Eureka Entertainment has announced its November batch of Blu-ray releases. They are: The Dead and the Deadly (1982) and Son of the White Mare and other Early Works by Marcell Jankovics (1981).
Criminally unseen in the West, The Dead and the Deadly is a horror-action-comedy-special effects extravaganza in the in the same vein as Mr. Vampire and Encounters of the Spooky Kind. Directed by Wu Ma (one of Hong Kong cinema's most beloved multi-hyphenates; over a 50 year career he was hugely successful in writing, directing, producing, and acting) in perhaps his best directorial effort, and also starring Sammo Hung – The Dead and the Deadly is a must-see for both horror and action fans.
Wu Ma also stars as a man who fakes his death in order to steal his family's funeral treasure. When the treasure is instead bequeathed to Ma's unborn son, his co-conspirators kill him (for real this time). His vengeful spirit seeks out the help of his friend (played by Sammo Hung) and together they seek revenge on his murderers.
Also starring Lam Ching-Ying (as a Taoist priest, foreshadowing his future role in Mr. Vampire) and Cherie Chung, The Dead and the Deadly comes to home video for the first time ever in the UK from a brand new 2K restoration!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 2K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
Original Cantonese mono audio
Optional English dubbed audio
Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release
New feature length audio commentary by Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) & Michael Worth
New feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
Archival interview and audience Q&A with Sammo Hung, filmed in 2016 at the Udine Far East Film Festival
Original Hong Kong theatrical trailer
A Limited Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver
Description: Legendary Hungarian animator Marcell Jankovics created a definitive masterpiece of world cinema with this psychedelic adaptation of the Hungarian folk tale.
Traversing an otherworldly canvas, Son of the White Mare follows mythic folk heroes Treeshaker, Stonecrumbler, and Irontemperer as they descend into the perilous Underworld on an epic quest to battle the forces of ancient evil and save the cosmos.
An astonishing fantasy epic, this kaleidoscopic medley of groundbreaking animation styles comes to home video for the first time ever in the UK as part of the Masters of Cinema series. Presented from a 2019 4K restoration supervised and approved by director Marcell Jankovics, this release also includes Jankovics' debut feature–and the first ever Hungarian animated feature film–Johnny Corncob [János Vitéz] (1973), as well as a selection of his short films.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVE
Johnny Corncob (János Vitéz) – Jankovics first animated feature, and the first ever Hungarian animated feature film, is also presented here in 1080p from a director approved 4K digital restoration
Sisyphus – short film
The Struggle (Küzdők) – short film
Dreams on Wings – short film created as a commercial for Air India
Optional English Subtitles
Brighter Colors – extensive interview with Marcell Jankovics from the Hungarian National Film Archive, filmed in 2020
Making of János Vitéz – archival featurette from 1973
The Director Talks – featurette with Jankovics produced by the Hungarian National Film Archive
A collector's booklet featuring a new essay by film writer Rich Johnson