LOT 0915: DEMENTIA 13 (1963) — Original Slipcover VHS

STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW

Francis Ford Coppola’s feature directorial debut Dementia 13 stands as a pivotal milestone in 1960s low-budget thriller history. Shot on a meager budget in Ireland using leftover funds from Roger Corman's The Young Racers, the film fuses gothic atmosphere with stark, axe-wielding terror heavily indebted to Hitchcock's Psycho.

COVER SPECIFICATION

The slipcover features a high-contrast horror composition framed by a pitch-black border. Bold red and white stacked block typography anchors the top header, while the central photo box showcases a distressed blonde woman with smeared makeup crawling through dark grass. The lower section highlights the selling point "COPPOLA'S FIRST FEATURE FILM!" in clean white capitals alongside a retro [VHS] logo.

DIRECTOR PROFILE

• Director: Francis Ford Coppola (1939–Present)

• Significance: Titan of New Hollywood cinema who transitioned from Roger Corman's exploitation incubator into one of the most celebrated auteurs in film history.

• Key Works: Dementia 13 (1963), The Godfather (1972), Apocalypse Now (1979).

PHYSICAL SPEC & CONDITION

• Cassette: Black shell. Factory label intact. Tested and playing properly.

• Housing: Original paper slipcase. Displays edge wear, corner friction, and authentic shelf patina consistent with vintage physical media circulation. Unrestored.

ARCHIVAL VALUE

Owning an early magnetic tape release of Dementia 13 provides a direct line to the origins of modern American auteur cinema. As an unpolished physical artifact from the peak home video boom, this tape captures the raw, unedited drive-in aesthetic that launched Coppola's legendary career.

TERMS OF SALE

All Sales Final. Item is sold strictly as-is in tested, working vintage condition. Given the nature of magnetic media and original paper housing, no returns, exchanges, or refunds will be accepted. Please review all high-resolution listing images prior to acquisition.