Jess Franco Blu-ray

[fatboyslim142]

New Jess Franco in this Spanish Gialli set:

[BW Haggar]

Nice one!

Interesting to see that it's framed at 2.35, because my copy of the old UK DVD release (double-billed with 'Erotic Rites..') definitely isn't. Could make quite a difference?

[Ian Jane]

***NEW RELEASE ALERT***

DRACULA, PRISONER OF FRANKENSTEIN

"“THE FEVER DREAM OF A CINEPHILIAC…An enjoyably outré, comic book-style monster rally as only Jess Franco could realize and bring to life.” El Franconomicon

THE NORTH AMERICAN DISC PREMIERE

Inspired by Universal’s 1940s monster mash-ups, writer/director Jess Franco instead delivered “a weird and wonderful masterpiece that transports you to a world like no other” (Scream Magazine): With minimal dialogue and maximum gothic atmosphere, Franco crafts a fever dream of erotic horror in which Count Dracula (Howard Vernon of DELICATESSEN), Dr. Frankenstein (Dennis Price of TWINS OF EVIL), his assistant Morpho and Frankenstein’s monster battle gypsies, showgirls, Dr. Seward and a wolfman. Alberto Dalbés (THE EROTIC RITES OF FRANKENSTEIN), Carmen Yazalde (A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD) and Geneviève Robert (star of Franco’s DEVIL’S ISLAND LOVERS and the future Mrs. Ivan Reitman) co-star in “a fantastic experience for those who respect Franco’s demented vision” (Mondo Exploito), now scanned in 4K from Spanish, French and German release prints to create the longest and most comprehensive version known to exist. "

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Prisoner Of Franco-Stein – Interview With Stephen Thrower, Author Of Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema Of Jesús Franco
• In The Land Of Franco Part 10
• Spanish Opening Credit Sequence
• Deleted Scene From English Language Version
• Trailer
• Webstore Exclusive Slipcover

FEATURE SPECS:

• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Audio: English Mono, Spanish Mono, Italian Mono, German Mono, French Mono
• Subtitles: English
• Closed Captions
• Region: A/B/C

https://severinfilms.com/collections...sive-slipcover

[Ian Jane]

Diabolik had it in stock briefly but it's sold out already.

https://diabolikdvd.com/product/shin...iabook-4k-uhd/

[agent999]

agent999: "Is it actually 4k? This is Germany after all!"

I watched it and it looked great. The 4K makes it more immersive. I felt like I had the razor burn.

Thanks, will have to check it out.

[mjeon]

agent999: "Is it actually 4k? This is Germany after all!"

I watched it and it looked great. The 4K makes it more immersive. I felt like I had the razor burn.

[Stephen]

Let's hope the 103 minutes is a misprint because the film is definitely not complete at that length.
If they can't find film elements for the missing footage from THE BLOODY JUDGE then at least it exists on DVD in better quality than they have presented those scenes in their past releases. A longer composite as an extra would have been nice.

Yes, that's true. In this case I prefer the composite version, as the suicide scene with Maria Rohm and Hans Hass jr. give the film a more balanced view. In fact you are more intersted in the characters when watching this composite. The German BD box by Koch (now Plaion) includes the composite version only in SD, but still in pretty good quality.

[Stephen]

Coming 4/9/24 from Full Moon.

The DVD from Full Moon was a shorter version running only 91 minutes. Will be interesting to see if they now release the unedited version that should be about 108 minutes (not that this imporoves the film anyway).

[Ian Jane]

Coming 4/9/24 from Full Moon.

[Josh Ouellette]

Audio in English, French and German. It's a two-disc set with a 4K disc and a blu-ray. It's said to be the first disc in a new series of Eurocine sex films. A kind of European Criterion Collection.

I have been (unsuccessfully) looking for a place to buy this were the shipping isn't more than the price of the disc. Shipping from D&T has gotten more expensive over the years.
From what I can tell the inclusion of a French audio track seems to be a listing mistake that has been repeated. I think it only includes the English track and a newly dubbed German track.
As far as the transfer goes who knows if it is just an upscale or actually 4k. It is Eurocine that is providing the transfer so I guess the safe bet would be to wait for a review.

[Josh Ouellette]

Let's hope the 103 minutes is a misprint because the film is definitely not complete at that length.
If they can't find film elements for the missing footage from THE BLOODY JUDGE then at least it exists on DVD in better quality than they have presented those scenes in their past releases. A longer composite as an extra would have been nice.
Either way a fresh scan and the new extras will make it worth a buy.

[Ian Jane]

Coming soon from Blue Underground.

Extras announced:

Jess Franco’s landmark epic of violence NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER (aka THE BLOODY JUDGE), is coming to 4K UHD & Blu-ray on March 26, 2024!
Blue Underground is proud to present the most complete and uncensored version of NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER (also known as THE BLOODY JUDGE) from a brand-new 2023 Dolby Vision HDR 4K master, painstakingly restored from various European vault elements featuring additional nudity, bloodshed and what Christopher Lee himself calls “scenes of extraordinary depravity!”

• WORLD PREMIERE! Brand-new 2023 4K master of the complete uncensored version
• Audio: English (1.0 DTS-HD MA)
• Subtitles: English SDH, Français, Español
• Region Free
• Limited Edition embossed slipcover and reversible sleeve with alternate artwork (pictured below right) [First Pressing Only]

EXTRAS:

• Audio Commentary #1 with Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• Audio Commentary #2 with Film Historians Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw
• Audio Commentary #3 with Film Historians David Flint and Adrian Smith
• Bloody Jess – Interviews with Director Jess Franco and Star Christopher Lee
• Judgement Day – Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of “Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco”
• In The Shadows – Interviews with Filmmaker Alan Birkinshaw and Author Stephen Thrower on Harry Alan Towers
• Deleted and Alternate Scenes
• Trailers and TV Spot
• Still Galleries

[mjeon]

Audio in English, French and German. It's a two-disc set with a 4K disc and a blu-ray. It's said to be the first disc in a new series of Eurocine sex films. A kind of European Criterion Collection.

[agent999]

Is it actually 4k? This is Germany after all!

[fatboyslim142]

Shining Sex has been released in 4K in Germany by Donau Film. Now there's some gratuitous Lina nudity.

Is it English friendly?