Tormented will be released on Blu-ray and DVD on April 23 via Film Masters. The 1960 horror-thriller is perhaps best remembered for its appearance on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Bert I. Gordon (Empire of the Ants) directs from a script by George Worthing Yates (Earth vs. the Flying Saucers). Richard Carlson, Susan Gordon, Juli Reding, Lugene Sanders, and Joe Turkel star.
Tormented has been newly restored in 4K from original 35mm archival elements. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 version of the film is included. Special features are detailed below.
Special features:
Audio commentary by film historian Gary Don Rhodes (new)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 version of the film (1992)
Bert I. Gordon in the 1950s & 1960s: Bigger Than Life featurette (new)
The Spirit is Willing: CineMagic and Social Discord in Bert I. Gordon’s Tormented visual essay by The Flying Maciste Brothers (new)
Interview with director-producer Bert I. Gordon
Famous Ghost Stories - Unreleased TV pilot created by Bert I. Gordon and hosted by Vincent Price
Original trailer (scanned in 4K)
Recut trailer
Booklet with essays by film historian Tom Weaver and former Susan Gordon fan club president John Wooley
Set on an island in a tight-knit community, Tom Stewart (Richard Carlson) is preparing to marry the woman he loves. All is well until Tom's old girlfriend, Vi, confronts him at the top of the island's lighthouse, claiming he can only be hers! A freak accident throws the scorned woman to her death. At first relieved, Tom's tune changes when her vengeful spirit begins to follow him wherever he goes. He's soon tormented, body and soul, by an unforgiving she-ghost! What lengths will Tom go to in order to protect his secret? Will the vengeful Vi finally reveal herself to the others at hand? Find out in this harrowing tale of love between the living and the dead!
Bert I. Gordon’s Tormented is being released newly restored in 4K from original 35mm archival elements on April 23, 2024, in a Film Masters collector’s special edition loaded with bonus features, on Blu-ray and DVD.
Tormented is presented with its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Discs are region free and include English SDH. Audio is DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s. Special features:
Unreleased TV…
Director Bert I. Gordon finally makes an appearance on the podcast with TORMENTED (1960)! Taking a break from his "Thing Big" schtick, Gordon takes on a ghost story that stars Richard Carlson, Juli Reding and Susan Gordon.
I wish I hadn't read that this was a MST3K movie because I kept thinking of the spots for possible quips and it was actually kind of distracting. Made by B-Movie legend Burt I. Gordon — best known for his work in the idiom of giant monster films — this is a quick little 75-minute ghost story featuring some lovable in-camera FX of the era (even if that's all there really is). It's pretty much one-note: dude is seeing shit.
This is "bad" but is it really THAT Bad? It's biggest crime is that it's fairly boring in between the charming (and legitimately!) cool visual stuff. This type of B-movie is fun for mostly good reasons unlike films skewered for bad dubbing and editing, and poor continuity and acting, etc. The main character does consider murdering a child in the end though (played by the director's daughter too lol). It's fine!
Babs: I'm actually a lot more judgemental than most people think, but I'm not going to say anything unless they bring it up first.
Dick: I'm actually a lot more judgemental than most people think, but I'm too much of a people pleaser to want them to know. Unless you fucked up, then I'm coming for you.
Alfred: I'm actually a lot more judgemental than most people think, but for thinking such things simply because I am a butler is a grave mistake. Please, I am quite aware there is nothing I can say that will get me fired and believe me, I will speak like it, Ms.Vale.
Bruce: I'm actually a lot more judgemental than most people think, but the only one I'm judging here is myself. It's pretty selfish of everyone else to think I'm working this hard to judge them, honestly.
Damian: Everyone knows exactly how judgemental I am. I make sure of it.
In honor of Barricade Day, here’s a very rare Les Mis treasure. A highlights reel of a production from the musical’s early glory days: the 1991 Toronto production at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
The cast features Michael Burgess as Jean Valjean, Gordon McLaren as Javert, Susan Gilmour as Fantine, Graeme Campbell as Thénardier, Janelle Hutchinson as Mme. Thénardier, Vance Avery as Marius, Ian Simpson as Enjolras, Cara Hunter as Éponine, Cara Chisholm as Cosette, and an unknown Young Cosette and Gavroche.
The snippets of each musical number are too short for me to write a detailed review, but this cast definitely seems to have been an outstanding one!