The Brides Of Dracula (Blu-ray + DVD) [1960]

Great hammer film brilliant cast with Peter Cushing and the lovely yvonne monlaur and David peel plays a great vampire the blu ray picture is sharp and clear has if it was made yesterday well recommended

Hammer's The Brides of Dracula (1960) was the first sequel their 1958 classic Horror of Dracula, and again stars Peter Cushing as ace vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing. Christopher Lee's Count Dracula is absent this time, for reasons nobody has ever really confirmed; depending on which rumours you believe, he asked for too much money, turned the film down to avoid typecasting, or might not have been asked to appear at all. However, Lee isn't really missed in a movie that instead features the little-known actor David Peel as Baron Meinster, a blood-sucking mummy's boy with a taste for farm girls and French schoolteachers... One of the few Hammer horror movies to divide the opinion of fans, The Brides of Dracula has in its favour some really magnificent set designs, great photography, an unusual score from Malcolm Williamson, and top-notch performances from Cushing, Peel, and veteran actresses Martita Hunt and Freda Jackson. However, many commentators (amongst them one of the credited screenwriters, Jimmy Sangster) have drawn attention to the film's choppy narrative and various plot inconsistencies and contrivances, and the somewhat weak performance of the female lead, Yvonne Monlaur. Those criticisms do hold water, but they are scarcely noticeable once you are actually watching the movie; this is a dream-like, gothic fairytale, and one of director Terence Fisher's very best films.

one of the first Hammer Dracula film's, one of the best, but for some reason not quite as familiar as Christopher Lee, but it is a well worthwhile classic, a vintage great that had become quite a rare title, but fortunately it has become available again for a reasonable price, it's got the brilliant Peter Cushing and also a hypnotising performance from David Peel as Baron Meinster, why he never played the vampire role again, i'll never understand?!....it's a veritable Hammer classic at it's best, a vintage gothic masterpiece, when horror was an art, everything that horror should be today, but isn't sadly, nowaday's it seem's to be just violence, sadistic and vicious, gratuitous for the sake of it, apart from the Brit's & Europe, they seem to have forgotten the art of the horror film...long live Hammer, Amicus, Kobalt, Tigon and all the other classic's!

Brides of Dracula was the first of Hammer's many sequels to their breakthrough hit, and it's not just the best of the series but one of their very best pictures. There's no Christopher Lee this time round - in fact, there's no Dracula at all - but there's a lot of imagination at play here in a beautifully plotted story that sees Peter Cushing's Van Helsing coming up against David Peel's Baron Meinster, a follower of Dracula's vampire cult, after Yvonne Monlaur's schoolteacher ill-advisedly releases him from the shackles his not-as-mad-as-she-looks mother keeps him in. There's a lot going on beneath the stylish surface here - a psychiatrist could probably have a field day with the curious relationship between Peel and Martita Hunt ("We pray for death, both of us. At least, I hope he prays"), not to mention Van Helsing's visible discomfort in the company of women - but it never overwhelms the plot, and there's no shortage of memorable scenes, from the professor treating a rather nasty bite he just got to the servant silently offering pointers to a newly created vampire on its first outing as one of the undead. Reuniting most of the behind-the-cameras talent from their first Dracula film and throwing in a rather splendid climax in a burning windmill, this is definitely one of Hammer's finest hours. Sadly, though one of their best looking pictures, like Warner Home Video's overcopped release of the first Hammer Dracula, the UK DVD of Brides is also a bit of a disappointment - no extras and in the wrong ratio. It's a problem that's carried over in Final Cut's UK Blu-ray, which uses Universal's 2:1 widescreen transfer from their Hammer Horror Series [DVD] [1964] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC ], marring an otherwise decent release that also includes a new 31-minute making of documentary, stills gallery and trailer.

This was the first Hammer film I ever saw. I'd been trying to find it on DVD for ages after seeing it on numerous occasions on Sky and well worth the wait!! This is British cinema at it's creepiest and atmospheric, an absolute masterpiece with a fantastic pace. It's all too easy in this day and age to be cynical and laugh at these films but it says something when nearly 50 years on this film is given the recognition it deserves and is finally released to buy. If you love vintage old horror films, it really doesn't get much better than this. All the characters are great but one man has to be singled out and that is the legend which is Peter Cushing, one of this country's greatest actors, as the formiddable Van Helsing. As another reviewer quoted, 'Who is it who is not afraid?' , 'Only God has no fear!' Genius!!

It is difficult to know how to review this Blu-ray release. I guess it depends on whether this is a first time buy, you have owned the previous UK release or the R1 release. Let me start by saying that the original master that Universal had was destroyed in a fire some time ago. For this Blu-ray a different print has been used, which seems to have been in marginally worse shape than the one used for the R1 dvd. It therefore makes it very difficult to make an adequate comparison as Final cut have obviously had their work cut out to bring this up to a releasable standard. If you have owned the R1 dvd prior, one of the first things you will realise is that this (BD)is presented in a different ratio 2:1 which crops a significant section from the bottom of the screen. Secondly, there is a high dose of grain on this release. Some would say that's a good thing, others not. But at times is overpowering (obviously that's just my opinion). Colour saturation on the bd is different from the R1 release, but is extremely pleasing and there is a increase in detail with it being in HD. However on comparison with the R1 dvd , you may wonder if it is an improvement at all. This BD wins considerably over the previous UK dvd release, which was heavily cropped in the 4:3 ratio The BD offers some limited extras which are interesting in the main. However there is no commentary or subtitles for the hard of hearing. To sum up, stay clear of the Uk dvd. If you want a choice either seek out the R1 dvd which looks smoother, is vibrant and in the correct ratio, or opt for this BD. The image is pretty good,with marginally increased clarity due to the transfer in HD and is also vibrant, but be aware suffers heavily (and this is just my opinion) from having way to much grain and is in a ratio that is generally agreed to be incorrect. EDIT: Opinions of the Blu-ray seem to vary depending on which edition of the film you owned prior or have seen. Higher ratings seem to be coming from those who have not experienced the original restoration that was release as the R1 Universal box set.On the other end of the spectrum there are those that despise this release for the reasons mentioned. For those that are interested. Final cut have presented this BD in the style of Studio canals Hammer titles packaging, but minus the slipcase.It does however feature artwork which represents one of the original Uk posters. EXTRA NOTE: the same transfer used for the R1 dvd was also used by KOCH MEDIA R2 german dvd release. This edition still doesn't have extras but is in the correct ratio and has fantastic artwork.

This classic HAMMER movie is down as being the follow up to DRACULA and even says his BRIDES in the title but has nothing to do with the first movie and even says on the poster THE MOST EVIL DRACULA OF ALL yet he is not called this in the movie.Besides all of that about the movie itself well what we have is a HAMMER classic with PETER CUSHING is back as DOCTOR VAN HELSING on top form great sets and a climax thats as good as the one in the first movie in fact TIM BURTON payed tribute to this in the climax of his movie SLEEPY HOLLOW.Now about the disc the picture is good as is the sound i have an 8ft wide picture and it looks great.Now for the extras we have THE MAKING OF BRIDES O F DRACULA also A STILLS GALLERY and a nice trailer for the movie.I have read one or two reviews of people saying stuff like the movie is not in the right aspect ratio etc but if it is or not it is not that important if you are watching this movie on a tv as you are not watching the movie how it was made to be seen anyway these movies were made for the big screen and to see them the way they were made you have to see them this way.iT Is so so sad that people can now only review these great classic movies by what they see on there tv and not see there full impact on the big screen Anyway love this disc and movie so if you are a HAMMER fan buy it

A true Hammer classic. Peel was a curious choice as the vampire - apparently he was as gay as old dad's hat-band - but in some ways he's better than Christopher Lee (who eventually became tiresome as Dracula). Aside from Cushing, chief acting honours go to the older ladies, particularly Freda Jackson (quite likely the greatest actress of her generation). Martita Hunt we remember from the creepier scenes of Lean's 'Great Expectations'. I don't swallow this Frenchified 'auteur' theory about Terence Fisher, though. He was a superb craftsman (when at his best), as a viewing or two of his pre-Hammer movies will tell you. I imagine him to have been fairly modest: do the job with the minimum of fuss then bugger off home.

Looks terrific in high definition

BEELDKWALITEIT SUPER SCHERP !!!!!

Conte onirique des ténèbres aux images resplendissantes de beauté, aux couleurs éclatantes, bariolées mais chaudes,aux décors somptueux,à la mise en scène maîtrisée par la main d'un des chefs de file pour la Hammer: comme dans "Le cauchemar de Dracula'' Terence Fisher se révèle encore une fois être un grand magicien poète. Ici pas d'affreux Dracula mais un beau jeune homme pour charmer ces dames. Et ce même jeune homme est retenu prisonnier dans un château fastueux par sa mère qui craint donc le pire avec un fils vampire! Mais la belle Yvonne Monlaur,invitée au château par la mère,tombera sous le charme de celui qui était retenu prisonnier par une chaîne scellée au mur et dont l'extrémité était un gros anneau fermé à clé à sa cheville. Car la belle aura dérobé la clé pour délivrer son charmeur lequel charmeur sera allé par la suite jusqu'à sucer le sang de sa propre mère qui aura élevé son fils d'une manière bien trop laxiste! On ne peut penser évidemment qu'à ces théories célèbres d'un Freud. La fin du film est remarquable lorsque le jeune vampire dans un moulin verra son visage détruit par de l'eau bénite puis, quand il bondira hors de ce moulin en flammes , le Dr. Van Helsing actionnera les ailes du moulin de manière à ce qu'elles forment par leurs ombres une croix sous la lumière de la pleine lune, à la nuit tombée , sur ce vampire. L'interprétation (d'un homme froid et déterminé) de Peter Cushing est encore et toujours des plus brillantes et tout le reste de la distribution est à la hauteur. Ce film a plus de cinquante ans mais il reflète , par sa poésie , une certaine société qui espérait en un monde meilleur et au bonheur (autant en emporte le vent?...) VOST ici avec des bonus dont un entretien avec Jean-François RAUGER. Billy.

BRIDES OF DRACULA is possibly the best film Hammer ever made. No, Dracula is not in it, but Peter Cushing is, and his performance as Van Helsing here is one of his best roles ever. The print is sparkling and the colours are amazing. There might be a few lapses of logic in the script, but they're easy to ignore given all the great performances here. Worth visiting again, and if you haven't seen it, you're in for a treat.

This particular release, Brides of Dracula, is a Region 2 (or "B") edition, released in Europe, and is a "Double Play" package containing both a Blu-Ray and a DVD. I am a U.S. customer and I use either my Sony Playstation 3 or Playstation 4 to watch Blu-Ray movies because they play Blu-Rays from all regions, and this Region 2 Blu-Ray is no exception. However, other U.S. Blu-Ray players (even those made by Sony!) likely will NOT play this disc. Also, while the Region 2 Blu-Ray plays perfectly in my U.S. Playstations, the included Region 2 DVD does NOT work. I don't know if that is a universal problem with region-locked DVDs, or what, but be warned that if you were thinking of buying this 2-pack for the DVD, and you are in the U.S., you may not be able to actually play the DVD. I won't bother reviewing the picture - you either love it or you don't. It happens to be my favorite Hammer picture of them all. (Sorry, and RIP, Chris Lee.) That said, I grew up watching Brides of Dracula on TV, in 4:3 with washed out colors (as everything was back then), and the first time I saw this on DVD in a previous release, I thought it was nice and it did the job, but this Blu-Ray absolutely takes the cake. This re-mastered version is bar-none the best looking I have ever seen, and I recommend it above all other releases. While it is true that there is noticeable "grain" (I am not a videophile so I don't know if that is technically the correct term for what I am trying to describe...) in some shots (mostly in the actor's faces...), this is still, overall, the best-looking I have ever seen this movie. Other reviews of this release mentioned cropping at the top of the picture, but I didn't notice anything wrong while watching it. I think it is important to remember that this picture (like all old movies) cannot compete with a modern movie shot on modern equipment in full high definition from the get go, and even considering that Hammer apparently shot this picture on half-frames of film to save money (thus worsening the quality of the source material even further), I am still satisfied with how it looks compared to other releases of this picture in other formats. Finally, this release also includes a (apparently British) documentary I had never seen, "The Making of The Brides of Dracula", featuring interesting interviews with many of the persons involved with Hammer Studios and Brides, as well as the actress who played Marianne, Yvonne Montaur. The documentary is excellent! If you are a Brides of Dracula, or Hammer, fan this should definitely be in your collection!