There are copies on Amazon.

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I have the latest Legend House release of DEATH SMILES ON A MURDERER/THE TORTURE CHAMBER OF DR SADISM in-hand right now, rented through Netflix. Just got done watching it...

Legend House's folksy, homespun presentation seems gleefully unpretentious, however their use of the word "official" on the cover art is preposterous and misleading. This is NOT one of those no-expense-spared restorations.

Source elements for DEATH SMILES ON A MURDERER seem based on the same source elements used for my "off-off-off-brand" VHS of DEATH SMILES ON A MURDERER purchased several years ago (itself reputedly made off of an Asian laserdisc). Same sound issues, same jumps in the print, etc.

One online reviewer politely described this release as "a step in the right direction." I would call it a missed opportunity, but at least both movies on the DVD are widescreen. Liberal use of liquor (or your vice of choice) will probably help gloss over any other deficiencies.

One of these days it would be nice to see the films on this DVD properly restored to a presentation level that warrants the release term "official" but this sure ain't it.

Extras include commentaries by pedigreed genre experts who stammer a lot ("uhhhh...." being every third word); the love is there as these guys volley enthusiasms, so I can't fault them much, but it gets tedious and masturbatory after a while. There's also an inconsequential video clip of Johnny Legend interviewing movie patrons queued at The New Beverly Cinema about the various distribution titles for the film VAMPIRE HOOKERS. Good natured fluff, but fluff nevertheless.

I am grateful I did a bit of research before pre-ordering this DVD on impulse since both these films are longtime favorites of mine. In so doing, I ran across a scathing bit of argument regarding Legend House on the AVManiacs forum which led me to put this title on my Netflix queue for pre-view before deciding whether or not to buy. Check out the furor for yourself: it's 8 pages of hilarious anxiety as Legend House rep Lynnie Legend drops by and is quickly under fire by cinefiles shouting "bootleg"; the AVManiacs rush to her rescue like a fire brigade; the rhetoric runs thick; there's vicious name-calling; hand-wringing over the possibilities of collusion; one person is ejected from the discussion; and more...

http://www.avmaniacs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30395&highlight=torture+chamber

Bottom line: If you can get past the less than stellar quality of the source elements (don't worry, you'll live), this DVD is at least worth a RENTAL -- and is just as likely to satisfy undemanding souls who yearn to see these films in ANY form possible, particularly widescreen. To Purchase Or Not To Purchase? Get it, but get it USED. Because it'll sure feel that way when you watch it.

. . . . . . . . . .

Evangelical Christians are the new Nazis. Believe it.

I got mine!

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

I purchased my copy from Johnny Legend at a horror convention for a mere five bucks.

1,000 mini-bios and I feel like I'm just getting started