Lady Frankenstein (Mel Welles, 1972)

[g053584398]

Has anyone here seen La figlia di Frankenstein aka Lady Frankenstein and, if so, is it something you would recommend?

The films stars Joseph Cotton and the lovely Rosalba Neri, apparently.

On the same theme, which DVD is the best edition to get? I am under the impression that the DVD Drive In one would be the one to get, although I'm not sure.

[MarcMorris]

I'd personally avoid every DVD release since they're all the cut version. The one you should look out for is the ultra-rare uncut Swedish Esselte video release, which runs around 10 minutes longer.

[g053584398]

Thanks for that Marc. I've read that the DVDs available use the shorter US edit of the film, but I was willing to put up with that. It would be fantastic if some enterprising cult DVD outfit released a definitive version, but that does seem unlikely.

Just out of interest, is the material missing from the US edit gore or nudity based or merely extra narrative?

[Timmy Lea]

Funnily enough, I'd completely forgotten this film even existed until I found myself thumbing through my mate Alf's copy of "Monster And Horror Movies" by Thomas G Aylward, a book I hadn't read since my brother took it with him on leaving home in 1989. As a fan of Joseph Cotten, I think I really need to see it, preferably uncut.

[Deranged]

I remember a quite indepth Video Watchdog article dealing with the differint edits of Lady Frankenstein that just made me want to see a complete version all the more!

[g053584398]

I would love to see the full length version of this one, which even in the shorter form promises a great deal of Rosalba Neri goodness!

[g053584398]

Has anyone got a copy of the Lady Frankenstein DVD from Elite, or failing that any infotrmation about this release? I think it is supposed to contain Lady Frankenstein and another film, but information about this release seems to be very thin on the ground to say the least.

[MarcMorris]

Elite didn't issue this. Madacy did a poor quality double bill, and DVD Drive-In issued their own version a few years back. The Italian rights owner (who has the complete version) wants too much money for a legitimate release it would appear.

Lady Frankenstein: worldwide DVD releases

[g053584398]

Thanks for confirming that Marc. As a result of my digging around I imagined that might be the case, although it is good to have confirmation of that.

I would love to see the full length Italian version, although from what you've said it seems unlikely we will ever see an official DVD release. What a shame.

I noticed the following link on Amazon earlier, posted below, which, whilst appearing to be the shorter US edit of the film, appears to be an anamorphic transfer. Has anyone got this release, and if so is this a port of the DVD Drive In release or a new transfer?

Lady Frankenstein: amazon.com

So is the DVD Drive In release the best version issued?

[MarcMorris]

I'll be sticking with my rare uncut Swedish VHS.

[ecc]

Originally Posted by g053584398

Thanks for confirming that Marc. As a result of my digging around I imagined that might be the case, although it is good to have confirmation of that.

I would love to see the full length Italian version, although from what you've said it seems unlikely we will ever see an official DVD release. What a shame.

I noticed the following link on Amazon earlier, posted below, which, whilst appearing to be the shorter US edit of the film, appears to be an anamorphic transfer. Has anyone got this release, and if so is this a port of the DVD Drive In release or a new transfer?

Lady Frankenstein: amazon.com

So is the DVD Drive In release the best version issued?

DVD Drive In cropped an aldready-cropped 16mm print to 16:9 (the film was hard-matted). The Amazon link is a DVDR. It could be a port of the DVD Drive-In release or it could be a copy of the version floating around that combined footage from the German anamorphic TV broadcast with other sources.

[magnus jansson]

Is it still the Swedish tape that is the best one for this classic?
Unfortunally the tape is rarer-than-rare, do you have the original Marc? Don´t think many copies survived of that one, the label had a nasty habit of destroying their tapes when returned from stores after the rental-period.... I´ve seen a copule sold the last few years in Sweden, both going for around £ 150-200. The sleeve is great as well!
I like the film, only seen this swedish edition, but it´s a nice one. Is it nude-scenes that are cut from the other prints?

[g053584398]

Let us hope that the rumours that have been circulating about an official release become reality.

[bgart13]

A couple of weeks ago, Tom Weaver over at the CHFB mentioned that he was asked to write liner notes for LADY FRANKENSTEIN, but felt he didn't know enough about it to take on the task. He asked for an "expert" about the movie to contact him and he would put in a good word. He also mentioned something about three discs too... Curious, I do hope it happens!

[g053584398]

If an uncut DVD in the correct ratio and anamorphically enhanced gets released I'm sure many of us would be very happy indeed.