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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:
Overall rating: 4.560224 / 5 from 357 reviews.
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.
Review topics: [fit, quality, looks, lighting, packaging, sound, effort, performances, service, work, set, film, anthology, story, movie, release, transfer, cinematography, title, horror, cast, picture, presentation, restoration, atmosphere, gem, tale, start, commentary, fan].
"Really enjoyable classic anthology. The three stories have a nice mix of the supernatural and the psychological, and the production values still hold up. Edward G. Robinson’s segment is the standout for me, can’t believe how much im seeing him lately by pure coincidence. Solid restoration and a great package from VS"
"Directed by Julian Duvivier and starring Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G Robinson, Charles Boyer and Robert Cummings I'm shocked I wasn't aware of this anthology before this release. It's beautifully presented with a lovely restoration and transfer, a commentary and a featurette on Duvivier."
"Perhaps the first horror anthology by a major studio, Flesh and Fantasy is a very interesting film, elevated by skilled direction and a top-tier cast. Not the usual VS fare by any means, but I'd encourage everyone to give it a go, especially if they have an interest in classic Hollywood."
"VSL released this very fun title outside of their usual types of titles. If you're a fan of horror anthologies and/or the early Universal classic horror films of the 30s and 40s you'll love this. VS delivers an excellent transfer and there are extras including a nearly hour long feature on the director as well as the trailer. Plus they include the original art on the reverse of the sleeve!"
"An anthology film that features exceptional black&white photography and containing some great character actors like Edward G. Robinson. Not every story is as good but all in all this is a great film with spooky atmosphere."
"Flesh and Fantasy (1943) is a classic supernatural anthology film directed by Julien Duvivier and released on Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome under their Vinegar Syndrome Labs sub-label in March 2023. The star-studded film features Edward G. Robinson, Barbara Stanwyck, and Charles Boyer in three surreal tales of fate and the macabre."
"With gorgeous cinematography by Stanley Cortez and a terrific cast, this three story anthology film is very entertaining. I had never heard of it before the VS release, but it's a great discovery."
"This is one to check out especially if you’re into classic movies! As usual, it has a great transfer and artwork."
"Flesh and Fantasy is a great fit for the Labs line: older, stranger, and more elegant than the usual cult pick, but still full of eerie charm. The anthology structure gives it a nice variety of moods, from masked Mardi Gras dread to fate-driven murder and circus-haunting weirdness. I like that VS gave this kind of rare title a serious restoration and a thoughtful release. It is exactly the sort of unexpected catalog rescue that keeps the sub-labels interesting."
"Highly atmospheric and slow-burning, it's more hushed than shocking."
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