BACK CATALOGUE: KOCH VISION

When Koch sent me this package I immediately zeroed in on The Omega Factor. Filmed on video and boasting production values just underneath Doctor Who this occult based forerunner to The X Files tells the story of Tom Crane, a journalist pressed into service by a shadowy branch of the British government because of his latent psychic abilities. Left grieving by the mysterious death of his wife, and shell shocked by the discovery of his own gifts, Crane along with his co-worker Dr. Anne Reynolds struggles to keep the evil Psychic genius Drexel from undermining the British Government- a government he himself isn’t sure he can trust.

I had never heard of Omega and was thrilled with my experience of it. It ran for only a short time during 1979. The actors bring a wonderful theatrical energy and the extremely dated effects give the impression of watching an early American soap opera crossed with a Sid and Marty Krofft production. The sad thing is that like many Brit TV greats it’s entire run comprised a mere 10 episodes. You get a great booklet that explains the history of the show’s creation and popularity, a documentary and audio commentary on the episode Powers of Darkness.

Shades of Darkness offers the opposite aesthetic experience. This two disc set offers lush adaptations of classic if lesser known supernatural and macabre literature featuring distinguished casts and great production values. While sans special effects for the most part these are far superior in effect than many of their American counterparts offering dense atmosphere, great character development and the chance for fans to dip into neglected tales of haunting, madness, and guilt.

3 of the tales in this six tale collection are by Edith Wharton the others are Elizabeth Bowen, C.H.B. Kitchin, May Sinclair, to a one all considered masters of the mystery. Adapted are Bewitched A story of witchcraft, The Intercessor, and The Lady’s Maid’s Bell two stories of ghostly visitations, and Afterward and The Maze, two tales of a singular type of haunting and The Maze. My favorite of the series was My Demon Lover, a sparse tale that malingers over the regret of its female protagonist at having made a foolish promise. Featuring a very young Miranda Richardson and Hugh Grant the chills offered here are of a particularly biting variety. Lack of extras is a shame here. This is quality macabre TV on a level with the little known but wonderful gem The Woman in Black. They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Lastly the musical The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is the very definition of charming featuring not only the debut of Catherine Denueve but an extraordinary colorscape that almost launches the film into the realm of fantasy. If you find musicals sappy there’s a good case to be made for giving this a go. It isn’t just a musical it’s entirely a musical, all the dialogue is sung. Deneuve plays Genevieve, a 16 year in love with Guy, a poor but honest mechanic. Desperate to marry the pair become pregnant only to realize that Gens mother does not approve of the union. As Guy goes off to war Gen, in need of a father for the child marries gem dealer Roland, a kind man whom she does not really love but who has agreed to help raise the child. When Guy returns from military service The Umbrellas of Cherbourg launches into territory few musicals attain as touching and heartfelt as the best melodrama.

The only extra offered here is Excerpts from Agnes Varda’s “The World of Jacques Demy” but a restoration comparison but that should have seemed de rigueur considering how close we came to losing this magnificent looking film. This is an opportunity to review a piece of truly monumental restoration. The first French musical is also the winner of the Cannes Film Festival Palme D’Or.