Product description

The Man Who Could Cheat Death [DVD] [1959] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Price: £5.26
Average customer rating: 5.0

Binding : DVD
EAN : 0844503000101
Label : Legend Films
Manufacturer : Legend Films
Publisher : Legend Films
Release date : 2008-09-23
Title : The Man Who Could Cheat Death [DVD] [1959] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]
Actor : Array
Format : Array
Languages : Array
Number of items : 1
Original release date : 1959-01-01
Region code : 1
Running time : 82
Studio : Legend Films
Theatrical releaseDate : 1959
MPN : LFIDLF00100D

Customer reviews

review by: date: 2009-01-31 rating:

Very good Hammer Horror!
I'd never seen this Hammer film before, and I've seen them all, or most of them anyway. After the first viewing I thought it was a good little chiller. But after the second viewing I thought it was up there with classics like Dracula, Scream Of Fear The Devil Rides Out. The film has a Jack the Ripper vibe to it and can be very spooky at times...If you like Hammer films give this one a try.

review by: bishton3 date: 2008-11-09 rating:

Early Hammer classic on DVD at last
It's great to have this fondly-remembered early offering from Hammer available on DVD at last. It's a wonderful period piece, with all the usual hallmarks of the family film production unit settled cosily into their studios beside the Thames at Bray: lavishly-dressed sets, gorgeous costumes, a literate script and actors who can act and who take their roles seriously. It's not so much a horror film as a melodrama with horror overtones. Anton Diffring wrestles magnificently with his dilemma of how to keep himself still young after 100+ years, and Hazel Court is even more beautiful than she was in The Curse of Frankenstein. She essays her role of Janine as something more than eye candy and graces the film with her benign and intelligent presence. br / br /The film is a bit slow and wordy by today's standards, probably even by Hammer's later standards, as director Terence Fisher gives the scenes time to be played out fully. This allows the little shock-horror moments, when they come, to have greater impact. Like all great horror thrillers, there is an element of sensitivity to the story - the sight of Diffring as Bonnet trying to scoop up sufficient elixir from the smashed bottle on the floor is a moment of true pathos. br / br /As for the quality of the DVD, Legend Films have done an acceptable job. The transfer could be a bit sharper, but the colours are vibrant. The soundtrack has a bit of 'noise' (a few clicks and pops) but remember, the film is nearly 50 years old and is not the sort to get a Criterion-type restoration. We should be grateful that it is available at all. br / br /Definitely worth watching and an essential addition to the collection of any Hammer enthusiast. Also, check out the book "Hazel Court Horror Queen" Hazel Court - Horror Queen: An Autobiography which has some glorious photos including a rare still from the uncensored Continental version of this movie.

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