A few words about…™ The Body Snatcher – in Blu-ray

4 Stars

I’m a huge Val Lewton fan.

There’s never been anyone quite like him for intelligent, atmospheric horror.

Scream Factory’s new Blu-ray of Robert Wise’s (his second film in the series, after The Curse of the Cat People) 1945 The Body Snatcher, has everything going for it.

Boris Karloff

Bela Lugosi

Henry Daniell

And one very important addition.

From time immemorial – that’s way before the Bible, or wine…

This is a film that’s always been derived from fourth generation material on home video.

For their new release, Scream has worked with WB, to access the original camera negative, and the final result is a revelation.

Resolution, blacks, grays, shadow detail, grain structure – can’t be improved.

An absolute must for any serious collection.

Image – 5

Audio – 5

Pass / Fail – Pass

Upgrade from DVD – absolutely

Very Highly Recommended

RAH

Robert has been known in the film industry for his unmatched skill and passion in film preservation. Growing up around photography, his first home theater experience began at age ten with 16mm. Years later he was running 35 and 70mm at home.

His restoration projects have breathed new life into classic films like Lawrence of Arabia, Vertigo, My Fair Lady, Spartacus, and The Godfather series. Beyond his restoration work, he has also shared his expertise through publications, contributing to the academic discourse on film restoration. The Academy Film Archive houses the Robert A. Harris Collection, a testament to his significant contributions to film preservation.

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Dick

Dick

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I recall Mr. Harris saying a couple of years ago that we shouldn't be worried about the fate of the Lewton's on Blu-ray, as they were "in good hands." Obviously, he was correct. I revere this film. The two sequences between Karloff and Daniell in the pub are among those I consider to be truly great among all horror films.
 
TravisR

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warnerbro said:
Can't wait! The original negative! Now if they'll do the same with my favorite: THE SEVENTH VICTIM and also THE LEOPARD MAN.
Click to expand...
The ranking always varies but my top three favorite Lewtons are Cat People, The Leopard Man and The Seventh Victim. The sequence in The Leopard Man where the girl has go underneath the train overpass is still very effective even after 75 years.
 
Bill Fisher

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Robert Wise was so terrific. He has directed my favorite musical (WEST SIDE STORY) and my favorite horror film (THE HAUNTING--1963). Obviously BODY was a good precursor to HAUNTING and contained all the requisite elements of terror. He was a master filmmaker and even with 2 Oscars, a bit underrated. Spielberg will have to pull off a miracle to improve on Wise's WEST SIDE STORY.
 
Dick

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Bill Fisher said:
Robert Wise was so terrific. He has directed my favorite musical (WEST SIDE STORY) and my favorite horror film (THE HAUNTING--1963). Obviously BODY was a good precursor to HAUNTING and contained all the requisite elements of terror. He was a master filmmaker and even with 2 Oscars, a bit underrated. Spielberg will have to pull off a miracle to improve on Wise's WEST SIDE STORY.
Click to expand...

Don't know why he would even try. If he is doing it as a musical, it would probably be so that he could tuck another genre under his belt (he hasn't made a straight western yet, either, has he?). But if that is the case, why not try for an original musical a la LA LA LAND?
 
JoshZ

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Dick said:
Don't know why he would even try. If he is doing it as a musical, it would probably be so that he could tuck another genre under his belt (he hasn't made a straight western yet, either, has he?). But if that is the case, why not try for an original musical a la LA LA LAND?
Click to expand...

One of the primary motivations of remaking West Side Story is to cast actual Hispanic actors.
 
aPhil

aPhil

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I hope all the Val Lewton's get the kind of restoration we see on "The Body Snatcher",
but it would be nice if "I Walked with a Zombie" is up next
(and very soon).

I'm thrilled with new disc from Shout Factory. It looks great.
I was afraid that "The Body Snatcher" would not measure up to their "Curse of the Cat People" release (as that film looked pretty good on DVD where the Karloff/Lugosi film had looked weak).

I hope the upcoming (and older) Universal Pictures Karloff & Lugosi pairings (from Shout Blu-ray) will receive the same kind of love as we have with this newly released RKO filmed classic.
 
TravisR

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Scream Factory is releasing The Leopard Man on July 16.

From their Facebook page:
**NEW TITLE ANNOUNCEMENT**

We have no jokes today on April Fool’s Day, but three legit announcements instead! First up: The Val Lewton classic THE LEOPARD MAN stalks it way to Blu-ray for the first time on July 16th.

Is it man, beast or both behind a string of savage maulings and murders? An escaped leopard provides the catalyst for a foray into fear in which a cemetery is the rendezvous for death and love, and a closed door heightens rather than hides the horror of a young girl's fate. The Leopard Man once again teams producer Val Lewton with director Jacques Tourneur (Cat People). This thriller stars Dennis O'Keefe (T-Men, Raw Deal), Margo (Lost Horizon) and Jean Brooks (The Seventh Victim).

Extras are in progress and will be announced on a later date.

Pre-order THE LEOPARD MAN now @ https://www.shoutfactory.com/product/the-leopard-man…
Click to expand...
 
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