The Abominable Snowman

Special Features (Blu-ray)

• NEW Audio Commentary with Filmmaker/Film Historian Ted Newsom (on the UK version) - I haven't been especially fond of Newsom on group commentaries but he's noticeably better doing solo tracks on this one. He's in his element here, sharing a wealth of production anecdotes, trivia, and his own Hollywood tales. He does digress by telling stories that are only somewhat related to Hammer. He infrequently makes direct connections between Hollywood and Hammer. Newsom corrects himself on a couple occasions and recovers well before moving on to his next point. In English, not subtitled.
• Audio Commentary with Director Val Guest and Screenwriter Nigel Kneale (on the UK version) - this commentary track was recorded ca. 1997 and first appeared on The Roan Group LaserDisc Classics Widescreen edition, which was released in 1999. It was licensed by Anchor Bay for its DVD a year later. Marcus Hearn, who co-authored The Hammer Story (Titan Books), moderates the chat with Guest and Kneale, who were recorded separately. It's great that they were able to participate in this commentary before their deaths. Guest and Kneale compare the BBC version with the theatrical cut. Kneale shares his view about how his writing translated to the silver screen. Guest has wonderful reminisces of working side by side with Hitchcock at Gainsborough Pictures. He also briefly covers the father-son feud between Jimmy and Michael Carreras at Hammer. Guest also recalls filming in Hammerscope and also cover other technical aspects. In English, not subtitled.
• NEW In Search of the Yeti: Jonathan Rigby on The Abominable Snowman (23:01, 1080p) - Rigby discusses the careers of Val Guest and Nigel Kneale. He devotes a good deal of time on The Quatermass Xperiment (TV series and movie). He chronicles how the abominable snowman first made its name into print and how it's handled on the big screen in the Guest/Kneale film and subsequent movies. Rigby touches on the roles played by Cushing, Wolfe Morris, Forrest Tucker, and Richard Wattis. He explains how The Abominable Snowman differs from other Hammer pictures during this period. I'd love to hear Rigby do a feature-length audio commentary. In English, not subtitled.
• The World of Hammer: Peter Cushing (24:49, 480i) - This TV episode about Cushing's career at the studio was part of the series, The World of Hammer. It first aired in 1994 and is narrated by Oliver Reed. It presents clip from various films featuring Cushing in such classic roles as Van Helsing and Sherlock Holmes. In English, not subtitled.
• TRAILERS FROM HELL with Commentary by Filmmaker Joe Dante (2:16) - Dante briefly introduces the trailer and then offers commentary about it and the film. He declares The Abominable Snowman superior to all other "Big Foot" movies before and since. In English, not subtitled.
• Theatrical Trailer (1:44, upscaled to 1080i) - The Abominable Snowman's original trailer shown in about 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. It's been upconverted from a SD source (likely taken from a DVD) and is in decent shape. It features a sonorous Voice of God narrator that Dante ridicules in his piece.
• Still Gallery (5:31) - a slide show that presents fifty-seven distinct images. These range from captures of glossy black-and-white stills courtesy of Fox's publicity department to full-color poster sheets and lobby cards. Shout! also has included a couple sheets from an exhibitor's campaign manual and newspaper adverts.

Blu-ray Screenshots