This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Earl Kessler Jr.) was limited to 4,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Welcome Vinegar Syndrome Labs (VSL) to the VS Sub-Label family! As with each of our sub-labels we are hoping to expand and defy expectations with the diversity of films we restore and release. As the name implies, VSL will serve as a kind of testing area for releasing genres and eras of film that one might not immediately expect to come from VS. The ultimate objective of VSL will be to see if these types of films will find an audience, and if so, pursue and release more of them…and even if not, still serve as a means of restoring more of the weird, rare, and unusual movies you might not expect from Vinegar Syndrome.
A trilogy of tales of love and death.
First, a drowning during Mardi Gras leads to a bitter woman’s masked reckoning. Next, an upstanding citizen is driven to madness and murder by a palm reader’s prophesy. Finally, a circus tightrope walker is haunted by dreams of a mysterious woman and his own death.
One of the first horror anthology films made by an American studio – and two years before DEAD OF NIGHT – award-winning director Julien Duvivier (PÉPÉ LE MOKO) delivers FLESH AND FANTASY, three strange and at times surreal stories of the supernatural with an all-star cast that includes Edward G. Robinson (Soylent Green), Barbara Stanwyck (Double Indemnity), and Charles Boyer (Gaslight), who also co-produced. Stunningly photographed by Oscar® winner Stanley Cortez (THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS, THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER) and lushly scored by Oscar® nominee Alexander Tansman, Vinegar Syndrome Labs presents the Blu-ray debut of this landmark in 1940s genre filmmaking, newly restored in 2K and featuring insightful critical appreciations along with rare archival materials.
directed by: Julien Duvivier starring: Edward G. Robinson, Barbara Stanwyck, Charles Boyer, Betty Field, Robert Cummings 1943 / 94 min / 1.37:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
Region A Blu-ray
Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm dupe negative
Brand new commentary track with film historian / author Barry Forshaw and film critic / author Kim Newman
“Fate News or The Dark world of Julien Duvivier” - a featurette with French film director Christophe Gans
Video trailer
Reversible sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.560472 / 5 from 339 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Flesh and Fantasy, a 1943 horror anthology film, has been praised for its stunning visuals, excellent transfer, and captivating stories. The Blu-ray release by Vinegar Syndrome Labs includes insightful commentary and rare archival materials, making it a must-have for collectors.
"Great cast, transfer looks awesome, good to see these older studio films getting the quality treatment." — Cameron C.
"These releases all look beautiful and I love black and white films." — John F.
"Film restoration looks incredible and the different stories are great!" — Ant D.
Reviews
Flesh and Fantasy blu-ray
"Really great to have VS release this forgotten film with such care."
— Chris L. (5/5)
Amazing
"Very unique release."
— DAMIAN N. (5/5)
Atmospheric and Beautifully Presented
"A stylish and haunting anthology that blends fantasy and psychological drama with real elegance. The presentation looks excellent, with strong detail and rich contrast that enhance the film’s shadowy atmosphere. Grain is natural and filmic, and the audio is clear and well-balanced. A classy release that does justice to a unique and underrated classic."
— Thomas L. (4/5)
Atmosphere and no gravity
"Flesh and Fantasy (1943) – Cinematographe Blu-ray Flesh and Fantasy is one of the strangest and most elegant supernatural films to come out of the 1940s studio system. Director Julien Duvivier structures the film as three eerie morality tales, blending romance, fate, and the uncanny with a surprisingly modern sense of psychological dread. The cast is stacked with classic-era talent—including Edward G. Robinson and Joan Fontaine—each bringing a different emotional texture to their respective stories. Cinematographe’s restoration looks beautiful, with rich contrast that highlights the film’s foggy streets, carnival imagery, and dreamy expressionist lighting. The physical release is equally impressive, pairing elegant packaging with thoughtful extras that contextualize the film’s unusual place between studio melodrama and early supernatural anthology cinema."
— Lucas S. (5/5)
Good Stuff
"Glad these old movies are getting the VS treatment. If it wasn't for the great restoration work VS and others are doing for these older movies I would probably of never gotten into them cause usually they're shown in not so great quality and the audio usually sounds horrible to me . Neither of which are a problem with this release . Looks and sounds great"
— Eric B. (5/5)
classic anthology film
"great classic anthology film from the early 1940's. I was not aware of this film. . . . great transfer and remastering from VS. . . . . . a classic of 40's Hollywood !"
— Christopher M. (5/5)
Cool little 40s horror film from Universal
"Cool little 40s horror film from Universal. If you have seen Juliens Duviviers classics like Pepe Le Moko and Panique you will enjoy this one."
— callum d. (4/5)
Must see
"Always a good movie with Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson"
— Sean I. (5/5)
I have been looking for
"I have been looking for this movie for years. I saw it on TNT years ago. Always stuck with me. Thank you so much for making these movies available. Movie looks amazing."
— Christopher G. (5/5)
Classically Charming
"Not really horror and more of an anthology of modern (for the time) fables. A style of writing that feels lost to time, and striking visuals to accompany"
— Jack B. (5/5)
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