THE DEVIL BAT – ON DVD

The Devil Bat will become available on Blu-ray and DVD on September 17th, with a SRP of $29.95 for the Blu-ray and $24.95 for the DVD. The disc includes an audio commentary track by veteran film critic and historian Richard Harland Smith, who is currently an official film blogger for Turner Classic Movies. Also included is an image gallery.

Released in 1940, The Devil Bat was produced after the Production Code had forced the studios to move away from potentially controversial subjects of morbidity, violence and the supernatural. As an actor who had made his name in the horror genre, Lugosi sought out work in the independent studios of Poverty Row, where horror was not only allowed but also enjoying a low-budget renaissance.

Lugosi stars as a scientist who commands a mutant bat to avenge himself upon his enemies (using a specially-formulated after-shave as the targeting device). Even as he takes diabolical pleasure in such a ludicrous premise, Lugosi invests the character with an underlying sense of tragedy, a visionary genius out of step with modern, corporate society. 

This Kino Classics edition was mastered in HD from an archival 35mm print, with the exception of one nine-minute section derived from a 16mm element of lesser quality.

With a library of 700 titles, Kino Lorber Inc. has been a leader in independent art house distribution for over 30 years, releasing over 20 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Classics, and Alive Mind Cinema banners, including four Academy Award® nominated films in the last six years. In addition, the company brings over 60 titles each year to the home entertainment market with DVD and Blu-ray releases as well as digital distribution on all platforms.