MovieChat Forums > The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) Discussion > Where's the DVD Treatment?

Where's the DVD Treatment?

posted 20 years ago by markmywords85
6 replies | jump to latest

Personally, this is one of my favorite Hammer films (definitely a great performance by Reed and a stellar directing job by Fisher) and ranks among my top 5 werewolf movies of all time! Why, then, has MGM, a company that's brought out some AMAZING dvd treatments, for blockbusters (the amazing Good the Band and The Ugly 2 disc set this year) and drive-in fodder alike (outstanding special editions of the Howling, Return of the Living Dead, the UNCUT print of the Last House on the Left) neglected to release this classic Hammer tale? With the boxed Hammer set from WB, the sporadic, but well restored prints from Paramount (tying with WB for the worst major studio DVD distributor) and the Anchor Bay Hammer Collection, MGM needs only to release this and the Evil of Frankenstein to round out the complete original Hammer cycle of classic horror on DVD. This, of course, is not counting the dismal Dracula A.D. 1972 which Warner Bros. still holds the rights to.

One can only hope that with the demand of the Universal Monsters boxed sets in full swing, MGM will prove itself once again and release both these Terrence Fisher classics on DVD, hopefully with some extras.

[–] jesse-acosta 20 years ago

I think this one fell into Public Domain, because Ive seen it a few times(and regretably never picked it up) in those cheap dollar dvd bins at Walmart and Walgreens. Ive seen several Hammer films as PD also, like Satanic Rites of Dracula.

-Jesse
"Contemplate this on the tree of woe"
-Thulsa Doom, Conan The Barbarian

[–] BijouBob8mm 20 years ago

Universal still holds the home video rights to this. Alas, the only title from Universal's Hammer Films collection to see DVD was when Image licensed KISS OF THE VAMPIRE (now out of print, although some copies can still be found). Curiously, clips from Hammer's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA appear in the montage of scenes that appear at the beginning of some Universal DVDs.

[–] BillyFisher 20 years ago

Yes, Curse of the Werewolf is definitely a Universal-owned film, along with at least Brides of Dracula, Phantom of the Opera and Kiss of the Vampire. They seem to be awfully slow about giving them proper DVD releases. I'm sure there's a nice print of Phantom around somewhere, though, as there are some good quality clips in the documentary accompanying the DVD release of the 1943 version.

[–] BijouBob8mm 20 years ago

Universal also holds the rights to Hammer's EVIL OF FRANKENSTEIN, NIGHT CREATURES, NIGHTMARE and PARANOIAC.

[–] James12345203799 19 years ago

STOP PRESS

Universal is in the process of releasing all the films mentioned above for Halloween of 2005.

You will have eight films spread over two DVDs, all on Region 1, as part of THE HAMMER HORROR COLLECTION, or some such title.

Finally, I can see the PHANTOM!

[–] markmywords85 19 years ago

Soon after starting this thread, I also discovered Universal owned the rights... which was pointed out a few times. This, immediately, made me throw my hands in the air and give up... no way would Universal release this... they still don't have a King Kong DVD! But as James up there pointed out, yes, this October will see the release of these great films on the same day the "Bela Lugosi Collection," featuring the Invisible Ray, the Black Cat, the Raven, and more is released. IT'S LIKE CHRISTMAS 2 MONTHS EARLY!