Restored ‘Dracula,’ Rare Crime Thrillers Among Hammer Films’ Upcoming 4K UHD Releases
by David Lewis
The UK’s hallowed horror factory, Hammer Films, has lately begun releasing some of its massive catalog on 4K UHD, and they have a lot of releases planned for the summer, including more massive 4K UHD/Blu-ray box sets like the previously released Kronos: The Vampire Hunter.
First up is a new look at what is probably Hammer’s most famous creation: a new 4K restoration of 1958’s Dracula (known as The Horror of Dracula in the US), which includes newly discovered footage that hasn’t been seen for over 60 years. Christopher Lee plays the iconic vampire, while Peter Cushing is his mortal enemy, Van Helsing. Restored in 4K from original archival materials sourced from around the world, Dracula will play in UK theaters before pivoting to physical release in October, with specs to be announced.
Next is Hammer’s cult classic X the Unknown, often regarded as the missing part of the Quatermass franchise, making its debut on 4K. Read more about the huge box set here. It hits shelves July 27th.
Hammer then turns to crime with 1955’s largely unseen Break in the Circle, restored in 4K from the original film negatives. The film stars Eva Bartok as an undercover agent and Marius Goring as a millionaire with a dark secret. Special features haven’t been revealed, but judging from the photo, it’ll include a lot of good stuff. Available August 10th.
Another little-seen film from the Hammer library, 36 Hours, is making its worldwide 4K UHD and Blu-ray debut. Directed by Montgomery Tully, the noir-ish thriller stars Dan Duryea as an American pilot accused of a crime, with only 36 hours to prove he’s innocent. It disc is set for release on June 13th.
In a match made in horror heaven, Hammer does Edgar Allen Poe with 1971’s Murders in the Rue Morgue, a meta-mystery directed by Gordon Hessler (Cry of the Banshee) and starring Jason Robards and Herbert Lom. Unbelievably, this is the very time that Murders in the Rue Morgue has been released on home video in any format. Available July 20th.
Finally, Hammer celebrates itself with The House of Hammer, a new multimedia periodical celebrating the studio’s storied legacy. Each curated issue blends print, video and other visual material to be consumed alongside the 4K releases. Volume 1 arrives June 13th, and includes over 7 hours of rare archival and new material, including documentaries, short films, behind-the-scenes footage, and more. It also includes a 120-page book featuring filmmaker profiles, interviews, promotional material, and more.