RELEASE DATE: May 12, 2025
On May 12, 2025, Hammers Films is releasing a 3-Disc 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition collection for Shatter, a 1974 international co-production between Hammer Film Productions of England and Shaw Brothers Studio of Hong Kong.
Hollywood hard man Stuart Whitman and powerhouse martial artist Ti Lung star in this brutal crime thriller filmed entirely on location in Hong Kong by Hammer and the Shaw Brothers. Guest-starring Peter Cushing and sporting a funky soundtrack from Johnny Dankworth’s key collaborator David Lindup, Shatter has been painstakingly restored by Hammer in 4K from the original film negatives.
Professional contract killer Shatter is double-crossed on his latest job and finds himself pursued across Hong Kong, a pawn in the game of his client’s violent criminal agenda.
Disc Features:
- New commentary with academic and Asian cinema expert Leon Hunt and film historian and writer Adrian Smith.
- New commentary with Heidi Honeycutt, writer, filmmaker and film programmer, and western/crime movie expert Toby Roan.
- 1998 commentary with uncredited director Monte Hellman and contributions from Stuart Whitman.
- Once Upon a Time in the East: Screenwriter and author David Pirie and Little Shoppe of Horrors’ Dick Klemensen examine the state of Hammer in the 1970s and the numerous issues encountered filming Shatter in Hong Kong.
- Hammer and Tongs: archive interview with Renée Glynne, in charge of continuity on many Hammers, as she reflects on Hong Kong and the various issues that plagued Shatter’s production.
- Cultural Crossover: Historian and film critic Christina Newland and academic/martial arts cinema expert Wayne Wong examine Shatter’s place in the wider context of 1970s action/crime films and Asian martial arts cinema.
- Hitting the Right Notes: Musician Mike Lindup reflects on his father, composer David Lindup, and his body of work which covered film soundtracks, library music and arrangements and orchestrations for musicians like Johnny Dankworth.
- Censored: A comparison of the new, uncensored restoration and the censored master that was previously in circulation for decades.
- A gallery of stills and publicity material alongside tracks from David Lindup’s score.
Limited Edition and Booklet Features:
- New article by writer and actor Bruce G. Hallenbeck examining the making of Shatter
- New article by film journalist Paul Bramhall that investigates “East meets West” productions and the casting of Asian stars in international films
- New article by author and crime film expert Barry Forshaw who investigates the Golden Age of Crime Movies: the 1970s!
- New article by writer and occasional broadcaster Tim Worthington who takes a pointed look at the swirling zeitgeist of early 1970s pop culture and how it influenced Shatter
- New article making an in-depth comparison of the different versions of the Shatter script in the Hammer Archive, how the story developed and how it compares with what’s onscreen
- New article taking a deep dive that addresses the rumours and guesswork surrounding the making of Shatter with the aid of recently-unearthed key paperwork from the Hammer Archive
- Double-sided poster
Highlights:
- Shatter has been newly restored in 4K Ultra HD, marking the first time it has ever been available in this format
- This restoration reinstates censored material that was originally cut from the film in the 1970s, making it the most complete version ever seen
- This marks the first-ever Blu-ray release in the UK, making it a must-have for collectors of Hammer, Shaw Brothers, and classic action cinema
- Shatter is one of the rare films that brings together Britain’s legendary Hammer Films and Hong Kong’s iconic Shaw Brothers studio, blending crime thriller elements with martial arts action
- It was filmed entirely on location in Hong Kong, giving it a gritty, authentic feel that sets it apart from typical Western crime films of the era
- The film stars Hollywood’s Stuart Whitman, known for his rugged, hard-edged roles, alongside martial arts icon Ti Lung, a Shaw Brothers legend famous for The Duel and A Better Tomorrow
- A must-see for Hammer Horror fans, Shatter features a guest appearance by the legendary Peter Cushing, one of the studio’s most beloved stars
- The film’s cool, funky score comes from David Lindup, a key collaborator of jazz great Johnny Dankworth
- His music adds to Shatter’s unique blend of British crime grit and Asian action energy
Specifications:
- Running Time: 90 mins
- Picture: 1080p HD 1.66/1.85
- Sound: 5.1 / Mono / English / German
- Subtitles: English/ French/Italian/Spanish/German
This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!
Watch the Trailer below:
Why? Giving Shatter this kind of 4K special treatment makes about as much sense to me as doing the same for Fist Of Fear, Touch Of Death; apply the shoe polish as much as you like, you’re still basically working with a piece of s**t! Just my humble opinion, mind you, no offense to any fans out there intended.
Hammer doesn’t own that many of their own films – most are owned by whichever major studio financed them originally – so that’s why their 4K range includes this and Four Sided Triangle! There’s not much else they can release!
That’s tragic, considering the the quality of their product so far.
I’m sure most fans and collectors will pick it up for its historical value.
I will Support Hammer with this one hoping better is on it’s way, also Because Peter Cushing and Ti Lung is are in the film. The special features are most likely better than the whole film. I sometimes play these C grade movies on my projector on silence with my music playing (for example some Bruce Lee clone films) people who visit tend to enjoy them better. I always tell them you don’t want to watch this film the original way haha!
You know, with the right music, I do agree that some of these movies (volume turned down) would make for an interesting experience lol