has better color than I've seen on other home video versions of this title. Compared to the recent Spanish PAL DVD, the color looks a tad better on the Retromedia disc (perhaps the anamorphic transfer facilitates that). The letterboxing is a bit wider on the PAL DVD, but the Retromedia version is likely the best print of it that we'll see on disc, unless Warners decides to remaster it, ala COLOSSUS OF RHODES.
WAR OF THE TROJANS (aka THE AVENGER, aka THE LAST GLORY OF TROY) isn't quite as sharp, with some print debris, print scratches, and a few scenes turning reddish. However, the Retromedia disc represents the only widescreen (2:35-1) availability in English, so it's still a worthy co-feature.
Another recent widescreen (2:35-1) release from the Spanish PAL company is THE MONSTER OF CRETE (aka THE MINOTAUR, WILD BEAST OF CRETE). The color is far better than any prints I've seen of this film since theatrical release in the early 1960s. For once, you can really see what the dark labyrinth looks like!
John Bernhard - February 1, 2008 06:29 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| unless Warners decides to remaster it |
How come Retromedia is releasing something Warner owns? Is this film a unique case for some reason?
John Black - February 2, 2008 07:28 AM (GMT)
Good question, wish I had an answer.
Mike Mariano - February 6, 2008 03:50 AM (GMT)
John, do you know if the Spanish MONSTER OF CRETE disc has English language or subtitle options?
John Black - February 6, 2008 07:53 AM (GMT)
Sorry, no English dubbing or subtitles. However, the print is in great shape, letterboxed at 2:35-1 and very good color. For the first time since theatrical exhibition, one can actually see what the labyrinth looks like. The undersea grotto of Amphrite (Susan Loret) also looks much brighter than it has ever looked in TV prints.
Patrick Lefcourt - February 7, 2008 07:28 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (John Bernhard @ Feb 1 2008, 06:29 PM) |
| How come Retromedia is releasing something Warner owns? Is this film a unique case for some reason? |
Don't forget Retromedia's attempt to boot-- uh, I mean put out -- FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE a year or two ago.
John Bernhard - February 8, 2008 06:14 PM (GMT)
Retro also issued GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE ( as part of their BLOOD FLOOD ), which MGM remastered and is currently on the MGM HD channel. IMDB has them listed as having 'worldwide' distribution rights, which has to be a bogus claim.
Maybe MGM only has television rights? A post on this topic elsewhere indictaes MGM tends to ignore PD companies, which may be how Retro gets away with this.