Before Hammer Films released werewolves and raised vampires its early catalogue featured a number of suspenseful thrillers, none more compelling than its sharp-edged noir, Blood Orange. To honour its legacy, Hammer Films has announced its release in a brand-new 4K restored Limited Collector’s Edition out on 11 August at the pre-order price of £35.
Meticulously restored by Hammer in 4K from the original film negatives, this definitive edition is packed with special features, including an exclusive interview with respected film maker Alice Lowe (Prevenge, Timestalker). Originally released in 1953, Blood Orange was co-written and directed by acclaimed British film maker Terence Fisher (Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein).
Hollywood favourite Tom Conway – the suave British actor famous for his roles as Sherlock Holmes, The Falcon, Bulldog Drummond and Simon Templar – stars in this sharp-edged and suspenseful crime thriller which co-stars Naomi Chance as a model hiding dangerous secrets and Richard Wattis as a grumbling police inspector.
In Blood Orange, Ex-FBI agent turned private eye Tom Conway is called in to investigate a jewel robbery at an exclusive London fashion house. But when murder enters the frame, the catwalk becomes a crime scene – and the killer is still at large.
The Blood Orange Limited Collector’s Edition includes a 2-disc set (1 x UHD disc and 1 x Blu-ray) in a beautifully slipcase featuring brand new artwork, making it a must have for collectors and cinema enthusiasts alike.
LIMITED COLLECTOR'S EDITION FEATURES:
- Blood Orange and supporting material on two discs in a stylish digipak and rigid box: one UHD and one Blu-ray, with the content duplicated across both formats.
- English, French, Italian, Spanish and German subtitles on each version of the film
4K UHD/BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:
- New commentary with author and critic Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw, author of Brit Noir and The Rough Guide to Crime Fiction
- New commentary with film historian Lucy Bolton and film critic Phuong Le
- Dressed to Kill: Screenwriter and author David Pirie and Wayne Kinsey, writer of numerous books on Hammer, discuss Michael Carreras, his relationships and his work at Hammer in the early 1950s
- I'm Just a Girl!: Award-winning film-maker Alice Lowe discusses Blood Orange and female representation in British cinema
- The ABC of British B!: Artist and film scholar Cathy Lomax, film historian Richard Hollis and author Gavin Collinson discuss Hammer's run of B movies which formed the company's staple output for the best part of a decade
- The House of Glamour: author and fashion historian Liz Tregenza gives insight into the fashions and fashion industry portrayed so vividly in Blood Orange
- A short gallery of stills and publicity material alongside tracks from Ivor Slaney’s score
BOOKLET FEATURES:
- New article by Hammer expert Wayne Kinsey examining the making of Blood Orange
- New article by Robert JE Simpson on Hammer's "sister company" and initial distributor, Exclusive Films
- New article by Nora Fiore on the "bad girls" of Hammer Noir and how they stack up against American femme fatales
- New article by Wayne Kinsey, who examines a key piece of Bray Studios architecture used to good effect on Blood Orange
- New article by crime and Noir expert Barry Forshaw on lead actor Tom Conway
- New article by Gavin Collinson, who takes a look at cinema’s often-jaundiced take on the fashion industry
- Article by Denis Meikle on James Carreras, whose drive, initiative and inexhaustible energy drove Hammer to global success
- Archive interview with Harry Oakes, focus puller on many Hammer films
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