MovieChat Forums > Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966) Discussion > Anchor Bay DVD

Anchor Bay DVD

posted 18 years ago by jquirk-1
12 replies | jump to latest

Several months ago I purchased the Anchor Bay DVD of this film from a private seller. It was the double-feature DVD version, and is coupled with "The Satanic Rites of Dracula."

While I'm extremely pleased to own this, I'm unhappy that Anchor Bay, in re-releasing it in a double-feature package, didn't take any measure to upgrade it to anamorphic widescreen.

Yeah, there are ways to make a non-anamorphic DVD movie fill up the screen more, but it takes away from the quality. And with a high-quality movie like this, you want to see it look as good as it can look.

By the way, I believe this is the best Christopher Lee Dracula film, and probably one of the best overall Hammer productions. Lee, as we all know, never utters a word. But he is completely and utterly menacing just the same. I understand a new company other than Anchor Bay owns the rights to this now, but has no intentions of ever releasing it to DVD. Does anyone have more info on this rumor?

[–] teadm 18 years ago

Just found this very set at a local Borders ($20), also another double set of Lee's movies: The Devil Rides Out & Rasputin The Mad Monk, also out of print. Who knows where they got them from, but I was thrilled to find them, since I know they've been long out of print. Prince of Darkness is available overseas, but it has vanished in the US. Whoever owns the rights to these Hammer films seems to think (erroneously) that the public at large may not be interested in these classics.

[–] jquirk-1 18 years ago

It's nice to come upon out-of-print DVDs like that. Four or five years ago I was in a record store and came across a brand new copy of Image's DVD release of "This Island Earth." Universal has since released this film again on DVD, but at the time the Image version was out-of-print and people were selling it for more than $100 on Ebay and Amazon. When I spotted it, I bought it immediately, listed it on Ebay that night, and when the auction ended, the 14 bucks to buy it transformed into $130 plus.

(Note: I later purchased the Universal release for my private collection)

[–] falloutboy73 17 years ago

Well that's nice that you overcharged some poor sucker. You should be proud of yourself. Being a money grubbing scum is great.

[–] jquirk-1 17 years ago

The "poor sucker" named the price, not me. There's nothing wrong with making a little bit of money on an out-of-print title. God knows I've spent a lot of money myself on out-of-print titles because I wanted them so badly. And if I'm a money-grubbing scum, please explain why I'm so broke.

[–] falloutboy73 17 years ago

I guess you consider turning 14 bucks into 130 bucks only making "a little bit of money". I can see maybe doubling the price that you paid in a case like that, but 130 bucks is just being greedy. I will admit though that ultimatly it is the buyers fault for funding people like you. If noboday paid those silly prices for a movie then you would have to lower your prices. I guess that you would think it's okay when gas is in shorter supply that you pay insane amounts for it right? I'm sure that you are fine then with paying 5.00 per gallon, right? I mean if it's in shorter supply then that makes it perfectly okay?

[–] TUFFLITTLEUNIT 17 years ago

Get off your high horse.. Are you telling everyone.. that if you could make a great profit... You wouldn't??

[–] falloutboy73 17 years ago

In this case, no I wouldn't. I can't stand shysters and wheeler - dealers like that. It just strikes me as sleazy.

[–] TUFFLITTLEUNIT 17 years ago

Fair play to you!

[–] joshewah78 17 years ago

Surely you're not equating gasoline and DVDs? One is a necessity that people need to conduct their daily lives and pursue their livelihoods, and the other is a complete luxury item that is of no necessity whatsoever. In either instance, the market sets the price. That's capitalism and thank God for it. I firmly believe that oil companies and gas station owners have a moral as well as a legal obligation not to gouge people on gasoline prices, but if somebody thinks an out-of-print DVD is worth paying $130 for, *he's* setting his own price based on his finances and his ability to pay that price. If you're upset that the seller didn't leave the DVD in the store to continue collecting dust til someone who was a "true fan" found it and bought it for $14, that's one thing. But if you're bitching about the seller selling the DVD to a willing buyer at the price that willing buyer set, you're either very naive or a communist.

¡Viva capitalism!

[–] jquirk-1 17 years ago

It's unbelieveable that the one time in my life I made money on an out-of-print dvd I get scolded for it. One lousy time. Ha!

[–] Squonkamatic 17 years ago

Pay no attention to the troll. I think you did a good job and passed on something rare to a collector who was glad to have it. Your critic also fails to get the point that the person who bought it from you may very well have been another seller who intended to sell it for even more than you charged: There are people who run "search services" that collectors can employ to find them rare movies no matter what the cost.

There is a German DVD release by Anolis Films on a Region 2 pressing which is 16x9 format and has the correct anamorphic transfer:

http://xploitedcinema.com/catalog/dracula-prince-darkness-anolis-16x9-region-release-p-5400.html

[–] satterwh 17 years ago

Overcharged someone? It's called an AUCTION. The person who bought it decided the price, not the person who sold it.