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Product description ------------------- Collection of four classic films from Hammer Film Productions.In 'Visa to Canton' (1960) former pilot Don Benton (Richard Basehart), now living in Hong Kong, travels to Communist China in search of a missing young pilot but finds himself caught up with an American agent with a target on her back.In 'The Pirates of Blood River' (1962) a band of pirates led by Captain LaRoche (Christopher Lee) invade a penal colony in search of treasure.In 'The let Blade' (1965), when King Charles I (Robert Rietty) is captured by Roundhead supporters Col.Judd (Lionel Jeffries) and Captain Sylvester (Oliver Reed), it falls to a small group of the king's loyal supporters to a rescue attempt.The daunting task is soon lessened, however, by the involvement of Judd's daughter Claire (June Thorburn), who goes behind her her's back to secretly help the locals with their plans.Finally, in 'The Brigand of Kandahar' (1965), set in 1850s India, Lt.Case (Ronald Lewis) is thrown out of his British Army regiment when he is accused of cowardice in action.He exacts his revenge on those responsible by joining forces with a local band of rebel tribesmen led by colourful chieftain Ali Khan (Reed). Synopsis -------- Hammer Volume Five: Death & Deceit collects four films from the early sixties which found the studio looking beyond the horror genre for its next box-office success. Visa to Canton (1961, released in the US as Passport to China) is a torn-from-the-headlines thriller; The Pirates of Blood River (1962), starring Kerwin Mathews (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad) and Christopher Lee (The Face of Fu Manchu), is a swashbuckling adventure; The let Blade (1963, released in the US as The Crimson Blade) is an English Civil War-set actioner which follows the fortunes of Cromwell’s Roundheads; and The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) takes Hammer to the North-West Frontier for an action-adventure starring Ronald Lewis (Taste of Fear) and Oliver Reed (The System). All four films are presented for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, while Visa to Canton, The let Blade and The Brigand of Kandahar make their world Blu-ray premieres. Extras INDICATOR LIMITED BLU-RAY EDITION BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES: VISA TO CANTON • High Definition remaster • Original mono audio • Two presentations of the film: Visa to Canton, and Passport to China, with the alternative US titles • Audio commentary with film historian Kevin Lyons (2020) • Hammer's Women: Lisa toni (2020): profile of the Hammer star by critic and writer Virginie Sélavy • Ticket to Ride (2020): film historian Vic Pratt discusses ethnocentrism in sixties British cinema • David Huckvale on Edwin Astley (2020): appreciation of the film’s score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde • Original theatrical trailer • Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials • New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Josephine Botting, an account of the RB-47 affair which inspired Visa to Canton, an overview of promotional materials, and film credits • World premiere on Blu-ray THE PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVER • High Definition remaster • Original mono audio • Audio commentary with screenwriter Jimmy Sangster, art director Don Mingaye and Hammer historian Marcus Hearn (2008) • Hammer’s Women: Marla Landi (2020): profile of the Hammer star by film historian Kat Ellinger • Stephen Laws Introduces ‘The Pirates of Blood River’ (2020): an appreciation by the accled horror author • Andrew Keir at the Manchester Festival of Fantastic Films (1993): archival video of the accled actor in conversation with Stephen Laws • Did I Write That? (2020): Jonathan Rigby, author of English Gothic, discusses the career of Jimmy Sangster • David Huckvale on Gary Hughes (2020): appreciation of the film’s score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde • Yes, We Have No Piranhas (2020): video essay on the censorship history of The Pirates of Blood River • Original theatrical trailer • Brian Trenchard-Smith trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciation • Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials • New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Lindsay Hallam, Jimmy Sangster on The Pirates of Blood River, a selection of promotional materials, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits • UK premiere on Blu-ray THE LET BLADE • High Definition remaster • Original mono audio • Two presentations of the film: The let Blade, and The Crimson Blade, with the alternative US titles • Audio commentary with film historian Kevin Lyons (2020) • Hammer’s Women: June Thorburn (2020): profile of the Hammer star by film historian Josephine Botting • Stephen Laws Introduces ‘The let Blade’ (2020): an appreciation by the accled horror author • Interviews with Hugh Harlow and Pauline Wise (2020): the second assistant director and continuity person discuss the making of The let Blade • Almost an Auteur (2020): horror author and critic Kim Newman on the eclectic career of writer-director John Gilling • David Huckvale on Gary Hughes (2020): appreciation of the film’s score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde • Original US theatrical trailer • Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials • New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Neil Sinyard, an extract from Oliver Reed’s autobiography, a selection of promotional materials, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits • World premiere on Blu-ray THE BRIGAND OF KANDAHAR • High Definition remaster • Original mono audio • Audio commentary with film historian Vic Pratt (2020) • Hammer’s Women: Yvonne Romain (2020): profile of the Hammer star by film historian Melanie Williams • Stephen Laws Introduces ‘The Brigand of Kandahar’ (2020): an appreciation by the accled horror author • Swashbuckling (2020): writer and historian Neil Sinyard looks at writer-director John Gilling’s films for Hammer • David Huckvale on Don Banks (2020): appreciation of the film’s score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-Garde • Original theatrical trailer • Image gallery: promotional and publicity materials • New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing • Limited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Naman Ramachandran, an extensive selection of promotional materials, and film credits • World premiere on Blu-ray Additional information: Original release: 1961-1965 Running time: 75 mins/87 mins/83 mins/81 mins Colour/ B&W: Colour