Vintage film restoration and distribution company Film Masters continues its tribute to Roger Corman with the third installment of The Filmgroup series on Blu-ray and DVD, “The Devil’s Partner,” which will be released on January 16, 2024.
Corman and his brother, Gene, founded The Filmgroup to distribute their own films. While the company did produce the majority of its films, including the cult classic “Creature From the Haunted Sea,” it also occasionally acquired projects by other filmmakers, as is the case with 1961’s “The Devil’s Partner.”
From director Charles R. Rondeau, “The Devil’s Partner” stars Edgar Buchanan (best known as Uncle Joe on Petticoat Junction) and follows an old codger trying to reclaim his youth, employing black magic to lure a woman away from his rival. The film also stars Jean Allison, Richard Crane, and Ed Nelson. This independent feature has been hailed for its atmosphere and as a pioneering film in the devil-worshiping subgenre made popular in the ’70s.
Made in 1958, “The Devil’s Partner” languished with no release date until it was picked up and distributed by The Filmgroup, becoming a steady presence on the drive-in circuit, often appearing in tandem with “Creature from Haunted Sea.”
“Creature from Haunted Sea” is a spoof of spy/gangsters/monster movies that stars Anthony Carbone as a gangster and smuggler who decides to kill members of the ship’s bungling crew and blame their deaths on a legendary sea creature. What he doesn’t know is that the creature is actually out there! It also stars Betsy Jones-Moreland and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Robert Towne (“Chinatown”) under the pseudonym Edward Wain.
The 4K release of “The Devil’s Partner” brings this drive-in duo together again and includes “Creature from the Haunted Sea” as a bonus film. Both films are presented with a theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and in a 1.37:1 television format. The televised version of “Creature From the Haunted Sea” includes an additional 15 minutes of footage shot years later to extend the film for a sale to Allied Artists. Discs are region-free and include English SDH. Audio is DTS-HD/Dolby AC3s.
Special features on the release include:
- Commentary for “The Devil’s Partner” by Larry Strothe, James Gonis, Shawn Sheridan, and Matt Weinhold of the Monster Party podcast
- Theatrical-length commentary for “Creature From the Haunted Sea” by Tom Weaver, with contributions from Roger Corman, Kinta Zertuche, and Larry Blamire.
- Liner notes for “Creature From the Haunted Sea” by Tom Weaver
- Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story Part III, featuring a new interview with Roger Corman on the formation of The Filmgroup
- Recut trailers, based on the original theatrical trailers
- Original “Creature From the Haunted Sea” theatrical trailer (from 16mm archival elements scanned in 4k)
- A complete essay for “The Devil’s Partner” by author Mark McGee.
The newly restored 4K special edition of “The Devil’s Partner” featuring “Creature from the Haunted Sea” is available for pre-order now on both Blu-ray and DVD.
