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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Bride of Fengriffen" )

 

directed by Roy Ward Baker
UK 1973

In 1795, Charles Fengriffen (Ian Ogilvy, WITCHFINDER GENERAL) returns to his ancestral home with new bride Catherine (Stephanie Beacham, DRACULA A.D. 1972) who is immediately beset by ghostly apparitions of an eyeless corpse with a missing hand (the disembodied bit proves very corporeal and attacks her more than once) having to do with a portrait of Charles' ancestor Sir Henry (Herbert Lom, ASYLUM). The ghost bears a resemblance to one-handed woodsman Silas (Geoffrey Whitehead, WAR AND REMEMBRANCE) whose great grandfather had been wronged by Sir Henry. Things get worse when Catherine becomes pregnant. When the local doctors cannot give him any answers, Charles consults psychologist Dr. Pope (Peter Cushing, THE BEAST MUST DIE) who believes there is rational explanation... or is there? Based on the novella FENGRIFFEN by David Case, AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS (originally titled I HAVE NO MOUTH BUT I MUST SCREAM until Harlan Ellison took exception) is a lust-looking Amicus production but it dumbs down its literary source considerably. Case's novel is about the new science of psychology coming up against an ancient family curse and the psychological explanation seems entirely reasonable until the ending stinger. Roy Ward Baker once again provides classy direction, Douglas Gamley's score is nicely atmospheric (compared to the brassy ASYLUM score and the funky one for THE BEAST MUST DIE). Denys Coop's photography is elegant and Tony Curtis' set design is striking (including the two floor great hall with the minstrel's gallery above). Although Beacham and Ogilvy are the lead characters, they take billing beneath Cushing, Lom, and Patrick Magee (ASYLUM).

Eric Cotenas

Posters

Theatrical Release: 27 April 1973 (USA)

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DVD Comparison:

Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC

Big thanks to Eric Cotenas for all the Screen Caps!

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 
Distribution

Dark Sky/MPI

Region 1 - NTSC

 Image Entertainment
Region 0 - NTSC
Runtime 1:30:33 1:31:09
Video

1.77:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 5.92 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.83:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.74 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

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

Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection)

 

Bitrate:

Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection)

 

Audio English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
Subtitles English, none none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Dark Sky/MPI

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 1.77:1

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by director Roy Ward Baker and actress Stephanie Beacham, moderated by Marcus Hern
• Audio commentary by actor Ian Ogilvy, moderated by Darren Gross
• Theatrical Trailer (16:9; 0:56)
• Trailers for ASYLUM (4:3; 1:26) and THE BEAST MUST DIE (4:3; 0:58)
• Poster and Stills Gallery
• Cast & Crew Filmographies

DVD Release Date: 30 October 2007
Amaray

Chapters 12
 

 Release Information:
Studio: Image Entertainment

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.83:1

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by actor Ian Ogilvy, moderated by Darren Gross
• Theatrical Trailer
• Stills Gallery
 

DVD Release Date: 30 April 2002
Amaray

Chapters 12

 

Comments

The Image disc was the only one of the three Amicus Image titles to be released in an Amaray case and include bonus features. The 4:3 widescreen image is unfortunately interlaced. The Ian Ogilvy commentary was ported over to the now OOP Anchor Bay UK boxed set along with a new commentary featuring Stephanie Beacham and Roy Ward Baker.

The Image disc went out of print pretty quickly and was fetching a high price used until the Dark Sky edition which includes both commentaries have been included on the Dark Sky disc which makes use of a new MonstersHD high-definition transfer. The Image DVD runs slightly longer due to the TV Matters logo. The Dark Sky disc was released separately the previous year (B000FC2GEQ) but the boxed set allows you to get all three titles for under $20.

 - Eric Cotenas

 


DVD Menus
(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - RIGHT)


 

 

 

 

 

Screen Captures

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

(Dark Sky/MPI (The Amicus Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Image Entertainment (The Euroshock Collection) - Region 0 - NTSC - BOTTOM)
combing in Image Euroshock cap

 

 

Report Card:

 

Image:

Dark Sky

Sound:

Dark Sky

Extras:

Dark Sky

Menu:

Dark Sky

 

DVD Box Covers

 

 

 

 

 

 
Distribution

Dark Sky/MPI

Region 1 - NTSC

 Image Entertainment
Region 0 - NTSC

 

 



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