The Beast and the Magic Sword Blu-ray

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

(aka "La bestia y la espada mágica" or "The Beast and the Magic Sword" or "The Werewolf and the Magic Sword")

Directed by Paul Naschy (as Jacinto Molina)

Spain / Japan 1983

Werewolf versus Samurai in a Battle to the Death!

THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD is the last great film from Spanish horror legend Paul Naschy. Although he would go on making and planning films until his death in 2009, he never again attempted the epic sweep and grandeur of this 10th entry into the saga of Waldemar Daninsky, a man afflicted by the curse of lycanthropy.

In this film we get for the first time an origin story of how the Daninsky curse began back in the 10th century. We then move forward to 16th century Japan where Daninsky has travelled in search of a cure to his affliction. Co-starring Japanese stage and screen veteran Shigeru Amachi, and shot in the studios of Toshiro Mifune, THE BEAST AND THE MAGIC SWORD is a highly successful and colourful melding of European werewolf legends and dark Japanese fantasy. It features a fight between werewolf and tiger, an evil scarlet-cloaked witch who imprisons Daninsky, a sword fight with a troupe of ghost samurai, and many other unforgettable scenes.

***

In the 16th Century, the lycanthrope Waldemar Daninsky goes from his native Europe to Japan, seeking a way to cure himself of being a werewolf. Only a Japanese sorcerer named Kian and a magic silver sword can save him.

Posters

Theatrical Release: November 28th, 1983

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Review: Mondo Macabro - Region FREE - Blu-ray

Box Cover		CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures:
Distribution	Mondo Macabro - Region FREE - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:54:59.041 / 1:54:59.041
Video	1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 45,304,215,871 bytes 1.33:1: 18,953,381,952 bytes 1.66:1: 18,955,235,904 bytes Video Bitrate: 26.78 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate Blu-ray:
Audio	DTS-HD Master Audio Spanish 1509 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 16-bit) Commentary: Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
Subtitles	English, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Mondo Macabro 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 45,304,215,871 bytes 1.33:1: 18,953,381,952 bytes 1.66:1: 18,955,235,904 bytes Video Bitrate: 26.78 Mbps Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Edition Details: • Audio commentary with the Naschy cast. (Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn) • The Smile of the Wolf - Interview with star Paul Naschy (46:23) • Introduction to the film by Paul Naschy(13:36) • Interview with the writer and critic Gavin Baddeley (32:12) • Disc contains both widescreen and full frame versions. • Original trailer (2:51) Blu-ray Release Date: February 25th, 2020 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 10 X 2

Comments:

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

ADDITION: Mondo Macabro Blu-ray (March 2020): Mondo Macabro have transferred Paul Naschy's The Beast and the Magic Sword (aka "La bestia y la espada mágica") to Blu-ray. It is cited as being a "4k digitally restored transfer from film negative". It contains the US release in both a full frame version (1.37) and a widescreen version (1.66) versions separate 1080P transfers. We have compared some captures below. It's a little inconsistent and takes a while (maybe 1/4 hour) to settle in, but after that has some occasionally impressive detail - kind of a smoky look with solid texture. I preferred the 1.37:1 as it seemed to better suit composition - the 'widescreen' has some head-chopping as well as flaming torches (see in two captures below). Overall a pleasing HD presentation considering the film's rarity in being seen in an English-friendly version and any imperfects were likely part of the negative source.

NOTE: We have added 40 more large resolution Blu-ray captures (in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE

On their Blu-ray, Mondo Macabro use a DTS-HD Master 2.0 channel track (16-bit) in the original Spanish language. I don't know much about the music - it can be an intense score and is credited to 'Cam Espana' with a man and woman singing a traditional Japanese song at the very end. Perhaps they mentioned it in the commentary and I kissed it. Dialogue has some weakness - sounding a shade clouded at times. Mondo Macabro offer optional English subtitles on their Region FREE Blu-ray.

The Mondo Macabro Blu-ray offers an audio commentary with a couple of Paul Naschy experts; Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn hosts of the Naschy Cast podcast. They have some enthusiasm and bring up some interesting, lesser-known, details - it's mostly on the actor/director and the Count Waldemar Daninsky's lycanthrope character, and his lack of continuity timelines etc. The Smile of the Wolf is a 3/4 hour archival interview with star Paul Naschy. Always an interesting dude. There is a 13-minute introduction to the film by Naschy and a 1/2 hour interview with the writer and critic Gavin Baddeley - author of FrightFest Guide to Werewolf Movies (The Dark Heart of Cinema) - so he's the go-to guy for reluctant wolfmen, Nazi werewolves, werewolf nuns, big bad fairytale wolves and lycanthropic nymphomaniacs. Lastly, is an original trailer.

Well, The Beast and the Magic Sword is over-the-top fun with Paul Naschy's (Inquisition, The Devil Incarnate, The Night of the Werewolf) unrestrained horror conventions spilling all over the place. I loved the tiger vs. werewolf battle and the well-choreographed sword conflicts - although the former may be a bit long and the entire infusion of Japanese samurai culture gives it a wild, fun... supernatural bent. It's no wonder Naschy has such a fervent following. He always kinda cool and fearless in his production choices. I believe this was the 10th in the series of Paul Naschy's Daninsky werewolf films. The Mondo Macabro Blu-ray has a commentary, interviews but the film itself has the most value - quite an unusual, adventurous take on lycanthropy.