More Barbara Steele On Blu-Ray

    Severin Films has announced the upcoming release on of this pretty cool Barabara Steele package on blu-ray. The main feature is Mario Caiano's 1965 Iralian horror classic NIGHTMARE CASTLE (aka FACELESS MONSTER & NIGHT OF THE DOOMED). Featuring a duel role by Steele as a pair of sisters, a score by Ennio Morricone (his first horror score), dungeons, candelabras, resurrected corpses and shadowy B&W photography by Enzo Barboni (DJANGO).  In addition if all that weren't enough, there's also Helga Liné lurking about.
   With even more Barbara Steele for your buck,  as bonus features there's also new 2K scans of CASTLE OF BLOOD and TERROR CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE, plus NIGHTMARE features an audio commentary by Barbara (who as the years go on seems to be getting more and more comfortable with her horror filmography) and historian David Del Valle.

Exchange Your Vows With Ilsa

   

    Dyanne Thorne of ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE S.S. fame (along with HAREM KEEPER OF THE OIL SHEIKS, TIGRESS OF SIBERIA & WANDA THE WICKED WARDEN) is now in the wedding business in Las Vegas. An ordained minister (along with a Ph.D in Comparative Religion), she along with her husband and Ilsa series actor Howard Maurer, own and operate A Scenic Wedding which (an the name suggests) specializes in outdoor weddings in scenic locations. Speaking for myself, I can't think of anything cooler then to be married by Ilsa.
    Dyanne still does the occasional movie convention/autograph show and is truly one of the nicest and most sweetest ladies you could ever hope to meet. Hopefully one day we'll get a nice Ilsa box set on blu-ray.

  

Warner Hammer Blu-Ray For Halloween !!

  

  In some news that has been along time coming, Warner has finally announced the region A release of some of their Hammer titles on blu-ray for this fall. Coming out Oct. 6 is THE MUMMY (1959), DRACULA HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE (1968), FRANKENSTEIN MUST BE DESTROYED (1969) and TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA (1970).  Although its missing the two linchpins (being 1957's CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN & 1958's HORROR OF DRACULA - which presumably will be released at a later date), the set has what is generally considered the best of the Frankenstein sequels along with two of the finer in the Dracula series - and of course THE MUMMY. It's interesting that the set only has one title (THE MUMMY) that was previously released on region B and in the case of TASTE, its always something special when we get more Linda Hayden in HD. The titles will also be available separately.
   Warner has been planning this release for some time and postponed the announcement from June 11 in respect to the passing of Christopher Lee.

DR. GOLDFOOT Is Coming To HD

    

    In a sure sign that we are truly living in the golden age of catalog releases (or perhaps the coming apocalypse) Kino has announced the release of both DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE BIKINI MACHINE (1965) and DR. GOLDFOOT AND THE GIRL BOMBS (1966) on blu for for later this year. Although it can never be argued that these are the high points of Vincent Price's career (or in the case of GIRL BOMBS director Mario Bava), they are however 90 min or so of mindless entertainment -and isn't that one of the reasons why we watch movies.
    Reportedly Vincent and Mario didn't get along too well during production on GIRL BOMBS and its a bit sad that this is their only collaboration, as its by far the lesser of the two films (which isn't really saying a lot for either film). It is however helped immensity by the presence of Laura Antonelli.

Happy (Belated) Birthday Nancy Sinatra ! - THE WILD ANGELS 1966

   

   A belated Happy 75th Birthday to Nancy Sinatra who was born on June 8. Here she is in Roger Corman's THE WILD ANGELS from 1966 co-starring with Peter Fonda, Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern. This is probably my favorite A.I.P. movie and Nancy looks great riding on the back of Peter's hog.

   

COUNT YORGA Is Coming on Blu

  This Oct. 14 sees the return of Count Yorga home video as 1970's COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE is being released by Twilight Time and its sequel from 1971 THE RETURN OF COUNT YORGA is coming out via Scream Factory.

 Originally released by A.I.P. and featuring Gothic vampire trappings merged with 1970's Calif. settings (complete with VW buses, new age mysticism and a bit of Charles Manson), both films are anchored by Robert Quarry's mesmerizing performance as the title character.   

SUSPIRIA : Early Looks At Upcoming Synapse Restoration

  

  Over on their Facebook page Don May & Synapse Films have provided a link to the Shock Till You Drop website that has some news (and a sneak preview) concerning their 4k restoration work on Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA (1977). To say the provided images look ravishing is an understatement and this is really shaping to be mind blowing release.

THE SENTINEL Coming On Blu

   Scream Factory has announced 1977's THE SENTINEL for release on blu-ray. Scheduled for this Aug., Michael Winner's weird  & perversely entertaining take on 1970's devil worship by way of ROSEMARY"S BABY is probably the closet thing an American film ever came to capturing a Lucio Fulci/Italian horror type atmosphere & vibe. Featuring an unbelievable cast, including John Carradine in one of his eleven (!) film appearances in 1977 (and beware that portal to hell).