March brings another incredible selection of essential titles for any self-respecting film collector from Powerhouse’s Indicator Series, among the finest purveyors of classic, cult cinema. Whether you’re looking for uncompromising bushranger violence with Dennis Hopper, a classic journey into the Wild West with Budd Boetticher, or hidden Mexican horror gems, this wave of catalog releases offers something for everyone.
All boasting the typically generous wealth of special features and impeccable audio/visual transfers, Powerhouse continues to hold a strong place as one of the finest home media distributors not just working today, but in the history of home entertainment.
Read on for an overview of this month’s selection of treats…
MAD DOG MORGAN (1976)
Based on the true story of Dan Morgan – the infamous Australian outlaw once described as ‘the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush’ – Mad Dog Morgan provides the perfect showcase for the unique star quality of Dennis Hopper (Night Tide, The Last Movie). Nominated for two Australian Film Institute Awards, including one for director Philippe Mora (The Beast Within), Mad Dog Morgan is a brutal and uncompromising slice of Ozploitation.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
- New restoration from a 4K scan of the interpositive by Powerhouse Films
- Two presentations of the film: Mad Dog Morgan, the 103-minute director’s cut; and Mad Dog, the 95-minute UK/US theatrical cut
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with writer-director Philippe Mora and film critic Jake Wilson (2019)
- Audio commentary with writer-director Philippe Mora (2009)
- To Shoot a Mad Dog (1976, 25 mins): behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interview footage with actor Dennis Hopper, produced and directed by David Elfick
- Hopping Mad (2019, 34 mins): Mora reflects on the film’s production and working with Hopper
- That’s Our Mad Dog: A Conversation with Dennis Hopper & Philippe Mora (2008, 29 mins): the legendary actor looks back at his experience of making the film
- ‘Not Quite Hollywood’ Interview Excerpts (2008, 67 mins): extensive selection of outtakes from Mark Hartley’s acclaimed documentary on Australian cinema, featuring Mora, producer Jeremy Thomas, camera operator John Seale, and actors Jack Thompson, Roger Ward and Graeme Blundell
- Interview with Mike Molloy (2009, 8 mins): the director of photography in discussion with Mora
- Interview with Richard Brennan (2009, 6 mins): the associate producer in conversation with Mora
- Radio Interview with Philippe Mora (1976, 15 mins)
- Mad Country: Shooting Locations Revisited (2019) with optional audio commentary by Mora
- Archival Intro/Outro with Philippe Mora (2009, 8 mins)
- Original theatrical trailer
- Image gallery: promotional and publicity material
- Production diary gallery
- New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Tara Judah, Philippe Mora’s pre-production notes on Mad Dog Morgan, archival interview with Mora, archival article by Mora on the making of the film, Jeremy Thomas on Mad Dog Morgan, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
- Limited edition exclusive double-sided poster
- UK/US premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 4,000 copies for the UK and US
MAD DOG MORGAN is available March 21 2022
A TIME FOR DYING (1969)
The final western from one of the genre’s greatest directors, Budd Boetticher (Ride Lonesome), and the last screen appearance of war hero-turned-movie star Audie Murphy (To Hell and Back), A Time for Dying is an offbeat, elegiac look at the Old West, prefiguring Don Siegel’s classic western, and John Wayne’s final picture, The Shootist. Beset by post-production and distribution problems, A Time for Dying is overdue the recognition it deserves. This world Blu-ray debut, featuring an all-new restoration and a host of insightful extras, will finally enable the film to find its rightful audience.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
- New restoration from a 2K scan of the original negative by Powerhouse Films
- Two presentations of the film: in its original 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio; and 1.37:1 open matte shooting ratio
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with screenwriter and novelist C Courtney Joyner and film historian Henry Parke (2022)
- A Sense of Poetry (2022, 14 mins): filmmaker and novelist Christopher Petit discusses his fascination with A Time for Dying and his reasons for selecting it for the Sight & Sound Greatest Films of All Time poll
- The Men Who Shot Jesse James (2022, 20 mins): Kim Newman, critic and author of Wild West Movies, explores the many film portrayals of the infamous outlaw
- New and improved subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Paul Duane, archival interviews with director Budd Boetticher and actor Audie Murphy, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 4,000 copies for the UK and US
A TIME FOR DYING is available March 21 2022
LA LLORONA (1934)
An early horror classic drawn from Mexico’s rich tradition of folklore, La Llorona recounts the chilling tale of the ‘wailing woman’ who kills herself and her child before returning to haunt the living. Expressionistic, lyrical and atmospheric, Ramón Peón’s film draws on the influence of Universal Pictures’ contemporaneous horror cycle and incorporates elements of period melodrama and romance. This landmark production in the evolution of Mexican cinema has been newly restored from the only surviving film elements, and is presented here with a selection of essential extras.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
- New 2K restoration from the only surviving film element by the Cinema Preservation Alliance
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with genre-film experts, critics and authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2022)
- ‘La Llorona’: Ghosts of the Past (2021, 17 mins): documentary by Viviana García Besné, the producer’s great granddaughter, relaying a personal history of the film
- Transcending Time (2022, 18 mins): Abraham Castillo Flores, head programmer of Mexico’s Mórbido Film Fest, explores the myth and the film
- Lunas y estrellas (2022, 2 mins): short compilation of the source print’s distinctive cue marks, which were removed during the restoration
- Optional English translation subtitles
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 40-page booklet with a new essay by Emily Masincup, an archival article on the legend of La Llorona, Valeria Villegas Lindvall on the many cinematic interpretations of La Llorona, an archival newspaper report on the film’s
- premiere, an overview of contemporary critical responses, Peter Conheim on the restoration of La Llorona, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 4,000 copies for the UK and US
LA LLORONA is available March 21 2022
THE PHANTOM OF THE MONASTERY (EL FANTASMA DEL CONVENTO) (1934)
Made in the wake of La Llorona’s success and directed with flair by Fernando de Fuentes (regarded as one of the masters of early Mexican cinema), this expressionistic Gothic triumph which has tragically languished in obscurity outside of Mexico has now been lovingly restored and is presented on Blu-ray at long last in a world debut edition, along with a selection of illuminating extras.
INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
- New 4K restoration from the original negative by the UCLA Film & Television Archive in collaboration with the Film Foundation’s World Cinema Project
- Original mono audio
- Audio commentary with genre-film experts, critics and authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2022)
- The Devil in the Detail (2022, 18 mins): Abraham Castillo Flores, head programmer of Mexico’s Mórbido Film Fest, considers the impact of this early horror classic
- Optional English translation subtitles
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Limited edition exclusive 36-page booklet with a new essay by Maricruz Castro-Ricalde, screenwriter Juan Bustillo Oro on the making of The Phantom of the Monastery, an archival production report, a look at the film’s original promotion, an overview of contemporary critical responses, Jan-Christopher Horak of the UCLA Film & Television Archive on the restoration, and film credits
- World premiere on Blu-ray
- Limited edition of 4,000 copies for the UK and US
THE PHANTOM OF THE MONASTERY is available March 21 2022
For more information on Powerhouse’s Indicator series, visit their website at powerhousefilms.co.uk