Indicator/Powerhouse Films Announce November Releases
HomeIndicator/Powerhouse Films Announce November Releases
Posted August 10, 2023 11:04 PM by Webmaster
British distributors Indicator/Powerhouse Films have announced that they will release on Blu-ray The Criminal Acts of Tod Slaughter: Eight Blood-and-Thunder Entertainments (1935-1940), a four-disc box set, which will be available for purchase on November 21.
The Criminal Acts of Tod Slaughter: Eight Blood-and-Thunder Entertainments
Description: The terrifying talents of Newcastle's Norman Carter 'Tod' Slaughter – the first true icon of British horror cinema – are showcased in this long-overdue box set. Featuring the eight films which 'Europe's Horror Man' made in collaboration with British producer-director George King (Tomorrow We Live), this comprehensive collection also includes a number of rare shorts and newsreel items.
Unlike his contemporaries, such as Boris Karloff and Charles Laughton, Tod Slaughter never left his native shores. Instead, he chose to make his mark in Britain by transferring his most sensational theatrical performances to the screen. Portraying every kind of cruel and cunning criminal – from petty thief to mass murderer – he became the first great villain of British horror, at a time before the Grand Guignol of Hammer Films began to take hold, without once donning monster make-up.
Criminally overlooked by film historians, and only previously seen in compromised versions, these fascinating films have been newly restored using original film materials preserved at the BFI National Archive, and are accompanied by an array of essential contextualizing extras, including archival short films and radio plays presented with optional soundtracks by British music legends Current 93, newly recorded commentaries, critical appreciations and personal recollections, and a 120-page book. Strictly limited to 6,000 individually numbered units for the UK and US.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
UK STREET DATE: NOVEMBER 20.
***
ALSO COMING IN SEPTEMBER:
Santo vs. The Evil Brain
Description: Immediately recognizable by his distinctive silver mask, the heroic wrestler known as El Santo ('The Saint') was Mexico's most popular luchador, becoming a folk hero and the star of a hugely popular series of action films. Santo vs. Evil Brain (Santo contra cerebro del mal) was the earliest cinematic excursion for this icon of Mexican popular culture.
The dastardly Doctor Campos is kidnapping and brainwashing scientists, and when undercover detective Santo falls prey to his scheme, Lieutenant Zambrano (Enrique Zambrano) and El Incognito (Fernando Osés) must come to his assistance, and foil Campos' plans.
Made back-to-back with Santo vs. Infernal Men, and shot in Cuba in the final days before Fidel Castro entered Havana, this film represents the celluloid birth of a true screen legend, and spawned a further fifty Santo films.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
Santo vs. Infernal Men
Description: Immediately recognizable by his distinctive silver mask, the heroic wrestler known as El Santo ('The Saint') was Mexico's most popular luchador, becoming a folk hero and the star of a hugely popular series of action films. Santo vs. Infernal Men (Santo contra hombres infernales) was the second cinematic excursion for this icon of Mexican popular culture.
The thrilling plot sees Santo team up with undercover cop Joaquín (Joaquín Cordero) in order to expose a gang of drug smugglers, with fights, chases, and musical numbers along the way.
Made back-to-back with Santo vs. Evil Brain, and shot in Cuba in the final days before Fidel Castro entered Havana, Santo vs. Infernal Men is accompanied by the acclaimed feature-length documentary Perdida.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
The Criminal Acts of Tod Slaughter: Eight Blood-and-Thunder Entertainments
Description: The terrifying talents of Newcastle's Norman Carter 'Tod' Slaughter – the first true icon of British horror cinema – are showcased in this long-overdue box set. Featuring the eight films which 'Europe's Horror Man' made in collaboration with British producer-director George King (Tomorrow We Live), this comprehensive collection also includes a number of rare shorts and newsreel items.
Unlike his contemporaries, such as Boris Karloff and Charles Laughton, Tod Slaughter never left his native shores. Instead, he chose to make his mark in Britain by transferring his most sensational theatrical performances to the screen. Portraying every kind of cruel and cunning criminal – from petty thief to mass murderer – he became the first great villain of British horror, at a time before the Grand Guignol of Hammer Films began to take hold, without once donning monster make-up.
Criminally overlooked by film historians, and only previously seen in compromised versions, these fascinating films have been newly restored using original film materials preserved at the BFI National Archive, and are accompanied by an array of essential contextualizing extras, including archival short films and radio plays presented with optional soundtracks by British music legends Current 93, newly recorded commentaries, critical appreciations and personal recollections, and a 120-page book. Strictly limited to 6,000 individually numbered units for the UK and US.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 2K RESTORATIONS of Maria Marten, or The Murder in the Red Barn, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, The Crimes of Stephen Hawke, It's Never Too Late to Mend, The Ticket of Leave Man, and Crimes at the Dark House from original 35mm nitrate negative elements
- 2K RESOTRATION restoration of Sexton Blake and The Hooded Terror from a 35mm dupe positive
- High definition remaster of The Face at the Window
- Original mono soundtracks
- Audio commentary with film historians Josephine Botting and Vic Pratt on Maria Marten, or Murder in the Red Barn (2023)
- Audio commentary with critics and authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman on Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2023)
- Audio commentary with critics and authors David McGillivray and Kim Newman on The Crimes of Stephen Hawke (2023)
- Audio commentary with film historian Josephine Botting and podcaster Dave Thomas on The Ticket of Leave Man (2023)
- Audio commentary with critics and authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman on Sexton Blake and The Hooded Terror (2023)
- Audio commentary with film historians Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby on The Face at the Window (2023)
- Audio commentary with film historians Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby on Crimes at the Dark House (2023)
- New interviews with Imogen Slaughter, great-niece of Tod Slaughter, and her father Giles, in which they discuss their famous relative's life off stage and off camera (2023)
- New interview with artist and illustrator Ania Goszczyńska and Current 93 channeller and trance scribbler David Tibet, in which the pair delve into their long-term obsession with the life and work of the first British villain (2023)
- Stephen Thrower on Tod Slaughter (2023): the author and musician dissects the great actor's multiple villainous incarnations
- The Tod Slaughter Repertory Company (2023): video essay on the regular players from Slaughter's feature films
- Maria Marten and Sweeney Todd radio plays (1932): newly remastered from original 78 rpm shellac discs, these original recordings are presented with optional, newly recorded Current 93 scores
- London After Dark (1926): first known film footage of Slaughter, captured on stage at the Elephant and Castle Theatre, presented with optional, newly recorded Current 93 score
- Tod Slaughter at Home (1936): mock interview with Sweeney Todd, recorded for the Pathétone newsreel
- Pots of Plots (1938): short film in which Slaughter, sitting at the make-up station in his dressing room, reprises three of his infamous villainous roles, including Sweeney Todd
- Bothered by a Beard (1946): humorous short educational film which traces the history of shaving, featuring a scene in Sweeney Todd's infamous barber shop
- Puzzle Corner No. 14 (1954): Slaughter's last appearance on camera, delivering a Sweeney Todd monologue
- Image galleries: promotional and publicity material for all eight films
- The Crimes of Stephen Hawke original treatment gallery
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 120-page book with new essays by Jean-Claude Michael, Ania Goszczyńska and David Tibet, Doug Young and Kip-Xool, excerpts from Slaughter's unpublished memoirs, archival essays and reviews, and film credits
- World premieres on Blu-ray
- Limited edition box set of 6,000 numbered units for the UK and US
- REGION-FREE
UK STREET DATE: NOVEMBER 20.
***
ALSO COMING IN SEPTEMBER:
Santo vs. The Evil Brain
Description: Immediately recognizable by his distinctive silver mask, the heroic wrestler known as El Santo ('The Saint') was Mexico's most popular luchador, becoming a folk hero and the star of a hugely popular series of action films. Santo vs. Evil Brain (Santo contra cerebro del mal) was the earliest cinematic excursion for this icon of Mexican popular culture.
The dastardly Doctor Campos is kidnapping and brainwashing scientists, and when undercover detective Santo falls prey to his scheme, Lieutenant Zambrano (Enrique Zambrano) and El Incognito (Fernando Osés) must come to his assistance, and foil Campos' plans.
Made back-to-back with Santo vs. Infernal Men, and shot in Cuba in the final days before Fidel Castro entered Havana, this film represents the celluloid birth of a true screen legend, and spawned a further fifty Santo films.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- 4K RESTORATION from the original 35mm camera negatives
- Original mono audio
- Looking for El Santo (2023, 31 mins): Viviana García Besné's search for filming locations in Havana, Cuba and the true story behind the making of the first two Santo films
- A League of Gentlemen (2023, 12 mins): previously unseen interview, filmed in 2009, in which co-star Joaquín Cordero reminisces about his experience acting alongside El Santo and his friendship with producer Jorge García Besné
- Mascára vs. mascara (2023, 33 mins): the Killer Film, el critico enmascarado (the Masked Critic) discusses the early years of Mexican lucha libre, the birth of the luchador film genre and El Santo's transition from wrestler to film star, cultural icon, and national treasure
- New English subtitles
- REGION-FREE
Santo vs. Infernal Men
Description: Immediately recognizable by his distinctive silver mask, the heroic wrestler known as El Santo ('The Saint') was Mexico's most popular luchador, becoming a folk hero and the star of a hugely popular series of action films. Santo vs. Infernal Men (Santo contra hombres infernales) was the second cinematic excursion for this icon of Mexican popular culture.
The thrilling plot sees Santo team up with undercover cop Joaquín (Joaquín Cordero) in order to expose a gang of drug smugglers, with fights, chases, and musical numbers along the way.
Made back-to-back with Santo vs. Evil Brain, and shot in Cuba in the final days before Fidel Castro entered Havana, Santo vs. Infernal Men is accompanied by the acclaimed feature-length documentary Perdida.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- 4K RESTORATION from the original 35mm camera negatives
- Original mono audio
- Perdida (2011, 96 mins) feature-length documentary by Viviana García Besné, granddaughter of Jorge García Besné and Mate Calderón, exploring her family's major contribution to Mexican cinema, including initiating the Santo series
- Perdida image galleries: rare and extensive collection of photographs and promotional materials from the Calderón family vaults
- New English subtitles
- REGION-FREE