| Number of discs: |
1 |
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| Original language: |
English (ENG) |
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| Description: | THE NORTH AMERICAN Blu-ray PREMIERESPere Portabella has been a pioneering movie producer and celebrated Spanish statesman, denounced by both the Franco dictatorship and The Vatican. But it's his subversive work as a director that has rewritten the rules of genre narrative. Or as The Museum of Modern Art says, "The films of Portabella expand the expressive potential of cinema": In 1970, Portabella was invited by Jess Franco to make a behind-the-scenes documentary on the filming of COUNT DRACULA. Instead, VAMPIR-CUADECUC became a dreamlike deconstruction of myths, monsters and moviemaking featuring Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom and Soledad Miranda as you've never seen them before. Christopher Lee also stars in Portabella's companion piece UMBRACLE, an unsettling journey through dread, violence and discontinuity with Lee at his most candid. Both films are now scanned in HD from Portabella's own vault elements for the first time ever in America."Vampir-cuadecuc / Umbracle" on Blu-Ray from Severin is a remarkable double feature of two avant-garde masterpieces by Spanish director Pere Portabella. "Vampir-cuadecuc" (1971) is an experimental behind-the-scenes look at the filming of Jess Franco?s "Count Dracula," blending documentary and fiction to create a haunting, surreal experience. "Umbracle" (1972), starring Christopher Lee, explores themes of censorship and memory in Francoist Spain through poetic imagery and enigmatic narrative. Severin Films, renowned for their dedication to restoring cult classics and obscure gems, delivers these films with exceptional care, offering high-quality transfers and insightful bonus materials.
Pere Portabella stands as one of Spain's most influential filmmakers, known for his boundary-pushing works that challenge cinematic conventions. His collaborations with artists like Joan Miró have left a lasting mark on European art cinema. Christopher Lee, featured prominently in both films, was an iconic British actor celebrated for roles in Hammer Horror productions such as "Dracula," as well as mainstream successes like "The Lord of the Rings." Director Jess Franco also appears; he was famed for his prolific output in horror and exploitation genres across Europe.
This Blu-Ray release offers cinephiles a rare opportunity to explore radical filmmaking during a turbulent era in Spanish history?expertly curated by Severin Films. |
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| Actors: |
Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, Soledad Miranda |
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| Manufacturer No.: |
SRVN14100BR |
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Responsible Person for the EU:
Severin Elektrogeräte GmbH Röhre 27, D-59846 Sundern, D service@severin.de |
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