Upcoming Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray Releases
HomeUpcoming Umbrella Entertainment Blu-ray Releases
Posted February 11, 2019 07:09 PM by Webmaster
Australian label Umbrella Entertainment has informed us that it will add a number of new titles to its Blu-ray catalog between March and April. Amongst them are the Ozploitation classic Mad Dog Morgan (1976), Death Warmed Up (1984), and Storm Boy (1976).
Mad Dog Morgan
Synopsis: Starring a manic Dennis Hopper in full-flight as the unhinged Morgan (and the role which would land him APOCALYPSE NOW) alongside a cast of Australian screen legends including David Gulpilil, Frank Thring, Bill Hunter, Jack Thompson, John Hargreaves, Michael Pate and Graeme Blundell; this special Blu-ray release has been remastered in 4K from the original 35mm interpositive and includes all the bonus content from the original Umbrella DVD alongside new special features including a retrospective interview with director Philippe Mora, commentary with Mora and author Jake Wilson and a featurette revisiting the original shooting locations.
Filmed in Panavision around 'Morgan Country' (real-life locations in rural Australia where Daniel Morgan ran amok) in the mid-1970s, at a time when the Australian film industry was in its infancy and at the dawn of the Ozploitation era; MAD DOG MORGAN is one of the undisputed classics of Australian '70s cinema and one of the flagship titles in the Umbrella catalogue.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Death Warmed Up
Synopsis: Locked away in a psychiatic hospital for the murder of his parents, no one believed Michael Tucker when he told them he was programmed by a genetic surgeon. Released into the world, he wants revenge.
Dr Archer Howell has been experimenting on humans at Trans Cranial Applications, drilling the skulls of his patients and injecting drugs into their brain to create psychotic killing-machines. Isolated on an island and left to his own devices, Dr Howell is about to have a deadly visitor...
Shot in Auckland and Waiheke Island, New Zealand at the end of 1983, DEATH WARMED UP was reviled by conservatives but adored by fans around the world, becoming a cult hit in the home video era. Directed by David Blyth (ANGEL MINE) and written by Michael Heath (NEXT OF KIN), DEATH WARMED is a relentless assault of bold and startling images, unimaginable horror and driving soundtrack.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey
Synopsis: A visionary boy, Griffin (Hamish Gough, An Angel at My Table) leads five men from the 14th Century into a 20th Century city. Their quest: to save their village before sunrise. It is Cumbria 1348, the year of the Black Death. A medieval mining village lives in fear of the advancing plague. Griffin's older brother, Connor (Bruce Lyons) returns from the outside world in a state of despair, until Griffin tells of his dream – and reveals the only hope of survival. Make a tribute to God. Place a spire on a distant cathedral. Do it before dawn or the village is lost.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Storm Boy
Synopsis: Regarded by as one of the finest ever Australian films, STORM BOY is based on the novel by Colin Thiele and is the story of Mike, a young boy living with his reclusive father along the coast of South Australia. His days are spent on the beach with his pet pelican, Mr Percival, and listening to the stories of Fingerbone Bill (David Gulpilil, in one of his finest roles). When he faces pressure from teachers to attend school and encounters local shooters, Mike faces previously unknown challenges, the tenderness and the cruelty of life.
Newly restored from the original interpositive and scanned in 4K, this very special presentation of STORM BOY presents the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio and on the Blu-ray format for the first time. This is a powerful, beautiful and affecting film which has connected with audiences around the world for over 40 years. Umbrella presents this landmark experience for a new generation to discover.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Watership Down
Synopsis: The timeless animation classic based on the best-selling novel by Richard Adams. Nestled among the peaceful meadows of country England lives an idyllic community of rabbits but when warned that their warren will be destroyed, a small group escapes into the unknown countryside in search of a new home. Led by the visionary Fiver, the courageous Bigwig, the clever Blackberry, and the honourable Hazel, the rabbits face daunting challenges as they struggle to pursue their dream, battling the vicious General Woundwort, the cruel leader of another warren, but also making an unlikely friend - a batty seagull named Kehaar. Director Martin Rosen brilliantly frames the tale from the rabbits' point of view, while the affecting, painterly animation style further allows the viewer to identify with each character's engrossing journey. Over 40 years since its initial release, Watership Down remains a compelling tale of courage, loyalty and thrilling adventure.
STREET DATE: MARCH 6.
Howling III: The Marsupials
Synopsis: A strange race of human-like marsupials appears suddenly in Australia and begins to create havoc. A sociologist who studies these strange creatures falls in love with a beautiful woman who happens to be marsupial. Could this be a combination far too dangerous for the world to see? The "Howling" terror continues...
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Mad Dog Morgan
Synopsis: Starring a manic Dennis Hopper in full-flight as the unhinged Morgan (and the role which would land him APOCALYPSE NOW) alongside a cast of Australian screen legends including David Gulpilil, Frank Thring, Bill Hunter, Jack Thompson, John Hargreaves, Michael Pate and Graeme Blundell; this special Blu-ray release has been remastered in 4K from the original 35mm interpositive and includes all the bonus content from the original Umbrella DVD alongside new special features including a retrospective interview with director Philippe Mora, commentary with Mora and author Jake Wilson and a featurette revisiting the original shooting locations.
Filmed in Panavision around 'Morgan Country' (real-life locations in rural Australia where Daniel Morgan ran amok) in the mid-1970s, at a time when the Australian film industry was in its infancy and at the dawn of the Ozploitation era; MAD DOG MORGAN is one of the undisputed classics of Australian '70s cinema and one of the flagship titles in the Umbrella catalogue.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- EXCLUSIVE NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
- NEW audio commentary with Director Philippe Mora and Jake Wilson, author of Australian Screen Classics: MAD DOG MORGAN
- Alternate audio commentary with Director Philippe Mora
- TO SHOOT A MAD DOG: Making MAD DOG MORGAN
- HOPPING MAD: Looking Back on Mad Dog Morgan
- Extended interviews from NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD: Philippe Mora, producer Jeremy Thomas, camera operator John Seale and cast members Jack Thompson, Roger Ward and Graeme Blundell
- MAD COUNTRY: SHOOTING LOCATIONS REVISITED with optional commentary
- Interview with Dennis Hopper by Philippe Mora
- Radio interview with Philippe Mora
- Remastered Trailer
- Image gallery
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
Death Warmed Up
Synopsis: Locked away in a psychiatic hospital for the murder of his parents, no one believed Michael Tucker when he told them he was programmed by a genetic surgeon. Released into the world, he wants revenge.
Dr Archer Howell has been experimenting on humans at Trans Cranial Applications, drilling the skulls of his patients and injecting drugs into their brain to create psychotic killing-machines. Isolated on an island and left to his own devices, Dr Howell is about to have a deadly visitor...
Shot in Auckland and Waiheke Island, New Zealand at the end of 1983, DEATH WARMED UP was reviled by conservatives but adored by fans around the world, becoming a cult hit in the home video era. Directed by David Blyth (ANGEL MINE) and written by Michael Heath (NEXT OF KIN), DEATH WARMED is a relentless assault of bold and startling images, unimaginable horror and driving soundtrack.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- Audio commentary with Director David Blyth and Writer Michael Heath
- I'LL GET YOU ALL: Interview with actor David Letch
- Deleted/Missing scenes with optional audio commentary
- Original New Zealand 4:3 VHS cut
- Interview featurette with David Blyth and Michael Heath
- Theatrical trailer
- VHS Trailers
- TV Spot
- Image gallery
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey
Synopsis: A visionary boy, Griffin (Hamish Gough, An Angel at My Table) leads five men from the 14th Century into a 20th Century city. Their quest: to save their village before sunrise. It is Cumbria 1348, the year of the Black Death. A medieval mining village lives in fear of the advancing plague. Griffin's older brother, Connor (Bruce Lyons) returns from the outside world in a state of despair, until Griffin tells of his dream – and reveals the only hope of survival. Make a tribute to God. Place a spire on a distant cathedral. Do it before dawn or the village is lost.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- Audio Commentary with Actor Paul Livingston and Production designer Sally Campbell
- Path of the Navigator: Vincent's Odyssey (40 minute interview featurette with Director, Vincent Ward)
- Original Trailer
- Image Gallery
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
Storm Boy
Synopsis: Regarded by as one of the finest ever Australian films, STORM BOY is based on the novel by Colin Thiele and is the story of Mike, a young boy living with his reclusive father along the coast of South Australia. His days are spent on the beach with his pet pelican, Mr Percival, and listening to the stories of Fingerbone Bill (David Gulpilil, in one of his finest roles). When he faces pressure from teachers to attend school and encounters local shooters, Mike faces previously unknown challenges, the tenderness and the cruelty of life.
Newly restored from the original interpositive and scanned in 4K, this very special presentation of STORM BOY presents the film in its original theatrical aspect ratio and on the Blu-ray format for the first time. This is a powerful, beautiful and affecting film which has connected with audiences around the world for over 40 years. Umbrella presents this landmark experience for a new generation to discover.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- EXCLUSIVE NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
- Story Makers: Colin Thiele - 1988 documentary on the authour of Storm Boy -BLUE FIN (1978)
- Wild Reel: Hardy Kruger & Greg Rowe - profile
- Theatrical VHS trailer
- Blue Fin: Theatrical trailer
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
Watership Down
Synopsis: The timeless animation classic based on the best-selling novel by Richard Adams. Nestled among the peaceful meadows of country England lives an idyllic community of rabbits but when warned that their warren will be destroyed, a small group escapes into the unknown countryside in search of a new home. Led by the visionary Fiver, the courageous Bigwig, the clever Blackberry, and the honourable Hazel, the rabbits face daunting challenges as they struggle to pursue their dream, battling the vicious General Woundwort, the cruel leader of another warren, but also making an unlikely friend - a batty seagull named Kehaar. Director Martin Rosen brilliantly frames the tale from the rabbits' point of view, while the affecting, painterly animation style further allows the viewer to identify with each character's engrossing journey. Over 40 years since its initial release, Watership Down remains a compelling tale of courage, loyalty and thrilling adventure.
STREET DATE: MARCH 6.
Howling III: The Marsupials
Synopsis: A strange race of human-like marsupials appears suddenly in Australia and begins to create havoc. A sociologist who studies these strange creatures falls in love with a beautiful woman who happens to be marsupial. Could this be a combination far too dangerous for the world to see? The "Howling" terror continues...
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- Audio Commentaries with Director Philippe Mora
- COLONIAL LYCANTHROPY: A Conversation with Philippe Mora
- Extended NOT QUITE HOLLYWOOD interviews with Director Philippe Mora and Special Effects Artist Bob McCarron
- Trailers
- TV Spot
- Image gallery
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature