Film Detective Releasing Eegah!

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Courtesy of Lisa Petrucci's post on FB at the SWV Fan Club page.

On November 26, The Film Detective will be releasing the new 4K restoration of EEGAH on Blu-ray! This will be THEE BEST version of the film available on video to date! The Limited Edition Blu-ray includes:
A 4K restoration of "Eegah" (1962)
The 1993 Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (MST3K) version of the film
Exclusive interviews with star Arch Hall Jr. and MST3K creator Joel Hodgson.
Something Weird Video, Shout Factory and MST 3000 are partners in this release!
https://www.thefilmdetective.com/eegah



Seems to be some mystery as to whether or not this is a pressed disc or a BD-R.

[agent999 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close agent999]

Don't Film Detective usually just do BD-Rs? Maybe they think there are legions of Arch Hall fans out there.

[Jobla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jobla]

This is a Shout Factory/SWV/Film Detective co-promotion. SWV has reportedly stated on Facebook that this will be a pressed disc, not a BD-R.

I don't know that anybody has found a different print, but a 4K restoration should look better than the public domain copies floating around. It will also be great to have a new interview with Arch Hall, Jr. I'm really looking forward to this disc.

[Jobla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jobla]

Bruce Holecheck, in his Cinema Arcana website, states that Something Weird has unearthed the original camera negative for EEGAH, and that the OCN will be used for the upcoming Blu-ray from Film Detective (and presumably for their new DVD as well).

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

That's rad that they found the negative.

I'm unusually giddy about this release.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Here's the full press release from The Film Detective on this one...

The Film Detective Proudly Presents the Restored Collector's Edition of 'Eegah' (1962)

'Watch Out for Snakes!' Mystery Science Theater 3000's Favorite Seven-FootTall Caveman as Never Seen Before in Special, Restored Collector's Edition of 1962 Cult Classic, Available Nov. 26

ROCKPORT, Mass., October 24, 2019 (Newswire.com) -

The “name written in blood,” Eegah, returns to the spotlight for a special-edition release from The Film Detective (TFD), a leading classic media streaming network and film archive that restores classic films for today's cord-cutters.

On Nov. 26, TFD will release a must-have collector's set for any cult fan that includes a 4K restoration of Eegah (1962); the 1993 Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) version of the film; and exclusive interviews with star Arch Hall Jr., who portrayed the local teenage hero, and MST3K creator Joel Hodgson.

Originally designed as a vehicle for his son, filmmaker Arch Hall Sr. assumed the roles of writer, producer, director, and actor to bring the film to fruition, utilizing pseudonyms like “Nicholas Merriwether” and “William Watters” to prevent his name from appearing multiple times in the credits.

Incorporating all of the rock 'n' roll, pop culture staples of the '60s, he added a rampaging, seven-foottall Neanderthal to create the thrilling comedy, which follows Eegah (Richard Kiel), a prehistoric caveman who is nearly run over by Roxy Miller (Marilyn Manning) on her way to a party. Forming a romantic interest in the young beauty, Eegah holds Roxy and her father (Hall Sr.) captive in his lair. It's up to local gas station attendant Tom Nelson (Hall Jr.) to rescue his sweetheart from the raving brute.

Matching the whimsical tone of the movie itself, Arch Sr. once said, “It was always sort of a subject of laughter that the darned thing did so well."

Despite its campy prehistoric origins, the legacy of Eegah has stood the test of time. In 1993, the movie was picked up for an episode of MST3K (1988-1999), a comedy series that made playful commentary on entertainment's most-notorious B-movies, recently revived on Netflix in 2017. The episode further immortalized the film's most famous, satirical line, “Watch out for snakes,” a comment noticeably dubbed during post-production. Eegah embedded itself so deeply into the culture of MST3K that the show took to the road in 2017 for a live Watch Out for Snakes Tour.

MST3K is not the only organization with a longtime appreciation for the legacy of Eegah. Something Weird Video, an American film distributor dedicated to the preservation of exploitation films, has served as an integral part of Eegah's preservation. Commented owner Lisa Petrucci, "Something Weird is pleased that Eegah is getting the deluxe Blu-ray video release that it deserves. This will be the best version of the film ever made available!"

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL FEATURES: Joel Hodgson, creator of MST3K, gives his take on the Hall family and his evolving appreciation for the film following the 1993 episode; and the star himself, Arch Hall Jr., shares personal insights on his father's spur-of-the-moment plot idea, reveals which of his family members appear in cameos throughout the film and offers behind-the-scenes details from production.

With a 4K restoration by Peter Conheim from the Cinema Preservation Alliance, Eegah is available for purchase from TFD Nov. 26 on limited-edition Blu-ray ($24.99) and on DVD ($19.99). By ordering through the Movie Zyng links below, viewers will receive a $1 discount off the suggested retail price.

Eegah is presented in HD with an aspect ratio of 16x9 and original sound with English subtitles available.

With only 1,500 Blu-rays available, fans can secure a copy before they go extinct by preordering now at:

Blu-ray: https://zyng.us/Q2AQEW

DVD: https://zyng.us/D80ENF

About The Film Detective:

The Film Detective (TFD) is a leading distributor of restored classic programming, including feature films, television, foreign imports and documentaries. Launched in 2014, TFD distributes its extensive library of 3,000+ hours of film on DVD and Blu-ray and through such leading broadcast and streaming platforms as Turner Classic Movies, NBC, EPIX, Pluto TV, Amazon, MeTV, PBS and more. In 2018, TFD released its classic movie app and has since launched its 24/7 linear channel on Sling TV, STIRR and DistroTV. Visit us at www.TheFilmDetective.com.

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Film Detective announced that they're down to 300 copies left.

[chriszilla Member Find all posts View Profile Close chriszilla]

Film Detective announced that they're down to 300 copies left.

Thanks for the heads-up. I've been meaning to get this and had kinda forgotten about it.

[Darcy Parker Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Darcy Parker]

That's rad that they found the negative.

I'm unusually giddy about this release.

When it comes to Arch Hall, isn't it usually harder to find the positive?

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

When it comes to Arch Hall, isn't it usually harder to find the positive?

Fair point, but I find the guy likable in his own weird way.

[bgart13 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgart13]

His movies are generally entertaining and quirky -- that's plenty of positive right there. But yeah, funny quip! ;)

[Ian Jane Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close Ian Jane]

Arch Hall Jr. 'live' on the bynwr site.

https://www.bynwr.com/articles/arch-hall-jr-live

[Jobla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jobla]

It's great to hear Arch sounding so good after nearly 60 years. The backing band is fine too, although I don't think that any of them were original Archers. I wish they'd release a full-length CD.

[bgart13 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bgart13]

None are the Archers, but the bass player is The Son of Ghoul!

[Jobla Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jobla]

Archer Alan O'Day joined Arch for a New Orleans music festival performance several years ago. I don't know if any other Archers were involved, but I don't think that Dobie Gray was there.