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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

(aka "Ercole al centro della Terra" or "Hercules at the Center of the Earth" or "Hercules in the Haunted World" or "Hercules vs. the Vampires" or "With Hercules to the Center of the Earth")

 

Directed by Mario Bava
Italy / West Germany
1961

 

Upon his return from battle in the previous film, the great warrior Hercules learns that his lover, Daianara, has lost her senses. Acording of the oracle Medea, Dianara's only hope is the Stone of Forgetfulness which lies deep in the realm of Hades. Hercules, with two companions, Theseus and Telemachus, embarks on a dangerous quest for the stone, while he is unaware that Dianara's guardian, King Lico, is the one responsible for her condition and plots to have the girl for himself as his bride upon her revival.

***

When his beloved Princess Deianira (Leonora Ruffo) goes mad, strong man Hercules (Reg Park) turns to the oracle Medea for advice. Medea tells him to travel to the underworld and find the Stone of Forgetfulness, a mysterious crystal that will cure Deianira's ills. Along with his friend Theseus, Hercules ventures into the dark and foggy depths of Hades to find the stone. Meanwhile, Deianira's power-hungry uncle, Lico (Christopher Lee), plots to steal the throne that is her birthright.

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 16th, 1961

Reviews                                                                      More Reviews                                                                    DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

Koch (3-disc) - Region 'B' - Blu-ray vs. Kino (2-disc) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

Box Cover

  

   

Also available on DVD from Kino:

   

Distribution Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
Runtime 1:25:54.482  1:25:53.690 /  UK: 1:21:31.970 US: 1:24:10.670
Video

Disc Size: 32,145,148,169 bytes

Feature Size: 29,604,990,336 bytes

Average Bitrate: 36.86 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video  

Hercules in the Center of the Earth:

Disc Size: 39,135,274,571 bytes

Feature Size: 17,637,324,864 bytes

UK: 16,561,591,872 bytes

Average Bitrate: 24.11 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

US - Hercules (in the Haunted World):

Disc Size: 16,800,110,420 bytes

Feature Size: 16,385,761,728 bytes

Average Bitrate: 22.98 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

Bitrate Koch:
Bitrate Kino Center (Euro):
Bitrate Kino Center (UK):
Bitrate Kino US Haunted World:
Audio

LPCM Audio German 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
LPCM Audio Italian 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit
Commentary:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bitt

LPCM Audio Italian 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Commentary:

Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -2dB

UK:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

US:

DUB:

LPCM Audio English 1536 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1536 kbps / 16-bit

Subtitles English (for non-English in the English DUB - see below), German, None English (on Euro version), None

None on UK version

English (SDH) on US Version

Features Release Information:
Studio:
Koch

 

Disc Size: 32,145,148,169 bytes

Feature Size: 29,604,990,336 bytes

Average Bitrate: 36.86 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video  

 

Edition Details:
• 
Audio Commentary by Tim Lucas

• German Trailer (3:08)
• USA Trailer (1:31)
• UK Trailer (2:58)
• Italian credits (2:58)
• English credits (0:58)
• English credits2 (3:26)

 

Extras DVD

• Her Favorite Husband (1:18:52 - English with German subtitles)
• Theseus Am Mittelpunkt Der Erde (25:55 - Italian with German subtitles)
• Interview with Lamberto Bava (49:42 - Italian with German subtitles)
Trailer From Hell
• Die Stunde, Wenn Dracula Kommt (2:05 English with German subtitles)
• Die Drei Gesichter Der Furcht (2:32 English with German subtitles)
• Lisa und der Teufel (2:32 English with German subtitles)


Blu-ray Release Date:
November 8th, 2018
Custom Media-pack
Blu-ray Case with belly-band slipcase

Chapters 17

Release Information:
Studio:
Kino

 

Hercules in the Center of the Earth:

Disc Size: 39,135,274,571 bytes

Feature Size: 17,637,324,864 bytes

UK: 16,561,591,872 bytes

Average Bitrate: 24.11 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

 

US - Hercules (in the Haunted World:

Disc Size: 16,800,110,420 bytes

Feature Size: 16,385,761,728 bytes

Average Bitrate: 22.98 Mbps

Single-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC Video

  

 

Edition Details:
• U.S. release version: Hercules in the Haunted World (with optional English SDH captions)
• European release version: Vampire gegen Hercules; aka Ercole al centro della Terra (Italian dialogue with optional English subtitles)
• U.K. release version: Hercules at the Center of the Earth
• Audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark
• Interview with actor George Ardisson (25:57)
• U.S. theatrical trailer (1:35)
• U.K. theatrical trailer (3:06)


Blu-ray Release Date: December 8th, 2019
Standard
Blu-ray Case

Chapters 9 / 9 / 8

 

Comments:

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

 

ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' Blu-ray - October 2019: Kino bring Mario Bava's wonderfully rich "Ercole al centro della Terra" aka "Hercules at the Center of the Earth" or "Hercules in the Haunted World" or "Hercules vs. the Vampires" or "With Hercules to the Center of the Earth" to Region 'A' Blu-ray. It is stated as offering "2K restoration from the original camera negative". Kino include three separate (no seamless branching) versions of the film. The package has 2 Blu-ray discs. A dual-layered with the European release version: Vampire gegen Hercules; aka Ercole al centro della Terra (Italian dialogue with optional English subtitles) with an optional audio commentary by Tim Lucas (author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark) and the, shorter, U.K. release version: Hercules at the Center of the Earth (in English, no subtitles.) The second Blu-ray has the U.S. release (DUBBed) version: Hercules in the Haunted World (with optional English SDH captions). As Tim Lucas told me - "this version was extensively reworked with a new narrated structure making recycled use of the Medea footage. It was also extensively rescored with library music to beef things up and there is a different title sequence by Filmation Industries, the animation house that also provided the credits for the US version of BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (as seen on the VCI disc)". Despite the less robust transfer, with lower bitrates, the Kino version's image quality don't suffer too much and looks about the same with more discerning eyes and systems see a slight disparity in-motion.

 

Kino also use linear PCM tracks (16-bit) for the audio transfers. Impacting on the HD presentation is the score by Armando Trovajoli (Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory, Two Women, The Valachi Papers, A Special Day, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Marriage Italian Style, La Vista) adding tension, mystery and atmosphere. There are optional English subtitles for the Italian-language version, none for the included UK version and English (SDH) for the English DUB'ed US version. The Blu-ray discs are Region 'A'-locked.

 

Aside from having three versions, Kino have added the audio commentary by, always impressively knowledgeable, Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark for the Italian-language version (with the rarely seen pre-credit sequence) where he discusses the versions and differences, the premise and so much more - plus we get the 26-minute interview with actor George Ardisson - same as on the Koch but this has English subtitles. There are also U.S. and UK theatrical trailers.

 

This has one of the most appealing titles (Hercules vs. the Vampires) although as Tim Lucas mentions in the commentary - it is not entirely accurate, regardless of Christopher Lee in the cast, the Kino Blu-ray named Hercules in the Haunted World may be more appropriate. It's fun with plenty of camp value - kind of a sword-and-sandal meets horror - and Bava's creative style within the constrains of the limited budget (Lucas talks about only have 4 pillars that required frequent shifting to be in alternate scenes.)  The Kino Blu-ray offers a lot for fans who want to see the film in 3 of its versions and listen to the impressive commentary. Frankly, this remains a beautiful film.  

 

***

ON THE KOCH BD (Nov 2018): Koch's Blu-ray transfer is from a 2K-restoration and is housed on a dual-layered disc with a max'ed out bitrate. It has some inconsistency but generally looks soft-ish and accurately heavy. There are a handful of tighter sequences and colors are fairly rich. The higher resolution actually exposes some of the meagerness of the production because of the improved clarity over SD. It does look a thick in-motion but the enjoyment of the film is not hindered at all. I suspect this is the best this version (German titles and credits) will look and it is quite clean without excessive speckles or damage of any kind.

 

The Koch Blu-ray uses a linear PCM 2.0 channel audio tracks (16-bit) in the English, Italian or German DUBs. There are effects - but not an abundance - and they are supported with some minor depth in the uncompressed.  There are optional English subtitles (for only the English-language version's non-English dialogue which is only at the beginning with Christopher Lee's DUBBED speech - although even his English is DUBBED throughout) and German subtitles offered on Koch's Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray disc.

On the
Blu-ray disc there is an excellent commentary by Tim Lucas (author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark). he discusses a lot of about the production effects including the lighting as well as details on Reg Park, Bava and much more. It is very rewarding listening. On this disc there are also German, USA and UK trailers as well as Italian credits sequences and two English credits openings including the longer 3.5 minute one.

 

The package includes a DVD of the feature and a second DVD of extras that offer Her Favorite Husband aka The Taming of Dorothy (1950) (in English with German subtitles) a comedy crime-caper directed by Mario Soldati. It stars Jean Kent, Robert Beatty, Gordon Harker, Margaret Rutherford and runs 1 1/4 hours. As Tim Lucas tells me "HER FAVOURITE HUSBAND was included with the German disc as an extra because it was one of the early films Bava photographed. An English friendly copy is a nice thing to have!". There is also Theseus Am Mittelpunkt Der Erde (25:55 - Italian with German subtitles) a 50-minute interview with Lamberto Bava (Italian with German subtitles) and three episodes of Trailers From Hell (in English with German subtitles.) There is also a liner notes booklet in German text with photos.   

Gary Tooze

 

 

Menus/extras Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

 

 

Included Extras DVD

 

 

Kino (Center of the Earth) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

 

Kino (Haunted World) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray


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

 

Screen Captures

 

1) Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Kino (Center of the Earth) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Kino (US - Haunted World) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 

1) Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Kino (Center of the Earth) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Kino (Center of the Earth UK Version) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Kino (Center of the Earth) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Kino (Center of the Earth UK Version) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 


 

1) Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - TOP

2) Kino (Center of the Earth) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray MIDDLE

3) Kino (Haunted World - UK) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM

 

 


 

 


 

 


 


 

 


 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 

 


 


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Box Cover

  

   

Also available on DVD from Kino:

   

Distribution Koch - Region 'B' - Blu-ray Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray



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