Bloodbath (1960)
Starring: William Campbell, Patrick Magee, Lori Saunders,
Sandra Knight, Karl Schanzer, Biff Elliot, Sid Haig
Company: Arrow Video
My Review and Thoughts:
First I want to say Arrow Video is one of the finest companies of high quality Special Edition Blu-ray’s and DVD’s. They are a
company that seems to always amaze me in the high end products they put out.
Not only capturing the films in a whole new outlet, but also supplying a wide
range of cinema, and, a one of a kind production of Special Features. Arrow Video
is one of my 10 favorite Blu-ray and DVD companies out there. I was super happy
to be able to review this new release.
Bloodbath is a Drive-in, late night, B-movie glory that shines
in all it’s over the top wonderment of horror, blood and 60’s nostalgia.
Now here is where it gets weird. There are four versions of
this film, and amazingly Arrow Video has put all four versions on this 2 Disc
release, that is just bloody brilliant in so many ways. I watched all four
versions, it was great seeing the many changes and different ideas put into
creating it during its twisted production reality. So basically you’re getting
four movies all with different plots and changes.
The plot is very simple and yet unique in many ways
considering all the changes to the original idea of the film. So you have an
artist named Antonio Sordi. Sordi has vampiric ideas and lust, and basically
kills women, and after words puts their body in hot wax in his studio.
Now the original movie was supposed to be a spy thriller
financed by B-movie guru and master, Roger Corman. Believe it or not Corman did
not like the final movie and so bits and pieces where added and taken over a
period of time, giving forth to four different versions of the final product.
You have two directors Jack Jill and Stephanie Rothman at two different times
editing and piecing together to complete their versions. Both have credit for
directing the movie. Besides Corman’s vision, Jill’s vision and Rothman’s
vision, the fourth version is a TV produced version, taking away and adding
different plot sections. So you can see the mess this movie went through to be
made.
This is a cheesy, classic, drive-in late night, Ghoul hosted
wonderment of everything that is brilliant and perfect about cheesy B-movies. I
loved this film being able to see all the versions and was just a spectacular example
of the high quality of the Blu-ray that Arrow Video put out. So not only do you get to see Bloodbath
complete, you get to see Operation Titian, Portrait in Terror, and Track of the
Vampire, all the same movie but with different plot elements.
Starring a cast of wonders. The amazing William Campbell.
Campbell was truly a brilliant performer. He starred in two of my favorite
films 1963’s Dementia 13 and 1964’s Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte. From TV to film
he always maintained his characters in great detail. A little trivia about
Campbell is he appeared in the episode of the original Star Trek The Trouble
with Tribbles as the character Koloth, in 1967, reprises that same role in Star
Trek Deep Space Nine episode Blood Oath in 1994. He was wonderful as always in
Blood Bath.
Also starring the very beautiful Lori Sanders. Sanders is probably
best known for her TV work, her character of Bobbie Jo Bradley in Green Acres,
Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies. Also starring the amazing Biff
Elliot and the one and only horror/sci-fi/cult icon Sid Haig.
Now the two directors involved in piecing this film to
completion really needs no introduction. The one of a kind master of Cult Films
Jack Hill. Hill has created some of the greatest icons in film from the Blaxploitation
films of Coffy, Foxy Brown to the black and white cult classic Spider Baby. Not
only a director but writer and producer, editor, cinematographer, and just
about everything in the movie making world. Hill is an icon of Drive-In late
night cinema. He has created some of the best low budget, B-movie flare to
ever grace the cinema world. Next up is
Stephanie Rothman who also created low budget, drive-in fodder. She like Hill
knew how to create odd films that linger and last in the imagination of B-movie
exploitation fans.
Again I can’t speak highly enough about this high quality
Blu-ray by Arrow Video. They truly know how to create and showcase forgotten
cinema in a whole new way.
Audio/Video:
This is brilliantly brought to life in High Definition.
Crisp, clean, audio. Beautiful imagery. One thing Arrow Video has never let me
down is the new transfer in video quality. The High Definition is spot on with
this Blu-ray. It has never looked any better. Arrow Video mastered this
reality. The audio and video is priceless with this release.
Extras:
Limited Edition collection of the complete Blood Bath
High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of four
versions of the film: Operation Titian, Portrait in Terror, Blood Bath and
Track of the Vampire
Brand new 2K restorations of Portrait in Terror, Blood Bath
and Track of the Vampire from original film materials
Brand new reconstruction of Operation Titian using original
film materials and standard definition inserts
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
on all four versions
The Trouble with Titian Revisited - a brand new visual essay
in which Tim Lucas returns to (and updates) his three-part Video Watchdog
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
Overall:
Arrow Video never fails in bringing out high end products.
Blood Bath is a great B-movie trip back to the 60’s, when Drive-In, late night, cheesy cinema was all the hype. This is in my viewpoint a must own product.
Arrow Video did it again. Highly Recommended.
INFO: