Blu-ray Review; The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (Second Sight)

The history of cinema boasts many tales of mad scientist's whose desire to play God often leads to an unhappy ending for all involved.
In Roger Corman's 1963 feature "The Man With The X-Ray Eyes", a much respected scientist Dr James Xavier (Ray Milland) begins ground-breaking experiments with all good intentions.
Xavier claims that human vision is blind to all but one-tenth of the universe, and seeks to develop a way to sensitise the human eye
so that it can see radiation up to the gamma rays and beyond, thus enabling us to truly see everything around us for the first time.

Dr Brandt (Harold J. Stone) and Dianne Fairfax (Diana Van Der Vlis) both step in to warn Xavier of the consequences of self-testing,
but Xavier stubbornly ploughs away, ignoring cease-and-desist calls from the medical authorities.
Following a partially successful animal experiment, Xavier finds the serum now gives him the ability to see through solid objects,
leading him on a journey to manslaughter, the thrill-seeking world of the fairground and the gambling halls of Las Vegas,
en route to a truly chilling downbeat ending.

The portrayal of Xavier by Ray Milland really is a triumph, running through the whole gamut of human emotions,
with solid support from the smart Diana Van Der Vlis, whose character displays courage, compassion
and a fierce sense of loyalty right up to the very end.
However, it's Don Rickles who almost steals the show here, taking Xavier under his wing and turning him into a would-be healer and,
consequently, money-making machine who can instantly diagnose exactly what is wrong with those who seek medical aid.

It's a hugely entertaining ride for sure, with speculative scientific theories that are just about plausible, and special effects
that would have fired the imaginations of early 1960s audiences.
In many ways, this is my own favourite film from the Roger Corman collection, and Second Sight's Blu-ray presentation
does the film full justice.

Here, Floyd Crosby's cinematography looks splendid, with bold, bright colours beautifully rendered by this high definition disc.
On the extras front, we begin with two audio commentary tracks.
The first is by director Roger Corman, who talks about the 15 day shoot, explaining the original story concerned
a jazz musician who took too many drugs and why this story was dropped.
Roger is fullsome in his praise for Milland, Van Der Vlis, Rickles and Floyd Crosby, and justifiably proud of how well
his film fared at the US box office against the industry big hitters.
He also talks about his time with AIP, and explains why he feels this film should be remade.
It's a fascinating track, setting us up nicely for another commentary; this time from Tim Lucas.
As usual, Tim delivers a wonderfully informative track, and declares from the start that he considers "The Man With The X-Ray Eyes"
to be Roger Corman's signature film.
Tim manages to include a wealth of background and theory into his talk, going into a comparison between script and film; providing career information
on credited and uncredited cast members; talks about David Cronenberg, "The Lost Weekend", "Through A Glass Darkly",
"Nightmare Alley", Edgar Allan Poe - all highly relevant in his discussion of Corman's film - and X-ray vision.
Do listen out for his comment regarding drying paint in Xavier's room! You will certainly see this film
with fresh eyes after listening to this track.

Next up is The X Effect; an interview with Roger Corman (14m 16s)
Roger talks about his original treatment for this film; about the two movies he mad with Ray Milland;
the importance of pre-production planning and connects X to his Poe films.

American Gothic: an interview with Kat Ellinger (23m 13s)
A video essay from one of the brightest and best film scholars. Here, Kat discusses the 50s and 60s films that preyed on our fears, and about the deep
existential themes that lie within.
"Paradise Lost", "Frankenstein", "Mr Sardonicus" and "Masque of The Red Death" are just a few of the books and films mentioned in this beautifully delivered talk that will
raise your appreciation of what Corman accomplished here. Kat also references Corman's Poe series, with a look at the gothic
aspects of Corman's work.

Joe Dante on The Man With The X-Ray Eyes (6m 7s)
Joe labels this film one of the most ambitious films of its decade, and goes on to enthuse about the cast,
with a special mention for Don Rickles and also chats about film technology of today and yesteryear.

Trailers From Hell (2m 35s)
Mick Garris plays the trailer for his favourite Corman film.

Original Prologue (5m 2s)
Well worth inclusion here, the original prologue takes in the 5 senses touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste.

The disc concludes with the 2m 19s original trailer.
There's also a booklet - which I haven't seen - which includes writing by Jon Towlson and Allan Bryce.
Most of the UK's excellent boutique labels provide booklets with their releases, which are a valuable addition
to the special features. I respectfully encourage you to read them, if you don't already.

Second Sight will release "The Man With The X-Ray Eyes" on 4th May. The disc is Region B.
An essential purchase for lovers of Cinema Fantastique.

Update:
Thanks to the wonderful Debbie Murray at Aim Publicity, I now have a copy of the booklet.
It's a beautiful 38 page affair, comprising of cast and crew credits, terrific colour and monochrome photographs
and two informative essays.
The first, by film historian Allan Bryce, is titled X Marks The Plot" Seeing Through A Cult Sci-Fi classic.
Allan's 5 page overview of this film begins with his early fascination with X-Ray vision,
moving onto a resume of Corman's career leading up to X and a look at the screenplay and optical effects.

The second essay, by critic and novelist Jon Towlson, is titled Roger Corman: The Auteur With The X-Ray Eyes, running for 6 pages.
Here, Jon talks about the failure of Corman's "The Intruder" and what drove him to make X, and goes into the script
and the concept of 'Spectorama'.
Both essays are so very well conceived and written, and eminently worthy of your time.
Second Sight have also included a reversible poster with new and original artwork, and the disc and booklet
are housed in a rigid box featuring some rather splendid artwork by Graham Humphreys.

Blu-ray Review: Pit And The Pendulum

Made in 1961, Roger Corman's 'Pit And The Pendulum' was shot on a budget of $270,000; $50,000 of which went to Vincent Price who turns in a gem of a performance as Nicholas Medina. A Spanish castle is the setting for this wonderfully atmospheric take on Edgar Allan Poe's story, as Francis Barnard (John Kerr) arrives in search of the truth regarding the death of his sister Elizabeth, played by Barbara Steele. Elizabeth died at the age of 29, and the cause of her untimely demise lie within the castle walls, and can only be conveyed by Nicholas, his sister Catherine (Luana Anders) and family physician Dr Leon (Antony Carbone). The initial explanation that Elizabeth died from "something in her blood" proves wholly unsatisfactory, and Barnard resolves to uncover the truth come what may. His quest is punctuated with flashback sequences containing fragments from the tortured past of Nicholas, who is locked in a public world of grief over Elizabeth's passing and who believes she has returned from the grave to wreak vengeance. Certainly, the strains of music coming from the harpsichord she so loved to play suggests her unquiet spirit resides in the castle.

Corman's film essentially plays out in three acts, with the third based on Poe's story which would have proved insufficient to fill and 80 minute feature. Richard Matheson did a fine job with the screenplay, which presented a considerable challenge and one he rose to admirably, throwing a dose of Freudian angst into the mix by painting a lurid picture of Nicholas' father whose personality will reach out to the living in a terrific final act. Matheson's work here is exceptional, and the same can be said for the art department and effects work, along with the skills of DOP Floyd Crosby. Those beautiful matte paintings, sumptuous set designs and macabre splendour of the halls and passageways really do make this film a feast for the eyes, while the cast - particularly Vincent Price - step off the pages of Matheson's script and mostly deliver. It's true that some reviewers have charged Price with a hammy, over-the-top performance, but I feel this is unfair as the range of emotions demanded by his two roles are perfectly conveyed.For me, John Kerr's performance is the odd one out, though I have tuned in a little better to his turn down the years.

'Pit And The Pendulum' is one of those films that induces a warm glow with each viewing. It's delights are many, and guarantees repayment of the admission fee tenfold; not least for a scene that culminates in one of the shock moments in horror film history.

Arrow Video chose well when adding Corman's film to its ever-expanding Blu-ray catalogue. Here, the intricate designs, fabulous sets and top-notch photography really do come alive in a transfer that illustrates the talent at the director's command. Fleshtones are particularly strong - Barbara Steele in particular looks amazing - and a fine Les Baxter score plays out in the original uncompressed mono PCM audio: Baxter's score can also be enjoyed in an isolated music and effects track. With sound and vision admirably catered for, Arrow have gone a few extra miles by adding some valuable supplementary material. First off is a Roger Corman commentary track, where Roger recalls the 14 day shoot, fleshes out the differences between Pit and its predecessor 'The Fall Of The House Of Usher' and chats about William Castle, Hammer Films and his admiration for Vincent Price. He explains why some of his directorial choices were designed to unsettle rather than shock, and of the techniques employed to give his film greater depth. It's a rewarding talk, which is followed by a commentary track from Tim Lucas: editor of 'Video Watchdog' magazine and author of the weighty Mario Bava tome which is the finest book on film you'll ever read. Tim begins by reading aloud Matheson's voice-over from his script, and goes on to take us through the effects work, explaining who did what and pays tribute to key participants, including Les Baxter whose score, Tim believes, represents his best work for AIP. We also get the lowdown on Luana Anders' connection to Jack Nicholson; references to Dario Argento's 'Trauma' and 'The Horrible Dr Hichcock' and a wonderful statement that "The house is a layered map of Medina's mind". Tim's commentary track was recorded on the 205th anniversary of Poe's birth. Watch the film, listen to this commentary and watch the film again with fresh eyes.

Next on the agenda is 'The Story Behind The Swinging Blade': a 43 minute High Rising Productions feature, containing video contributions from Roger Corman, Barbara Steele, Vincent's engaging daughter Victoria, Brain Yuzna and David Del Valle. Corman chats about 'Pit' and 'Usher'; why he chose Richard Matheson to write the screenplay and has a delightful story to tell about John Kerr and the pendulum. Barbara Steele holds forth about her relationship onset with Vincent Price and has excellent recall of the shoot, while Victoria Price is a joy to listen to with her stories about her late father. There's also good input from Brain Yuzna and David Del Valle who sets out Price's legacy in exquisitely moving terms. 'An Evening Of Edgar Allan Poe' follows, being a 53 minute made for TV production from 1970. 'Evening' is a one-man show starring Vincent Price and taking in a quartet of Poe stories:'The Tell Tale Heart', 'The Sphinx', 'The Cask Of Amontillado' and 'Pit And The Pendulum'. Price's performances convey the tortured genius at the dark heart of Poe's work, creating a charged atmosphere of dread. My own favourite - 'The Tell Tale Heart' - is set in the quiet, desolate hours of the night and works supremely well; do watch out for the scene where a crazed Price takes up the floorboards and reaches inside, his hands slowly emerging, clutching .....
'Evening' appeared on the American DVD of 'Tomb Of Ligeia' and is a nice bonus feature here.
A 5 minute added television sequence follows, shot in 1968 when this film was sold to television and found to be too short for its two hour time slot. Luana Anders was the only cast member available, and appears here telling her story in an asylum. Tim Lucas notes in his commentary that Anders, seven years on, seems a better actress and it's a good point.
The original theatrical trailer rounds things off as far as the disc is concerned, but Arrow Video have included a booklet contains photographs, notes about the transfer and a Jonathan Rigby essay titled 'The Waiting Pit Of Hell'. Jonathan's piece provides an excellent overview of production history, its influence on other films and concludes by recognising its place as "an enduring Gothic masterwork".

'Pit And The Pendulum' is available to buy now, and you can choose between a standard Blu-ray or a nifty steelbook. For sure, this will find its way on to many 'Best Of The Year' lists.

Blu-ray Review: Pit Stop

Shot on a $75,000 budget, Jack Hill's 'Pit Stop' was originally titled 'The Winner', only to be changed due to a Universal title starring Paul Newman that was slated for release around the same time.
In 'Pit Stop', Dick Davalos takes the role of Rick Bowman, a headstrong driver who escapes jail when ex-Marine Grant Willard (Brian Donlevy) puts up his jail bond and persuades him to become involved in the hazardous world of Figure 8 racing. Bowman raced against and beat a Chevy belonging to Willard in an introductory race, and his talent behind the wheel has 'winner' stamped all over it. Although unimpressed by his first view of this chaotic racing genre (the track intersects itself), Bowman agrees to take part; a decision that puts him up against Hawk Sidney (Sid Haig), whose dangerous, hell-for-leather technique makes him an unpopular winner and a real menace to everyone on the track.

With gum-chewing girlfriend Jolene (Beverly Washburn) in tow, Sidney has all the dash and swagger of a cult anti-hero, and his apparent invincibility is underlined when he sees off Bowman in his first two races. After talking to an ex-driver willing to pass on a few tricks of the trade, Bowman beats Sidney in the very next race, only to fall victim to a very sore loser in a violent off-track assault. Undeterred, Bowman gets back in the saddle and is enlisted to drive as backup to hotshot Ed McCleod (George Washburn) who forms a double-act with his wife Ellen,played by Ellen Mcrae who is much better known as Ellen Burstyn.

Jack Hill responded to Roger Corman's request for a racing picture by suggesting an art racing film, and 'Pit Stop' emerged as a winning combination of the two,utilising the monochrome film stock to produce some spectacular night-time footage, packed with thrills and tension, while boasting a cast that deliver straight down the line. You can go through the performers one by one, and there's hardly a likeable character amongst them yet their personalties and situations command rapt attention: Bowman's arrogant, self-serving race ace; Sidney's violent rage at losing a race; Willard's view of drivers as an expendable commodity en route to the next in a line of victors... even the leading ladies cheat on their partners, lured by the adrenalin and sweet smell of success, only to discover that coming first dispels the better angels of human nature.

Arrow Video's 2013 release of Jack Hill's 'Spider Baby' turned out to be one of last year's finest home video releases. A 24 carat cult classic, presented via a stunning transfer and an array of valuable extras. It's pleasing to report Arrow have followed suit with a 'Pit Stop' special edition that will delight Jack's supporters and newcomers alike. While it was simply not possible to remove every ounce of print damage and debris, 'Pit Stop' looks in fine fettle here,with nice grain textures and deep blacks. The film comes with the option of listening to a Jack Hill commentary track, moderated by Calum Waddell, who wrote a book on Hill which has sebsequently jumped to the top of my must-read list. The result is a steady stream of information and anecdotes, revealing Jack enjoyed viewing Japanese, Italian and French films, which influenced his perception of cinema; that 'Pit Stop' saw him in control 100%; why he left filmmaking behind in the '80s, and his experiences working with Boris Karloff. It's a thoroughly engaging chat that also takes in Sid Haig, 'Track Of The Vampire', his brief experiences with Hollywood, Ellen Burstyn, the wonderful Beverly Washburn and much more.

The commentary is followed by a 15 minute feature, 'Crash And Burn: Jack Hill On The Making Of Pit Stop'. This is another success story for the High Rising Productions team of Calum Waddell and Naomi Holwill. Here, Jack recalls Roger Corman viewing 'Mondo Keyhole' and suggesting a racing film where the 'hero' wins the race and loses his soul. We also hear how Peter Bogdanovich saw Ellen Burstyn in 'Pit Stop'; Sid Haig's solid contributions and how Jack dreamed about folks in other countries one day seeing his film and witnessing America at its nuttiest.

Next up is 'Drive Hard: Sid Haig Remembers Pit Stop'(16m 48s). Another High Rising Productions gem, and Sid is an absolute pleasure to listen to as well. Sid tells of the special bond between Jack and himself, and what makes him such a good director, and reveals no stock footage was used for any of the scenes. He also has a lovely story to tell about Quentin Tarantino, and calls 'Pit Stop' "Guerilla filmmaking at its best". 'Pit Stop' features a top-notch performance from Sid, and his reaction at the end of the film brings humanity to his character and compels the viewer to see him in a different light.

'Roger Corman On The Genesis Of Pit Stop' is another High Rising Productions feature, being 11 min 36s of Roger Corman talking about AIP, New World, 'Dementia 13' and his admiration for Jack's work. It's always a joy to listen to Roger and a nice way to (almost) end this batch of extras.
There is one more feature to tell you about, which is a 3m 53s look at 'Restoring Pit Stop'. Here, Arrow's James White talks over a video demonstrating the restoration process. It's exciting news indeed that James recently joined the Arrow team on a full-time basis, and bodes well for the future. A theatrical trailer for 'Pit Stop' rounds off this special release.

'Pit Stop' is available to buy now and is highly recommended. The racing footage reminded my wife of attending evening race meetings during her life in America, and fans from all over the world can enjoy this film's depiction of those high adrenalin events because this release is Region Free.

As a sidebar to this review, I'll soon be posting a short piece on proposed changes to government legislation regarding 'extras'content on Blu-ray/DVD to be classified. As the BBFC charges to classify material, this would make life very hard for labels to produce the in-depth extras we enjoy so much. The UK has some of the finest 'boutique' labels in the world, and we value highly the work they do. I hope you will read my piece, click on the link and sign the petition against this proposal. Thank you.