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Danza Macabra - Volume 1: The Italian Gothic Collection [4 X Blu-ray]
 

The Monster of the Opera (1964)        The Seventh Grave (1965)

Scream of the Demon Lover (1970)       Lady Frankenstein (1971)

 

 

In a genre known for its castles, crypts and candelabras, Italian Gothic also embraced themes of violence, madness and sexual deviance. With these 4 films, those impulses dare to go even deeper.

 

The Monster of the Opera (1964)
Conceived as a sequel to their landmark THE VAMPIRE AND THE BALLERINA, director Renato Polselli (THE REINCARNATION OF ISABEL, DELIRIUM) and screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, LIBIDO) resurrected their gothic-fiend-stalks-a-theatrical-troupe framework for an over-the-top aria of reincarnated lovers, sheer nightgowns, sapphic hunger, interdimensional damnation and frenzied ‘opera’ that “looks like the fever dream of an oversexed choreographer” (Fantastic Movie Musings). Marco Mariani (TOMB OF TORTURE), Giuseppe Addobbati (NIGHTMARE CASTLE) and Milena Vukotic (BLOOD FOR DRACULA) star in this surreal and still potently erotic shocker now scanned in 2K from the original negative, featuring an all-new interview with Gastaldi and more.

The Seventh Grave (1965)
For more than 50 years, it has existed only via rumor, reputation and barely watchable bootlegs. It remains perhaps the strangest Italian Gothic ever made: The sole feature by enigmatic director Garibaldi Serra Caracciolo – here using the anglicized pseudonym ‘Finney Cliff’ – combines familiar murder mystery elements of THE CAT AND THE CANARY with odd dollops of mad doctors, escaped lepers, giallo-style killings and one of the most strikingly original séance sequences in the entire genre. Antonio Casale (‘Bill Carson’ in THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY), Ferruccio Viotti (SEX OF THE WITCH) and Gianni Dei (PATRICK STILL LIVES) star in this fascinating rarity now scanned in 2K from the recently discovered negative, with all-new Special Features that explore the bizarre circumstances behind the film’s production, release and half-century disappearance.

Scream of the Demon Lover (1970)
Though he made only two horror films, veteran writer/director José Luis Merino (THE HANGING WOMAN) here embraces the genre’s classic elements and ravishes them to vivid extremes: When a beautiful biochemist (Erna Schurer of STRIP NUDE FOR YOUR KILLER) arrives at a foreboding castle to work for a sinister baron, she’ll unlock a nightmare of dark romance, sexual violence, grisly family secrets and some of the most perverse moments in ‘70s Gothic. Carlos Quiney (ZORRO THE INVINCIBLE), Agostina Belli (BLUEBEARD) and Enzo Fisichella (MALABIMBA) co-star in this Italian/Spanish co-production – also known as KILLERS OF THE CASTLE OF BLOOD and released in the U.S. by New World Pictures cut by nearly 20 minutes – now scanned in 4K from the negative for the first time ever.

Lady Frankenstein (1971)
Co-produced by Roger Corman, “one of the most underrated horror movies of all time” (Classic Horror) features ultra-lurid direction by American-International star Mel Welles (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS) from a story by by Dick Randall (PIECES), distinctive cinematography by Riccardo Pallottini (CASTLE OF BLOOD) and score by Alessando Alessandroni (THE DEVIL’S NIGHTMARE), a cast that includes Hollywood legend Joseph Cotten (CITIZEN KANE) alongside EuroCult icons Paul Müller (NIGHTMARE CASTLE), Herbert Fux (MARK OF THE DEVIL), Marino Masé (TENEBRAE) and Mickey Hargitay (BLOODY PIT OF HORROR), and a titular performance by the remarkable Rosalba Neri (THE DEVIL’S LOVER) for whom “only the monster she made could satisfy her strange desires!” LADY FRANKENSTEIN is now scanned in 2K from the original negative, with alternate scenes, all-new Special Features and much more.

Posters

Theatrical Release: June 30, 1964 - October 22, 1971

Rating for Lady Frankenstein

Reviews                                                                  More Reviews                                               DVD Reviews

 

Review: Severin - Region 'A'* - Blu-ray

*Lady Frankenstein and The Seventh Grave are Region FREE

Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Severin - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime The Monster of the Opera (1964): 1:24:19.971
The Seventh Grave (1965): 1:17:29.853
Scream of the Demon Lover (1970): 1:38:19.310
Lady Frankenstein (1971): 1:39:07.316        
Video

The Monster of the Opera

1.66:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 37,454,901,508 bytes

Feature: 25,875,873,792 bytes

Video Bitrate: 36.76 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

The Seventh Grave

1.66:1 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 23,870,472,885 bytes

Feature: 21,515,569,152 bytes

Video Bitrate: 32.99 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Scream of the Demon Lover

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 41,729,828,769 bytes

Feature: 31,772,430,336 bytes

Video Bitrate: 36.84 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Lady Frankenstein

1.85:1 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray

Disc Size: 46,111,250,373 bytes

Feature: 32,516,007,936 bytes

Video Bitrate: 36.79 Mbps

Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate The Monster of the Opera Blu-ray:

Bitrate The Seventh Grave Blu-ray:

Bitrate Scream of the Demon Lover Blu-ray:

Bitrate Lady Frankenstein Blu-ray:

Audio

The Monster of the Opera (1964):

DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1830 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1830 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -31dB
 

The Seventh Grave (1965):

DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1873 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1873 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps
 

Scream of the Demon Lover (1970):

DUB:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1832 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1832 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1777 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1777 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -31dB
 

Lady Frankenstein (1971):
DUB:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1988 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1988 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio Italian 1988 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1988 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentaries:

Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps / DN -31dB

Subtitles English (SDH), None
Features Release Information:
Studio:
Severin

 

Edition Details:

THE MONSTER OF THE OPERA
•  Commentary With Kat Ellinger
• Interview With Ernesto Gastaldi (30:30)
• Interview With Mark Thompson-Ashworth (14:23)
• Archival Audio Interview With Renato Polselli (21:30)
• French trailer (2:29)

THE SEVENTH GRAVE
• Commentary With Rachael Nisbet
• Interview With Fabio Melelli (12:52)
• Video Essay By Rachel Knightley (14:44)

SCREAM OF THE DEMON LOVER
• Commentary With Rod Barnett & Robert Monell
• Interview With Erna Schurer (19:18)
• Video Essay By Stephen Thrower (38:59)
• Trailer (2:53)

LADY FRANKENSTEIN
• Commentary With Kat Ellinger & Annie Rose Malamet
• Commentary With Alan Jones & Kim Newman
• Featurette With Rosalba Neri & Fabio Melelli (21:48)
• Piecing Together LADY FRANKENSTEIN (35:18)
• Documentary Short On Mel Welles (8:08)
• German TV Documentary (43:57)
• Clothed Insert Shots (2:56)
• Video Short Illustrating BBFC Censorship Cuts (2:52)
• Italian Opening Credits (2:42)
• Italian LADY FRANKENSTEIN Photo Novel (2:39)
• Image Gallery (5:38)
• Radio Spots (1:33)
• TV Spot (0:27)
• Trailer (5:44)


Blu-ray Release Date: May 30th, 2023

Black Blu-ray Case inside custom hard box

Chapters 12 / 12 / 12 / 12

 

 

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: Severin Blu-ray (April 2023): Severin have transferred four Italian Gothic genre films to Blu-ray. It has The Monster of the Opera (1964), The Seventh Grave (1965), Scream of the Demon Lover (1970) and Lady Frankenstein (1971) on individual Blu-ray discs. The last film, Lady Frankenstein was released on Blu-ray by Nucleus Films in 2018 (reviewed HERE) and we have compared some captures below. The Monster of the Opera and The Seventh Grave are in black and white and the transfers are decent with high bitrates, decent contrast layering and visible texture. The latter has some inherent softness and both show minor surface scratches, speckles and frame-specific damage. Scream of the Demon Lover  is very grainy and looks like it was transferred from 16mm. I don't have evidence but it does not look like 35mm to me. Lady Frankenstein has the lost the greenish hue of the Nucleus 1080P but shows digitization with waxy facial skin (although improved tones) and little in the way of grain. It does export a bit of depth and what looks like some less-intrusive compression artifacts. I may be getting picky as the HD presentations were certainly watchable but those sensitive to digitization should be aware. Check out our screen captures to get an idea. 

NOTE: We have added 156 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Severin use DTS-HD Master dual-mono tracks (24-bit) for all four films in the original Italian language. Scream of the Demon Lover and Lady Frankenstein include English (default) DUBs. The films have flourishes of Gothic style effects - laboratories, fireplaces, creaky floorboards etc. The Monster of the Opera has a fair amount of musical numbers throughout. For The Monster of the Opera the score was by Aldo Piga (The Vampire and the Ballerina, Terror-Creatures From the Grave, Curse of the Blood Ghouls). On The Seventh Grave the music was credited to Leopoldo Perez Bonsignore who only composed for three feature films. In Scream of the Demon Lover the score was by Luigi Malatesta (Gungala, the Black Panther Girl.) The score is by Alessandro Alessandroni (The Virgin of Bali, The Devil's Nightmare.) on 1971's Lady Frankenstein. Severin offer optional English (SDH) subtitles on their Region 'A' Blu-rays of The Monster of the Opera and Scream of the Demon Lover and Region FREE Blu-rays of The Seventh Grave and Lady Frankenstein.

The Severin Blu-ray offers commentaries for all four films with two for Lady Frankenstein. On The Monster of the Opera there is a commentary with Kat Ellinger (author of Daughters Of Darkness) who talks about how the film was plagued with production and budgetary issues, shot in 1961 but not released until 1964 and she discusses how director Renato Polselli made some trashy cinema but also showed signs of brilliance and eventually made some pornographic films. It's another of her revealing commentaries with interesting observations. On this Blu-ray there are also interview with screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi for 1/2 hour entitled Terror At The Opera, with Italian Film Devotee Mark Thompson-Ashworth for 1/4 hour entitled Capodimonte Gothic and lastly there is a 20-minute archival audio interview with director Renato Polselli (Radio Polselli.) Lastly on the The Monster of the Opera Blu-ray disc is a French trailer.

On The Seventh Grave Blu-ray disc there is a commentary with Rachael Nisbet, film critic and co-host of the Fragments Of Fear Giallo Podcast. She discusses the genre, writer / director Garibaldi Serra Caracciolo (as Finney Cliff) and this being his only film etc. The film was shot in three and a half weeks at Balsorano castle and Olimpia Studios in Rome. Seven Graves And A Mystery is a dozen-minute interview with film historian Fabio Melelli. English Aesthetic With Giallo Blood is a 1/4 hour video essay by Gothic Scholar and author Rachel Knightley (Beyond Glass.)

The Scream of the Demon Lover Blu-ray has a commentary with Rod Barnett, film historian and co-host of the NaschyCast and The Bloody Pit podcasts and Robert Monell, writer and editor of the I'm In A Jess Franco State Of Mind blog. There is a discussion seeing similarities to the Brontë sisters novels; Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, pre-feminism, and as a classic gothic novel. They talk about the structure of the story, the sexuality and erotic nature, the cut version without nudity, the Drive-In era, Roger Corman and much more. I enjoyed listening to them. There is also a 20-minute interview with Erna Schurer who played lead Ivanna Rakowsky (as Jennifer Hartley in US.) It's entitled Scream Erna Scream! and is in Italian with optional English subtitles. She discusses her career and memories of the production of The Scream of the Demon Lover. She is still with us at 80-years old. We also get a 40-minute video essay By Stephen Thrower (Flowers of Perversion, Volume 2: The Delirious Cinema of Jesús Franco and Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci.) He shares details on the director José Luis Merino who helmed a lot of 'boys-own' adventure films although it was his horror films that bridged the gap making it to the US market. He talks about Erna Schurer and her strong female character. It is excellent. Lastly is a trailer for The Scream of the Demon Lover.

The Lady Frankenstein Blu-ray disc has two audio commentaries - the first with Kat Ellinger, and Annie Rose Malamet, film scholar and host of Girls, Guts, Giallo. They discuss it within the canon of Italian Gothic, its transgressive nature, sadomasochistic and hedonistic themes in The Lady Frankenstein. The second commentary was on the 2018 Nucleus Films Blu-ray with Alan Jones, author of Dario Argento: The Man, The Myths & The Magic, and Kim Newman, author of Nightmare Movies. They share details of the cast, crew and mention the era and genre including Hammer Films and Roger Corman's association. Meet The Baroness is a 20-minute featurette with actress Rosalba Neri (playing under the pseudonym Sara Bey in the US version) and film historian Fabio Melelli. It is in Italian with optional English subtitles. She talks about her career; sword and sandal / Hercules, films, Spy films, Spaghetti Westerns and Erotic horror films. Many of the other supplements are also on the Nucleus Blu-ray including The Truth About Lady Frankenstein is a 3/4 hour German TV Special from 2007 directed by Reginald Ginster and it has interviews with Herbert Fux, Mel Welles, Rosalba Neri and others. It is mostly in German with English subtitles. There is a new 35-minute featurette - Piecing Together Lady Frankenstein with Julian Grainger (author of Murderous Passions) discussing Lady Frankenstein. There is another featurette entitled The Lady and The Orgy running over 8-minutes as well as an Italian Lady Frankenstein Photo Novel showing the pages to and the interesting dissection of the BBFC's 1972 'Theatrical Censor Notes' - in late 1971, Lady Frankenstein was submitted to the BBFC by Scotia Barber and was eventually granted an "X" certificate for theatrical distribution. It shows the cuts that were required for its release. Severin doesn't know exactly to what extent these scenes would have been cut, but they show the uncensored clips for viewers to determine what would/could have removed. Also included are brief 'Clothed Scenes' - it is not known whether these alternate "clothed" takes have ever been seen before. It is possible they might have been used in some early TV broadcasts, or would have been inserted into some theatrical release prints in territories where nudity would be a problem due to censorship restrictions. I believe that this is the first time they have been seen on any home video format. Included are Italian opening credits, an image gallery, Radio and Spots plus a lengthy The Lady Frankenstein trailer.

Severin's Danza Macabra - Volume 1: The Italian Gothic Blu-ray Collection has a Hammer horror hybrid, beauties Rosalba Neri and Erna Schurer, Joseph Cotten as Baron Frankenstein!, grave-robbers, inheritance, voyeuristic peep holes in the wall, castle dungeons with torture chambers, untrustworthy servants, depravity, demons, vampires, love slaves, seduction for the purposes of murder (to obtain a brain to transplant!,) scantily clad young women, hints of lesbianism, cheesy monster make-up... all surrounded by period costumes, influences and atmosphere representing the golden age of Italian horror's gothic period. If that sounds appealing then this set is for you. Severin have stacked their 4-disc Blu-ray collection with commentaries, interviews, video essays, documentaries and more. A keeper for me - I can throw these on at any time. Recommended to the right crowd of 60's Euro horrors.

Gary Tooze

 


Menus / Extras

 

The Monster of the Opera

 

The Seventh Grave

Scream of the Demon Lover

Lady Frankenstein


CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

aka "Il mostro dell'opera" or The Monster of the Opera" or "Vampire of the Opera")

 

Directed by Renato Polselli


Italy 1964

 
A theater troupe's young, energetic leader has secured an old theater in which to produce his new production. The theater's elderly caretaker urges the group to leave at once. A vampire is awakened and discovers that one of the troupe is the reincarnation of the woman who he once loved.

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

(aka "La settima tomba" or "The Seventh Grave")

 

Directed by Garibaldi Serra Caracciolo


Italy 1965

 
In “Old Scotland”, a group of people converge at the castle of scientist Sir Reginald Thorne for the reading of his will. The ancient edifice once belonged to Sir Francis Drake and a large fortune is apparently hidden in the walls.

Sir Reginald, who died three years previously from an especially virulent strain of leprosy, dedicated himself to strange experiments with his assistant, Doctor Quick. His body – so disfigured that no autopsy could be performed – now lies in the seventh grave in the family crypt. Quick, also infected with leprosy, is on the run from the police after escaping from a nearby leper hospital.

Excerpt from MoviesAndMania located HERE

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

(aka "Il castello dalle porte di fuoco" or "Killers of the Castle of Blood" or

"Altar of Blood" or "Blood Castle" or "Scream of the Demon Lover" or "The Castle With the Door of Fire")

 

Directed by José Luis Merino

Italy / Spain 1970

 
A beautiful young woman travels to a remote estate to seek employment as a biochemist for Baron Janos Dalmar. She finds herself attracted to him, so immerses herself in her work to suppress her lusty desires. A rash of rather brutal murders occurs in the area and she soon discovers that the Baron is not what he seems.

 

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

(aka "La figlia di Frankenstein" or "Daughter of Frankenstein" or "Madame Frankenstein" or "Lady Frankenstein, cette obsédée sexuelle")

Directed by Mel Welles, Aureliano Luppi
Italy
1971

 

It's monster a-go-go up at the castle when Baron Frankenstein and his laboratory assistant, Dr. Charles Marshall, stitch together a creature using body parts supplied by shifty local grave robbers. When they rashly insert a killer's damaged brain into the monstrosity's skull and bring it to life, it crushes the Baron to death and goes on the rampage. Tania, Frankenstein's glamorous daughter, teams up with Charles to continue her father's crackpot experiments. The two fall in love and transplant the aging lab assistant's cerebrum into the body of a hunky servant. Meanwhile, the first monster stalks the countryside, seeking bloody revenge on the bodysnatchers who exhumed the raw materials for its miscreation. It eventually goes after Charles and Tania, but will its brute strength triumph against the seductive wiles of Lady Frankenstein? Directed by Mel Welles, this twisted gothic tale stars Rosalba Neri (Two Males For Alexa) as the surgeon whose strange desires could only be satisfied by the monster she made. The legendary Joseph Cotten carries on the curse of Frankenstein as the obsessed Baron, and the cast is fleshed out by Euro-cult regulars Paul Muller (Nightmare Castle) and Mickey Hargitay. See LADY FRANKENSTEIN like never before, stunningly resurrected from the original negatives in a brand new 2K restoration. We are very proud to present the complete and restored director's cut, plus the American theatrical versions packed with bonus special features!

 

 

1) Nucleus Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Nucleus Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Nucleus Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Nucleus Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


1) Nucleus Films - Region 'B' - Blu-ray TOP

2) Severin - Region FREE - Blu-ray BOTTOM

 

 


Damage Samples
(CLICK to ENLARGE)
 

 


Examples of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) Blu-ray - (Mouse Over - click to enlarge)

 

 


 

More full resolution (1920 X 1080) Blu-ray Captures for DVDBeaver Patreon Supporters HERE

 

The Monster of the Opera

 

The Seventh Grave

Scream of the Demon Lover

Lady Frankenstein

 

 
Box Cover

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Bonus Captures:

Distribution Severin - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


 


 

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