Arrow Video has revealed that it is planning to release on Blu-ray two more films by Italian director Mario Bava:
Black Sabbath (1963), starring Michèle Mercier, Lidia Alfonsi and Boris Karloff, and
Baron Blood (1972), starring Joseph Cotten, Elke Sommer and Massimo Girotti. Both are expected to be available for purchase in April.
Black Sabbath
A beautiful woman is terrorized by call from an ex-lover who has escaped from prison for the pleasure of killing her...a family becomes a feeding ground when their father returns home wounded after ridding the countryside of a hideous vampire...a nurse is haunted by reproaches from the Beyond after stealing a ring from the finger of a dead medium!
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of two versions of the film; 'I tre volti della paura' – the European version with score by Roberto Nicolosi & 'Black Sabbath' – the re-edited and re-dubbed AIP version with Les Baxter score, on home video for the first time
- English SDH subtitles for English Audio and a new English subtitle translation of the Italian audio
- Audio Commentary with Bava biographer and expert Tim Lucas
- Introduction to the film by author and critic Alan Jones
- A Life In Film – An Interview with star Mark Damon
- Three Faces of Black Sabbath – A comparison of the different versions of the film
- International Trailer
- US Trailer
- Italian Trailer
- TV and Radio Spots
- Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic David Cairns and a substantial interview with AIP Producer Samuel Z. Arkoff on his experiences of working with Bava, conducted by Tim Lucas, illustrated with original stills and posters
Baron Blood
After spending several years exploring more contemporary genres, director Mario Bava (
Black Sunday) returned with
Baron Blood to the Gothic world as a setting for a gruesome thriller. Working with producer Alfredo Leone, Bava crafted a film that is loyal to the bylaws of traditional horror, but is infused with a more modern visual style.
An American professor (Antonio Cantafora) travels to the estate of his ancestor, the sadistic Baron Otto von Kleist, seeking the truth beneath his notorious reputation. When he and his assistant Eva (Elke Sommer) read aloud an ancient incantation, the Baron's spirit is resurrected, leading to a series of violent deaths within the haunted castle.
Special Features:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation of three versions of the film: Bava's original version Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga with Italian audio, The European Export Version of Baron Bloodwith English audio, and, on home video for the first time, the re-edited and re-dubbed AIP Version of Baron Blood with alternate score by Les Baxter.
- Three audio versions: Optional Italian, European English and AIP English re-dub and re-score.
- English SDH subtitles for both English versions and a new English subtitle translation of the Italian audio.
- Audio Commentary with Bava biographer and expert Tim Lucas.
- Introduction to Baron Blood by author and critic Alan Jones.
- "Delirium Italian-style" – Ruggero Deodato on Mario Bava and the golden age of Italian genre films.
- "Mario Bava at work" – a photo gallery of Bava behind the scenes on his films.
- Trailers and Radio Spots.
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys.
- Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic James Oliver, illustrated with original archive stills and posters.