House of The Long Shadows

morgan_canfield · 17th January 2005, 09:33 AM

Is this film ever going to be released on DVD?

Warm greetings from South Africa!

**Matt Gemmell** · 17th January 2005, 04:31 PM

Good question !

I wish I had the answer .

17th January 2005, 06:50 PM

You can get it on ebay but theyre only bootleg copies. Video to DVD transfer. But there is no official release and it doesn't look like their will be in the near future. Its a shame cuz all three masters are at the very best. Vincent Price's timeless line "Please do not interrupt me whilst im solidiquising" makes it worth a DVD release in itself.

**Dave Hutchens** · 17th January 2005, 08:20 PM

Or how 'bout when Vincent Prince calls Mr. Lee a "bitch" toward the ending?

I adore this film. Truly, it marked the end of an era, and has enormous significance within the genre.

Bootleg DVDs, as stated above, are readily available on eBay, but if you'd prefer to take a more "honest" approach to obtaining it, legal VHS copies are also not too hard to find. I got mine on eBay a few years ago, for only about ten bucks.

**Richard Squires** · 18th January 2005, 04:34 AM

MGM released the VHS version of the film many years back. If they still own the film, wouldn't it be great if they released it with the kind of extras they've been known to include with some of their more recent DVD releases? I mean, MGM is the company that took the 1971 AIP B-film 'Murders in the Rue Morgue" (which had been butchered by the producers prior to theatrical release) and re-cut it back to its original 'director's cut'! A company who takes such pains might very well give us a definitive DVD edition of 'House of the Long Shadows'! Now, if they could only digitally remove Desi Arnaz, Jr.!

morgan_canfield · 18th January 2005, 08:13 AM

Thanks for the info ~ it really is a shame that there is no release scheduled as yet. After all, "Shadows" was made by the Cannon Film Group who seem to have sold all their films to MGM who have released them on DVD. C'mon, MGM, get your act together and release this film! While you're about it, why not release one of my all time "guilty pleasure films" (which you own): Robert Clouse's "Gymkata".

Greetings from South Africa!

**Dave Hutchens** · 20th January 2005, 03:53 AM

Sadly, there have been no announcements from MGM that a DVD is in the works. I doubt we can expect one anytime in the near future.

**Dave Hutchens** · 20th January 2005, 04:10 AM

BTW, a great source of info on upcoming cult film releases to DVD is this site:

http://www.dvddrive-in.com/

If there's hope that Long Shadows will be arriving anytime soon, you'll hear about it here.

22nd January 2005, 06:47 PM

I hope too that it will come on DVD. It give me so many souvenirs!
When this movie was project in Brussel in 1986, I've the so great pleasure to see Mr Lee in person. He give me a autographe.
Unfortunlatly, since this day, my picture was stole

, but not my souvenir

julie · 23rd January 2005, 02:32 PM

This is a lovely film, I enjoy watching, and I have many times.

It would be great to have on DVD, one day I hope, one day.
rats

23rd January 2005, 06:24 PM

Thanks for that link Dave. Glad to see theres a future release of "Corridors Of Blood" in the pipeline to.

I wonder if Mr Lee would do commentary on "Long Shadows" if it ever gets released?
Although from what Ive read he was no fan of the finished film and neither were any of his co-stars. Director Pete Walker infamous for 70s stylish shockfeists like "House Of Whipcord" and "Frightmare" has now been relegated to directing the odd episode of Emmerdale. But it still remains the only film where all three masters with the added bonus of John Carradine and Sheila Keith(who sadly passed away last year) share a scene together and its them and them alone which make this film a classic.

Southern Beau · 25th January 2005, 08:32 AM

It is my understanding that Elsa Lanchaster was to be in that film but was too ill. John Carradine may have had a limited role, but should have recieved better billing.

Of course, Cushing, Lee and Price were entertaining to watch. Price was the comic relief in this film with Lee and Cushing playing it straight.

I personally found the the direction lacking in any real suspense. That one scene where Lee and a costar discover his tires slashed was effective. Lee conveyed his character's personal stress. He also came through during the acid scene when it warned "Don't touch her"...if memory serves me correctly.

Desi Arnez, Jr. and the leading lady were bad casting in my humble opinion.

I haven't seen the film in twenty years now. It served the purpose for television when originally aired.

The most effective aspect was the poster itself. Too bad the film wasn't.

26th January 2005, 01:58 AM

yes southern beau i wish i could get hold of the poster somewhere. i think its fair to say that on both occasions where all 3 of the masters of the macabre were in same film they were wasted as they were always better than the material they were given. scream and scream again was a total dissapointment in that respect even though it had an interesting plot, whatever it might have been.

**Richard Squires** · 26th January 2005, 06:12 AM

The inspiration for the film was an old book and a play (by Charlie Chan author Earl Derr Biggers and American Broadway legend George M. Cohan) called Seven Keys to Baldpate. The story had been filmed at least 6 times previously. I remember reading, when House of the Long Shadows was released, that the director had screened all prior versions and noticed that there was one scene in common with every version. He decided to include this scene in 'Long Shadows,' too. I've always been curious as to what scene it was. Anyone out there know?

Southern Beau · 29th January 2005, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord_Of_Misrule

yes southern beau i wish i could get hold of the poster somewhere. i think its fair to say that on both occasions where all 3 of the masters of the macabre were in same film they were wasted as they were always better than the material they were given. scream and scream again was a total dissapointment in that respect even though it had an interesting plot, whatever it might have been.

SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN was a strange and promising film. One would think professional marketers wouldn't misrepresent a film like that with a promo leading on audiences to think their favorite stars interact a lot more. After all, audiences don't like being mislead. I believe I even saw the trailer and when Cushing's name appeared it was even his image to match.