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Revered horror/exploitation auteur Jess Franco dieds last month, but his legacy is being preserved thanks to some excellent upcoming releases of his many genre creations.

The latest being new Blu-rays of three Franco classics via Kino Lorber and Redemption Films:

• The Awful Dr. Orlof
• Nightmares Come at Night
• A Virgin Among the Living Dead

They will be released in the US in deluxe editions on 20th August 2013. They are all re-mastered from archive materials from Eurocine' Paris.

The Awful Dr. Orlof

The Awful Dr Orlof is a 1962 Spain/France horror thriller by Jesús Franco.
With Conrado San Martín, Diana Lorys, Howard Vernon.

US: The cut French Version was released MPAA unrated for:

• US 2013 Redemption Re-mastered Edition RA Blu-ray at US Amazon released on 20th August 2013
• US 2013 Redemption Re-mastered Edition R1 DVD at US Amazon released on 20th August 2013

Censorship History

Widely distributed in a cut French Version.  The uncut Spanish Version recently turned up on German DVD in 2013:

• 2013 ELEA-Media Limited Edition [Spanish + French Versions] R2 DVD via UK Amazon

UK: The cut French Version was passed 15 after 37s of further BBFC cuts to protracted scenes of sexualised violence against women for:

• UK 2004 Arrow DVD
• UK 1994 Redemption VHS

Summary Notes: Classic

Dr. Orlof, a former prison doctor, abducts beautiful women from nightclubs and tries to use their skin to repair his daughter's fire-scarred face. He is assisted by Morpho, a deformed monstrosity who delights in biting his victims. However a young police inspector and his ballerina girlfriend are onto his sadistic practices.

In the European version, there's a few [breast] shots here and there. Hysterically awful at times but so lovable as a relic of a bygone genre. The music is a cacophonus clanging that just adds to the lurid aura of Morpho stalking the women as his master waits nearby. Delicious b&w photography is preserved wonderfully on DVD.

This movie is a CLASSIC of its genre and a must have for collectors.

Nightmares Come at Night

Nightmares Come at Night is a 1970 Liechtenstein crime drama horror by Jesús Franco.
With Diana Lorys, Paul Muller, Jack Taylor.

US: Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2013 Redemption Re-mastered Edition RA Blu-ray at US Amazon released on 20th August 2013
• US 2013 Redemption Re-mastered Edition R1 DVD at US Amazon released on 20th August 2013

There are no censorship issues with this release

Promotional Material

A Zagreb nightclub dancer, Cincia, moves in with Anne, a beautiful exotic dancer, and the two commence an odd, but erotic, relationship. The peace breaks, however, when Anne begins to have nightmarish visions of gory crimes -- starring herself as the perpetrator. When reality and fantasy blur, Anne begins to wonder if she's only dreaming the terror. ENGLISH DUBBED or ORIGINAL FRENCH with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Features:

• Interviews with former friends and collaborators discussing Franco's legacy (broken out into several segments among these new Franco releases)
• ALL NEW Audio Commentary by Tim Lucas
• Trailers and much mor

A Virgin Among the Living Dead

A Virgin Among the Living Dead is a 1971 French/Italian film by Jess Franco.
With Christina von Blanc, Britt Nichols and Rosa Palomar.

US:   Uncut and MPAA Unrated for:

• US 2013 Redemption Re-mastered Edition [Director's + Producer's Cuts] RA Blu-ray at US Amazon titled Christina: Princess of Eroticism released on 20th August 2013
• US 2013 Redemption Re-mastered Edition [Director's + Producer's Cuts] R1 DVD at US Amazon titled Christina: Princess of Eroticism released on 20th August 2013

Censorship History

The Producer's Cut splices in zombie footage from Franco's Zombie Lake.

The latest UK releases are cut. The rape sequence preceding the satanic ritual has been partially deleted.

There are also US releases that suffered cuts to the sex in the satanic ritual

Promotional Material

After losing her mother at an early age and being raised at a boarding school, Cristina Reiner is notified of her father's death and summoned to Monserrat Mansion for the reading of his will. Other members of her strange, accursed family are found there awaiting the imminent demise of Cristina's ailing stepmother, whom she has never met. When Death finally visits the castle in the person of an elegantly attired Queen of Darkness, Cristina is approached by the ghost of her father, who advises her to flee the castle and her cold-skinned, bloodthirsty relatives. But is it already too late? Find out if you dare in cult director Jess Franco's legendary cult classic. ENGLISH DUBBED or ORIGINAL FRENCH with OPTIONAL ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Features:

• Two complete different versions of the film (Christina: Princess of Eroticism (Franco's Director's Cut) AND the more commonly known A Virgin Among the Living Dead which featured zombie footage shot by Jean Rollin)
• Featurette: Mysterious Dreams - one of the last on camera interviews with director Jess Franco (shot not long before his death),
• Interviews with former friends and collaborators discussing Franco's legacy (broken out into several segments among these new Franco releases)
• Deleted Scenes
• ALL NEW Audio Commentary by Tim Lucas
• Trailers and much more!

US: Uncut and MPAA R rated for:

• US 2013 Shout! Factory [Battle Creek Brawl + City Hunter] RA Blu-ray at US Amazon released on 16th July
• US 2013 Shout! Factory [Battle Creek Brawl + City Hunter] R1 DVD at US Amazon released on 16th July

Battle Creek Brawl is a 1980 USA/Hong Kong action comedy by Robert Clouse.
With Jackie Chan, José Ferrer, Kristine DeBell.

UK Censorship History

UK : Passed AA after BBFC cuts for:

• UK 1980 cinema release

From IMDb. Cut to remove:

• groin kicks,
• a neck break and
• a double ear clap

UK: Passed 15 after 1-2s of BBFC cuts for:

• UK 2001 Medusa/Hong Kong Legends DVD
• UK 1987 VCI VHS

The BBFC explained:

• Cut required to sight of dangerous imitable technique (double ear clap) [From a fight between Iron Johnson and Fijo Atashi].

City Hunter is a 1993 Hong Kong/Japanese action film by Jing Wong
With Jackie Chan, Richard Norton and Joey Wang.

UK Censorship History

 

UK: A pre-cut version was passed 12 without BBFC cuts for:

• UK 1995 Imperial VHS

From IMDb:

• The song-and-dance sequence which made references to Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer and The New Kids on the Block was not subtitled on the US DVD. The UK dubbed version of the film cut the sequence out completely, confusing the viewer in regards to why the singers show up later in the film.

UK: A slightly pre-cut Theatrical Version was passed 12 without BBFC cuts for:

• 2001 Showbox/Cine Asia/Hong Kong Legends
• 2001 Medusa/Hong Kong Legends R2 DVD

The distributors deliberately mistranslated a joke about AIDS to ensure a 12 rating

All US/UK releases omit an inconsequentially extended (~20s) anime title sequence with a bit of product placement about a Nikon camera. Seems to be more or less an advert for the Japanese market

Promotional Material

Battle Creek Brawl: It's 1930 and Jerry Kwan (Jackie Chan) takes a trip to America seeking fame and fortune. Kwan's father is forced to pay the Mob but Jerry fights back and picks a fight with members of the mob. Seen as a potential, the mob kidnap's Jerry's sister-in-law and forces him to fight in the Battle Creek Brawl: an anything-goes martial arts competition!

City Hunter : While searching for the daughter of a Japanese publisher, private investigator Ryu Saeba (Jackie Chan) and his assistant Kaori find themselves caught in the middle of a cruise liner hijacked by American criminals and take passengers hostage!