DRACULA (1979) Thread - Indicator [UK] Release Forthcoming

[AndyDursin]

At least Williams was interviewed for Bouzereau's DVD documentary, and that's on there. Doubtful he'd have anything to add at this point.

I was a little surprised they couldn't get Langella but maybe he wasn't available.

If you like the film, I HIGHLY recommend this Little Shoppe of Horrors issue from 2016 which is a cover-to-cover tribute to the film -- it's basically a book-length chronicle of the movie from the 70s Edward Gorey play with Langella through the movie's production, and includes an even more impressive set of interviews than the Shout Blu-Ray will. It also has the complete text of Bouzereau's Williams interview.

https://www.mymoviemonsters.com/store.p ... 79_dracula

[mkaroly]

Is there a release date?

[Monterey Jack]

Is there a release date?

Late November. I pre-ordered to insure the poster.

[AndyDursin]

Yep right before Thanksgiving, which is as late as it can basically go I believe (explaining why there's so much Christmas programming starting this weekend! Lol)

https://amzn.to/2WeKh2F

[AndyDursin]

[Monterey Jack]

Some people at Blu-ray.com are bitching about the byline that the color version of the film is being "assembled from the best-quality elements available" (or whatever), and it's like, I don't care if there's a bit more print damage and related visual anomalies, just having the film as it was originally shot and presented in theaters is more than enough for me, even if the "desaturated" version has a transfer that's technically "better". Hell, I'd settle for standard-def reissues of the unmolested Star Wars OT on DVD provided they were at least anamorphic.

[AndyDursin]

Well none of them have seen it so how would they know? I looked at that thread and a couple of people (as is usually the case) were harping on the fact it DOESN'T say "4k remaster", but so what?

The transfer is new and it's also superb. Judging from the lack of DNR and the level of detail, it's definitely a newer scan than the Desaturated version (same version that's been on Blu-Ray already), but the print does have some damage here and there -- nicks, scratches, some blotches running up the screen, etc. Still it's detailed and often looks smashing, and the problems are just "here and there," they never detract from the overall presentation from what I sampled. Who cares if there's some debris at times -- this is probably all that's left of the original theatrical release because of the Universal fire destroying what was left in the vaults, I would imagine. The "desaturated" transfer may not have the "issues," but it's also an older master -- it's also less detailed (has some noise reduction as it's an older transfer) and the desaturated color SUCKS.

Truly it's amazing how much the film is improved here -- I've really never seen it this way before, because the early 80s VHS release was not a really good way of watching the film (heavily cropped etc.). The color gives a richness to the entire movie and going back to the Desaturated version is absolutely untenable now...especially now that we have the "real thing" to choose from.

Lots of interviews -- though the Badham intros are the same on the two versions. Interestingly enough editor John Bloom is here to double-down on his dislike for the Williams score...he pretty much thought it was all wrong and would've had someone else score the movie if it were up to him!

[Monterey Jack]

The transfer is new and it's also superb. Judging from the lack of DNR and the level of detail, it's definitely a newer scan than the Desaturated version (same version that's been on Blu-Ray already), but the print does have some damage here and there -- nicks, scratches, some blotches running up the screen, etc. Still it's detailed and often looks smashing, and the problems are just "here and there," they never detract from the overall presentation from what I sampled.

I can't wait to get it now.

Interestingly enough editor John Bloom is here to double-down on his dislike for the Williams score...he pretty much thought it was all wrong and would've had someone else score the movie if it were up to him!

The phuck?! Yeah, who wants a score from that hack Johnny Williams...?

[Monterey Jack]

Got my copy today. Seeing it color for the first time...



There are some print anomalies (it looks pretty soft in the early reels), but it looks phenomenal compared to the anemic "desaturated" look preferred by Badham. Bold color, good detail (after that soft opening), and Williams' score sounds great. One of the best SF releases of the year.

Framed my cool poster, too.

[AndyDursin]

There's one reel that looks like it might've come from 16mm, from about the 16 minute mark onwards. I'd be interested in knowing if Shout had to replace a section because of heavy damage because there are some sections that are lightly damaged, but only one 15 minute stretch where there is a loss of detail, starting with the drawing room scene when Dracula first shows up.

But otherwise the transfer is really good, and the color fits the big romantic feel the film was going for. The desaturated "eerieness" didn't work for the approach IMO.

[Monterey Jack]

...but only one 15 minute stretch where there is a loss of detail, starting with the drawing room scene when Dracula first shows up.

Yeah, that's the specific section of the movie where I was a bit worried, but there was a sharp uptick in detail after that. I can put up with it just to have those sumptuous color hues again.

[AndyDursin]

My guess is what was there had something totally wrong with it and they had to lift a section from a different source that wasn't damaged but was either 16mm or further down the food chain from the rest of the transfer.

Would be interesting to see how they assembled the transfer. Sadly with the fire at Universal damaging or destroying so much of the studio's history it's probably likely that's all that was left in the vault.

[AndyDursin]

Great news -- the Powerhouse/Indicator guys in the UK confirmed that they are working on their own version and are taking their time to improve upon Shout's restoration. This was posted on the BD board:

The recent 14th episode of the podcast Indicator Cast was an interview with John Morrissey and Sam Dunn (directors of Powerhouse Films) that confirmed in its final few minutes that the two are committed to providing a color version that "looks great"; they are in the process of securing the best source - which included reaching out to the studio - and hope to provide the definitive color version of the film.

Indicator does great work so hopefully we'll have a better version of this for next Halloween (fingers crossed).

[Monterey Jack]

I would keep the Scream Factory disc for the excellent supplements, but would gladly triple-dip for a full-color version from better elements than what SF had to work with (and I'm sure that Indicator would create their own unique extras).

[Paul MacLean]

I know I'm being the wet blanket here but I have to be honest -- I actually prefer John Badham's "de-saturated" Dracula.

Didn't Badham want to process the film that way originally, but the technology didn't exist?

I know that just because a director is finally able to realize his original intentions years later doesn't obligate anyone to like it (and I'm fully supportive of both versions being available). But I personally find the de-saturation gives Dracula a unique look -- and renders the splashy reds of love scene a much more arresting contrast to the other scenes.

Initially I didn't warm to the de-saturated version, but after going back and watching the full color reproduction, it felt, well...mundane to me, with a "just another movie" look to it.