Boris Karloff

The Mario Bava Collection, Volume 1 (Black Sunday / Black Sabbath / The Girl Who Knew Too Much / Kill Baby Kill / Knives of the Avenger)

Average customer rating:

Finally...
great collection
Bittersweet Box Set
Bate and Swich
Very Pleased Overall

The Mario Bava Collection, Volume 1 (Black Sunday / Black Sabbath / The Girl Who Knew Too Much / Kill Baby Kill / Knives of the Avenger)
Starring: Cameron Mitchell , Fausto Tozzi , Giacomo Rossi-Stuart , Luciano Pollentin , and Amedeo Trilli
Director: Mario Bava , and Salvatore Billitteri
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000MV8ABI
Release Date: 2007-04-03

Amazon.com

Five of Mario Bava's best films are included in this box set, minus his forays into eroticism, like Blood and Black Lace. Still, the lines between sexual pathos and violence blur in these selections that influenced not only other famed directors of Giallo, such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci, but also spawned the American golden age in horror, led by directors such as John Carpenter. Three black and white films here exemplify Bava's trademark use of chiaroscuro mixed with suspense-building cinematography first developed in early horror classics like Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. In the Hitchcock-inspired Evil Eye (1963), tourist Nora Davis (Leticia Roman) witnesses a murder but can't convince police of the crime. Kill Baby Kill! (1966) is the prototype for all little girl-ghost films. Dr. Paul Eswai (Giacomo Rossi-Stuart) is recruited to solve the mystery of Villa Graps, where Baroness Graps (Giana Vivaldi) reanimates her dead daughter, Melissa, by killing innocent villagers. In Black Sunday (1960), the witch Princess Asa Vajda comes back from the dead to inhabit her look-alike, Katia, both played by Barbara Steele, the original femme fatale to which all brunette vamps, like Soledad Miranda (Vampyros Lesbos) and Elvira, are indebted.

In Technicolor, Bava's fantastically rainbow-lit films underpin the director's fascination with connections between our world and those imagined. Black Sabbath (1963) is a trilogy hosted by Boris Karloff, who also stars as a Russian vampire in its segment, "The Wurdalak." "The Telephone," and "The Drop of Water," in which a nurse, Helen Correy (Jacqueline Pierreux), steals a ring then fears that her dead medium patient seeks revenge, are acute studies of guilt and paranoia. The Viking saga, Knives of the Avenger (1966), like Bava's Hercules in the Haunted World, spawned several sword and sorcery films, while protagonist Rurik's (Cameron Mitchell's) knife-throwing is indeed entertaining. Screened back to back, these films provide evidence of Bava's influence in the horror genre. Moreover, they reveal Bava's deep understanding of horror's many facets, whether sexually, psychologically, or physically based. —Trinie Dalton

Description

More than a quarter of a century after his death, director Mario Bava remains one of international cinema's most controversial icons. Today his influence — marked by stunning visuals, daring sexuality and shocking violence — can still be seen in the works of Martin Scorsese, David Lynch, Tim Burton, Dario Argento and countless others in a legacy that extends far beyond the horror genre. This collection brings together 5 landmark movies from the first half of Bava's career — encompassing the original giallo, a bold Viking epic, and his three gothic horror masterpieces — featuring new transfers, original European versions, and exclusive featurettes to create the definitive celebration of one of the most important filmmakers of all time.

Customer Reviews:

Finally..........2007-06-23

Kill Baby Kill is a flic choc full of foreboding atmosphere that can only be appreciated in the original wide-screen aspect. Contrary to Amazon's misleading information, this version IS widescreen with the option to view in Italian w/subtitles. The dubbed version is there for those who dislike subtitles. I paid 19.99 for an earlier crappy edition so needless to say I find this collection offered at 19.99 to be a gift from Amazon. Clear colors and sound make this DVD a joy to watch; great nostalgic fun. I can't wait to view the other titles, also in original theatric aspect, a bonus for me. Am I in Horror Heaven? (I bought an extra set as a present for a relative; no borrowing, please.)

great collection.......2007-04-10

Sorry, but giving this set a bad rating just because the AIP-versions aren't included is stupid in my opinion.
This box includes 5 fantastic movies by Bava (yes, even "Knives Of The Avenger" is a great one) in overall amazing quality with very good bonus features. I believe there is a good reason that AB didn't include the different cuts of "The Girl Who Knew Too Much" and "3 Faces Of Fear": legal issues. If these are solved, hopefully we see these versions someday on DVD (though the only one that really interests me is "The Evil Eye". "Black Sabbath" would just be nice because of Karloff's own dubbing,
but everything else is clearly inferior to the italian version.)
Until then - enjoy what's IN this box, it is an amazing value for the cheap price. Of course many people who want to buy this, already may have different DVDs of some of the movies in there - so everyone must decide for themselves if it is worth getting.

Bittersweet Box Set.......2007-04-09

It's great to have all of these Mario Bava titles in one set. The transfers are really beautiful, and a revelation to those of us with memories of grainy 16mm TV prints. "Black Sunday's" monochrome atmosphere looks particularly lush in this set. "Kill Baby Kill" is a major upgrade to the crummy, desaturated DVD I have from Image.
But they really SHOULD have included BOTH US and Italian versions of the star attraction, "Black Sabbbath". Or at least cut in Karloff's actual voice to the Italian version! Why not re-edit the way it should be? I still rushed out to buy this set, but cannot give it five stars due to the pre-release publicity which stated BOTH Black Sabbath versions would be in the box set. Anchor Bay owes all of us an apology or a free DVD of the English version.

Bate and Swich.......2007-04-06

(NO STARS)
This is not what I was promised in the add.
I will never buy anything "Anchor Bay" again!!!

Very Pleased Overall.......2007-04-06

I'll echo what a previous reviewer wrote concerning the absence of the American International versions of "Mask of Satan" ("Black Sunday"), and "Three Faces of Fear" ("Black Sabbath"). I had fully anticipated their inclusion in this set. After watching the trailer, I know I'm going to need the AIP release "Black Sunday." What really sold me on this set was the opportunity to finally see and own the international edit of "Black Sabbath," and I was frankly unprepared for the vivid clarity of this transfer, and that of "Kill, Baby...Kill." It's great to finally have these films the way they were meant to be seen (however I'm not a fan of English or any other subtitles; English dubs would have been nice).

I haven't gotten around to watching "Knives of the Avenger" or "The Evil Eye," so I can't really weigh in on them. I've been generally pleased with the extras on these discs, the one caveat being the inclusion of the same trailers on each disc. Couldn't they have expanded this selection? As with so many other movie box sets in my collection, the package art's bizarre! Additionally, a decipherable illustration or two of Mario Bava would have been a fitting homage.

On VHS I have the AIP version of "Black Sabbath," and really enjoy it, but seeing this uncut Italian dub I can understand now why this was Bava's favorite film. It's very evident that AIP really went wild in the editing room--it's much more interesting in its original form. Having an educational commentary was also a selling point in my decision to shell out for this; honestly, I don't regret buying this set and I haven't even seen the whole thing yet. If you've been curious about the works of Mario Bava, and you don't mind the subtitles, you won't see finer transfers for his three best films (BLACK SABBATH, BLACK SUNDAY, AND KILL BABY KILL) included here.

However, having said all that, I have to put in a plug for the production of an edition of "Kill Baby Kill" with its killer new WS transfer, but in English and with Tim Lucas' commentary accompanying it. Another highly worthy title of Bava's deserving a more respectable issue is "Planet of the Vampires." When these two finally get the treatment they deserve, a large void will have been filled.

Hasta, and May the Force be With you!

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)

Average customer rating:

GREAT COMEDY TEAM
Hit and miss quality
A&C with fillers...
abbott & costello fan club
The Best of Abbott and Costello

The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 4 (Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde / Abbott & Costello Meet the Keystone Cops / Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy / Abbott & Costello Meet Jerry Seinfeld / Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters / The World of Abbott & Costello)
Starring: Bud Abbott , Jimmy Aubrey , James Audrey , Wilson Benge , and Judith Brian
Manufacturer: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Best of Abbott & Costello, Vol. 3 (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars / Abbott & Costello in the Foreign Legion / Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein / Abbott & Costello Meet the Invisible Man / Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer / Comin' Round the Mountain / Lost in Alaska / Mexican Hayride)
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The Abbott & Costello Show: 100th Anniversary Collection Season 1
Abbott & Costello Show - 100th Anniversary Collection Season 2

ASIN: B000A1INIA
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Description

America's most beloved comedy team pair up with a cast of monsters and The Keystone Kops in this collector's set filled with 6 classics. The last installment in this hilarious franchise includes revealing documentaries and interviews that give an in-depth look at the genius behind Abbott and Costello and their continued popularity. Also featured is the making of the original classic Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which spawned an industry of comedy/horror films. Partnered with great legends like Boris Karloff, these masterpieces truly stand the test of time.

Customer Reviews:

GREAT COMEDY TEAM.......2007-06-06

WORTH THE MONEY
WHO DINT LOVE THIS SHOW , THIS SHOW WAS GREAT
I LOVE THIS DVD, BRINGS BACK LAUGHTER AND MEMORYS AND YOU NEVER GET BORED WITH IT,

Hit and miss quality.......2007-05-17

This final installment in this series seems more geared towards completists and serious fans instead of new or casual fans. Of the six films included, only half of them are actually A&C movies, all of them from the very end of their movie career (though at least they're of noticeably better quality than a lot of the turkeys on Volume 3). The other three films are documentaries, none of which are particularly ground-breaking; 'The World of A&C' in particular is awful. And though this was originally released as two flipper discs, the set I got had three one-sided discs, a big step up from the earlier problem-plagued double-sided DVDs all of these volumes were put out on. However, the menu on the first two discs hasn't been changed to reflect that, and still gives the impression that it's double-sided, what with asking the viewer to flip the disc over if s/he wants to watch the other film(s).

'A&C Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' (1953) is pretty good, probably the strongest of the three films on here, though it is slowed down a bit by a boring romantic subplot and an even more superfluous subplot about the suffragist movement in late 19th century England. Boris Karloff's Jekyll and Hyde character is also a bit one-dimensional, lacking the depth and emotional compellingness of other film portrayals of this famous dual character. Still, there are a lot of great moments and scenes in here, such as the scene in the wax museum, the search for the monster in the dressing rooms, and the chaos that ensues in both London and the police station when Lou's character (with the rather cringe-worthy name Tubby) turns into the monster at the same time that the real monster is on the loose.

'A&C Meet the Keystone Kops' (1955) is probably the weakest film on here, though I wouldn't go so far as to say it's one of their all-time worst. It feels more like a series of skits than a coherent whole, with each skit woven smoothly into the overall plot. Still, while not as inspired as their earlier classics, there is a lot of fun stuff here, such as the scene in the aeroplane, the scenes on the train, the early scenes where Bud is mistaken for Lou's abusive father, and the chase at the end. This film is also noteworthy because Bud's character was finally funny instead of being purely the straightman. He does a lot more physical comedy here than he ever did before; at least this development was better late than never.

'A&C Meet the Mummy' (1955) is actually pretty good for being their penultimate film, and their final film at Universal. I think it's rather better than its pretty dismal reputation, even though the boys are looking old and tired by this late point. There are a number of great scenes here, such as the hamburger-switching, the "take your pick" routine, and the three mummies running around in the Tomb of Klaris (though the real mummy doesn't look all that convincingly scary, just like someone wrapped in a bunch of bandages). Interestingly, Bud's character is billed as Peter Patterson and Lou's character is billed as Freddie Franklin in the credits, yet they call one another by their real names all throughout the film.

'A&C Meet the Monsters' is a brief mini-documentary a bit over a half-hour long, narrated by David Skal, and focusing on all of the horror spoofs they did in the late Forties and early Fifties. It's interesting enough, but could have been longer and covered more ground. 'A&C Meet Jerry Seinfeld' is the most interesting of the documentaries; it provides clips from their films, their tv show, and various appearances they made on other tv shows, home movies (a number of them in color), and a fair amount of historical background. Seinfeld's love of and enthusiasm for the team is palpable, but never crosses the line into fawning. It's always nice when a documentary is narrated by someone who actually has enthusiasm for the subject(s) instead of by someone who doesn't have much of an opinion one way or the other. Still, there isn't a lot of information here that most fans don't already know. 'The World of A&C' is a terrible clipshow from 1965, with obnoxious unfunny narration by Jack E. Leonard. The clips (from 19 of their films) are shown without rhyme or reason, with no context provided, and aren't even identified until the end credits. They're also not even shown in chronological order, which doesn't allow the viewer to get a sense of how their craft, screen relationship, and characters grew and evolved over time. Besides that, most of the clips are from their later films such as 'Mexican Hayride,' 'Lost in Alaska,' and 'A&C Go to Mars,' which aren't exactly regarded as the cream of the crop. It's inexplicable why their earlier, more representative, films were ignored or given such short schrift. And with no background information provided, just a nonstop stream of clips, the viewer will have no sense of why they were so popular and great.

Overall, while none of these films are really classics, I do think they're better than their reputations. While this isn't a set that's ideal for the new or casual fan, it does have a lot of great moments for the more established fan. It's just too bad it's padded out with three documentaries instead of the rest of their later films that haven't already been released.

A&C with fillers..........2007-05-15

This is a mix of some funny stuff with a few other materials thrown in but not necessarily for good measure. However, that is what the search button on the remote is for. All in all, A&C is classic slapstick...with my favorites being the Jekyl & Hyde and the Mummy sequences. It is something that will give some good laughs to all generations. I wouldn't say this volume is exceptional, but a few selections will give a nice smack on the funny bone.

abbott & costello fan club.......2007-05-13

I am a big fan of them from many years ago, and since we have the dvds (all of them) my kids really enjoy all their movies too, and think they are hilarious. My kids are 11, 9, and 5 and other then the fact that they dont know why its in black and white, they laugh like crazy, and because they are harmless, our whole family can watch them together, which is a rare thing these days.

The Best of Abbott and Costello .......2007-03-13

The DVD plays great and it,s not to bad of a comedy series so all and all like I said it,s okay but I,ve seen better comedy series.

Best of Route 66 - Eleven Original TV Series episodes

Average customer rating:

Good but could be better
Route 66 - A Classic Show Done Right...
Route 66 episodes that are sharp and clear....!!!
The Best of The Best

Best of Route 66 - Eleven Original TV Series episodes
Starring: Robert Redford; Robert Duvall; James Caan; Alan Alda;Stephanie Powers; Suzanne Pleshette; Boris Karloff; Peter Lorie; Walter Matthau; Martin Sheen; Leslie Nielsen; Ronny Howard; Edward Asner; Jack Warden; Deforest Kelly; Inger Stevens; Julie Newmar; Barbara Eden and more...
Director: David Lowell Rich; Arthur Hiller; George Sherman; Alvin Ganzer and more...
Manufacturer: Roxbury Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000PY51QY
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Customer Reviews:

Good but could be better.......2007-06-17

I was a bit disappointed that for the price of this set, that there was no information about which shows were on it, no booklet...etc...It was really well done as far as quality, but I really would have enjoyed being able to read a little something about each show. Also there is no way to contact whoever made this set to see if they will be making more shows available...my favorite episode ( The Thin White Line) where Todd is given LSD, was not on this set...I have tried ordering the entire series on DVD just to be told it is back ordered, or not available after paying over $100.00 for it, so this set is great to have....

Route 66 - A Classic Show Done Right..........2007-06-10

Although this is not the "offical DVD release" from Columbia House, Roxbury Entertainment did an EXCELLENT job transferring these from the original broadcast film negatives. These 11 episodes are by far the best quality transfers out there. We can only hope that when Columbia "figures it out" to release the entire series on DVD, they'll do the same. There's nothing like watching an Episode of Route 66 with the original commercials, bumpers, sponsor tags and previews intact, it transports you back (for an hour) to a time when quality television prevailed.

Route 66 episodes that are sharp and clear....!!!.......2007-06-08

I highly recommend this 2 disk DVD set of Route 66. The 11 episodes are very clear which makes all the difference. In the past, people have sold tapes or disks of Route 66 where they were just copies of copies and the picture quality was terrible! Not here. So if you grew up watching Route 66 or you love the series, this is the DVD disk you'll want to own. The collection of the 11 episodes are a fine representation of the series and they span across all four years of the show. On some of the episodes the orginial commericals are not edited out, but I did not mind that at all. As a matter of fact, it was rather enjoyable to see the espisodes as they were shown back in the 1960's. Some of my friends got a big kick out of the old commericals. I hope more Route 66 are coming in this format! Please make more!!

The Best of The Best.......2007-06-06

This is Route 66 at it's very best!! The transfers are straight from the masters with everything left in like they originally aired. Commercials, Next week previews, etc. The studios will not release the classics shows this way as they should. 90 percent of the people that buy these classics shows are collectors. And they want everything left in! The studios don't get it! Nor do they care! It's their way or no way! This is the real way to preserve are Television History! Thanks Roxbury Entertainment! We salute you and want more soon!! Don't think about it!, Buy it! This is truly "THE BEST OF THE BEST".

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (50th Birthday Deluxe Remastered Edition)

Average customer rating:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
HIS MEANNESS IN GLORIOUS GREENESS
Dr. Seuss's Original...
Still the Best!
Great flick

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (50th Birthday Deluxe Remastered Edition)
Starring: Boris Karloff , and Thurl Ravenscroft
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000HA4WDY
Release Date: 2006-11-21

Amazon.com essential video

Accept no substitutes. The 1966 television adaptation of Dr. Seuss' timeless book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!--about an anti-Santa who tries to heist the holiday only to learn a powerful lesson--is a classic in its own right, and looking better than ever in its 50th Birthday Deluxe Edition. (For those doing the math, the 50 years is counting from the book's 1957 publishing date rather than the show's broadcast date.) The most significant improvement is in the digital transfer, cleaning up fuzz and specks and restoring the proper colors to the program. While the awful earlier DVDs showed the Grinch in a mustard-yellow color, this edition restores his proper green gleam. Special features are mostly ported over from the previous DVD--the Horton Hears a Who program, a featurette on the songs, Phil Hartman's special edition version, pencil tests, etc. minus the commentary track--but there is a new 15-minute featurette, "Dr. Seuss and the Grinch: From Whoville to Hollywood." While it starts out as a fluff piece aimed at the younger set (interviews with kids, some rapping), it does provide some interesting information, including interviews with the widows of Theodore Geisel and Chuck Jones and clips of Geisel and Jones' Private Snafu. (No mention of Jim Carrey, however.) --David Horiuchi

Description

Every who down in Who-ville likes Christmas a lot, but the Grinch who lived just north of Who-ville did NOT! So the cuddly as a cactus Grinch (with termites in his smile and garlic in his soul) tries to wipe out Christmas for the cheerful Who-villains, only to discover: maybe Christmas, he thought doesn't come from as store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more! Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff and animated by cartoon legend Chuck Jones, it's an award-winning Who-roast-beast-feast of a holiday classic!

Customer Reviews:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.......2007-05-13

Love it! Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss and the Who's in Whoville. Great family movie with no advertisements. A must have for any home with or without kids. I have watched it by myself on occasion. I am a BIG Dr. Seuss fan. Check out the great selection of Dr. Seuss books on Amazon our family owns many titles. They great for reading to k-6th graders at school or home.

HIS MEANNESS IN GLORIOUS GREENESS.......2007-05-06

Wow! I just watched this newest edition of the Grinch, and what a difference! The COLORS are FABULOUS! He never looked better! The remastering is, well, masterful; and I never saw this wonderful Christmas feature so beautifully represented.
All the hundreds of times I watched this before have been in B&W by comparison!
"You're a Mean One-Mr Grinch! You have Termites in your Soul!"
Sung by the inimitable Thurl Ravenscroft (what a great name!) who also voiced one of the Ghosts on the Haunted Mansion ride, ( a Singing Bust in the Graveyard) lends a thrilling richness to the feature, as great as the voice of Boris Karloff as the Grinch himself.
An extra feature on this disc is the Making of...including interviews with Mrs Theodore Geisel, AKA Mrs Seuss, and Chuck Jones, who worked closely with his old friend Dr Seuss, at first reluctant to animate his story, but who thawed after seeing the drawings and hearing the great songs, esp the one on Christmas Morning.
Horton hears a Who is included, and this is just wonderful...so sweet.
One day Dr Seuss was sitting at his desk littered with sketches when a breeze wafted in and blew a drawing of an elephant onto a drawing of a tree, which set Seuss to thinking: "What is that elephant doing up in that tree?" which led to Horton Hatches the Egg.
Seuss's wonderful surrealist POV is the child's version of Dali, and another favorite Seuss work of mine is the sets he created for "The 10,000 Fingers of Dr T."
This set also includes Phil Hartman's Grinch special and pencil tests.
But the real star here is the incredible colors and how magnificent the Grinch looks in his splendid coat of bright Green. You've never seen this great feature so beautifully done until you get this version! The packaging is wonderful with sparkles all over the jacket.

Dr. Seuss's Original..........2007-04-22

The 1966 cartoon version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" has rightly become a Christmas season classic. Its simple but evocative storyline is brought to life by the pairing of animator Chuck Jones with original artist Theodor Geisel. Boris Karloff's absolutely superb narration is the thing of genius that makes the whole movie work.

The story is familar to anyone who has been young in the last forty years: The Grinch, a Christmas-hater, lives near Whoville, populated by Whos, a cheery bunch who celebrate Christmas with abandon. The Grinch has the stoke of awful inspiration one Christams Eve to sneak into Whoville and steal all the holiday paraphanalia, and stop Christmas from coming. Disguised as Santa Claus, the Grinch makes away with all the presents, decorations, and food, only to discover that he has missed the point about Christmas altogether. His moment of relevation may be the highlight of the whole movie.

This movie is highly recommended as a Christmas Classic suitable for all ages.

Still the Best!.......2007-04-17

As a child of 4 or 5 years old, watching this, I have to say that Boris Karloff's rendering of the Grinch gave me literal nightmares. But then I always loved a movie that could enter my slumber, so even the nightmares of my childhood were a welcome adrenaline rush.

I realize this is a movie you're probably only supposed to watch at Christmas time, but honestly I can watch it in the middle of July and enjoy it just as much as if I I were watching it on Christmas Morning!

When I was a kid, it was about the lesson learned by the Grinch. He learned to let people in, to love and to be loved. He learned the true meaning of being a cheerful giver.

As a grown-up, it's about being able to harken back to a simpler time. About re-living those moments I so enjoyed in my youth. The Grinch is more than a holiday classic. It's a journey into one of the most enjoyable aspects of a person's past.

It's beautifully drawn... as I already said, the voices are positively mesmerizing. The message/moral/theme is very positive and clear. Tell me what's NOT to like about this movie?

Great flick.......2007-03-17

My 4 year old son loves the Grinch. We bought this because the tape was worn out. It is nice and clear and is the original we all remember. And even though we didnt think we were getting "Horton Hears a Who" it was included on the disc.

The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)

Average customer rating:

Mysterious
Should have been titled Lugosi/Karloff collection
Horrors!
Fun
Horrible old movies you've got to love!

The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)
Starring: Boris Karloff , Bela Lugosi , David Manners , Julie Bishop , and Egon Brecher
Director: Edgar G. Ulmer , Arthur Lubin , and Lambert Hillyer
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0009X770E
Release Date: 2005-09-06

Customer Reviews:

Mysterious.......2007-05-12

In this collection you find one of the cineastic highlights of the 30ties; "The Black Cat", directed by Edgar G. Ulmer; a fantastic variation of the old Edgar Allan Poe - Story; crossed with demonic memoires of the 1st World War - Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi have been in this war, one has become a victim, his love ans life destroyed, the other is a human monster, responsible for the death of thousends of soldiers and a sick collector of female beauty. The setting is a Bauhaus-building on a mountain, where the battlefield was, a kind of futuristic mausoleum. This film was made in Austria in 1934, the time of fascism, and you can smell the near danger of Nazi-Terror. John J. Mescall is a genius on camera. I think this movie is singular in the history of gothic art. The other movies are good exampels for the singular art of the Dracula-actor Bela Lugosi.
CMF

Should have been titled Lugosi/Karloff collection.......2007-04-25

This box set of movies captures Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff at the height of their respective careers. Both are highlighted here in 5 different films that allow them to share the spotlight and explore some fairly meaty roles. Especially in the "The Black Cat" A particularly subtle yet brutal horror tale pitting Lugosi against Karloff in a twisted psychological battle of revenge, mysticism and devil worship. Very much ahead of it's time in both subject matter and brutality. The makeup, set design, mood and lighting are quite memorable.

All 5 movies though are quite enjoyable, and while tame compared to today's horror fare, they still explore some weighty subjects with an appropriate amount of abject horror and suspense.

It's fun to review some of the details of each of these movies, and pick out small little mistakes and missed edits. A particular example is seen in "The Invisible Ray" watch closely as Walter Kingsford as he plays a murdered Sir Francis Stevens. He is lying on the bed as Lugosi shines a bright light into his face to snap a couple of photos. After Lugosi turns off the bright light, Kigsford obviously blinks his eyes, even though he's supposed to already be dead. pretty funny, and the first time I watched the movie, I could hardly believe the obvious mistake.

At any rate, all 5 movies are entertaining, well written, and provided both Lugosi and Karloff with vehicles with which to display their talent.

Highly recommended for any classic horror buffs.

Horrors!.......2007-02-05

Universal Pictures has had a number of different movie openings over the years, but my favorite has always been one of its oldest, the one showing the airplane flying around the Universal Globe. This opening is shown on several films in the Bela Lugosi Collection, which is just another little perk in a generally decent set.

Three of the movies (all on Side One of the single disc) are loosely based on Edgar Allan Poe stories. In Murders in the Rue Morgue, Lugosi plays a demented showman at a circus. His show features an ape that is willing to kill for his master. Lugosi also has an obsession with creating some sort of ape-human hybrid, and if a few women need to die in the process, so be it. Although not the most well-written of movies, it does have a nice look to it, with that eerie German Expressionist influence that is seen in other horror films of the period. This is also the only film in the set that doesn't also include Boris Karloff.

The Black Cat has Lugosi in a more heroic role as a man out for vengeance against Karloff's villainous Satanist, who years earlier had committed a treasonous act that led to Lugosi's imprisonment. Now Lugosi and a honeymooning couple are at Karloff's estate where both characters plot against each other. In a nice contrast to the standard old dark houses, the setting for this film is a futuristic mansion.

The Raven has Lugosi returning to evil as a doctor obsessed with a woman whose life he has saved. He also is an avid Poe fan, leading him to set up some nasty traps (especially a deadly pendulum). Karloff is a fugitive who is forced to help Lugosi in his schemes. These are probably Lugosi's and Karloff's best roles in the set.

The Side Two movies put Lugosi in distinctly supporting roles. The Invisible Ray features Karloff as a scientist who is irradiated by a strange element, one that threatens to kill him, but also gives him a lethal touch and a homicidal mania. Lugosi plays a doctor again, this time one who creates a serum that offsets the effect of the radiation. The science is awful, but the movie itself is fun.

The final film, Black Friday, has Lugosi in a minor role as a gangster. Karloff plays one of his mad scientist roles, this time a brain surgeon who transplants part of a gangster's brain into his dying friend's. Here the acting laurels go to Stanley Ridge's as the man whose personality alternates between kindly literature professor and vicious gangster.

In the horror films of the `30s and '40s, Lugosi often played second fiddle to Karloff, and this set demonstrates why. Although Karloff himself is not at his best, he is definitely more skilled than Lugosi. That's not to say Lugosi is bad, but he can't steal a show the way Karloff can. As a Lugosi showcase, this is merely okay (and there aren't much in the way of extras) but the movies themselves are pretty fun. As a whole, this set gets a low four stars and should be enjoyed by fans of the classic era of Universal horror films.

Fun.......2007-01-13

Interesting variations on some Poe stories, though not extremely helpful... You get the feeling these guys were going through the motions here, reaching for material to take advantage of the sets and odd facial features they had at their disposal.

Horrible old movies you've got to love!.......2007-01-12

Anyone who loves to watch those old black and white horror movies will surely love to have this collection included in their DVD library. Not only do you get Bela doing his best to terrify you, but Karloff also comes along for the ride. At times the acting is bumpy, but, hey, that's what makes these movies so much fun to watch. So get the popcorn ready, dim the lights, and be prepared to be intertained.

Average customer rating:

Monster Party stands the test of time
BIG BOOBED PUPPET/ SKELETON ROCK BAND/ I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO....
Some Nostalgia Is Best Left In The Past
Great!
very pleased

Mad Monster Party
Starring: Boris Karloff , Allen Swift , Gale Garnett , Phyllis Diller , and Ethel Ennis
Director: Jules Bass
Manufacturer: Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Scary Movies & Mysteries | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Kid's Halloween | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

All Titles | Anchor Bay Horror Store | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Daydreamer (1966)
Here Comes Peter Cottontail
Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas in July
The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town
The Year Without a Santa Claus / Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey / Rudolph's Shiny New Year

ASIN: B000A0GPEA
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Amazon.com

Love the classic monsters Frankenstein, the Mummy, Dr. Jekyll, the Creature, Dracula, the Werewolf, and the Invisible Man? They're all here in this animated, 90-minute video--and so are the vocal talents of Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller. After discovering the secret of destruction, Baron von Frankenstein is retiring as head of the World Wide Organization of Monsters. He's handpicked his mortal nephew Felix to be his successor, and his fellow monsters are less than pleased. Even though Felix politely declines to carry on this family tradition, the monsters band together and double-cross one another in comic attempts to expel Felix from the group.

The "Rankin/Bass Animagic process" of using stop-motion photography with three-dimensional figures makes this video a visual feast for animation buffs, but it is outdated compared to modern animation techniques. Humorous details, like the count looking into a mirror to comb his hair and seeing only his comb reflected, permeate the video and will have viewers chuckling out loud and on alert for potential missed laughs. This video is best for children from about 5 to 12 years old or adults who want to reminisce over a movie viewed in their childhood. --Tami Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Monster Party stands the test of time.......2007-05-13

I remember this movie as a favourite from my childhood. Whenever it appeared on tv - I was always ready to watch it. Even though that was a good few years ago, Mad Monster Party stands the test of time. The story is simple -Monsters gather to party, bad verses badder and yet love wins in the end. The humour is quirky, the songs catchy. The characters are the original group of monsters that we all know and were scared of. When you think that this was made in the 60's the animation is brilliant. You can see at times where Tim Burton may have got some of his ideas. The colour seems to have been inhanced - all for the better. I knew this movie was a favourite and having not see it for many years pleased to say it remains one.

BIG BOOBED PUPPET/ SKELETON ROCK BAND/ I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO...........2007-05-11

Corny as hell, but I still like it. I bought this movie used from Amazon a while back, for my kid. I had no idea what I was getting into. This thing has a bizarre plotline, that leads our protagonist (a geeky-Jimmy Stewart-esque kinda guy) onto an island inhabited by his uncle Boris (rightly voiced by Boris Karloff) and an army of monsters that he created.
Uncle Boris wants to hand the island and all of it's secrets over to his nephew, but the monsters are not to thrilled. Mainly Francesca (quite possibly the sexiest puppet I've ever seen). She believes that she should be the rightful heir of the island, so she seduces Dracula into helping her destroy the nephew.
Dracula screws everything up, so Francesca decides to settle things herself (biggest [...] I've ever seen on a puppet by the way).. only her plan is foiled when nephew smacks her in the face, and somehow causes her to instantly fall madly in love with him (they make out like every five minutes from here on..) Once the monsters discover whats going on with the two, they decide to get even with both.
I won't spoil the ending, but this is a cool little movie to watch with the kids on a rainy day. The best is when a rock band of skeletons pop out of nowhere and play a song called Dance The Mummy.. but the campy, sixties take on a slew of classic monsters, portrayed as puppets is all gravy. Rankin/Bass the guys that brought you Rudolph and all of those other X-mas shows from the sixties masterminded this gem.

Some Nostalgia Is Best Left In The Past.......2007-04-02

In theory, MAD MONSTER PARTY has everything required to blast you into your childhood past: the voices of Boris Karloff and Phyllis Diller; characters that are riffs on Universal horror classics; and animated by Rankin-Bass, which created such memorable holiday television specials as Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. But at ninety minutes, MAD MONSTER PARTY is much, much too long for the very slight story it has to tell.

The story, as such: Dr. Frankenstein, who earlier discovered the secret of life, has now discovered the secret of destruction. He invites all the monsters under his control to his remote island, there to announce his discovery--and his retirement and plans to pass his secrets onto his klutzy and inept nephew. The monsters are not pleased and decide to off said nephew and use the new discovery to suit themselves.

The premise is okay, but the actual result is remarkably tedious. The script is dull, the occasional song atrocious. The pace is very, very slow. The character designs are uninspired. As for the famed Rankin-Bass animation... let us be generous here and say that in this instance it has not dated very well. This is essentially stop-motion animation, the same process so memorably used by Ray Harryhouser in such memorable films as THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD and Tim Burton in THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS--but without the same budgets.

If you are considering a purchase for "family film purposes," you can do a lot better than this. If you yourself recall the movie fondly from your childhood, do yourself a favor and don't return to it, for you will almost certainly be disappointed; some nostalgia really is better left in the past. The only people likely to find the film of interest are hardcore collectors of stop-motion animation--and even then the interest is more likely to be technical than anything else. Such fans excepted, not recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Great!.......2007-03-10

This movie is a KICK IN THE PANTS! Just watching all the old time actors portrayed in claymation is a laugh a minute! If you love all the old claymation movies, you'll love this one too!

very pleased.......2007-03-08

the movie was sent out quickly. The movie was of great quality. I have only good things to say about the service from this company.

Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)

Average customer rating:

Frankenstein (1931)
Excellent Collection of Hollywood's Best of the Early Monster Movies!
Classic DVD
A Thoughtful Film
Frankenstein at it's best.

Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)
Starring: Colin Clive , Mae Clarke , John Boles , Boris Karloff , and Edward Van Sloan
Director: James Whale
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Dracula - The Legacy Collection (Dracula / Dracula (1931 Spanish Version) / Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula / House of Dracula)
The Wolf Man - The Legacy Collection (The Wolf Man / Werewolf of London / Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man / She-Wolf of London)
Dracula (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)
The Mummy - The Legacy Collection (The Mummy/Mummy's Hand/Mummy's Tomb/Mummy's Ghost/Mummy's Curse)
Invisible Man - The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man's Revenge)

ASIN: B000GPIPT2
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com essential video

"It's alive! Alive!" shouts Colin Clive's triumphant Dr. Frankenstein as electricity buzzes over the hulking body of a revived corpse. "In the name of God now I know what it's like to be God!" For years unheard, this line has been restored, along with the legendary scene of the childlike monster tossing a little girl into a lake, in James Whale's Frankenstein, one of the most famous and influential horror movies ever made. Coming off the tremendous success of Dracula, Universal assigned sophomore director Whale to helm an adaptation of Mary Shelley's famous novel with Bela Lugosi as the monster. When Lugosi declined the role, Whale cast the largely unknown character actor Boris Karloff and together with makeup designer Jack Pierce they created the most memorable monster in movie history: a towering, lumbering creature with sunken eyes, a flat head, and a jagged scar running down his forehead. Whale and Karloff made this mute, misunderstood brute, who has the brain of a madman (the most obvious of the many liberties taken with Shelley's story), the most pitiable freak of nature to stumble across the screen. Clive's Dr. Frankenstein is intense and twitchy and Dwight Frye set the standard for mad-scientist sidekicks as the wild-eyed hunchback assistant. Whale's later films, notably the spooky spoof The Old Dark House and the deliriously stylized sequel The Bride of Frankenstein, display a surer cinematic hand than seen here and add a subversive twist of black comedy, but given the restraints of early sound films, Whale breaks the film free from static stillness and adorns it with striking design and expressionist flourishes. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Frankenstein (1931).......2007-06-20

One of the greatest horror films of all time, James Whale's "Frankenstein" veers broadly from Mary Shelley's original story while retaining its specifically tragic aspect. The ghoul-faced Karloff, without a word of dialogue here, gives a lumbering performance that is both creepy and achingly sympathetic--especially in the famous scene with a young girl (Marilyn Harris) picking a flower for him. Herman Rosse's fabulous sets and Whale's meticulous handling of atmosphere and the monster's appearance elevate this eerie study of alienation and scientific hubris far above the campier creature features that followed. Juice up your neck bolts for "Frankenstein." Universal's reissue of this monster classic brings horror fans more background information on the making of the movie, and rare interviews with its cast. The new documentary "Karloff: The Gentle Monster" pays tribute to the actor whose forty year screen career was made by this monster. A must-see for serious Frankenphiles, and a title worthy of revisiting.

Excellent Collection of Hollywood's Best of the Early Monster Movies!.......2007-05-19

Fans of the original Frankenstein monster are in for a real treat here as this low-priced collection of no less than 5 movies featuring the monster that everyone loves has had both the picture and sound quality restored admirably well given the undoubtedly poor condition of the old deteriorated master tapes.

To me, "Frankenstein" is the best of the lot for so many reasons including the great direction of James Whale and the excellent acting of Colin Clive and especially of Boris Karloff. Karloff's work in making an audience feel so much pity for what was supposed to be a monster has only been bettered by Merian C. Cooper making us feel sorry for essentially a mechanical puppet in King Kong. The movie with its brilliant acting and strong moral theme of the repercussions whenever man decides to play God make this a movie to transcend the years and rightfully stake its claim as one of the best movies ever made.

I know a lot of people like "Bride of Frankenstein" better but to me, "Frankenstein" is still the better movie overall. It's interesting to note that James Whale wasn't in favour of doing this sequel but faced with the prospect of someone else doing it anyway, he decided to take a stab and despite his attempts to spoof the original movie with comic relief in the form of the old housekeeper for example, the movie is still a very good one with some very touching scenes. I personally enjoy the heart wrenching scene with the poor old blind man in the wooden cabin which clearly shows that the truly blind are those that cannot look beyond the grotesque appearance of the monster to see his tender side but instead attack and seek to destroy what they don't understand. I didn't like the Dr. Praetorius character and overall, Colin Clive and the others don't quite pull off as great an acting job as they had done in the first movie. Still, "Bride of Frankenstein" makes a worthy sequel to the classic movie. Unfortunately, it all starts to go downhill from here and hence provides fodder for countless parodies over the years culminating in perhaps the best parody in Gene Wilder's "Young Frankenstein". From "Son of Frankenstein" down to "House of Frankenstein" it was clear that everything that made the first two films classics had been lost and it had become a case of milking the franchise for all that they could get.

What's also good about this Legacy Collection is the special features which includes an extremely humorous short film called "Boo!" and the insightful documentaries: "She's Alive!" and "The Frankenstein Files". In conclusion, this is indeed a great value for money dvd collection and is a must have for students of early cinema and monster lovers as well.

Highly recommended!

Classic DVD.......2007-05-19

Recieved fast, but had to return 3 times. The DVD was loose inside the case and scratched when received. But returns were easy and didn't have to pay postage as manufacturer was responsible.

A Thoughtful Film.......2007-05-19

There are many misjudgements about Frankenstein. First, Frankenstein was the creator, not the monster. Second, this film is not a terrifying movie; in fact, in many parts, it is a sad movie.

Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein as part of a contest to see who could write the best horror novel. Shelley's won, but it dealt with issues of theology and philosophy more than it did with horror. When the book was to be made into a film, many of those issues remained, and some of the scarier parts of the book were omitted.

Thus, we have Frankenstein, a scientist obsessed with creating life from death. He succeeds and creates a towering monster with the brain of an abnormal child. The monster seeks love and nurturing from his creator, but instead he is tormented with the things that frighten him and left to his own devices. On his own, he seeks friendship and understanding, but everywhere he goes, he is misunderstood. Finally, he becomes violent, and the townspeople shun him, forcing him away and taunting him with fire.

The film is opened by a warning to the audience reminding us that this is just a story and did not really happen. However, the warning is not necessary, because many of the themes occur in truth, and besides, the movie is not scary.

This edition is wonderful. The film print is excellent, and viewers are treated with a short documentary about Boris Karloff, the man who played the monster. Also included are two commentaries and several goodies like fun facts, a photo archive, and a documentary about horror films.

Frankenstein at it's best........2007-04-08

I own all of the Universal Studio's Legacy Collections. I must say, the Frankenstein is my favorite. Colin Clive screams "It's alive. Alive!" and Boris karloff as the monster becomes very convincing especially considering how long ago this was filmed - 1931. Elsa Lanchester as the bride is surperb and is considered by many to be the best Frankenstein movie of all time. This is only the first of the six sets. If you are only going to own only one of the Legacy Collections, make it Frankenstein.

Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Horton Hears a Who

Average customer rating:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
HIS MEANNESS IN GLORIOUS GREENESS
Dr. Seuss's Original...
Still the Best!
Great flick

Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Horton Hears a Who
Starring: June Foray , Boris Karloff , and Thurl Ravenscroft
Director: Ben Washam
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

3-6 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

7-9 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

10-12 Years | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Adapted from Books | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

Holidays | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Original Television Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer / Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town / Frosty the Snowman / Frosty Returns / The Little Drummer Boy)
Peanuts Holiday Collection (A Charlie Brown Christmas/A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving/It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown)
The Year Without a Santa Claus / Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey / Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Miracle on 34th Street (Special Edition)

ASIN: B00004VVP9
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Amazon.com essential video

This all-time classic now has Horton Hears a Who! on the same video for a great double bill.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas
To heck with the kids--this is one of the best holiday presents you can give yourself. Adapted from the children's book by Dr. Seuss, this charming story is one to watch every holiday season. It is just edgy enough to help you forget the more cloying aspects of Christmas, yet it is also sweet enough to remind you of the reason for all that holiday cheer. Animation genius Chuck Jones directed this 1966 television production featuring the voice of Boris Karloff as the mean greenie. Bitter and selfish, the Grinch decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos, the sweet little folk who live at the bottom of his mountain home. When little Cindy Loo Who returns his hateful act with kindness, she melts the old miser's heart. There are many reasons to watch this: inventive wordplay, Karloff's impressive narration, and a very memorable soundtrack. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Horton Hears a Who!
Chuck Jones was chief animator on this lively adaptation of the famous book by Dr. Seuss. The story of a friendly elephant named Horton who discovers--deep inside a daisy--a tiny city called Whoville with tiny, intelligent residents--this film (fleshed out a bit from the source) is strong on character and has striking, appealing visuals. The little folks of Whoville, with their natural air of aristocracy, are a kick, and when they come to see Horton as a hero for his democratic view of all life big and small, the effect is quite touching. This should be a real treat for kids already familiar with the book, and just might inspire those who haven't read it to pick it up. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

With the talents of Chuck Jones, Boris Karloff, and Dr. Seuss combined, there was almost no way this could be anything but an instant classic. Watched regularly every holiday season and beloved by children and cynical adults alike, this animated gem is ju

Customer Reviews:

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!.......2007-05-13

HIS MEANNESS IN GLORIOUS GREENESS.......2007-05-06

Dr. Seuss's Original..........2007-04-22

Still the Best!.......2007-04-17

Great flick.......2007-03-17

Average customer rating:

There's a light, over at the Franken... er Femm ... place
The Old Dark House
It really was a dark and stormy night...
Great Classic
Confusion is Creepy

The Old Dark House
Starring: Boris Karloff , Melvyn Douglas , Charles Laughton , Lilian Bond , and Ernest Thesiger
Director: James Whale
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

The Ghoul
The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)
Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection (Doctor X / The Return of Doctor X / Mad Love / The Devil Doll / Mark of the Vampire / The Mask of Fu Manchu)
Frankenstein - The Legacy Collection (Frankenstein / Bride of / Son of / Ghost of / House of)
Icons of Horror - Boris Karloff (The Boogie Man Will Get You/The Black Room/The Man They Could Not Hang/Before I Hang) [Region 99]

ASIN: B00000ILEU
Release Date: 2003-09-02

Description

A dark, gothic, one-of-a-kind macabre comedy. Directed by James Whale, subject of the acclaimed "Gods and Monsters," "The Old Dark House" tells the story of three weary travelers who find shelter in a mysterious Welsh manor, soon find themselves in the unwelcoming company of the psychotic Femm family--and never will they be the same!

Customer Reviews:

There's a light, over at the Franken... er Femm ... place.......2007-06-23

I only noticed it mentioned by one of the earlier reviews but it immediately struck me that this must have had a strong influence on Rocky Horror Picture Show. Even some of the dialog had me finishing it in my head with the Rocky Horror version. ("There's a light ...", "Madness ... takes its toll"). You can almost hear the RHPS music (over the storm). It even has a little bit of "gender bending" -- not to be confused with homosexuality as one reviewer does. But the film soon casts its own spell and you're hooked on its terms. Have a potato! And some gin! Enjoy the ride.

In any case -- this is a minor masterpiece with some great performances. The Femm family are especially good and Charles Laughton is notable for what I think is his first Hollywood role.

Like many of the "strangers stranded in a spooky house" movies (of which this must have been one of the first) it is filmed almost as if it were a stage play, giving it much of its considerable charm. The cinematography and lighting are pure "Universal Horror". This film was a trend-setter. Anything it didn't actually originate it certainly made its own.

And the title of the film is perfect!

P.S. Why not five stars? Need to leave a little room for Bride of Frankenstein!

The Old Dark House.......2007-06-21

One of Whale's most indispensable horror films, "House" marries dark wit with bizarre, wonderfully eerie scenarios involving the three Femm children: addled atheist Horace Femm (Ernest Thesiger), his fanatically Christian sister Rebecca (Eva Moore), and older brother Saul (Brember Wills), a pyromaniac kept under lock and key--usually. Karloff, in his first big role, is memorably ghoulish as a gin-swilling servant, but Thesiger and Moore play the demented siblings to sinister effect. Inspired camerawork, spooky lighting, and brilliant ensemble acting from the whole cast put a sardonic twist on this sublime tale of gothic lunacy.

It really was a dark and stormy night..........2007-02-05

Any film that starts with the visual version of "It was a dark and stormy night" might otherwise be regarded with suspicion but not in the hands of director James Whale. Is it worth checking out? Absolutely as this is one of Whale's masterpieces using humor, some creepy imagery and a great cast (Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas, Raymond Massey, Gloria Stuart, Charles Laughton, Ernest Thesinger and other notable stage vets) to create a moody chiller with humor.

The extras include a thoughtful trivia filled commentary Gloria Stuart and a second commentary by Whale bigorapher and film historian James Curtis. Curtis Harrington provides a detailed introduction of how he became involved in saving the film, meeting Whale, etc. The video quality of this portion is so-so. The transfer of the film looks solid although it could use more digital cleaning up (like the recently reissued editions of "Frankenstein" and "Dracula"). Although the film appears a bit unsteady in the beginning, it improves. I personally thought the contrast could have been improved a bit as well. Audio sounds good but the volume is a bit low and probably could stand a bit cleaning up to get rid of some hiss and popping.

The follow up to Whale and his star Boris Karloff's "Frankenstein", this witty, cynical horror film is well adapted by writer Ben Levy. Thought lost for years (the original film has been out of circulation for at least 44 years when William Castle made his weak remake), director Curtis Harrington found a copy of the film from which this version is drawn.
The film was almost lost when Universal sold the rights to Columbia in 1963. Luckily director Curtis Harrington (who befriended director Whale late in life)while working at Universal asked to have the negative pulled and duplicated. Otherwise the film would be lost as the firs reel of this classic was in pretty bad shape.

Overall this is a pretty good reissue of a classic Whale film that has been out of circulation for too long. It's a classic right up there with Whale's "Waterloo Bridge", "The Bride of Frankenstein", The Invisible Man" and "Frankenstein" although closer in tone to "Bride" and "Invisible" than his straight horror films.

Great Classic.......2006-11-10

A great classic worth every penny. A bit dated but that makes it even better. From the director who brought you such classics as Frankenstein with Karloff and The Invisible Man with Claude Rains. They just don't make movies like this anymore. Highly recommended.

Confusion is Creepy.......2006-07-16

Old Dark House is an early thriller which draws audiences probably because of Boris Karloff's name but which has a great cast. The story goes that several people (including Melvyn Douglas, Gloria Stuart, and Charles Laughton) are driving around in the rain getting more and more lost as time goes by and risking more and more danger as they drive on the muddy ground. They stumble upon an old house with lights in the windows and venture in only to find a very strange family inside. There is a creepy butler (Karloff) who cannot speak except to mutter gibberish, a fanatically religious old woman, and a timid older man. The visitors begin to notice strange things in the house and become more and more frightened when they learn that the circumstances of the night are making the muddy muck outside a bit safer than staying cooped up inside.

The quality of the print I saw was less than great, but it was a cheap bootleg. I would assume that Kino's release has a much better print.

The film is greatly suspenseful because of how confusing it is. We never know, nor do the guests of the house, who is crazy and evil and who is good, so one is constantly on edge.

The cast is very good. Stuart is absolutely gorgeous in her slinky evening gown. Laughton is decent, though he does not have enough screen time to really shine like he normally does. It is Douglas who gets the greatest recognition, aside from the creepy Karloff. Douglas is heroic and lovable, a role normally designated to a co-star in his films. He takes on the leading man position very well.

The Boris Karloff Collection (Tower of London / The Black Castle / The Climax / The Strange Door / Night Key)

Average customer rating:

Karloff's other great films.
Where's Boris?
Karloff fan not disappointed
Good set with a great actor
A Winner, But No Cigar.

The Boris Karloff Collection (Tower of London / The Black Castle / The Climax / The Strange Door / Night Key)
Starring: Charles Laughton , Boris Karloff , Sally Forrest , Richard Wyler , and William Cottrell (II)
Director: Joseph Pevney , George Waggner , and Nathan Juran
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000FWHW8Q
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Amazon.com

The gaunt face, the large eyes and elegant hands, the rich voice with a touch of menace (and more than a touch of lisp): Boris Karloff had the tools of a genuine movie star. He also had a deeply sensitive understanding of flawed creatures, which made his best roles--including the Frankenstein monster and the Mummy--weirdly sympathetic. His profitable employment in those Universal monster movies is filled out with the release of The Boris Karloff Collection, a grouping of non-classics from his Universal jobs.

These are the kind of movies that would show up with great promise on your local "Nightmare Theater" or "Creature Feature" late-show slot: Hey, Boris Karloff in something called Tower of London? Sounds scary! And you'd watch in bewilderment as the film would turn out to be a historical drama with a few grisly touches. Universal perpetuates this misunderstanding with this DVD release, which declares "The Master of Horror in His Most Frightening Roles!" Which is quite a stretch. (Some of Karloff's best horror stuff is on the Bela Lugosi Collection, a superior DVD package.)

Still, for fans, there's much to enjoy here. Tower of London is a thoroughly entertaining tale of Richard III's bloody rise to power, with Basil Rathbone as Richard and Karloff as his bald, beetle-browed executioner (definitely one of Boris's best looks). Two early-1950s films are great fun: The Strange Door has Charles Laughton doing one of his modern-Nero roles as a perverse nobleman with a really cool torture dungeon (Karloff is his servant), and The Black Castle lays on the wolf howls and creaking doors in a tale of revenge. Juicy performances by Richard Greene and Stephen McNally gives this oomph, even if Karloff and Lon Chaney Jr., are peripheral. McNally's castle is equipped with an excellent secret room with swarming alligators.

Night Key (1937) isn't horror, but a perfectly OK B-movie about inventor Karloff and his revenge on the businessman who stole his electrically charged idea. 1944's The Climax was made to capitalize on the lavish sets Universal made for The Phantom of the Opera, and director George Waggner (The Wolf Man) seems far too enamored of costumes and arias. Even when it's dull, which is frequently, the film has gorgeous Technicolor to look at, and Karloff is suitably obsessed as a doctor messing with a promising soprano. In short, the DVD set may disappoint the unwary, but Karloff devotees will enjoy the icon, and the occasional alligator pit. --Robert Horton

Product Description

Includes:

Night Key

Tower Of London

The Climax

The Strange Door

The Black Castle

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Karloff's other great films. .......2007-02-21

Best known for Frankenstein and The Mummy plus several notable films with Bela Lugosi this collection features five classic forgotten gems.
Tower of London is a big budget historical epic with Karlof as the kings brutal exicutioner.Notable also for an early Vincent Price cameo!
Night Key is a crime drama as Karloff plays an inventor of a security system kidnapped to aid gansters on a series of robberies.
The Climax was originally to be a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera but the idea was changed, although it features several Phantom cast members.Karloff is a doctor obsessed by a young singer who's voice resembles his dead lovers.
Based on a R.L.Stevenson story The Strange Door features Charles Laughton co-starring as an evil nobleman who's prisoners have only Karloff as his servent to help them escape.
The Black Castle is a similar film to The Strange Door only this time Karloff is a doctor who uses drugs to help young captured lovers escape.
Each film is unique and worth investigation as many are lost classics.The only fault is the extras, a couple of trailers is all there is.A documentery on his long and varied career would have good.A nice addition to the Lugosi collection in the same series.

Where's Boris?.......2007-01-27

The only reason I knocked off a star is, I was disappointed that in a couple of the movies, Boris is hardly in them. It is really stretching to include them as a collection of his movies. Other than that, the quality is first rate. And I was glad they gave us three discs, instead of one double-sided one, like they have done in the past. I don't know if Universal didn't have more in their library to choose from, but it is painfully obvious in The Black Castle, that Boris and Lon are just making cameos to try market it as a horror movie.