Blood
Bath (1966/four versions/Arrow 2 Disc Blu-ray Set)
Picture:
B- Sound: C+ Extras: B+ Films: C-/C/B/B
If
you're a fan of Roger Corman, then you certainly won't want to miss
this new two disc Blu-ray set for the 1966 suspense/horror film Blood
Bath and the four different versions of the project that exist of
it; each remarkably different than one another and presented together
for the first time on Blu-ray disc in this fantastic edition. This
is a great way for filmmakers and film-goers to experience the
editing process of a film like never before and how the inclusion and
subtraction of elements can provide a different viewing experience.
The film stars William Campbell, Patrick Magee, Sid Haig, Marissa
Mathes, Lori Saunders, and Biff Elliot to name a few.
The
intriguing behind the scenes story started when Corman invested in a
Yugoslavian Krimi-like picture entitled Operation Titian as it
had just begun production. Insisting it be filmed in English and
having his own ideas for the project, he sent actors William Campbell
and Patrick Magee, and uncredited story editor (and new filmmaker)
Francis Ford Coppola, to Dubrovnik to film and returned with a film
Corman didn't much like. First it was re-cut and re-scored to create
Portrait in Terror, a film more in line with drive-in tastes
and better suited for an American audience, then it was handed over
to Jack Hill (Spider Baby), followed by Stephanie Rothman
(Terminal Island), each who undertook reshoots that resulted
in what became a vampire film cleverly titled Blood Bath. It
doesn't stop there though, one more version exists when a TV version
was required chopping scenes and adding others to create Track of
the Vampire. My favorite was the Jack Hill version, Blood
Bath, which I think utilizes the footage the best and makes the
strongest narrative of the four.
The
film centers around the dubious character of Antonio "Tony"
Sordi (played by Campbell) who lives in a studio under an old
belltower where he spends his time painting, just as his ancestor
Erno Sordi did five hundred years ago. The only difference is that
Erno Sordi was convicted of conspiring with the devil and was burned
at the stake, whereas Antonio Sordi sells his paintings at prices
that the local beatniks can only dream about. What they would never
dream is that the Erno Sordi of legend is the same Antonio Sordi of
the 20th century and that Sordi is, in fact a blooding sucking woman
abducting vampire. After Sordi kills his victims and paints them, he
then tosses their bodies into a pit of acid and is rid of their
bodies. Soon, his plot is exposed and friends of a victim conspire
against him.
Arrow
has done a fantastic job with this two Blu-ray disc release that
contains all four versions of the film remastered in 1080p black and
white digital High Definition with a 1.66:1 full frame aspect ratio
(2K transfers for Portrait in Terror, Blood Bath and
Track of the Vampire from original film materials and a brand
new reconstruction of Operation Titian using original film
materials and standard definition inserts) to make the films look as
good as possible despite their age. I'm a sucker the look of black
and white on Blu-ray disc and was happy with how this film ended up
looking. The original 1.0 Mono tracks have also been touched up and
don't sound half bad either, making this an excellent disc to watch
in HD. Subtitles are also naturally included on the disc.
Extras
include:
•The
Trouble with Titian Revisited - a brand new visual essay in which Tim
Lucas returns to (and updates) his three-part Video Watchdog Magazine
feature to examine the convoluted production history of Blood Bath
and its multiple versions.
•Bathing
in Blood with Sid Haig - a new interview with the actor, recorded
exclusively for this release.
•Outtakes
from Track of the Vampire, scanned from original film
materials.
•Double-sided
fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artworks.
•Reversible
sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Dan
Mumford.
•Limited
edition booklet containing new writing on the film and its cast by
Peter Stanfield, Anthony Nield, Vic Pratt and Cullen Gallagher.
This
is a definitive Corman film and a fun watch especially if you like
old black and white mystery/horror/suspense films as I do! If you're
a filmmaker, this is definitely an interesting look at how different
a film can be with each version.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
