Orson Welles in MALPERTUIS
03-13-04, 10:15 PM
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Orson Welles in MALPERTUIS
In 1972 Belgian director Harry Kumel (DAUGHTERS OF DARKNESS) adapted Flemish author Jean Ray's fantasy novel MALPERTUIS, also known as the Legend of Doom House. It starred Orson Welles and Susan Hampshire, was well received at Cannes, was issued in a cut 98 minute English language print, and disappeared. In 2002 the Belgium government sponsored a director's cut that runs over two hours in length.
I'm looking for a copy of this film. Supposedly Salvation Films in the UK has been working on a release for ever. There is a French-language version (no subtitles) which is part of a French Orson Welles box set. Was the director's cut ever released in Belgium, and if so did it have English subtitles? And where can I buy it? For that matter,does anyone have any information about a DVD release of this at all. I've found a couple of places where I can buy a DVD-R of the cut VHs version, but I'd prefer to see the DC if at all possible.
Thanks.
Scott
I'm looking for a copy of this film. Supposedly Salvation Films in the UK has been working on a release for ever. There is a French-language version (no subtitles) which is part of a French Orson Welles box set. Was the director's cut ever released in Belgium, and if so did it have English subtitles? And where can I buy it? For that matter,does anyone have any information about a DVD release of this at all. I've found a couple of places where I can buy a DVD-R of the cut VHs version, but I'd prefer to see the DC if at all possible.
Thanks.
Scott
03-20-04, 02:32 AM
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Found this posting today on alt.books.ghost-fiction:
"I've just heard from a friend that Malpertuis, directed by Harry Kumel and based on the Jean Ray novel, is going to be released "soon" on DVD in the UK and the US. My friend, who hadn't even heard of Jean Ray before, attended a cinema showing of Kumel's Daughters of Darkness and Malpertuis in England this weekend. Harry Kumel was there in person to
talk about his films, and it was he who announced the forthcoming release of Malpertuis on DVD. I thought some of you here might be interested to know this, if you didn't already."
So apparently the long-delayed Salvation release may materialize. Incidentally, for those of you not much into reading, Jean Ray was sort of a Flemish H. P. Lovecraft who was widely read in the 1920s but then became more of a cult writer among fans of weird fiction. Most of his work is out of print in the US, alas. Too bad, because he was really quite good, and MALPERTUIS was his masterpiece.
Best, Scott
"I've just heard from a friend that Malpertuis, directed by Harry Kumel and based on the Jean Ray novel, is going to be released "soon" on DVD in the UK and the US. My friend, who hadn't even heard of Jean Ray before, attended a cinema showing of Kumel's Daughters of Darkness and Malpertuis in England this weekend. Harry Kumel was there in person to
talk about his films, and it was he who announced the forthcoming release of Malpertuis on DVD. I thought some of you here might be interested to know this, if you didn't already."
So apparently the long-delayed Salvation release may materialize. Incidentally, for those of you not much into reading, Jean Ray was sort of a Flemish H. P. Lovecraft who was widely read in the 1920s but then became more of a cult writer among fans of weird fiction. Most of his work is out of print in the US, alas. Too bad, because he was really quite good, and MALPERTUIS was his masterpiece.
Best, Scott
03-20-04, 03:06 PM
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Originally posted by chente
I've never even heard of this film...
I've never even heard of this film...
FYI: a 95-minute "Director's Cut" was released in the UK in 2002, according to this site... note, however, that this site mentions a runtime of 128 minutes...
. . .
. . .
Last edited by Hendrik; 03-20-04 at 03:22 PM.
