Arrow~spirits of the dead

[Koukol]

What is going on with this release?

I first put it on pre-order as TOBY DAMMIT (one of the segments)
Now I see that the entire movie is being released and on BD not SD.

???

Will this BD still offer the English/Italian version of TOBY DAMMIT?


Thank you.

[Koukol]

No replies???

Aren't the people who represent ARROW FILMS here?

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

The people from Arrow do keep an eye on these forums but not with a hands on approach. We don't usually see any information about the 'Arrow Films' releases, just the Arrow Video dvds/BD's.

[Koukol]

Hi Stevoj!

Are you saying that ARROW FILMS is not the same company we're talking about on this forum?

If so...I didn't know that

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

Yeah it's the same company. Arrow Video is a sub label of Arrow Films and it's the ones from AV (with the white cases/artwork) that are promoted here.

[bgart13]

Almar -- I know SPIRITS OF THE DEAD isn't an Arrow Video release, but have you heard or can you find out if it's region free or not? Thanks!

[Pete]

I gather this film is too upmarket for Arrow Video?

[Calum]

Originally Posted by loops

I gather this film is too upmarket for Arrow Video?

It's Fellini and it pays homage to Bava's Kill Baby Kill in one scene. I guess Fellini is considered more art house than Bava/ Argento who work in "genre" cinema (as an aside I rate Bava and Argento, at his peak, as well up there).

[bgart13]

Francesco @ Arrow confirmed it as region free for me today.

[Almar@Cult Labs]

Sorry about the tardy reply - Cult Labs is involved with Arrow Video - not the Films side but Fran asked me to post up the specs:

Starring: Brigitte Bardot, Alain Delon, Jane Fonda, Terence Stamp
Directed by: Federico Fellini, Louis Malle, Roger Vadim
Rating: 18
Duration: 121 mins

Overview: Federico Fellini, Louis Malle and Roger Vadim adapt works by macabre author Edgar Allan Poe in the anthology film Spirits of the Dead [Histoires extraordinaires]. Dealing with tormented characters experiencing a personal hell, filled with angst and delirium, Spirits of the Dead was a ground-breaking departure for the adaption of Poe in cinema.

Vadim directs Jane Fonda as Countess Metzengerstein, a debauched heiress leading a life Caligula would commend. The Countess becomes tormented by the denial of her incestuous desire for her cousin Baron Berlifitzing (fittingly played by her brother Peter Fonda). Malle directs Alain Delon as William Wilson, an Austrian Solider who is haunted by his doppelgänger, tormenting him at times in his life where he is at his most cruel and sadistic. Fellini’s famed segment sees Terence Stamp as a Toby Dammit, an actor arriving in Rome to meet the producers of his new film, the first Catholic Western. Drugged and drunk, Dammit is disturbed by the haunting image of the devil, which like Mario Bava’s Kill, Baby... Kill! and Bunuel’s Simon of the Desert, is actually a young girl, ominously bouncing a ball.

Spirits of the Dead is presented in a brand new transfer from a new High Definition restoration of the original film negative. Reinstating Terence Stamp’s superb performance with his original English audio as well as alternate English audio options for Metzengerstein and William Wilson.

Special Features:
- Brand new transfer of Spirits of the Dead from a new HD restoration of the original negative
- Alternative English audio for Metzengerstein and William Wilson, multi-lingual English and Italian audio for Toby Dammit as well the French dubbed version
- Brand new English subtitle translation on all versions
- Features rare Vincent Price voice over narration used for the US theatrical version
- 60 page booklet featuring Edgar Allan Poe’s original short stories Metzengerstein, William Wilson and Never Bet the Devil Your Head (Toby Dammit)
- ‘Spirits of the Dead Revisited’ essay by critic and author Tim Lucas
- ‘Literature and Cinema’ essay by scholar and author Peter Bondanella on Toby Dammit
- Re-prints of original lobby cards and posters

Spirits of the Dead (Histoires extraordinaires)