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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

H D - S E N S E I

A view on Blu-ray by Gary W. Tooze

Count Yorga, Vampire aka "The Loves of Count Iorga, Vampire" [Blu-ray]

(Bob Kelljan, 1970)

Arrow's Count Yorga Collection on Blu-ray is compared to this edition HERE

Review by Gary Tooze

Production:

Theatrical: American International Pictures (AIP)

Video: Twilight Time

Disc:

Region: FREE (as verified by the Oppo Blu-ray player)

Runtime: 1:32:47.019

Disc Size: 27,115,633,054 bytes

Feature Size: 25,241,745,408 bytes

Video Bitrate: 29.99 Mbps

Chapters: 24

Case: Transparent Blu-ray case

Release date: October, 2015

Video:

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Resolution: 1080p / 23.976 fps

Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video

Audio:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1058 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 1058 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 1.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Isolated Score:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1208 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1208 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit)
Commentary:

DTS-HD Master Audio English 1801 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1801 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit)

Subtitles:

• English (SDH), None

Extras:

• Audio Commentary with Film Historians David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan
• Isolated Score Track
• My Dinner with Yorga: The Robert Quarry Rue Morgue Interview, a Reading by David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan (13:04)
• Fangirl Radio Tribute to Robert Quarry with Tim Sullivan (45:59)
• Still Gallery: The MGM Archives
• Still Gallery: The Tim Sullivan Archives
• Original Theatrical Trailer (0:59)

• Liner notes by Julie Kirgo

Limited to 3,000 Copies!

Bitrate:

Description: Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) gives us an elegant titular character, an old-world undead gent (Robert Quarry) making his elegantly bloodthirsty way in modern-day Los Angeles. Posing as a hip medium, he attracts young lovelies to his mansion by holding séances; one bereft boyfriend (played by producer Michael Macready) enlists the help of vampire fighter Dr. Hayes (Roger Perry). Also starring Michael Murphy, and distributed by the deathless exploitation factory, American International Pictures.

The Film:

Centuries old Count Yorga (Robert Quarry) is a vampire that is given a ride to his gloomy mansion in the woods by Paul (Michael Murphy) and Donna (Judith Lang) in their Volkswagon van. On the way out of the woods, the vehicle becomes stuck in the mud, but the duo refuses to return to the creepy house. After the two make love, Donna is bitten by the Count. Paul becomes suspicious when she starts to devour cats and a séance reveals some uneasy feelings about the Count. Donna is examined by Dr. Hayes (Roger Perry), and the dedicated physician brings wooden stakes to the Volkswagon. While the demented demon looks on and shrieks with delight, a bevy of vampire beauties eats the doctor alive after he falls into the Count's trap. Unnecessary narration is employed to explain the action.

Excerpt from MRQE located HERE

This low-budget modern-day vampire movie is primitive but not unimaginative. Robert Quarry is the Count, a new arrival in California who knows a superstitious state when he sees it. He soon enlists a series of genuinely disgusting vampire brides (one of them tucks into her pet cat), despite the efforts of their mortal husbands. The flip humour and gruesome effects have lost the novelty value that appealed to cult audiences in 1970, but Yorga remains an intriguing off-shoot to the vampire family tree.

Excerpt from TimeOut located HERE

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

Arrow's Count Yorga Collection on Blu-ray is compared to this edition HERE

Count Yorga, Vampire comes to Twilight Time Blu-ray in a dual-layered, 1080P transfer with their usual high bitrate. The visuals look quite pleasing with a few speckles surfacing occasionally. The image carries some weight and texture and there is decent detail exported. Some scenes look out-of-focus but it would seem to be the intended look or production limitation. This Blu-ray is consistent in-motion and colors have some vibrancy and depth. Pretty solid presentation.

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

Audio :

The DTS-HD Master 1.0 mono channel track at 1058 kbps (24-bit) sounds clean with a few richer moments in pushing the film's typical horror-related effects (screams etc.). The score is by Bill Marx (Scream Blacula Scream) - adopted son of Harpo Marx! and although a little unusual at times for the genre - sounds clean, predictably flat and tight. There are optional English subtitles (sample above) and my Oppo has identified it as being a region FREE.

Extras :

Twilight Time add a new, fun-spirited, audio commentary with film historians David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan various facets of the production. It's quite detailed. Also included is the Isolated score track in lossless. My Dinner with Yorga: The Robert Quarry Rue Morgue Interview, is a 13-minute audio-only reading by David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan and Fangirl Radio has a 46-minute (also audio-only) Tribute to Robert Quarry with Tim Sullivan that I found educational and worth the time spent. There are two stills galleries (both MGM and Tim Sullivan Archives), a faded original theatrical trailer and the package has the usual liner notes by Julie Kirgo and this is limited to 3,000 units.

BOTTOM LINE:
Count Yorga, Vampire is a modest little vampire yarn but not without its own charm. There are some inventive twists on the typical storyline. I got into it after a fashion. The Twilight Time Blu-ray provides as good an a/v transfer for the film as we are likely to come across and it adds further value with the commentary, isolated score, audio supplements and liner notes. Nice to see some work put into these early 70's horrors that have nostalgic appeal as well as being quite watchable - recommended as the start of a vampire double-feature in your Home Theatre! NOTE: I liked it enough to get The Return of Count Yorga - we'll see if that carries the same value.

Gary Tooze

October 29th, 2015

About the Reviewer: Hello, fellow Beavers! I have been interested in film since I viewed a Chaplin festival on PBS when I was around 9 years old. I credit DVD with expanding my horizons to fill an almost ravenous desire to seek out new film experiences. I currently own approximately 9500 DVDs and have reviewed over 5000 myself. I appreciate my discussion Listserv for furthering my film education and inspiring me to continue running DVDBeaver. Plus a healthy thanks to those who donate and use our Amazon links.

Although I never wanted to become one of those guys who focused 'too much' on image and sound quality - I find HD is swiftly pushing me in that direction.

Gary's Home Theatre:

60-Inch Class (59.58” Diagonal) 1080p Pioneer KURO Plasma Flat Panel HDTV PDP6020-FD

Oppo Digital BDP-83 Universal Region FREE Blu-ray/SACD Player
Momitsu - BDP-899 Region FREE Blu-ray player
Marantz SA8001 Super Audio CD Player
Marantz SR7002 THX Select2 Surround Receiver
Tannoy DC6-T (fronts) + Energy (centre, rear, subwoofer) speakers (5.1)

APC AV 1.5 kVA H Type Power Conditioner 120V

Gary W. Tooze

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