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 S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

Directed by Jim Clark
 US 1974

Masters of macabre Vincent Price (Tales of Terror), Peter Cushing (The Hound of the Baskervilles) and Robert Quarry (Dr. Phibes Rises Again) give terrifying performances to die for in this diverting little chiller. When horror star Paul Toombes' fiancé is brutally killed, he loses more than this job... he also loses his mind. But twelve years after suffering a nervous breakdown, the washed-up horror legend (Price) agrees to do a TV-series based on his old screen creation, the monstrous Dr. Death . Soon the cast and crew of the series begin dying in ways similar to the deaths the characters suffered in the actor's old movies. Editor Jim Clark (Marathon Man) directed this top-notch horror classic based on the novel by Angus Hall (Qualthrough).

Theatrical Release:  March 1974

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Comparison:

MGM - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 
Box Covers

    

  

    

Distribution MGM - Region 1 - NTSC Kino Lorber
Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:31:21 1:31:46.542
Video 1.82:1 Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.9 mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 21,560,849,995 bytes

Feature Size: 19,213,430,784 bytes

Total Bitrate: 24.55 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

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

Bitrate: Blu-ray

Audio English (Dolby Digital 2.0)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1585 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1585 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 /
48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)
Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 256 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 256 kbps
Subtitles English, Spanish, French, None None
Features Release Information:
Studio: MGM

Aspect Ratio:
Original Aspect Ratio - Letterboxed 1.82:1

Edition Details:
• Trailer (1:47)

Theater of Blood on flipside

DVD Release Date: February 15th, 2005
Keep Case
Chapters: 20

Release Information:
Studio: Kino Lorber

 

1.78:1 Disc Size: 21,560,849,995 bytes

Feature Size: 19,213,430,784 bytes

Total Bitrate: 24.55 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG4 - AVC

 

Edition Details:
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian David Del Valle
• New Featurette - "Revenge of Dr. Death" (10:57)
• Trailers (madhouse - 1:48), Tales of Terror (2;21)
 

Blu-ray Release Date: July 21st, 2015
Standard Blu-ray case

Chapters 9

 

 

 

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray July 15': The DVD is over a decade old and it has always been weak - non-anamorphic, artifacts, cropped, dull, flat, greenish - these are some of the SD's single-layered troubles. The Blu-ray is a significant improvement by comparison. Detail significantly tightens, and contrast becomes layered, colors (skin tones) normalize, there is more information in the 1.78 (opened?) frame, and we see pleasing depth. The 1080P resolution looked like a different film on my system.

Kino Lorber use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track at 1585 kbps. There is some less subtle effects and intense screams. Dialogue sync seem out of kilter at times. The score is by Douglas Gamley (The Land That Time Forgot, The Beast Must Die, Asylum, And Now the Screaming Starts) and works well with the plot and pace. There are subtitles on the DVD (sample below) but none on the Blu-ray disc which is region 'A'-locked.

Official Statement: "It has come to our attention that Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray of MADHOUSE (1974) has some errors in the audio synchronization. We are reviewing the master materials now, and determining how significant the problem is. We will also determine whether the dialogue can be re-synched without compromising the timing of the music and sound effects, since the issue appears to be in the source elements. Based on what we find, Kino Lorber will decide whether or not to re-author the disc and set up an exchange program for the first-pressing discs. Thank you for your patience and your continued support."

NOTE: DISC REPLACEMENT: MADHOUSE (BLU-RAY)

After reviewing our MADHOUSE Blu-ray discs, we found that some scenes had minor sync issues as reported. Due to problems of irregular sound synchronization, Kino Lorber will re-author and will send replacement discs of the FIXED version to those who’ve purchased the Blu-ray of MADHOUSE.

Please click on the MADHOUSE EXCHANGE PROGRAM link below and fill out the form. Replacements are currently in production; we will send you an email when we’re ready to ship replacement copies which should be no later than September 1, 2015. Be sure to hold on to your original packaging, replacement discs will not include packaging.

Kino Lorber apologizes for any inconvenience that the manufacturing error has caused, and thanks you for your continued support.

http://eepurl.com/buJ7tP

Note: This disc replacement applies ONLY to the Kino Lorber Studio Classics release (2015), and does not apply to copies of MADHOUSE released on any other label. Disc replacement is only available in U.S.A. and Canada.

***

Both discs include a trailer - and the DVD has Theater of Blood on flipside. The Kino Lorber Blu-ray adds a commentary by David Del Valle (I will tuck into tonight) and a decent, new, 11-minute featurette "Revenge of Dr. Death" (an alternative, and more relevant, title for the film) which is a 'making of...' with some good information for those keen.

I modestly enjoyed Madhouse - certainly more than some films I have seen recently. It has its "Price" moments and nostalgia with the clips of Karloff and Rathbone. Cushing is always a treat! It's a curious work that could have been better polished for release but still has some value. This Kino Lorber Blu-ray is certainly the best way to view it in your home theater - you can never go back to the SD once you have. I appreciate the effort to include a commentary and the feature. It's a recommendation, but leaning more to Vincent Price fans - without him the film is nothing.

Gary W. Tooze

Menus

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT

 
 

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

 

Only subtitles on the DVD

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

1) MGM - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP

2) Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

Box Covers

    

  

    

Distribution MGM - Region 1 - NTSC Kino Lorber
Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Amicus was another British film production company. They were based out of Shepperton Studios, and produced films from the early 60's  to 1977. They specialized in Horror movies, in a similar vein to Hammer Studios (Peter Cushing often starring) but also made portmanteau films in that genre. They were revived in 2007 with Stuart Gordon's Stuck, Here are a few of their titles available on digital:

The City of the Dead (1960)

The Deadly Bees (1965)

Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (1965)

The Skull (1965)

The Amicus Collection

Torture Garden (1967)

Madhouse (1974)

The Land That Time Forgot (1975)

At the Earth's Core (1976)

The People That Time Forgot (1977)

Tales From The Crypt / Vault Of Horror)




 

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Gary Tooze

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