Subtitles (all three):

English (SDH), none

Extras:

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Audio :

Extras start off with an audio commentary by The League of Gentlemen, the quartet of writers/actors/comedians – Mark Gatiss (co-creator SHERLOCK and JEKYLL), Steve Pemberton (WHITECHAPEL), Reece Shearsmith (PSYCHOVILLE), and Jeremy Dyson (FUNLAND) – of the titular black comic series which pays homage to Hammer, Amicus, Tigon, and other sixties and seventies British horror. The quartet also provide an audio commentary for the Tigon production BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW, and THEATRE OF BLOOD is perhaps even more suited to their jokey interplay (which always conveys an obvious affection for the film and the genre). They discuss how they became familiar with the film, their own collaborations with some of the film's actors (including Diana Rigg and Eric Sykes [THE OTHERS]), as well as shots and lines of dialogue they used in their own shows.

Price's daughter Victoria appears in the on-camera interview "A Priceless Pot-Boiler" in which she recalls that the film was her father's favorite for a number of reasons: the opportunity to do Shakespeare (even playing the roles as a ham actor), getting to work with a cast of British actors he admired (and perhaps believed were better than him), and meeting future wife Coral Browne (who she affectionately describes as her "wicked stepmother"). She describes how the film tows the line between absurdity and horror, and as the end of a two decade era – starting with HOUSE OF WAX – before his rediscovery by pop culture in Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video and Tim Burton's usage of him in EDWARD SCISSORHANDS. Film historian David Del Valle – whose "Sinister Image" video and audio interviews with the late Price are available on Scorpion Releasing's Blu-ray and DVD of THE MONSTER CLUB – appears on-camera in "A Fearful Thespian" also recollecting that the film was a favorite of Price's for the same reasons stated by the actor's daughter, as well as discussing how Price's horror persona eclipsed his greater range and versatility for the public (and how he regretfully turned down playing Prospero in Katherine Hepburn's production of THE TEMPEST). He also recalls how Price may have relished murdering the critics in the film but had conceded offscreen that an artist needs to learn to take criticism since what they produce is out of their control once submitted to the public.

In "Staged Reaction", actress Madeline Smith recalls how director Douglas Hickox spotted her in the TV series THE TWO RONNIES and cast her because he thought she was a blond (she agreed to dye her hair blond in order to get to work with the caliber of cast in THEATRE OF BLOOD and did not think to just wear a wig). She remembers Hickox as a demanding task master, actor Ian Hendry being famously drunk on set, and Price and Browne falling in love on set. In "A Harmony of Horror", exuberant composer Michael J. Lewis (THE MEDUSA TOUCH and THE UNSEEN) performs selections from the score on the nineteenth century piano he used to compose it back in 1972 and shows us the manuscript pages for the score. He remembers not wanting to score a horror film (he had already refused a Hammer film) but warming up to it when it was pitched to him as a black comedy. The video extras conclude with a brutally cropped UK theatrical trailer that spoils many of the fates of major characters (including ones that figure into the climax).

NOTE: Statement from Arrow: "This morning we were made aware of an issue with one of the special features (A Harmony for Horror) which contains some very unfortunate glitches and errors. These issue were caused by a manufacturing error at the factory whereby during the mix a glitch was introduced when the data was prepared for pressing. This occurred after the project had been thoroughly QCed and signed off by us so we are investigating this unfortunate error with our suppliers to ensure this does not happen again.

Due to this incident we are having to push the release date for Theatre of Blood back to the 19th May at the earliest, this will allow us good time to recall all of the affected stock and press new discs.

For those of you that have ordered direct from us and have already received a copy of the film we will be sending out replacement discs to you in due course so please do keep checking back for updates on this. If you have recently ordered this title from our store but it has not yet shipped, your copy will be sent once we have the corrected stock.

We thank you all in advance for your patience and understanding and we hope to have this situation rectified as soon as we possibly can."

Twilight Time also add, another excellent, audio commentary - this one with film historians David Del Valle and Nick Redman discussing the production including numerous facts of interest. There is also an original trailer, the aforementioned isolated score track option and liner notes leaflet.

Kino repeated the great commentary from the Twilight Time Blu-ray with David Del Valle and Nick Redman. They include a new commentary by screenwriter/producer Alan Spencer. He's excellent - occasionally very funny, informative on the Shakespearean aspects of the film, including the supporting cast who had extensive experience acting to 'The Bard''s works. He relates Theater of Blood to Ealing Studio's Kind Hearts and Coronets with Alec Guinness - a black comedy with 9 victims, methodically murdered. I enjoyed it very much. Alan Spencer also does the Trailers From Hell episode that is included plus there are 2 TV Spots, 4 Radio Spots and a theatrical trailer. The package has a limited edition O-Card Slipcase plus a reversible sleeve (see below.)    

Eric Cotenas

Gary Tooze

Arrow - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Twilight Time - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

BOTTOM LINE:
Theatre of Blood is quite the odd and unique film. Performances can be over-the-top and the violence gratuitous. It is definitely both bending the horror genre and mocking it. Not really my cup-of-tea but I can see the appeal. This is a well-made film! The Arrow Blu-ray provides an excellent a/v presentation with a ton of valuable supplements.