Synopsis Hammer Volume Five: Death & Deceit collects four films from the early sixties which found the studio looking beyond the horror genre for its next box-office success. Visa to Canton (1961, released in the US as Passport to China) is a torn-from-the-headlines spy thriller The Pirates of Blood River (1962), starring Kerwin Mathews (The 7th Voyage of Sinbad) and Christopher Lee (The Face of Fu Manchu), is a swashbuckling adventure The Scarlet Blade (1963, released in the US as The Crimson Blade) is an English Civil War-set actioner which follows the fortunes of Cromwells Roundheads and The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) takes Hammer to the North-West Frontier for an action-adventure starring Ronald Lewis (Taste of Fear) and Oliver Reed (The System). All four films are presented for the first time on Blu-ray in the UK, while Visa to Canton, The Scarlet Blade and The Brigand of Kandahar make their world Blu-ray premieres. Extras INDICATOR LIMITED BLU-RAY EDITION BOX SET SPECIAL FEATURES: VISA TO CANTONHigh Definition remasterOriginal mono audioTwo presentations of the film: Visa to Canton, and Passport to China, with the alternative US titlesAudio commentary with film historian Kevin Lyons (2020)Hammer's Women: Lisa Gastoni (2020): profile of the Hammer star by critic and writer Virginie SlavyTicket to Ride (2020): film historian Vic Pratt discusses ethnocentrism in sixties British cinemaDavid Huckvale on Edwin Astley (2020): appreciation of the films score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-GardeOriginal theatrical trailerImage gallery: promotional and publicity materialsNew and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearingLimited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Josephine Botting, an account of the RB-47 affair which inspired Visa to Canton, an overview of promotional materials, and film creditsWorld premiere on Blu-ray THE PIRATES OF BLOOD RIVERHigh Definition remasterOriginal mono audioAudio commentary with screenwriter Jimmy Sangster, art director Don Mingaye and Hammer historian Marcus Hearn (2008)Hammers Women: Marla Landi (2020): profile of the Hammer star by film historian Kat EllingerStephen Laws Introduces The Pirates of Blood River (2020): an appreciation by the acclaimed horror authorAndrew Keir at the Manchester Festival of Fantastic Films (1993): archival video recording of the acclaimed actor in conversation with Stephen LawsDid I Write That (2020): Jonathan Rigby, author of English Gothic, discusses the career of Jimmy SangsterDavid Huckvale on Gary Hughes (2020): appreciation of the films score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-GardeYes, We Have No Piranhas (2020): video essay on the censorship history of The Pirates of Blood RiverOriginal theatrical trailerBrian Trenchard-Smith trailer commentary (2013): short critical appreciationImage gallery: promotional and publicity materialsNew and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearingLimited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Lindsay Hallam, Jimmy Sangster on The Pirates of Blood River, a selection of promotional materials, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film creditsUK premiere on Blu-ray THE SCARLET BLADEHigh Definition remasterOriginal mono audioTwo presentations of the film: The Scarlet Blade, and The Crimson Blade, with the alternative US titlesAudio commentary with film historian Kevin Lyons (2020)Hammers Women: June Thorburn (2020): profile of the Hammer star by film historian Josephine BottingStephen Laws Introduces The Scarlet Blade (2020): an appreciation by the acclaimed horror authorInterviews with Hugh Harlow and Pauline Wise (2020): the second assistant director and continuity person discuss the making of The Scarlet BladeAlmost an Auteur (2020): horror author and critic Kim Newman on the eclectic career of writer-director John GillingDavid Huckvale on Gary Hughes (2020): appreciation of the films score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-GardeOriginal US theatrical trailerImage gallery: promotional and publicity materialsNew and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearingLimited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Neil Sinyard, an extract from Oliver Reeds autobiography, a selection of promotional materials, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film creditsWorld premiere on Blu-ray THE BRIGAND OF KANDAHARHigh Definition remasterOriginal mono audioAudio commentary with film historian Vic Pratt (2020)Hammers Women: Yvonne Romain (2020): profile of the Hammer star by film historian Melanie WilliamsStephen Laws Introduces The Brigand of Kandahar (2020): an appreciation by the acclaimed horror authorSwashbuckling (2020): writer and historian Neil Sinyard looks at writer-director John Gillings films for HammerDavid Huckvale on Don Banks (2020): appreciation of the films score by the author of Hammer Film Scores and the Musical Avant-GardeOriginal theatrical trailerImage gallery: promotional and publicity materialsNew and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearingLimited edition exclusive booklet with a new essay by Naman Ramachandran, an extensive selection of promotional materials, and film creditsWorld premiere on Blu-ray Additional information: Original release: 1961-1965 Running time: 75 mins/87 mins/83 mins/81 mins Colour/ B&W: Colour
