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DVD
SPOTLIGHT
TCM:
THE ULTIMATE EDITION
By Don P. Normann AKA Katanasting
First of all, I just have
to say how lucky I think we horror fans are to have
an outfit like Dark Sky Films, who are carrying on
the tradition of Anchor Bay, Blue Underground, Elite
Entertainment and all those other unsung heroes of
horror, who’ve been providing us with definitive
editions of horror classics for years. Even though
there are so many influential films that have yet to
get the “full treatment,” it just makes my heart
leap and do the ‘Leatherface Chainsaw Tarantella’ to
know that some of my all-time favorites are finally
getting their due.
Speaking of which: for
example, this two-disk edition of TCM. Before we
even mention the movie itself, I have to say…I never
thought that a close examination of one of the most
brutal, unrelenting films in horror history would
actually bring tears to these old eyes, but this one
damn sure does. Between the two docs in the bonus
features: “TCM: The Shocking Truth” and “Flesh
Wounds: Seven Tales Of The Saw”, you get THE
definitive behind-the-scenes look at the making of
the movie, as well as an intimate glimpse into the
lives of the people responsible for creating it.
You would think that these
people would have to be a group of the most
screwed-up, psychopathic individuals you’d ever not
care to run into in a dark alley…or an isolated
stretch of desert road. Yet these folks come across
as some of the most down-to-earth, articulate,
intelligent and just plain fucking NICE people ever.
A particular eye-opener is the “Flesh Wounds”
segment devoted to “the Man” himself, who brought
Leatherface to squealing, screeching life – Gunnar
Hansen. Besides being an actor, he’s a writer,
documentary film maker, novelist…and yet has not one
trace of that superiority complex that a lot of
stuffed shirts have, who have achieved less than a
fraction of what he’s done. I mean, shit, this dude
gives off the vibe that he’s somebody you could kick
back with over some great minced barbeque and a
couple of cold Coronas without fear. (I’d probably
still be checking around for any discarded Black and
Decker boxes, though.)
Which brings us to the
surprisingly sad part about the docs…Nothing marks
the passage of time like death. And though film is
immortal, the people who make it are not, which
becomes painfully clear when “Wounds” marks the
passing of three fine gentleman, who lent their
anecdotes and their priceless senses of humor to
“The Shocking Truth” documentary. Paul Partain, Jim
Siedow and production designer/editor Robert Burns
all passed on just in the last several years, and
what really makes the loss sink in is a bit of
footage from a Texas horror convention where you see
Paul and Robert sitting on a panel with Marilyn
Burns, Edwin Neal, Allen Danziger, Lou Perryman and
Gunnar Hansen. Neither of them would live to see the
deluxe release of the movie that they helped make
horror history and you get no indication that they
knew it at the time. Yet, at that moment, neither of
them looked like they’d rather be anywhere else in
the world. (Jesus, but to have a job that makes you
feel like that!)
If that wasn’t enough for
you - amongst other things, there’s outtake reels
from both docs; a briefer (if funnier) one from the
film itself, plus extended deleted scenes that let
you literally dissect from scene to scene, how they
managed to take a bunch of disconnected parts and
weaved them together to form that now familiar
unfiltered tapestry of absolute insanity; a tour of
“THE house” with Gunnar, (there’s another with the
prez of the TCM fan club in “Flesh Wounds”); a still
gallery and audio commentary from Marilyn, Gunnar
and Tobe Hooper.
Which brings me to probably
the only discouraging word I would have to say about
this edition. “Shocking Truth” has interviews with
both Mr. Hooper and co-writer Kim Henkel, but “Flesh
Wounds,” the most recent of the two docs doesn’t
have an updated chat with the director. I don’t know
– maybe he’s off trying to create another
masterpiece, and simply couldn’t fit it into his
schedule. But where “Truth” couldn’t get hold of DP
Daniel Pearl, “Wounds” features him as the first
interviewee, so I would call that a worthy
trade-off.
Also, not surprisingly, the
docs help chart the progress of the series up to
“TCM: The Next Generation”, the sequel which
coincidentally wound up featuring two future
box-office sensations, Matthew McConaughey and Renee
Zellweger. My guess would be that an updated set
that features more interviews and insights into the
newer entries into the series will be forthcoming.
Well, if this review were
about a Quiznos sandwich, I’ve just been going on
and on, jerking you guys off about how great the
bread and the lettuce, tomatoes and sauce are.
Now to get to the MEAT…
This is one of the most
beautiful, pristine transfers I have ever seen of a
film this particular age. You get three kinds of
soundtracks (Dolby Digital 5.0, 2.0 and the original
Mono Mix for you die-hard fans out there), but
however you choose isn’t the point. The graininess
and scratches and wear marks from the 16mm print are
nowhere to be found. And that might be the most
startling thing of all – TCM may have been made back
in 1974, but with the loving care lavished on this
restoration, this could be an indie flick made about
the same time as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT or MAY.
It’s just that awesome.
So whatever version you
have in your library now, sell it, give it away,
make it into a drink coaster…whatever the hell you
want to do with it. The definitive TCM set is here,
NOW. Unless you wanna see a meathook in YOUR future,
I suggest you pre-order yourself a copy, pronto!
DVD Features Include:
Available Subtitles: English, Spanish
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1),
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby
Digital 1.0)
HD transfer from original 16mm negatives
Commentary by actors Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain,
Allen Danziger, and art designer Robert A. Burns
Commentary by director Tobe Hooper, cinematographer
Daniel Pearl, and actor Gunnar Hansen
Trailers
TV and radio spots
73 minute documentary "Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The
Shocking Truth"
74 minute documentary "Flesh Wounds"
Tour of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre house before and
after remodeling, conduced by Gunnar Hansen
Deleted scenes and outtakes
Blooper reel
Outtakes from "The Shocking Truth"
Still galleries
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