| Special Features: |
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Set of art cards
- Poster featuring original artwork
- Limited edition booklet includes ‘Cromwell’s Madhouse: The Sword and the Sorcerer Revisited’ by Mat Colegate and ‘The Sword, the Sorcerer and the Visionary’ by Paul Rowlands
- Commentary features co-writer/director Albert Pyun.
- "Tales of the Ancient Empire" (33:06, HD) is an interview with co-writer/director Albert Pyun, who details his early years making movies in Hawaii, finally working up the nerve to try his luck in Los Angeles. Striking out with pitches, Pyun found takers for his "The Sword and the Sorcerer" idea after the box office success of "Excalibur." Casting is explored, with the helmer wary of involving people who were "too Hollywood," and he recalls the eight-week-long shoot, with the first-time filmmaker arriving without a plan, winging it during his days. Producer conflicts are tracked, butting heads with Brandon and Marianne Chase, who eventually locked Pyun out of post-production, and he remains less than pleased with the final cut. "The Sword and the Sorcerer" was a big box office hit, but the interviewee recalls his encounters with racism when trying to keep his momentum going. Talk of the ill-fated 2012 sequel is included, and Pyun opens up about the frustrations of his current battle with dementia.
- "Mightier than the Sword" (19:51, HD) is an interview with co-writer/co-producer John Stuckmeyer. Recalling his early work in the industry, Stuckmeyer was looking for his break, eventually partnering with Albert Pyun, with "The Sword and the Sorcerer" one of their early projects, working to beat "Conan the Barbarian" to theaters. The interviewee examines the Pyun process, and he goes into detail about producer Brandon Chase, who wasn't a positive influence on the picture, constantly worried about the rising budget while Pyun was trying to bring scope to the low-budget endeavor. Stuckmeyer recalls the successful theatrical launch of "The Sword and the Sorcerer," identifying issues with Chase as the reason a sequel wasn't immediately produced.
- "A Princess Tale" (24:08, HD) is a video conference interview with actress Kathleen Beller, who recalls her career before her time on the show "Dynasty," where she would accept any part, happy to have the work. Beller describes a level of doubt among the cast and crew during the first day of shooting "The Sword and the Sorcerer," noticing director Albert Pyun had no power on the set. Co-stars are recalled and time with a snake is shared. The interviewee isn't down on "The Sword and the Sorcerer," but she admits making it wasn't a wonderful experience, describing it as a "high school" production. Beller also speaks extensively on nudity requirements of the part, dealing with pushy producers, wishing more young women understood they don't have to accept random demands.
- "Master of the Blade" (13:53, HD) is an interview with editor Marshall Harvey, who made his debut with "Disco Fever," attracting attention from producer Brandon Chase. Assigned to "The Sword and the Sorcerer," Harvey admits morale was low with the cast and crew, and he was tasked to make the feature more exciting by Chase, who wanted to sell an R-rated viewing experience. Harvey discusses his influence over the movie's score, and shares an anecdote about Oliver Reed, who showed up drunk for a narration gig, making his recordings unusable.
- "Dedicated to Jack Tyree" (11:50, HD) collects interviews from cast and crew, who describe the day the seasoned stuntman took a wrong leap for a high fall and died instantly after missing his mark. This footage is included in "The Sword and the Sorcerer," and the ethics of such a decision are debated by the interviewees.
- "The Specialist and the Effects" (12:10, HD) is an interview with F/X artist Allan Apone, who was figuring out the business when he was hired for "The Sword and the Sorcerer," trying to understand what he could do with the limited budget of the feature. Apone discusses putting his team together, and he provides an assessment of director Albert Pyun, who was under enormous pressure. The interviewee also breaks down a few technical challenges.
- "Brothers in Arms" (10:23, HD) is an interview with F/X artists The Chiodo Brothers, who spent a single day on the set of "The Sword and the Sorcerer," creating the "crypt of heads" sequence for the film.
- Still Gallery (9:02) collects poster and home video art, lobby cards, film stills, newspaper ads and stories, and BTS snaps. A scan I created of a local theater ad for "The Sword and the Sorcerer" is used here (and displayed during the interviews), but no credit is given.
- "Trailers from Hell" (3:30, HD) offers commentary from Marshall Harvey, editor of "The Sword and the Sorcerer."
- T.V. Spot (:26, HD) is offered.
- Trailer #1 (3:10, HD) and Trailer #2 (3:10, HD)
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