UK: Ghost Story from Nucleus in October

[MarcMorris]

On 9 November 2009 Nucleus Films will issue Stephen Weeks' 1974 chiller Ghost Story as a special edition double DVD set.

Revered, misunderstood and oft-discussed, Stephen Weeks' rarely seen 1974 dreamlike chiller is the absolute definition of a cult British Horror film. Set in 1930s England it tells of three former public schoolmates, Larry Dann (The Bill), Murray Melvin (The Devils) and the enigmatic Vivian Mackerrell (the inspiration for Bruce Robinson' s creation 'Withnail', seen here in his only major screen role), who reunite in a country mansion haunted by the spirit of insane former resident Marianne Faithfull (Girl on a Motorcycle). The haunting transports them to a surreal world of demonic dolls, sadistic doctors, incest and murder. Hammer fans will see Barbara Shelley (Dracula Prince of Darkness) and Leigh Lawson (Hammer House of Horror), among the cast, 'cult TV' enthusiasts will recognise Anthony Bate (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Beasts), and sitcom lovers will enjoy a cameo from Penelope Keith (The Good Life, To The Manor Born).

This combination of 1970s Britsploitation and 1930s quaintness, realised perfectly by Weeks and soundtracked by Pink Floyd collaborator Ron Geesin, have made Ghost Story legendary. Now, for the first time on DVD Nucleus Films proudly presents this pristine 2-disc collectors edition including Ghost Stories, an in-depth featurette about the curious tale about the making of the film, an audio commentary, a trailer and a selection of Weeks' fascinating early shorts and commercials including the previously unseen Tigon film 1917!

2 DISC COLLECTOR'S EDITION - with colour 8 page booklet featuring an essay by Darius Drewe Shimon and early shorts notes by Stephen Weeks

Disc 1:

• Widescreen Presentation Enhanced for 16x9 TVs
• Dolby Digital Mono 2.0
• Theatrical Trailer
• Audio Commentary with Stephen Weeks, moderated by Professor Samuel Umland

Disc 2:

• Ghost Stories - an all-new 72 minute featurette including interviews with Director/Producer Stephen Weeks, Actors Larry Dann and Murray Melvin, British Horror Icon Barbara Shelley and composer (and Pink Floyd collaborator) Ron Geesin, with comments from critic Kim Newman.
• Alternate opening credits sequence
• Stephen Weeks' The Making of Ghost Story (.pdf)
• Stephen Weeks' My Early Films (.pdf)
• Terror, Tweed & Tiffin Essay by Darius Drewe Shimon (.pdf)
• Original Press Book (.pdf)
• The Chelsea Cobbler store commercial
• Previously unseen short Stephen Weeks films:
  
  1. Owen's War (1965 / B+W / 10m)
  2. Deserted Station (1965 / B+W / 7m)
  3. The Camp (1965 / B+W / 4m)
  4. Moods of a Victorian Church (1967 / Colour / 9m)
  5. Two At Thursday (1968 / B+W / 10m)
  6. 1917 (1968 / Colour / 35m) - the lost Tigon film!
  7. Flesh (1969 / Colour / 3m)

Note: The booklet will be available with the first 1,000 copies only!

DVD: amazon.co.uk | play.com | hmv.com

More DVDs from Nucleus Films

[chrisoneill99]

Fantastic new - really looking forward to this!

[loops]

Looking forward to this.

Some nice extras there. With how bad the dvd industry apparently is i'm glad you made the effort.

Is it full frame or widescreen?

[Timmy Lea]

Aha!! At last!!

A feeling of immense pride washes over me...just remember to put an 'e' on the end of that 'Drew'.

I can't wait to see the finished result. Shame we didn't get Sally Grace, and that Geesin's film 'The Body' appears to be lost, but otherwise...this is a package I am happy to have assisted with, and I hope it does well.

The invoice is in the post...

[MarcMorris]

The Body isn't lost, it's with Studio Canal (Optimum should take note if they want extras)...

[Timmy Lea]

Does that mean they have plans to release it?

[MarcMorris]

I'm sure they'll get around to it some day.

[cloud]

If you release Honeymoon Horror in a nicely restored special edition then I'll write you liner notes completely free of charge and even give Cult Movie Forums and Pre-Cert Forums a heads up too! That aside this is a must buy purely for the extras, count me in.

So are you any closer to giving us news on Grindhouse Trailer Classics 3? Also why does no one ever make a Slasher Trailer Classics? That would make for some great entertainment.

[paintnothing84]

Wow! I don't know whether the film itself interests me, but the extras certainly do! Great job Marc and Jake

[Companero]

A feeling of immense pride washes over me...just remember to put an 'e' on the end of that 'Drew'.

Didn't know your "official" first name is Darius, mate.

[Timmy Lea]

It isn't, it's a mixture of my real name and a literary nom de plume.

[Companero]

It isn't, it's a mixture of my real name and a literary nom de plume.

Heavens, you'll be wearing a linen suit and a cravat next

[James McCabe]

I'm looking forward to this release too.

[haydw]

This looks fantastic, well done Marc! I remember watching this years ago, think I'll appreciate it much more now.

[MarcMorris]

We think you'll all love our brand new featurette, GHOST STORIES. The story behind the making of the film is incredible.

[Timmy Lea]

Heavens, you'll be wearing a linen suit and a cravat next

What makes you think I don't wear one already on the days you don't see me?

Marc old chap, now that you've advertised this, you'd better make sure those notes go in.

[claire]

Wish more companies would still make the effort of including a booklet. I know Criterion, Second Run, BFI and After Hours are still consistent, but they are in a minority these days.

A minor grumble, but I always find it nice when I open a DVD case and find a booklet inside.

[Timmy Lea]

There you go, that's your audience speaking!!

[MarcMorris]

That's one person...

[Timmy Lea]

Speaking for us all....ha ha.