On January 26th, 2010, home video distributor 'Scorpion Releasing/Code Red' is releasing one of my favourite movies, 1973's horror dandy, Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls, to DVD. It is, however, not just a dump-to-disc effort. While the DVD will not be the Blu-ray kind, Doctor Death was transferred to HD from the original camera negatives. (All of the 'elements' were in the possession of MGM.)Actor John Considine, who plays the titular character, recorded a commentary track and an on-camera interview.
All technical matters, of course, but ones which will allow what is, to me, a superior example of a film which plays horror and comedy successfully in the same breath -- or dying breath -- to shine through. Oh, I won't forget mentioning the terrific score by Richard LaSalle... the superior audio of the upcoming DVD will, no doubt, help the music blossom.
(Trivia: Doctor Death: Seeker of Souls was directed by Eddie Saeta, who was an assistant director on a few of the old Three Stooges shorts -- which helps explain the cameo by Moe Howard; it was shot by Kent Wakeford, who worked for director Martin Scorcese on Mean Streets and Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore; composer LaSalle also worked on Alice, writing its instrumental music; film editor Tony DiMarco cut episodes of the original The Outer Limits television series.)
Time to start throwing my pennies into the jar -- the one holding the heart.
