Schalcken the Painter

Schalcken the Painter (Blu-Ray) (*)

$26.99

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Linear PCM )
English ( Mono )
English ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
United Kingdom ( Blu-Ray/Region B )

Running Time:
70 min

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Cast/Crew Interview(s)
Interactive Menu
Scene Access
Short Film
Special Edition
Booklet
Blu-Ray & DVD Combo

Movie filmed in 1979 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Leslie Megahey

Written By:
Paul Humfress
Sheridan Le Fanu

Actors:
Jeremy Clyde ..... Godfried Schalken
Maurice Denham ..... Gerrit Dou
Cheryl Kennedy ..... Rose
John Justin ..... Vanderhausen
Anne Tirard ..... Brothel Madam
Anthony Sharp ..... Gentleman
Val Penny ..... Lesbia
Roy Evans ..... Coachman
Eric Francis ..... Goldsmith
Charles Gray ..... Narrator
Victor Dear ..... Manservant
Rosemary Jenner ..... Maidservant
Amanda Carlson ..... Francoise
Helena Clayton ..... Hendrijke
Charles Stewart ..... Rembrandt

Synopsis:

World premiere of this highly sought-after ghost story from the BBC, released in the BFI's acclaimed Flipside series. Based on a short story by Sheridan Le Fanu, Schalcken the Painter was originally shown in the Omnibus strand on BBC 2 during Christmas 1979. The story follows a young seventeenth century Flemish painter Godfried Schalcken, who forsakes love for ambition, but discovers that there is still a terrible price to pay for his choice. One of the most frequently requested programmes in the BBC archive, Schalcken the Painter is an exquisitely shot, atmospheric horror film which explores the uneasy, dark relationship between art, commerce and erotic desire. The superb cast includes Jeremy Clyde, Maurice Denham and Cheryl Kennedy. Newly transferred to High Definition from the film materials preserved in the BFI National Archive, the release also includes the rare, experimental Edgar Allan Poe adaptation, The Pit (1962), assistant directed by Peter Collinson.

The story begins with Schalcken's (Jeremy Clyde) arrival at Dou's (Maurice Denham) Leiden studio as an impoverished young artist just as he's making the transition from sketches to oil paintings. Schalcken falls in love with Dou's niece Rose (Cheryl Kennedy), but Dou has already promised her hand in marriage to the wealthy, mysterious corpse-like Vanderhausen (John Justin) in exchange for some gold. Schalcken promises the terrified Rose that he'll one day become successful enough to buy her back, but has to let her go for the time being. He then becomes so immersed in his work, that by the time he does actually have fame and money, he finds he may be too late to save his former love from her ghastly suitor.The film doesn't even bother to define the Vanderhausen character in clichéd horror terms. You're never quite sure what he is (a vampire... a demon lover... a sadistic old man...?) or what he's done to Rose. That is up to us to decide, and the film is all the better for allowing us to use our imaginations to fill in the blanks.

Can Schalcken save his love, Rose, from the clutches of a ghastly suitor before it is too late?

This product was added to our catalog on Tuesday 06 May, 2014.

Customers who bought this product also purchased

Lexx - Complete Series - 19-DVD Boxset (DVD)

Flesh of the Orchid (DVD)

Dirty Work (DVD)