By MICHAEL GINGOLD
A bunch more movies and TV shows from a stellar career will be seeing the light of hi-def.
Severin Films has announced an August 29 street date for CUSHING CURIOSITIES, a six-disc Blu-ray set containing five feature films and six telefilms starring the legendary Peter Cushing. The titles are: CONE OF SILENCE, with the actor in a villainous role of a pilot attempting to undermine an investigation into an airline disaster, in a new 2K scan from the dupe negative; SUSPECT and THE MAN WHO FINALLY DIED, a pair of thrillers about conspiracies and Nazis, both scanned in 2K from the original negatives; SHERLOCK HOLMES, six episodes of a BBC series with Cushing as the classic detective and Nigel Stock as Dr. Watson, scanned from BBC tape protection masters; BLOODSUCKERS (pictured above), a unique and perverse take on vampirism co-starring Patrick Macnee and Edward Woodward, presented in the longest version ever assembled, scanned in 2K from the original negative with additional elements from a recently discovered 35mm vault print; and TENDER DRACULA, a bizarre variation on the Count with Cushing in his only performance as a vampire, scanned in 2K from the original vault negative.
The discs are accompanied by the all-new 200-page book PETER CUSHING: A PORTRAIT IN SIX SKETCHES by award-winning horror historian Jonathan Rigby. The 16-plus hours of special features are:
CONE OF SILENCE (2.35:1, English mono audio, region free):
- Newsreel of Peter Cushing and his miniature soldiers
Illustrated Audio Interviews:
- Peter Cushing on The Funster Show with Paul Carrington
- The Guardian interview with Peter Cushing
- Peter Cushing interviewed by Tony Dalton, author of TERENCE FISHER: MASTER OF GOTHIC CINEMA
- Cushing’s View: 1973 interview with Peter Cushing on Whitstable and his late wife Helen
SUSPECT (1.66:1)/THE MAN WHO FINALLY DIED (2.35:1; English mono audio, Region A):
- Audio commentary on SUSPECT by Jonathan Rigby, author of ENGLISH GOTHIC, and horror historian Kevin Lyons
- Audio commentary on THE MAN WHO FINALLY DIED by Kim Newman, author of ANNO DRACULA, and Barry Forshaw, author of BRIT NOIR
SHERLOCK HOLMES (1.33:1, English mono audio, Region A):
- Audio commentaries by Kim Newman, author of ANNO DRACULA, Barry Forshaw, author of BRIT NOIR, and David Stuart Davies, author of STARRING SHERLOCK HOLMES: A CENTURY OF THE MASTER DETECTIVE ON SCREEN
- All episodes available with BBC countdown clock
- Illustrated Peter Cushing audio interview with David Stuart Davies
- Lost segments with optional commentary by Jonathan Rigby, author of ENGLISH GOTHIC, and horror historian Kevin Lyons
BLOODSUCKERS (1.66:1, English mono audio, region free):
- Audio commentary by Jonathan Rigby, author of ENGLISH GOTHIC, and horror historian Kevin Lyons
- Daddy’s Girl: Interview with director Robert Hartford-Davis’ daughter, Jean Hartford-Davis
- STRANGER IN THE CITY (1961): Short film by Robert Hartford-Davis
- Bite Me!: TIGON: BLOOD ON A BUDGET author John Hamilton on Robert Hartford-Davis
- The Trip: Interview with uncredited drug orgy actress Françoise Pascal
- FREEDOM SEEKER alternate title sequence
- Trailer
TENDER DRACULA (1.66:1, English and French mono audio, Region A):
- Audio commentary by Jonathan Rigby, author of ENGLISH GOTHIC, and horror historian Kevin Lyons
- Love Me Tender, Dracula: Interview with director Pierre Grunstein
- Menez of Speaking: Interview with actor Bernard Menez
- Trailer
Retail price is $134.95, but the set can be pre-ordered at the Severin website for $95.
