Thursday, October 4, 2012

MOVIE NOOSE REAL: NEW ON ALPHA VIDEO


BLOOD DRINKERS, THE

An atmospheric, diabolical, thought-provoking poetic vampire film from the creator of the "Blood Island" series. A minor masterpiece of terror. Bonus material includes interview with producer Eddie Romero and more.

Starring: Ronald Remy, Amalia Fuentes, Eddie Fernandez Director: Gerardo De Leon
DVD Features: Run Time: 1 hours, 28 minutes
Video: Color
Released: September 25, 2012
Originally Released: 1964
Label: Alpha Video
Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)

The monstrous vampire Marco is determined to raise his beloved Katrina from the dead. But in order to do so, he needs to transplant the heart of her living sister, Charito, the sweetest, loveliest girl in the village. Unleashing his murderous giant bat and his evil minions, Marco spreads terror and death through the community as he attempts to abduct the innocent girl. But a priest, a detective, and Charito's friends risk their lives in a desperate attempt to save her from Marco's hideous surgery.

The Blood Drinkers, originally released as Kulay Dugo Ang Gabi (Blood Is The Color Of Night), was directed by Philippine horror maestro Gerardo de Leon who also helmed the 1959 cult classic, Terror Is A Man. The director fills the screen with exotic jungle locations, Catholic iconography, graphic lighting and creative color effects as this vampire saga hurtles towards its bloody conclusion.

A strange yet affecting vampire story, THE BLOOD DRINKERS tells the tale of Marco, (Ronald Remy), a nouveau, modernized Dracula type. Pining for his long dead sweetheart, Marco finds her dead body and brings her back to life using the blood of his victims.


KARLOFF BEFORE FRANKENSTEIN

A lost western classic featuring Boris Karloff in a truly villainous role as henchman Baxter. / Complete surviving footage of director Harry S. Webb's rare film, "Phantoms of the North."

Starring: Boris Karloff & Rex Lease Director: Richard Thorpe, Harry Webb
DVD Features:
Run Time: 57 minutes
Video: Black & White
Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)
Released: September 25, 2012
Originally Released: 1930
Label: Alpha Video

William Henry Pratt left England at age 22 to join a theatrical touring company in Canada, and took on the stage name of Boris Karloff. A decade later he would migrate to Hollywood for his earliest surviving film appearance in the 1919 serial, The Masked Rider. He began to appear in other cliffhangers including The Hope Diamond Mystery (1920) and King Of The Wild (1930) often cast as the exotic evil-doer. He portrays a half breed fur trader in 1929's Phantoms of the North, included in this collection. With the introduction of sound, he found substantial supporting parts such as the henchman with the British accent, as seen here in The Utah Kid. This is a truly lost film mastered from the only known existing print. The following year he would rise to international super stardom and Hollywood legend, in James Whale's 1931 horror classic, Frankenstein.

The Utah Kid (1930, B&W): Stars Rex Lease, Boris Karloff, Dorothy Sebastion, Lafe McKee; Directed by Richard Thorpe. Tiffany Productions.

Phantoms of the North (1929, B&W): Stars Donald Keith, Boris Karloff, Joe Bonomo; Directed by Harry Webb. Biltmore Productions. Complete surviving footage of this rare film!

Frankenstein Trailer: Realart reissue, 1948


TERROR IS A MAN

A terrifying and beautifully-produced tale of horror based on H.G. Wells "Island of Dr. Moreau." Bonus trailer included.

Starring: Francis Lederer, Greta Thyssen & Richard Derr Director: Gerardo De Leon
DVD Features:
Run Time: 1 hours, 31 minutes
Video: Black & White
Released: September 25, 2012
Originally Released: 1959
Label: Alpha Video
Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)

Washed ashore on a remote South Seas island, merchant seaman William Fitzgerald awakens in the household of the mysterious Dr. Gerard. The doctor and his sexy wife, Frances, are amicable enough hosts, but William is immediately aware of strange business festering under the surface. When a native is found brutally slaughtered by an unknown monster, the entire local populace abandons the island. Frances seduces William and after a torrid lovemaking session, reveals the unholy secret behind her husband's experiments. He has surgically and genetically created a hideous creature half animal and half man. The unspeakable monster escapes, abducting Frances. The men pursue the beast forcing a tragic final confrontation.

A precursor to the Philippine invasion of B-horror, Terror Is A Man is a well-mounted production featuring Francis Lederer as the mad doctor and a ravishing young Greta Thyssen as his wife. Respected actor Francis Lederer, whose career reached from Europe to Broadway to Hollywood, starred in The Return of Dracula (1958) the year before this role as the insane Dr. Gerard, which would be his last film appearance. Thyssen played the blonde bombshell in numerous Three Stooges comedies, but is best remembered for her role in Journey to the Seventh Planet (1962). Co-star Richard Derr is most noted for his role in the 1951 sci-fi thriller When Worlds Collide.

When a shipwreck survivor washes up on the shore of a remote island, he finds himself in the company of a mad doctor who has created a bloodthirsty monster that is half panther half man.


WOLVES OF THE SEA (LOST ISLAND)

A mutinous crew threatens to prevent a ship captain from recovering a cache of valuable jewels from a shipwreck.

Starring: Hobart Bosworth & Rondo Hatton Director: Elmer Clifton
DVD Features:
Run Time: 1 hours, 4 minutes
Video: Black & White
Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)
Released: September 25, 2012
Originally Released: 1938
Label: Alpha Video

Heiress Nadine Miller is washed ashore on a desolate island when her steamship sinks. Nadine is rescued by Captain Wolf Hansen, who plans to to salvage a fortune in jewelry from the sunken wreck. The poor girl finds herself once again fighting for survival when the mutinous crew take control of the ship and seize the precious cargo.

Produced under the title Lost Island, Wolves of the Sea is a pleasant throwback to blood-and-thunder melodramas of the silent-movie era. Hobart Bosworth was a top star of the early years of Hollywood and the screen's original portrayer of Jack London's infamous sea captain Wolf Larson. RKO contractee Jean Carmen (billed as Julia Thayer in Republic's 1937 chapter play The Painted Stallion) makes a fetching ingenue and brightens the film with her earnest performance. Six years after his appearance in Wolves of the Sea, Rondo Hatton achieved legendary horror status for his role as "The Creeper" in Sherlock Holmes in The Pearl Of Death.


VIRGINS OF BALI

Beautiful topless native women prepare for their wedding celebration. Also included are two bonus short subjects, "The Beauty in Bali" directed by Ben Schwalb in color and "Bali Paradise Isle." Contains nudity.

Starring: Ni Wayan Tagai & Ni Wayan Ugambon Director: Deane H. Dickason
DVD Features:
Run Time: 1 hours, 22 minutes
Video: Black & White and Color
Released: September 25, 2012
Originally Released: 1932
Label: Alpha Video
Encoding: Region 0 (Worldwide)

The exotic island of Bali is explored in this 1932 travelogue, with a particular emphasis on the stunning natural physical beauty of the native women. And if the custom happens to be that the women go topless, what can be done, other than keep the cameras rolling? A day in the life of Bali unfolds following the exploits of sisters Tagel and Grio. As Grio prepares for her wedding day, we are treated to a fascinating look at the culture, customs and music of this far-off land. While the tender age of the young ladies makes us uncomfortable today, this is a rare look at one of the guilty pleasures of a bygone era.

Bonus Content:
BALI - PARADISE ISLE (1930): The nubile charms of the beautiful native maidens of Bali, unadorned by clothing, are explored in this travelogue.
BEAUTY IN BALI (1940): A behind-the scenes look at the Bali Brassiere Manufacturing Company. This color featurette shows vixens of a bygone era modeling lingerie. Inexplicably directed by legendary producer Ben Schwalb, best known for Bowery Boys, Queen Of Outer Space (1958) and The Hypnotic Eye (1960).

The above titles are all available at OLDIES.com.

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