‘Blood Orange’ Blazes Back on 4K from Hammer

Hammer Films has announced a new Limited Collector’s Edition release of Blood Orange on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray arriving on 11 August 2025. First issued in 1953, this sharp-edged crime thriller predates Hammer’s more familiar horror fare and marks one of director Terence Fisher’s earliest forays into suspenseful storytelling. The film has been meticulously restored from the original negatives and presented in vivid 4K for the first time.

The release is housed in a beautifully designed slipcase featuring brand-new artwork and includes both a 4K Ultra HD disc and a Blu-ray. Among the extensive bonus materials is an exclusive interview with filmmaker Alice Lowe, whose credits include Prevenge and Timestalker. Cinema enthusiasts will also find two fresh audio commentaries: one pairing cult film critic Kim Newman with Barry Forshaw, author of Brit Noir and The Rough Guide to Crime Fiction, and another with film historian Lucy Bolton and critic Phuong Le.

Additional features explore Hammer’s early years and the world of British B movies. Screenwriter David Pirie joins Wayne Kinsey to dissect producer Michael Carreras’s influence on the studio’s 1950s output. A panel featuring artist Cathy Lomax, historian Richard Hollis and author Gavin Collinson delves into the roots of Hammer’s B-movie backbone. Fashion historian Liz Tregenza contributes a segment on the period costumes that turn the film’s London setting into a runway of intrigue.

Blood Orange follows Hollywood star Tom Conway in a role that draws on his established flair for debonair sleuths. Conway’s ex-FBI detective is called to investigate a jewel theft at a high-end fashion house, only to be drawn into a darker web when a model played by Naomi Chance is found murdered. Richard Wattis appears as the policeman determined to keep the investigation on the straight and narrow while the killer stalks the catwalk.

The collector’s booklet includes newly commissioned essays by Wayne Kinsey on Bray Studios locations and by Nora Fiore on the film’s femme fatale in the context of classic Hollywood noir. Veteran chroniclers Robert J. E. Simpson and Denis Meikle provide insights into Hammer’s distribution arrangements and the studio’s pioneering drive under James Carreras. A gallery of stills and publicity material rounds out the set, alongside tracks from Ivor Slaney’s original score.

This restoration not only revives a key title from Hammer’s early catalogue but also continues the studio’s dedication to preserving its cinematic heritage under John Gore Studios stewardship. As Hammer prepares to reveal its next production, Ithaqua in 2026, its Limited Collector’s Edition of Blood Orange stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of British noir.

You can pre-order Blood Orange from Hammer Films, here: hammerfilms.com/products/blood-orange-limited-collector-s-edition

Blood Orange trailer