8mm Forum: Val Lewton horror films

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Topic: Val Lewton horror films

Scott G. Bruce
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 229
From: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Registered: May 2005

posted February 04, 2006 10:22 AM

I've recently been reading about the 1940s horror director Val Lewton and I'm quite intrigued by him and his work (dark, shadowy, impressionistic horror). Quite a few of his films seem to have been released on super 8 (THE CAT PEOPLE, BEDLAM, etc.). Does anyone own any of these or his other films? I would love to hear a review, an appreciation, a warning, or simply a suggestion as to the best place to start regarding his work.

Thanks,

SGB

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"Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"

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Barry Attwood
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1411
From: Enfield, U.K.
Registered: Aug 2003

posted February 05, 2006 03:16 AM

Dear Scott,

Mountain released a fine 2x400' digest of "Cat People", it kept the moody tension of the full film, and highlighted the craft of Lewton. I had a copy of this years back (I wish I never sold it now, still I'll come across it again) and everything is fine in the editing and sound and picture quality, this is a nice souvenier if you can find a copy.

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Andrew Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 784
From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
Registered: Jan 2006

posted February 05, 2006 04:09 AM

hi there scott,i have somewhere a 1x600ft of bedlam made by val lewton back in 1946.you might get copies of his films on the web;thats were i got mine.ive seen the cat people for sale on ebay.also why not ask derann to see if they can help.they took over the 8mm rights after mountain closed down.cheers andy.

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Scott G. Bruce
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 229
From: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Registered: May 2005

posted February 05, 2006 12:30 PM

Thanks for the info, guys. Sounds promising. I'll keep my eyes peeled, as they say.

SGB

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Gary Crawford
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 979
From: Manassas, VA. USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted February 06, 2006 08:51 AM

I won this past year a pretty nice super 8 full length feature of the very very rare and underrated Lewton film, The Ghost Ship. I have since gotten a 16 of it , so , Scott, if you want to buy the Super 8 print, let me know. It's a mountain print, I believe....and complete....just a tad dupey...but Mountain did not work from original material. As you may know, Ghost Ship was withdrawn from distribution just weeks after it premiered due to a lawsuit over the script....someone claimed it was based on a script that had been sent in by someone. ..and they won the suit. When the RKO package was release to TV thru C and C.....it somehow got in the package..some prints were made...but again....it was withdrawn quickly .....and wasn't show again until about ten years ago at Cinecon in Hollywood... a new 35mm. I assume the court order only covered a certain amount of time, ..and the Ghost Ship was put out on the old Laser disc format...and VHS .

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Scott G. Bruce
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 229
From: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Registered: May 2005

posted February 06, 2006 11:03 AM

Thanks for the offer, Gary. Could you kindly send along the details (price, number/length of reels, etc) to me?

sgbruce <at> hotmail.com

SGB

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted February 07, 2006 12:49 PM

A couple of items not mentioned yet:

a) The recently released Classic Home Cinema 200' reel with trailers to 3 Lewton films.

b) Probably the best Lewton release on S8 is 'Curse of the Cat People', released full length by Portland Films in the early 1980s. I believe it was a pretty good print.

c) Unless I'm thinking of something else, I think Mountain also released a 2 x 400' of 'Isle of the Dead'.

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Adrian Winchester

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James N. Savage 3
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1375
From: Washington, DC
Registered: Jul 2003

posted February 09, 2006 06:08 AM

The new Val Lewton trailer reel from CHC is great (and on real black and white film!).

And, by the way-
I know Val Lewton Jr.! He lives (unless he moved) in Washington D.C., and is an artist (painter). I was very good friends with his son Victor Lewton.

See my review in the new "Reel Image" magazine. [Smile]

Nick.

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Andrew Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 784
From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
Registered: Jan 2006

posted February 21, 2006 10:57 AM

hello there,looking at paul foster films i noticed a couple of val lewtons.the curse of the cat people.bedlam, and isle of the dead.hope this helps a little.all are super8mm digests.andy.emailpaulat the follwing foster@films16.freeserve.co.uk

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Scott G. Bruce
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 229
From: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Registered: May 2005

posted February 21, 2006 12:55 PM

Noticed them too, Andrew. Just saving up my pennies. Managed to win an 800' cutdown of Lewton's ISLE OF THE DEAD yesterday on ebay for $15. May not be in the best condition, but the price is right!

SGB

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Andrew Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 784
From: dundonald,belfast,co.antrim,northern ireland.
Registered: Jan 2006

posted February 21, 2006 01:29 PM

hello scott,you got isle of the dead for a bargin price.well done and enjoy.andy.

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Scott G. Bruce
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 229
From: Boulder, Colorado, USA
Registered: May 2005

posted February 21, 2006 01:34 PM

So long as it's not "quality of the dead," Andy, but sometimes you get lucky when you take chances . . . I'll let you know.

SGB

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"Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"

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