New Hammer Films Distribution DealMillennium Entertainment announced today that they will distribute titles from the Hammer library in the U.S.

Established in 1934, Groundbreaking British film studio Hammer was instrumental in creating the horror genre and has delivered a hugely successful run of films over the years including Dracula, Frankenstein Created Woman, One Million Years B.C. and The Vampire Lovers.

With this new distribution deal, classics such as Dracula: Prince of Darkness and Frankenstein Created Woman will be made available to the public in new configurations for the first time in almost 10 years. With a multi-tiered approach, a full release schedule is planned to both introduce the Hammer Horror brand to a new audience not familiar with the classic line as well as provide high end, limited edition Blu-rays and Collector’s Sets to the loyal horror fan over the next several years.

Launching with the April 2nd DVD release of the “Hammer Horror 3 Feature Film Set,” this unique collection of classic Hammer films is offered at an affordable price to encourage the general public to join the Hammer fanbase. The set is headlined by Hammer stars Christopher Lee (The Lords of the Rings trilogy and the new Hobbit trilogy) in Dracula Prince of Darkness (1966), as well as Peter Cushing (Star Wars) in The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1974) and Frankenstein Created Woman (1967).

Hammer executives have confirmed the creation of new extras that will accompany the newly restored titles made available in blu-ray collector's editions for fans in U.S. but sadly,  a date for the hi-def releases has not yet been announced. While DVDs certainly continue to be a player in the home video distribution channels, they're unquestionably becoming a less and less significant one, so it's puzzling why a deal this big is opening on DVD rather than on the much superior blu-ray format. They're doing it wrong!

Here's more about the “Hammer Horror 3 Feature Film” 2 DVD set:

  • Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) – Christopher Lee reprises his role as Count Dracula in this 1966 sequel to the original Horror of Dracula.
  • The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires (1974) – Professor Lawrence Van Helsing and his son quest to find the seven lost “Golden Vampires.” With the help of a guide and his kung-fu trained siblings, they set out to uncover the truth behind the deadly legend.
  • Frankenstein Created Woman (1967) – A young girl jumps to her death (Susan Denberg) after her lover is framed for murder and wrongly executed. Baron Victor Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) places her lover’s soul into her recently deceased body is able to create a new woman, whose soul longs for revenge.

HAMMER HORROR 3 FEATURE FILM SET – Specifications

  • Format – DVD
  • Running Time – 265 minutes
  • Rated – Not Rated
  • Pre-Book Date – February 26, 2013
  • Street Date – April 2, 2013
  • SRP: $14.99
  • Aspect ratio: Various
  • Special Features: 3 Classic Hammer Horror Films on 2 DVD’s in 1 Amaray