Czechoslovakia, 1958
Length / Invention for Destruction:
Blu-Ray (24fps): 82 minutes
DVD (25fps): 79 minutes
Length / Special features (Blu-ray): 74 mins
Length / Special features (DVD): 32 mins
Sound / Blu-Ray:
2.0 Dual Mono LPCM (48khz/24-bit)
Sound / DVD: 2.0 Dual Mono
Black and white
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Language: Czech, English
Subtitles: English
Blu-Ray: BD50 / 1080 / 24fps / Region ABC
DVD: PAL / DVD9 / 25fps / Region 0
Blu-Ray RRP: £19.99
DVD RRP: £12.99
Release Date: 19 Nov 2018
Second Run DVD 124 / SRBD 017
DVD |
Blu-Ray |
|---|
Presented from a new 4K restoration of the film, Second Run are delighted to follow their hugely popular release of the visionary Czech animator and filmmaker Karel Zeman's The Fabulous Baron Munchausen, with his most famous work - Invention for Destruction.
Described as the ‘Czech Méliès’, Karel Zeman has been a profound influence on generations of filmmakers. His innovations in the use of live-action and animation mark him as one of the great masters of 20th Century fantasy cinema, alongside his Western counterparts Willis O’Brien, George Pal and Ray Harryhausen.
Invention for Destruction, based on the writings of Jules Verne, is Zeman’s most beloved work and is still the most commercially successful Czech film ever produced (it was released internationally to huge success in 1960, dubbed into English and retitled 'The Fabulous World of Jules Verne'). Wildly inventive, and breaking new ground in its combination of live-action, animation and design, creating a 'steampunk' aesthetic decades ahead of its time. Zeman's film is both a heartfelt homage and love letter to Jules Verne's wonderful tales of science and adventure, and a valiant cry against man's propensity for self-destruction.
Our region-free Blu-ray and DVD editions includes the alternative English-dubbed version of the film as 'The Fabulous World of Jules Verne' with alternate credits and opening introduction sequence, a new filmed appreciation by filmmaker John Stevenson, new and vintage featurettes and (exclusive to the Blu-ray edition) two of Zeman' exquisite short films - Inspiration (1949) and King Lavra (1950)... and more!
• Presented from a brand new 4K restoration of the film from original materials.
• The Fabulous World of Jules Verne - the alternative full-length English-dubbed version of the feature film.
• A new appreciation by filmmaker and animator John Stevenson, director of Kung Fu Panda and Sherlock Gnomes.
• Two of Karel Zeman’s exquisite short films - Inspiration (1949) and King Lavra (1950) (BLU-RAY EXCLUSIVE)
Featurettes:
• Why Zeman Made the Film
• Zeman’s Special Effects
• Restoring the World of Fantasy
• About the Restoration
• Trailer
• Museum Karel Zeman promo
• Booklet featuring new writing on the film by film critic and historian James Oliver
• New and improved English subtitle translation.
• Available for the first time ever in the UK
• Region free Blu-ray and DVD
Directed and designed by Karel Zeman
Screenplay - Karel Zeman, František Hrubín
Adapted from the novel 'Facing the Flag' by Jules Verne
Director of Photography - Jiří Tarantík
Editor - Zdeněk Stehlík
Sound - František Strangmüller, Hanuš Silvera
Music - Zdeněk Liška
Costumes - Karel Postrehovsky
Set Construction - Zdeněk Rozkopal
Animators - Arnošt Kupčík, Jindřich Liška, František Krčmár
Main Cast
Lubor Tokoš - Simon Hart
Arnošt Navrátil - Professor Roch
František Šlégr - Captain Spade
Miloslav Holub - Count d'Artigas
Václav Kyzlink - Mr Serko
Jana Zatloukalová - Jana
Karel Zeman's The Fabulous Baron Munchausen is also available on Blu-ray and DVD from Second Run.
A Jester's Tale is availble on DVD
Winner: Brussells EXPO 1958 / Grand Prix
"Why do I make movies? I'm looking for terra incognita, a land on which no filmmaker has yet set foot, a planet where no director has planted his flag of conquest, a world that exists only in fairy tales" Karel Zeman
"Zeman's films are unique glimpses into forgotten worlds of myth, invention and exploration. One almost needs a telescope to view them" Peter Strickland
"He did what I'm still trying to do, which is to try and combine live action with animation" Terry Gilliam
"Karel Zeman and Ray Harryhausen were the two big inspirations for me… what Zeman did was amazing"
Tim Burton
"His finest and most accessible film, now in the pantheon of the greatest hybrid animation/live action films ever made… An imaginative delight, and a stunning personal achievement. Once seen, never forgotten." Senses of Cinema
“Wonderful giddy science fantasy” Pauline Kael
