Reviews (10)

Mr Wong returns
Get this set if you are a fan of Mr Wong! IMHO the series got better as it went on. Mr Wong Detective is the first entry in the series and it's enjoyable, but I thought things got even better after that one. I enjoyed each entry. Karloff is fantastic in the first five films. The sixth entry in the series stars Keye Luke who plays a younger version of the character. I loved that idea! Luke is wonderful. Some claim that Luke's entry doesn't fit the series, but that's not so. It's flashback to the first case Wong and Street ever worked on. That idea really made for great viewing. Grant Withers may not look younger as Street, but he is the perfect man for that role. The younger Wong really brings out the best in him. This is a great set for Wong fans. All six Mr Wong movies are a delight.

Excellent-Should appeal to all Charlie Chan fans.
This is an excellent set of six movies made in the late 30's and early 40's starring Karloff as detective Mr. Wong (except in the last movie which stars Keye Luke as Mr. Wong). The first movie was actually remade as the Charlie Chan film "Docks of New Orleans". The quiality is very good and I would recommend this series to any Charlie Chan or Mr. Moto fan. Very entertaining.

OVERPRICED
This set is good, but not worth what Amazon is charging. At the Big O I paid a quarter of this price. In fact, all the Roan titles the Big O carries are at a significant discount from Amazon.

Exciting
It's exciting to have the entire Mr. Wong series on one DVD. They're all very good movies.

Boris Karloff, although not convincing as a Chinese detective, is a graceful performer as always. The real star of 3 of the movies is Marjorie Reynolds as reporter Roberta Logan. She shows style and great wit. She was known later as the wife in the television series The Life of Riley. Keye Luke in the 6th and last film as Mr. Wong is a great treat, as well.

If you're a fan of the old detective movies such as Charlie Chan and Mr. Moto, these are knock-off versions, but entertaining in their own right. I highly recommend this DVD set.

There is really only one 1930s Chinese Detective
20th Century Fox's Charlie Chan series was a gold mine for the studio, which produced dozens of films starring first Warner Oland and then Sidney Toler as the Hawaiian-based but globe-trotting Chinese detective. Extremely popular throughout the 1930s and well into the 1940s, the Chan series spawned two imitators: Mr. Moto, starring Peter Lorre, and Mr. Wong, starring Boris Karloff. Neither series had the staying power of Chan, and after a few films both were discontinued, faded into obscurity, and were soon forgotten.

Only a small number of Chan films and one Mr. Moto film--all on VHS--are available to the home market today. But this double DVD collects all six of the Mr. Wong films, and presents them in near-pristine condition: there are occasional scratches, blips, and one or two breaks in the films, but for the most part these transfers are as good as they get, and although not as sharp as the visuals the sound quality is quite good too. The entertainment value of the individual films, however, varies a great deal from title to title. The best of the collection are the first two titles, MR. WONG DETECTIVE and THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG; the third title, MR. WONG IN CHINATOWN, is also quite good. But the second disk titles are increasingly uninteresting--and PHANTOM OF CHINATOWN can scarcely be called a Mr. Wong film at all, for the film (which is arguably the least interesting in the series) features Keye Luke instead of Boris Karloff in the title role.

Like the Charlie Chan series, Mr. Wong films have several disabilities. From a modern standpoint, the idea of a white European or American using stereotypes and heavy make-up to play an Asian might be considered distasteful by some--but in defense of this I note that such was standard practice at the time, and the stereotypes involved are never mean spirited and the detective is always shown in a positive light. The films are also cheaply made, the direction is at best so-so, and the cinematography extremely static. But for the most part, the Chan films generally manage to rise above these issues; they are essentially "B" movies that attain an "A" level through a clever mixture of mystery, comedy, expert performances from the entire cast, witty scripts, and a rapid pace. The Mr. Wong films, however, are "B" movies that stay "B" movies. Boris Karloff is extremely entertaining as Mr. Wong, but the plots (even in comparison with Chan, which was no paragon on this point) are extremely transparent and gimmicky, there is little humor, the supporting casts are weak, and the scripts are ho-hum. And they run at a much slower pace.

Although the quality transfers are to be applauded, the entertainment value of the films are such that I consider the set over priced. I myself have enjoyed them quite a bit, but I suspect the Mr. Wong collection will appeal almost exclusively to film buffs and fans of Karloff and 1930s B mysteries--most casual viewers are likely to be disappointed. Recommended, but to serious collectors of the genre only. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Two Great Horror Spoofs
This DVD contains two movies with similar casts and similar black humor.

In Comedy Of Terrors, Vincent Price, Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone team up in a tragi-comedy of an undertaker who decides to increase business through murder. Many wonderful scenes and plenty of Shakespearian references (not just the title), my favorite being Karloff enacting the poison scene from Romeo and Juliet with Price. Well done.

In the Raven, Price, Karloff and Lorre are joined by Jack Nicholson. The film opens with Price reading a tome of forgotten lore when there is a rapping at his chamber door. The rapping is a raven at the window. It enters and lands on a bust. Price asks it if he shall ever again see Lenore (his dead wife) and the raven responds, "How the hell should I know!" And thus the tone is set.

Price is a wizard and must confront an evil wizard (Karloff) which, after many plot turns, results in one of the finest magic battles ever filmed.

Dark comedy and excellent acting abound in both of these films. A wonderful disk.

You'll scream... with laughter!!
THE RAVEN (USA 1963): During the 15th century, an evil sorceror (Boris Karloff) lures his arch rival (Vincent Price) to a lonely castle where they fight a magical duel to the death...

Handsomely mounted on some of the most lavish sets ever created for AIP's Poe series, THE RAVEN toplines Price, Karloff and Peter Lorre for the first time in their careers, alongside a very young Jack Nicholson (making the most of a juvenile supporting role). Richard Matheson's clever script turns the faux seriousness of earlier Poe pictures on its head, countering Price's overwrought histrionics with a series of rude rejoinders from Lorre, who relishes his role as a cowardly magician whose divided loyalties place everyone around him in danger. The movie's visual impact is inevitably diminished on TV, but Price and Karloff are worthy adversaries, and their climactic duel is one of the most celebrated set-pieces in horror movie history, despite some fairly obvious trick-work. Floyd Crosby's expansive cinematography and Daniel Haller's 'olde worlde' set designs conspire to render a suitably Gothic atmosphere, though the movie derives most of its strength from the quality of its dialogue and performances. Directed by Roger Corman.

THE COMEDY OF TERRORS (USA 1963): The proprietor of a debt-ridden funeral parlor (Price) seeks to drum up a little business by resorting to murder, but one of his 'victims' (Basil Rathbone) turns out to be cataleptic and refuses to lie down and die...

Eager to re-team their 'triumverate of terror' following the unexpected commercial success of THE RAVEN, AIP assembled Price, Lorre and Karloff for this second helping of macabre black comedy, adding Rathbone to an already potent brew and hiring much of the same creative personnel behind the camera, including Crosby and future director Haller (THE DUNWICH HORROR). In fact, Rathbone - who must have been insulted by his 'also starring' credit way down the cast list (behind even fleeting guest star Joe E. Brown and 'Rhubarb' the cat!) in the opening titles - steals the picture from his high-profile co-stars, playing the dotty, Shakespeare-spouting owner of Price's funeral parlor whose verbal gymnastics alone are worth the price of admission (he warns Price and his cohorts they "face the incommodious prospect of taking up residence in the street" if they don't pay their hefty rent arrears!). In fact, Richard Matheson's tongue-in-cheek script is a marvel of wordplay, though the comedy is fairly bleak in places: Price plays a sarcastic, bad-tempered drunk who lords it over his hapless assistant (Lorre) and treats his untalented, opera-loving wife (Joyce Jameson) with open contempt, whilst also relishing the various murders he's committed over the years in order to sustain his fortunes. Karloff sits on the sidelines for the most part, consigned to a chair due to ill health, but he makes the most of what he's given, and he plays a crucial role in the climactic sequence, which closes proceedings on a note of pitch black humor. Fans of lowbrow comedy will be especially amused by the devastation wrought whenever Jameson launches into one of her operatic arias! An ultra-professional production team - under the direction of Val Lewton protege Jacques Tourneur - performs minor miracles on a clearly impoverished budget, and Crosby's gleaming cinematography makes a virtue of Haller's minimalist production design. Watch out for Rathbone's scene-stealing catch-phrase: "What place... is this?!"

The movies are placed on either side of MGM's double-sided DVD, a region 1 release. Both were filmed in widescreen Panavision, and they're letterboxed at approx. 2.35:1 (anamorphically enhanced), which will be a revelation to anyone who's only ever seen the pan-scan TV versions. However, there appears to be some evidence of cropping on both films, with tops of heads constantly cut off by the upper matte, and a disclaimer on the packaging also suggests THE RAVEN has been 'musically edited', though this appears to be untrue (MGM has made similar claims on several other discs which have been completely intact, such as DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN). However, part of THE RAVEN's soundtrack is muffled by an audible hissing sound, beginning about fifteen minutes into the picture and lasting for some time afterward. Also, THE COMEDY OF TERRORS has lost a crucial shot at 49:17 - accidentally omitted during the DVD mastering process - which spoils the climax of a gag involving Price, Lorre and the indignant occupant of a coffin! Sound format on both movies is 2.0 mono, and English captions and subtitles have been provided. Extras include brief interviews with Matheson and Corman (both of which go a long way toward explaining some of the artistic decisions which made these films what they are), lighthearted trailers, and a promotional recording - originally issued on vinyl - for THE RAVEN, featuring fresh material recorded by Lorre and Karloff. THE COMEDY OF TERRORS runs 82m 41s on disc, and THE RAVEN runs 85m 43s, not including the MGM logos which open and close the video prints and weren't part of the original films.

A pair of Richard Matheson written comedy thrillers
Director Roger Corman figured that the Poe adaptations he had been making at American International starting with "House of Usher" had pretty much run its course, so in a final masterstroke he decided to start playing up the humor. The result might be more like "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" than "The Pit and the Pendulum," but you have to admit "The Raven" is one of the best comedy-thrillers ever made. Even though Corman did not do "The Comedy of Terrors," it is a fitting counterpart to "The Raven" because not only do you have the same veteran horror actors in both films, but because writer Richard Matheson wrote both scripts. Matheson wrote the best of the AI films and deserves to be considered one of the best scripters of horror films of all time.

"The Comedy of Terrors" has a very simple premise. Vincent Price plays Waldo Trumbull, an undertaker who has not been getting any business so he decides to make some for himself by bumping off rich people. Also along for the fun are Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, and Basil Rathbone, who tend to throw in a lot of Shakespeare quotes in the proceedings (Matheson wrote the whole script in blank verse). Lorre is Price's assistant and Karloff plays the senile father of Price's wife (Joyce Jameson). Joe E. Brown shows up to play the cemetery keeper as well (anybody remember when he played Shakespeare in 1935's "A Midsummer Night's Dream"?).

The film, also known as "The Graveyard Story," is directed by Jacques Tourneur, who first made a name for himself with "Cat People" when he headed the horror unit at RKO. Still, many viewers will be surprised that this was not a Corman film and, indeed, he seems to be the only one of the usual cast of suspects not involved in the film. The end result is pretty funny, especially when the boys are trying to keep Rathbone's "MacBeth" quoting John F. Black in his coffin. Some people will be grossly offended by these comic hijinxs, but those people should already know that going in and can just avoid this DVD.

"The Raven" begins "straight" with Dr. Erasmus Craven (Vincent Price) intoning Poe's poem, to an actual raven. But then the raven responds on cue...with Peter Lorre's voice! It turns out the raven is really another magician, Dr. Bedlo, who has been victimized by Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff). Craven turns Bedlo back into a human, and Bedlo agrees to help Craven find his beloved Lenore (Hazel Court). Going along on the journey are Craven's daughter (Olive Sturgess) and Bedlo's son (Jack Nicholson--this explains a lot, huh?). The film's climax is an epic magical duel between Price and Karloff (why even bother with the characters' names anymore?), where the two sorcerers keep trying to top each other.

Ultimately the credit for this one goes mainly to the script from Matheson. This is another one of those early films with Nicholson that must have been a great source of embarrassment to him once upon a time, but Price, Karloff and Lorre are having so much fun hamming it up in this one that you have little choice but to enjoy the indignities heaped upon the future Oscar winner. This 1963 film, which came out a year before "The Comedy of Terrors," should not be confused with the film with the same name Karloff made in 1935, although they would certainly make a rather obvious double-bill for a Saturday night.

Horror veterans show their campy style!
I once knew an undertaker, and he was the funniest guy (he said his way of handling the pressures of the job was through humour). Maybe the same can be said of actors playing undertakers. In this case some of the horror legends, getting a chance to step out of their usual persona and campy their way through riotous fun. This movie had such a powerhouse of talent, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, and Boris Karloff, each a true film legend, but also with horror great director Jacques Tourneur and screenplay from Richard Matheson. They gang together to make one of the funniest tales.

Price is Waldo Trumbull, husband to buxom Amaryllis (Joyce Jameson) and son-in-law to Amos Hinchley (Karloff). Waldo married Amaryllis to get his hands on the family undertaking business - but business has been pretty thin. The owner of the building John F. Black (Rathbone) is planning on evicting him. So Waldo decides to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak - do in Rathbone and collect for his funeral. Only, the Shakespeare quoting, cataleptic Rathbone is not so easily killed. Father in-law is losing it, and Waldo goes around trying to get him to take his "medicine" which is poison. Lorre is Felix Gillie, Waldo's sidekick - and Waldo the grouch really takes the term too literal. Poor Felix is really in love with Amaryllis, who wanted to be an opera singer (maybe in another life?) but married Waldo. Waldo cannot stand her singing, but then no one except Felix likes her singing.

It is great to see the Horror Legends having such great fun. Toss in Joe E. Brown as the graveyard attendant and one nutty cat, it is a black comedy at it's best.

Karloff eulogy is a howl!

A must for any fan of these great actors!

_________________________

The second romp has Karloff and Price playing rival wizards that are headed for a showdown. Directed by horror quickie Roger Corman and once again scripted by Richard Matheson, it is a riot as the two wizards play a game of one upmanship. This film was so funny, because Price and Corman had been working their way through Poe's tales, so it was great to see one done with tongue firmly through cheek. What for a very young Jack Nicholson in the cast.

A great double feature!

PRICE IS RIGHT
Vincent Price is one of the most underappreciated actors of our time. The late horror superstar used his wonderful voice, his chameleonic face, and fluid body movements to grace so many of our favorite "thrillers." As many fans of Carol Burnett remember, Price is also a wonderful comedic actor and in "Comedy of Terrors", he is marvelous. Joining him are the equally excellent Peter Lorre, Basil Rathbone, and Boris Karloff. This movie seems to have been made with such love and affection for the genre they were spoofing. The inimitable Richard Matheson wrote the great script; "Curse of the Demon's" Jacque Tourneur directs superbly. Long before AIRPLANE, NAKED GUN and SCARY MOVIE started spoofing and cracking our funny bones, this movie set a standard for that physical "punny" comedy. Joyce Jameson is wonderful as the buxom opera wannabe Amaryllis, and her singing scenes are priceless. (No pun intended). Lorre plays against type as the hero and his scenes with Jameson are just perfect. My favorite line: "ooo..what did you step in?" and of course, when Lorre complains about Jameson singing "He is not dead but sleeping" at the funeral of the catileptic Rathbone. A minor gem, and well worth viewing again and again. ( I didn't get this as a dual package, so I'll save Raven for later!) ... Read more

Reviews (99)

A Christmas classic...
Over the past few days, I've gotten into the Christmas spirit (already; as of this review, it's only mid-November), so I figured I'd review one of my favorite holiday memories now available on DVD.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is undeniably my favorite animated Christmas special. A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph and Frosty are great, of course, but the Grinch is the cream of the crop. Wonderful narration by Boris Karloff, immaculate animation and that special "Christmas vibe" you get when you're watching or listening to something really special; what's not to like? This is an essential piece of holiday history for your collection.

There's nothing I can really say to make you buy this disc; you've seen it by now and chances are, unless you're the Grinch himself, you absolutely adore it. What I can say is that this particular DVD makes an already perfect Christmas special even better. Not only do you get a few wonderful features that deal with the making of the the Grinch and a few fun games for the kids, but also "Horton Hears a Who," another wonderful cartoon made by animation genius, Chuck Jones.

The review written by Amazon.com summed it up perfectly with just one sentence - this is one of the best Christmas gifts you can get for YOURSELF.

You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch !
Since I was 12 years old I have looked forward to seeing the annual telecast of How the Grinch Stole Christmas on tv. Now that I own the video I have watched this ageless animated classic so many times I've had to replace the video twice ! The main character is the Grinch - he's lean and green and OH SO MEAN ! But he has a charm all his own and he decides to steal Christmas away from the sweet little folks in Whoville so he won't have to tolerate their singing and happiness. He steals their trees and toys and decorations -- even their Who Roast Beast and the last can of Who Hash ! But still the spunky little Who folk celebrate Christmas by holding hands and singing joyfully. I get a lump in my throat EVERY time the moment comes where the Grinch realizes he HASN'T stolen Christmas after all. Christmas is a season of the heart -- you can't buy it in a store or hang it on a tree. Buy the video and share this wonderful classic with anyone from age 2 to 92 ! I guarantee they will love it. I am 43 years old and I plan to watch it again when I go home from work today. Just writing this review makes me want to enjoy the video all over again !

And all the viewers cried "boo who who who"....
Everything you read is true! This Grinch is yellow and drab. The disk lacks the wonderful bright colors that everyone has a right to expect when buying the DVD version of a TV special they could see every year for free. Not that there is anything wrong with original--it's fabulous, 5-stars as far as Christmas specials go. But this version is thoroughly ruined by bad mastering. Wait for the re-release. Don't get caught! The correction is probably on its way and you can be sure they won't sneak it out--it will have new packaging, probably some new extras, and be clearly marked "remastered".

If you own the DVD and have your doubts (some reviewers seem to), try this: Take a look at the documentary extra hosted by Troy McClure. Throughout the documentary, they run clips of the Grinch in the background where the color is RIGHT! A beautiful bright-green Grinch--just like you remember. Compare that to the main feature (the thing you actually paid for), where he is washed out and nearly yellow.

After living 15 years in Denmark I really came to miss some of the Christmas specials from my youth in the USA. I suppose anybody in the US with cable gets quite sick of these, but for me, the Grinch and Charlie Brown's Christmas were always an important part of building the Christmas spirit. Well, the spirit here seems to be all about greed and incompetence; sell the defective version this year, then sell the corrected version to the same people next year.

A CLASSIC CLASSIC!
This is just one of the great holiday classics from the sixties. A true holiday treat that never goes out of style. Also a true classic treat from the seventies "Horton hears a who". A must for any collector. The air dates for the Grinch from the sixties are as follow.
CBS 7:00 - 7:30 Sunday 12/18/66
CBS 7:00 - 7:30 Sunday 12/17/67
CBS 7:00 - 7:30 Sunday 12/22/68
CBS 7:30 - 8:00 Sunday 12/21/69
Buy it, a Christmas treat for always.

As Dour as You Want to Be
One of Christmas specials' enduring images is Max the dog, done up like a reindeer trudging up the mountain hauling the enormous bag of presents and trees. After not having seen this in quite some time, and not since Jim Carrey's version, it was great to return to one of Chuck Jones' masterpieces. As the marvelous Boris Karloff narrates, the Grinch comes to life reminding us that he was considerably more dour initially than the wild barely contained slapstick Carrey brought to the table. The famous Grinch song moves us slowly along like a black sludge as the Grinch endeavors to steal the commercial trappings of Christmas from the Who village. In the end, of course, good triumphs and the Grinch repents his ways and gets the picture of the holidays as a 'feeling' rather than material things. Still holds up well after all these years as it gets introduced to every new generation. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

The Original "Monsters Inc."
If you grew up on "The Munsters", "The Addams Family", old MAD magazines, and "Monster Mash", don't miss "Mad Monster Party", a great and goofy animated monster spoof from the late '60s. I never heard of it until recently, but this is good stuff and quite sophisticated for its day. Rankin/Bass, known for their many holiday-season shows ("Rudolph", "Frosty The Snowman"), pulled out the stops here with their animatronic horror-movie characters. MAD regulars Jack Davis (artist) and Harvey Kurtzman (writer) were involved. So were Boris Karloff as Dr. Frankenstein, and Phyllis Diller as- well- Phyllis Diller in a Bride-of-Frankenstein cape! Trust me, it works. This is "Monsters Inc." three decades early, complete with cool Henry Mancini-ish monster-movie jazz and classic movie-monster caricatures. The unsung hero is Allen Swift, one of the best voice-over guys of the '60s and a fantastic Hollywood-legends impressionist. Allen does all the male voices except Karloff: Jimmy Stewart (for Felix, "Uncle Boris"' nephew), Bela Lugosi (for Dracula), Alec Guinness (for Dr. Jekyll), and an absolutely fantastic Peter Lorre (as "Yetch", Frankenstein's leering butler). All this and King Kong too! I think this might have gone right over the heads of kiddie-show audiences in the '60s, making it a cult item now. But I read that this was Tim Burton's favorite movie before he did "Batman" and other neo-monster hits.
Me? I'm not sure whether I want to follow up with the original
"Bride of Frankenstein", "Young Frankenstein", or go find "The Maltese Falcon" to see the real Peter Lorre! Anyway, if an animated movie from the '60s wakes up all kinds of memories for a big kid of 47, it's worth a look. "Mad Monster Party": it's the real "Monster Mash"!

A MONSTER MASH
This is a much sought after title by horror fans who grew up with the UNIVERSAL CLASSICS in the 60s & 70s. No FREDDY, JASON or MICHAEL here just good clean fun. TNT used to show this until there copy was stolen from there video archives & the film hasn't been seen on TV in several years. The movie is a RANKIN/BASS production (famous for their CHRISTMAS movies) from 1968, with monster designs by top "MAD MAGAZINE" artist JACK HARRIS. Originally BORIS KARLOFF was not to play himself but after he saw clips from the film he joined the team of creative talent behind the first true HALLOWEEN (""Animagic") cartoon. It's a classic tale of suspense, love & skullduggery with a lot of cornieness thrown in to boot. Hey it was made in the 60s! The plot involves DR. FRANKENSTEIN (who it just so happens has recently created the most deadly chemical compound to date) planning his retirement party. He along with his beautiful assistant FRANCHESSCA invite all the old gang (the old gang just so happens to be all the CLASSIC UNIVERSAL MONSTERS) to his island retreat in the middle of nowhere & also his normal human(?) nephew FELIX gets an invitation. FELIX of course has no clue what his UNCLE does nor who he keeps company with. The quirks of his shipmates goes completly unnoticed by him as he bumps into them one by one on the journey to DR. FRANKENSTEIN's castle. All goes well until DR. FRANKENSTEIN reveals who he's going to entrust his duties to upon his retirement. What ensues is a murder attempt on the unsuspecting heir by those that feel they should recieve DR. FRANKENSTEIN's duties. PHYLLIS DILLER gives a top notch-over the top performance as THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN as only she is capable of. DRACULA, THE WOLFMAN, THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, FRANKENSTEIN, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, A ROCKIN' SKELETON BAND, KING KONG (oddly enough refered to as IT...maybe to keep him a surprise or possibly avoid copyright infringment), ZOMBIES, DR.JECKYLL & MR. HYDE & even a nod to PETER LORRE as portrayed by the love struck-head loosing butler YETCH this movie has it all! It even has a TWILIGHT ZONE ending & big explosions. The trip to the island, the party scene & the sleeping arrangements are classic scenes not to be missed.

LOST CHILDHOOD
I have mixed feelings about this movie. Like everyone else I remember seeing this as a kid, but I only saw the last 15 minutes. I was mezmerized by it and for some years always searched for it on TV. It was my white whale. I never did see it until I purchased this DVD.

The quality is terrific. The colors are vivid and the image is crystal clear. There are great extras, a thick booklet and some monster cards. This is a bargain. An absolute steal.

Having said all this I was sorta disappointed in the movie. The story is just O.K., but nothing special. After all these years I guess I just expected to be blown away or have it rekindle memories. I still give it 5 stars, but I did not find my childhood in it.

My advice is that if this movie was special to you when you were a kid either don't purchase or buy it knowing it will not be as good as you remember.

A Rollercoaster of Monster Proportions
I had never seen a model/puppet movie before in my life because at first I thought they were rubbish but when my parents came home one day they had bought me Mad Monster Party on video , when I saw the box I was quite intrigued and put it on straight away and DAMN THIS MOVIE IS AWESOME its got everything a monster buff wants its got EERIE MUSIC , COOL SCENERY , (...), WELL MADE PUPPETS AND SOME ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL MOMENTS LIKE FOR INSTANCE WHEN THE MONSTERS MATE TOLD 'FANG' WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO WHEN CAPTURED BY IT AND HE BURST INTO TEARS this movie may be too scary for young children so I recomend an older person watch it with them first time through You have got too see it too believe it

Those Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters!
Doctor Baron Von Frankenstein has discovered the secret to total destruction, and, after previously discovering the secret of life, he now feels it is time to retire as head of the Worldwide Organization of Monsters. But who will be his successor? The Baron keeps it a secret that he intends to bestow that honor on his nephew, pharmacist/soda jerk Felix Flankin. He soon invites all his Monster friends to his secluded island home for a Monster Convention, where he will reveal their new leader. Dracula, the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, the Creature, the Mummy, and plenty of others show up for the wild event, including the level-headed, young Mr. Flankin. All seems to be going well for the Baron, but little does he know that his trusted assistant, the lovely Miss Francesca, is conspiring against his wishes. She wants to be the one who inherits the Doctor's position, and all his secrets!

Mad Monster Party was one of Rankin/Bass's rare, theatrically released Animagic feature films. While it doesn't quite have the charm or timelessness of their better known productions, such as the sacred Rudolph and Frosty classic specials, Mad Monster Party is still an entertaining treat, especially for R&B fanatics and classic monster lovers. The film is often mistakenly regarded now as a Rankin/Bass Halloween Special that somehow got lost, along with all those other classic Halloween Specials, until recently. But while the film was not made as an annual TV treat, and has no mention of Halloween, it certainly could be enjoyed as such. The DVD is excellent, especially for the price, including some nice extras on and off the disc. As for the cast, Boris Karlof is outstanding as always, and so is everyone else. But, while I sometimes do enjoy Phyllis Diller, I have to admit that I found her performance as the Monster's Mate a wee bit annoying, especially when she bursts into song early on. Some of the songs are as good as the beloved Rankin/Bass Christmas fare, but a couple didn't sit quite well with me, and Diller's was one of them. Aside from that, it's all great Monster fun and I highly recommend it to those feeling nostalgic for R&B or some classic monster comedy! And if this one isn't enough for you, look for Rankin/Bass's Mad, Mad, Mad Monsters! Made a while later, and sort of a Mad Monster Party prequel, it tells the story of the Monster's wedding to his newly created Mate in traditional R&B animation. Currently it can be found only on VHS. ... Read more

Reviews (179)

The best of the "Chucky movies"
"Bride of Chucky" is in my opinion, the best of all the Chucky movies. Although it is not pure horror and suspense, Bride of Chucky still beats out the previous 3 Child's Play movies. The atmosphere is creepy and gothic, and there are a couple of gory death scenes. But the main appeal of this movie is its humor. I loved how Chucky and Tiffany played off each other.

I also thought that the music was perfect for this movie. Instead of using a creepy musical score, they used songs from Rob Zombie and other metal groups.

The features on the dvd were very good. The audio commentary with Jennifer Tilly (Tiffany), Brad Dourif (Chucky), and Don Mancini (the movie's writer) were both informative and funny.

I won't give the ending away, but let's just say that it was unexpected. It was gross and sick...but it was also a perfect ending that will lead to the next Chucky movie.

Jennifer Tilly bumps otherwise average movie up a big notch!
Although I am a horror fan I have never been a fan of the slasher genre and had never planned to see this movie, but I just happened to watch it by accident one night and was very pleasantly suprised.

What places this movie a cut above the usual moronic slasher flick is an OUTSTANDING performance by Jennifer Tilly as Chucky's "bride" Tiffany. I had never seen her in a starring role before, and the whole time she was on the screen I kept asking "Who IS this chick? She's great!!" and couldn't wait to look up her name in the closing credits. -- Definitely not the usual quality of acting you'd expect in this type of B-movie.

After she meets her demise and is transformed into a doll, the film becomes more predictable and gradually descends more to the level of your standard Chucky flick. The late great John Ritter's talents seem wasted here in a pretty cardboard role, and unfortunately the two teen leads are never more than the typical generic "kids in distress".

But director Ronny Yu does seem to have some notion of his film's place within the horror genre, and there's a wonderful and inspired nod to classic horror and "The Bride of Frankenstein" during Tiffany's transformation sequence. Nice little touches like this, and the fact that this movie does not take itself too seriously and often seems more like a parody of the slasher/Chucky genre, made it even more enjoyable for me.

I hear that Jennifer Tilly will also be involved in the sequel currently filming, "Child's Play 5: Seed of Chucky", which should make it interesting. But I actually wish they'd go back and do a PRE-quel to this movie, focusing on living woman Tiffany's life before bringing back Chucky. -- She is one deliciously twisted, mean and sexy momma!

This movie has not made me a Chucky fan, but it definitely has made a new fan of Jennifer Tilly out of me.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a fun, mindless and light movie just to waste a couple of hours on, this one isn't bad.

Stunningly BAD
This movie absolutely puts the rest of the CP series to absolute shame. It's just a slapstick movie with forced laughs and dry humor, and almost no horror. Gone is organization -- they threw in a plot involving an amulent, and Andy could be in hell for all we know. This movie really drops the CP series' quality and honestly, may be the worst movie I've ever seen. The plot is weak. The only plus is good acting, at least by Jesse (Stable) and Jade (Heigl). The movie isn't worth a buy; barely worth a rental.
I do give it credit for not having as many "bloopers" as the first three - editing's been done to the max. But there are a few that I won't mention. Still, the first three had plot holes. This movie technically, unforutnately, has no hole in the plot. It just introduces a new element, which is weak. I think they either could have left the CP then-trilogy alone, or just made something better. But I could see the CP idea getting lame anyway.
Leave it alone...

More funny
I like the Child's Play series and though I personally think the first one is the best, this one is good in its own way. Bride of Chucky has much more humour, a lot killings in more unique ways and an extra doll. If you like the Child's Play series, you will definitely enjoy this one but if you never liked the series, I doubt you will find anything enjoyable about this one.

Hardly a good movie but still a lot of fun to watch
Before Chucky turned killer doll, he had a girlfriend named Tiffany. In this movie Tiffany recovers the body of Chucky from a polive evidence locker. Chucky was pretty much torn to pieces in 3 so she sews him back together and uses the vodoo chant to bring his spirit back to the body. He returns just as evil as ever and horror/comedy takes up the rest of the movie.

This is not a good film. It is a horror movie that is so over the top on ridiculousness that it borders on comedy. I never thought I would see Chucky the killer doll, who I feared so much as a child, in a love scene. Seeing Tiffany the killer doll making cookies for Chucky while they're holding a couple hostage is quite amusing. The domestic dispute that develops between the dolls shortly after this is just hilarious.

This movie isn't for everyone. You'll enjoy this if you were a fan of Jason X, Freddy vs. Jason or the Evil Dead movies. If you have a dark sense of humor you'll probably love this movie. ... Read more

Description

Feature titles include:The Bride of Frankenstein, Frankenstein, The Ghost of Frankenstein, House of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein ... Read more

Reviews (112)

AFI top 100 film, Universal's Frankenstein is#1, now on DVD!
Universal Studios made its indelible mark in Hollywood due to its famous mastering of the Horror movie. In 1931 Universals "Frankenstein" changed the film world forever. Even today it remains a very basic classic horror movie. The American Film Institute (AFI) voted it into the top 100 films in the first 100 years of film (1998).

Universal gathered the movie genius' and embarked on adapting Mary Shelly's novel to the screen. James Whale was chosen as the director and the make-up master Jack Pierce to create the giant Frankenstein Monster (played by Boris Karloff).

NOTE: The movie actually had a opening caution film introduction because of its 1931 unspeakable subject matter. People were genuinely scared, horrified but curious to see this film.

Summary: The mad Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) & his hunchback Assistant Fritz (Dwight Frye) are robbing graves for bodys to construct a man to bring back to life. The Dr. still needs a brain to fullfill his inventory. Fritz steals a brain from the local medical school. Unfortunately the only one available is an abnormal one. The Dr. creates his monster being with the abnormal brain unknowingly. Through lightning storms, electrical shocks and unbelievable special effects brings the Monster to life! Now the horror is unleashed.

This is the first in Universal Studio's "Classic Monster Collection" DVD Series. This collection is the very best of their horror movies completely digitally remastered and uncensored. With lots of special features, photos and narratives. A must have DVD collection of classic Hollywood horror films.

It's Still Alive After All These Years
After repeated attempts of securing a Frankenstein, director James Whale hired a middle-aged character actor named William Henry Pratt (stage name: Boris Karloff) who had previously been limited to cameos, stand-ins, and predominantly small eccentric parts to play Frankenstein's monster. Karloff's restrictive age, massive obscurity, and absence of experience may have emerged as hindrances for this newly discovered personality. However, time and popular opinion has obliterated these fears into long lost paranoid hallucinations.

It is Boris Karloff's indisputably iconic and singularly haunting performance as the child-like brute, misunderstood and despised by all, whose only longing and desire is to be loved and cared for by others that continues to be one of cinema's timeless jewels of acting perfection, dramatic magnitude, and note-fully seamless pathos. Karloff's monster, like Anthony Perkin's Norman Bates or Robert De Norio's Travis Bickle, is one of cinema's fortunate accidents of how the exact casting of just the right perfect someone can unbelievably bolster the film. Karloff's casting as the inevitably sympathetic artificial concoction of a mad scientist with a deity complex turned out to be one of many grandiose happy accidents that has allowed this 70 year-old gothic horror film to continue to be copiously admired, internationally beloved, and enthusiastically cherished up to contemporary times.

Frankenstein retains numerous stellar elements including a magnificently captivating early sound ensemble cast including Edward Van Sloan (Doctor Waldman), Mae Clarke (Elizabeth), Frederick Kerr (Baron Frankenstein), Dwight Frye (Fritz), and the unforgettable Colin Clive, the archetypal mad scientist, (Henry Frankenstein), brilliantly provocative Frankenstein make-up by make-up genius Jack Pierce, manically splendid and cleverly articulated German Expressionistic sets ,that place this tale in an indescribable alternate Grimm Fairy Tale reminiscent landscape, James Whales immeasurably eloquent moral consolidation and inventively multi-faceted interpretation of Mary Shelly's tale, and forever crowned with one of cinema's most cunningly virtuoso and unredeemable bravura performances of inarticulate primal indignation and childish rage ever recorded on film by Karloff as the monster.

However due to it's age and Hollywood production values at the time, Frankenstein is not totally absent of problems: lacking of a musical score to countermarch the film's profuse talkativeness, predictably saddled with pedestrian and extremely dated comedic and romantic sub plots, and weakened by an awfully trite comedic conclusion. Despite these blemishes, Frankenstein consummately embodies the finest narrative qualities of the early Universal monster films, contains the simply greatest incarnation of Frakenstein's monster, and stubbornly remains both in ambiance and creative evocativeness the finest film version of the Mary Shelly story.

Talk about staying power!!!

As for Frankenstein's DVD format, it contains a uncannily pristine Pan and Scan
Standard presentation, intriguing Making-Of Documentary, Film Historian Rudy
Behlmer's audio commentary, original theatrical trailer, and much more.

Universally (pun intended) recommended to anyone interested in film classics,
the Universal Monster films, or films of the 1930's. Followed by James Whales
superior sequel The Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

P.S. Never Give Franky Flower Petals Near a Pond

Excellent
Being born in the 50's and enjoyin the classic Universal Horror Movies in the 60's was a great time for Horror Movies.
The Frankenstien DVD collection is excellent to say the least, especially seeing "House of Frankentstien" again, along with my other favorite, "Son of Frankenstien". It's real nice to see 5 Classic Horror Films on one DVD set. I would highly reccomend this to anyone who remembers the horror movies of the 50's and 60's, and to those who don't? go out and buy this DVD. It puts the new "slice 'em/dice 'em" movies to shame.

It's About Franken' Time!
Look, don't read this, just buy this thing before Universal realizes what they've done! They've opened their rusty old vault doors and let their most prized creations escape into open air! FRANKENSTEIN (dir.James Whale, w/ Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, Boris Karloff, Dwight Frye) is loose! His BRIDE (dir. James Whale again! w/ Colin Clive, Elsa Lanchester, Boris Karloff, Dwight Frye) too! Their hideous SON (Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Basil Rathbone, Lionel Atwill) is also rampaging! If that's not enough, the GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (Lon Chaney jr., Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Sir Cedric Hardwicke) now walks among us as well! Yes, this collection has them all, and tosses in the HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney jr., John Carradine, George Zucco, Lionel Atwill) that long overgrown piece of wretched real estate! Hurry, before Universal slams those creaky doors shut once more! If you're a horror nut like yours truly, then this is a nightmare come true! Highest recommendation...

Its alive! ITS ALIVE
What a great collection. I had Frankenstein and the Bride on VHS but getting them again on DVD was great. I have all three legacy collections. The Bride is the best, Frankenstein is the second best, Son is the third, House is the fourth and Ghost is the fifth. I like all five altough its obvious Ghost and House were made for entertainment. I heard they're working on a third Mummy movie. Wonder if they'll release the original Mummy series in a legacy set? I liked the Mummy movies and Van Helsing and I have to wonder what Stephen Sommers next project could be. The Invisible Man? That would be interesting. With his seris also in a legacy set? For now I'm satisfied though (but I hope that does happen) ... Read more

Reviews (112)

THE MOVIE THAT STARTED IT ALL
Director James Whale's classic thriller opened the floodgates for a new genre-horror. In 1931, this film packed quite a wallop. Though it has lost its power to horrify,"Frankenstien" survives as a beatufilly crafted, elegant film that put's most modern horror film's to shame. Boris Karloff's performance as the Monster is among the greatest performances in screen history. Colin Clive is also perfect as the nerve frayed Henry Frankenstien, the monster maker. The direction, sets and photography still hold up after all of these years. The new DVD edition is well worth latching onto; the film has never looked better, and the documentary by David Skal is worth the price of the DVD alone. A great film, and a must have for any serious film collector.

Finally, "it's alive" on DVD !!
I don't know what I could possibly add to all of the previous glowing reviews other than my patience for this release has paid off! I can only hope Universal home video goes forward in releasing the other classic monsters with such a definitive respectful treatment.

Whale and Karloff: Perfect Together!
Nowhere close to Shelley's novel but it makes no difference! Eerie, eccentric and atmospheric, this classic offers nothing but top drawer! Whale's vision is impeccable; sets are moody and gripping, but it is Karloff who mesmerizes with a performance that is a work of art in a role that allows no dialogue but punishing make-up and costuming. Even the distinguished DeNiro didn't come close to the pathos, confusion, sadness and panic of Boris Karloff's elegant and ageless performance. It gets better and better with each viewing.

More than I expected.
Surprisingly enough, I had never seen this movie to its entirety. I remember one time watching it on network tv and it was ugly and the sound was blotchy. So imagine my suprise when I found the DVD clear and beautiful. I was very pleased with the DVD! They did a good job at cleaning up the video and audio. I especially loved the "Special Features" that are the hallmark of DVDs. I would suggest this DVD to any audiophile!

Classic Film, but commentary is disappointing
5 stars just because it's worth having this classic on disc. But this great film deserves a better treatment than this DVD release. The accompanying audio comentary is pointless...it dwells more on cast biographies, literary history and trite observations, rather than discussing the movie we're watching, and the fine little touches that make it a classic. From Whale's comic touches like the pathetic Fritz with his foot-high walking stick pausing on the steps to pull up his socks, to the "Caligari"-inspired sets and the poorly-painted sky backdrop, there is plenty of interesting material on the screen on which to comment. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When American audiences first saw Mario Bava's 1963 horror trilogy, it wasn't the same film he had made in Italy. Finding it too terrifying for kids (imagine that!), AIP pictures trimmed it of violence and intensity, rescored it, and renamed it in order to cash in on the success of BlackSunday. New tongue-in-cheek introductions with costar Boris Karloff were added, the segments were rearranged, and one segment was completely rewritten in the dubbing. It was a good film even in its butchered form, but the original Italian version is excellent. The correctly orderedstories begin with "The Telephone," a gripping, ornate thriller that anticipates Bava's later "giallo" horror classics such as Blood and Black Lace. (In the American version, lesbian overtones were removedand the escaped criminal killer was turned into a vengeful ghost.) Karloff stars as a demonic, wild-haired patriarch in the eerie "The Wurdulak," a gorgeous vampire tale shot on misty, menacing sets. The masterpiece of the collection is "The Drop of Water," a chilling ghost story with shiverinducing imagery: the piercing dead eyes of the restless corpse will haunt you long after the film is over. Bava's original framing sequence ends with a playful tribute to the magic of moviemaking and storytelling, a sweet coda to remind us that it's only a movie.

The print suffers slightly from wear and tear and water damage but the colors are sharp and vivid. It's a bit disconcerting to hear Karloff dubbed in Italian, but that's a small price to pay for seeing the film in its original, uncut form. The DVD also features an extensive gallery ofproduction and promotional stills, biographies, and liner notes by Bava historian Tim Lucas. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (48)

ONE OF BAVA'S BEST....
A not to be missed trilogy of horror tales hosted by Boris Karloff and done by Mario Bava. As atmospheric and colorful as you could ask for with the traditional Euro flavor that gives it that off-beat intensity not often found in American films. The stories are diverse: 1.)"The Telephone"--the sexiest with a woman being terrorized by phone calls from a supposedly "dead" lover; 2.)"The Wurdelak"--the most disturbing with a Russian mountain family plagued by an unusual and unforgiving heritage of vampirism starring Karloff himself; and 3.) "The Drop of Water"--the scariest with a turn-of-the-century nurse stealing a ring from an old woman's corpse who happens to be a witch. This is the widescreen European version and is excellently transferred to DVD. The women are beautiful and the thrills are plentiful. A must for any serious horror afficianado.

The Scariest Day of the Week!
One of the best Italian horror films ever made, director Mario Bava's 1963 movie BLACK SABBATH (Italian title: I TRE VOLTI DELLA PAURA) is actually a delicious trilogy of stories, each different in timbre and texture, but each a masterful atmospheric study in unmitigated fear.

In the first short, entitled "The Telephone," a contemporary (circa 1960s) woman is taunted by a series of bizarre and alarming phone calls. But things get really interesting when she learns who it is that's been calling. (Warning: Some viewers may be put off by the lesbian subtext of this story.)

"The Wurdalak," the second entry, is an eerie variation on the vampire legend that is based on the Aleksei Tolstoy novella THE FAMILY OF THE VOURDALAK (SEM'YA VURDALAKA). The action takes place in what appears to be medieval Europe, and the celebrated Boris Karloff (alas, with his dialogue dubbed in Italian) turns in an excellent performance as Gorca, the patriarch of a peasant family. When Gorca returns from assisting in the pursuit and destruction of a Wurdalak--a vampire of sorts that is compelled to feast only upon its own loved ones--his family suspects that he's not quite the man he used to be....

Purportedly an adaptation of story by Chekhov, "A Drop of Water" is the last entry of the trilogy, and it is unquestionably the creepiest. Set in a Victorian manor house, it involves a private nurse who steals a ring from her recently deceased charge and is subsequently haunted by the vengeful corpse. Or is she?

The acting is good, the sets are sufficiently eerie, the stories are well written and creepy, and the women are pretty. But first and foremost, BLACK SABBATH is a superior horror film due to Bava's great vision and direction. He knows what it takes to scare people, and it is his use of stark yet simple imagery, unusual juxtaposition of sounds, and sometimes tenebrous lighting that generates genuine goose bumps and psychological jitters. (Your skin will crawl every time you remember the image of that corpse with the empty, unblinking stare from "A Drop of Water.")

Extant copies of the film are in one of two forms. One presents the film as originally intended (and released in Europe) by the filmmakers. The dialogue is completely dubbed in Italian (with English subtitles available), the stories have not been edited by anyone other than the director and his crew, and the three stories as a whole are vignetted by a Boris Karloff preface and epilogue. However, the other version presents the film after it was vitiated by its U.S. distributor, American International Pictures. In that one, the stories have been edited (one to the point of being unintelligible) and their relative order rearranged, and inappropriately witty intros (featuring Karloff) have been tacked on to each. Also, an English soundtrack has been added, one that was not created with any input from Bava or the original scriptwriters.

Until recently, the AIP re-dubbed re-cut was the only version of the film readily available to American audiences. Though not a totally un-watchable film in AIP's butchered format, it is simply not the masterpiece that Bava's original is. With that in mind, it is recommended that, if at all possible, viewers avoid the AIP version altogether and watch only the original Italian version. And please note, then, that this review refers to that original release--with English subtitles--which IS the version now being offered on the Image Entertainment DVD.

And speaking of the DVD, it is a bit short on true bonus features, and it is possible to see some signs of wear on the print that was used. Still, this widescreen digital transfer looks good overall, with rich and vivid colors and crisp focus. Most importantly, it is fantastic opportunity for American horror fans to finally see--and own!--this excellent scary film in the form in which its creators intended.

Chills aplenty
Italian director Mario Bava (1914-1980) is one of the giants of the horror film genre. Bava's big break into the field came with his 1960 black and white classic "Black Sunday" starring Barbara Steele. This was only the beginning, as Bava churned out a series of gruesome shockers over the next seventeen years; his films always promised great style mixed with scenes of murder and mayhem. Perhaps Mario's biggest contribution to the horror genre was his 1972 picture "Twitch of the Death Nerve," also known as "Bay of Blood." It doesn't take too long to realize "Friday the 13th" shamelessly cribbed from this slasher bloodbath. At least two of the murders in the film appear almost unchanged in the first installment of the Jason Voorhees franchise. That's right-- Mario Bava gave birth to the modern slasher film. But he also dabbled in non-horror films with projects like "Four Times That Night" and the immensely entertaining peplum classic "Hercules in the Haunted World" starring Reg Park as the muscle bound hero. After watching many of his films, I have to express further admiration for this amazing director; he could make an entertaining motion picture no matter what the subject.

"I trevolti della paura," known on these shores as "Black Sabbath," is a great contribution to horror cinema. In 1963, Bava filmed three short stories and packaged them under one title with Boris Karloff introducing each segment. The first tale, "The Telephone," is a claustrophobic tale of horror that takes place in the apartment of Rosy (Michele Mercier). Strange and horrifying phone calls begin streaming into the apartment at the same time Rosy's ex-husband Frank leaves prison. Alarmed that her hubby will try to hurt her, she dials up her pal Mary (Lidia Alfonsi), asking her friend to come over and comfort her. There's an interesting subtext to Mary and Rosy's phone call that the American version apparently cut out of the picture before releasing it that this Image Entertainment DVD restores. Watch to see what it is. Anyway, Mary arrives and, when Rosy falls asleep, writes something down on a piece of paper for her friend to read later. When Rosy wakes up, she learns a few painful truths about both her friend and her ex-husband.

The second story, "The Wurdulak," stars Boris Karloff as Gorca, the patriarch of a well to do Russian family in the eighteenth century. Wurdulaks, what we would call vampires, plague the countryside. Gorca sets out to slay one of them, a fellow named Alibeq, but leaves strict instructions to his family to destroy him, Gorca, if he returns any later than the stroke of midnight five days hence. Gorca reasons that he will be a vampire himself if he has not returned by that time, and his family agrees. Predictably, Gorca returns late and acts very, VERY weird. The family knows something is wrong but agonizes about doing what they know they must do. Their hesitancy has unfortunate results for several members of the family. This story is the best one on the disc; check out the scene where Karloff thunders around on a horse. Very creepy!

The final tale of woe, called "The Drop of Water," finds Nurse Helen Corey (Jacqueline Pierreux) receiving a weird phone call late at night. It seems an old medium died and her servant is too scared to move the body. Corey agrees to help the superstitious assistant but makes the mistake of stealing a valuable ring off the corpse. What follows is classic chills and thrills as a fly follows Corey around wherever she goes, continually alighting on the ring on her finger. The nurse tries to hide in her house where the sound of dripping water drives her to the point of insanity. Again, no reason to spoil the film for you, but wait until you see what happens to Nurse Corey as the tale winds to a close. Note to self: never steal anything from a deceased psychic.

All I can say here is that Mario Bava has done it again. While I still think "Black Sunday" is a better film, "Black Sabbath" nicely delivers the shocks. Getting Karloff to do double duty as the narrator and the star of one of the segments was a nice touch, too. Including this great actor in the project gives "Black Sabbath" a sort of homage feel, a nod to the earlier horror movies of the 1930s and 1940s. It's no mistake that Karloff's segment is the best one of the three. The weakest is "The Telephone," although even this tale works quite well in the suspense department. In "The Wurdulak," you know what's going to happen, but not so in "The Telephone." Plus, Michele Mercier is extremely easy on the eyes. I couldn't help but think of the seminal "Black Christmas" and "When a Stranger Calls" after watching "The Telephone." I wonder if Bob Clark and Fred Walton took Bava's creation as the inspiration for their own, later films. As for "The Drop of Water," well, it's a scary film that doubtless inspired its own imitators years later.

Horror fans would be remiss to pass up this delightful collection. They're not gory in any way, just as "Black Sunday" wasn't gory, but they are nicely done pieces well worth watching. A big thanks goes out to Image Entertainment for releasing the film in its original format. I am slowly working my way through all of Mario Bava's film, and "Black Sabbath" was a huge step towards completing my journey. After watching the movie, check out the production notes assembled by Bava historian Tim Lucas, the trailer, and the Bava biography. If you like horror, you will definitely want to give this one a few hours of your time.

Are You Serious?
With out a doubt, the best horror film ever made. Bava's Black Sabbath, is without question the most complete horror experience ever filmed. With atmosphere like I've never seen, this trilogy starts off with a classic giallo, and progresses to sheer terror by the last installment. Words alone cannot describe "The Drop of Water", a dark, eerie, and ultimately terrifying experince. If the face of death does not make you cringe, nothing will ever affect you! Do yourself a favor and buy this film(the Italian version), shut the lights off and let the terror begin.

classic horror; though tame by today's standard.
This trilogy of terror stars and is narrated by the late Boris Karloff. It would be tame by today's standards; some younger people might say "lame", but this was pre-"Jason" (Friday the 13th), pre-"Freddy" (Nightmare On Elm Street) and relied more on "suspense" than gore. Interesting for those who like "suspense". ... Read more

Description

The Czech stop-motion puppet animation master Jiri Trnka directed some of the most acclaimed animated films ever made. In 1966, four years before his death, Newsday lauded him as "second to Chaplin as a film artist because his work inaugurated a new stage in a medium long dominated by Disney." Trnka continues to astound audiences to this day, particularly those discovering this amazing animation for the first time. This collection includes five of the master's shorts and his feature-length classic "The Emperor's Nightingale" based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale and narrated by Boris Karloff. Includes: The Emperor's Nightingale (1951, 67 min.), The Hand (18 min.), The Story of the Bass Cello (13 min.), A Merry Circus (11 min.), A Drop Too Much (14 min.), The Song of the Prairie (21 min.), Jiri Trnka: Puppet Animation Master documentary (12 min.). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Worthwhile collection
The Emperor's Nightingale is feature-length (67 minutes). There are also five shorts plus a brief documentry on Trnka. I'm not familiar with Andersen's original, but Trnka's treatment of The Emperor's Nightingale makes it perfect for his medium. First of all, it is a story within a story: a live-action unhappy boy dreams the puppet-animated fairy tale. Then, the dream itself revolves around a real singing nightingale and a mechanical singing nightingale. Having this mixture of live action and puppet animation makes the experience more complex and interesting than reading the story in a children's book. Plus, nowadays, with simulated on-line experience competing with "real" get-out-of-doors experience, the story is even more complex. The Emperor of the title is the boy Emperor of China, and this leads to a nice Czech-filtered Oriental flavor to the art design. The shorts are a mixed bag. Story Of The Bass Cello (1949), from a Chekhov piece, and The Song Of The Prairie (1949), a spoof of Hollywood westerns, have humorous moments but felt too much like 1950s TV children shows. The Merry Circus (1951) is unique: the animation is done entirely with paper cutouts. The colors are very beautiful and reminded me of vintage carnival posters come to life. Then there's A Drop Too Much (1954), which is like the Citizen Kane of animation because of the virtuoso display of narrative technique. There is a stunning sequence of a drunk motorcyclist racing everything on the road during a rainy night. The last short, The Hand (1965), is best enjoyed as a Beckett-like short play, rather than a political allegory.

Wonderful Kid Movie Classic
Boris Karloff (who also narrated in The Grinch Stole Christmas) narrates this Hans Christian Andersen classic about a lonely emperor and the delightful comfort provided by a Nightingale.

The Master of puppets.
What Harryhausen and Pal are to America, Trnka is to Eastern European stop-motion animation; the Master. This collection includes some of his best work, and these short films now shine like never before on this new gorgeous DVD release. -This almost hypnotic new video format (DVD) seem to have a very positive effect on people in the industry, bringing them to seek the release of many a lost or forgotten treasure. I think the future looks golden, indeed. There's something truly unique about the high art of stop-motion, and personally I feel the older it is, strangely enough the better it is somehow. Also adding to the fun in this case, is hearing the wonderfully voiced Boris Karloff narrate one. Let's hope more Trnka stuff (and puppet trickery in general) is on the way; he and other Czech animators, like Karel Zeman, deserves it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

EXCELLENT SET!!
I've been a fan of Mr Wong for years and just had to get this set. Both Keye Luke and Boris Karloff played Mr Wong and I've always enjoyed both actors work in the role. I wish there was a set of all six Wong movies, but this set of four is very nice. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If there's one movie Danny Kaye fans fondly remember, it's TheSecret Life of Walter Mitty. The versatile comedian--also an unsurpassedsong-and-dance man--plays a henpecked, thriller-genre book writer suddenlyenmeshed in a real adventure involving the (literal) girl of his dreams (VirginiaMayo). Initially criticized for not staying true to the more melancholic sensibility ofauthor James Thurber's original story (Thurber allegedly offered producerSamuel Goldwyn $10,000 to not make the film), it not only works as anindependent story, but remains highly entertaining and wears well upon repeatedviewing. Kaye's milquetoast Walter fantasizes distractedly about being heroic,whether a gunslinger, an Air Force pilot, or a riverboat gambler. His "Anatoleof Paris" number, in which Walter fancies himself a French hat designer who,in the end, declares he hates women, is nothing short of brilliant. That number,like many of Kaye's trademark patter deliveries, was penned by his wife, SylviaFine. Kaye benefits from a wonderful supporting cast: Mayo; Boris Karloff asmaniacal Dr. Hugo Hollingshead; Faye Bainter as Walter's repressive but livelymother; Ann Rutherford as his suspicious fiancée Gertrude; and GordonJones as Tubby, who not only has designs on Gertrude, but provides the villainin Walter's fantasies. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

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! ... Read more

Reviews (34)

James Whale has a stellar cast but a second rate horror film
"The Old Dark House" is a bit disappointing simply because with all the talent collected on both sides of the camera you would expect an absolute classic horror film. This 1932 film is directed by James Whale based on the novel by J. B. Priestley. In front of the camera are Boris Karloff, Melyvn Douglas, Charles Laughton, Gloria Stuart, Lilian Bond, Ernest Thesiger and Raymond Massey. During a raging storm in the Welsh mountains, Philip Waverton (Massey), his wife Margaret (Stuart) and Roger Penderel (Douglas) seek refuge in an old house. Inside are Horace Femm (Thesiger), an eccentric atheist; his sister Rebecca (Eva Moore), a religious fanatic; and Morgan (Karloff), their mute hulking butler, who has a tendency to get homicidal when he becomes drunk. Two other weary travelers, Sir William Porterhouse (Laughton) and Gladys DuCane (Bond) are stuck for the night as well. Morgan gets drunk and attacks Margaret and things continue to escalate until the butler frees Saul (Brember Wills), a pyromaniac locked up in a remote wing of the house. The set up is a bit forced, as this is probably the oddest group of people thrown together during a storm you will ever see in a film and while the second half is suspenseful as things get out of hand the finale is rather unsatisfying. "The Old Dark House" is the first film in which Karloff gets top billing and it was the first American film for both Laughton and Massey.

Have A Potato !
Out of the four classic 'horror' films James Whale directed for Universal ('Frankenstein', 'The Invisble Man', and 'Bride of Frankenstein' being the others) this movie is certainly the odd one out. There are no monsters and no mad scientists, just a collection of extremely strange characters. For once Boris Karloff is upstaged not by one, but two of his fellow cast members. Ernest Thesiger gives a wonderfully weird performance throughout and larger than life Charles Laughton dominates every scene he appears in. Because of the lack of any 'monster' and the fact that virtually the whole film takes place inside the house, it is the dialogue and characters that make this film so truly memorable. If you've heard that 'The Old Dark House' was a 'lost' film then you needn't worry about picture or sound quality. The film's restoration work has produced a very good quality print. Unusually for me, I watched this film 3 or 4 times within a week of receiving it, not least because of the great commentaries provided by James Curtis and especially Gloria Stuart. 'The Old Dark House' certainly demands multiple viewings, which is the best praise I can give it.

Perfect for a late-night movie fest
This movie reminds me of all the fun movies that were on the local Chiller Theater when I was growing up. Terrific thrills and chills in an old-fashioned manner. James Whales, best known for Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, directed and his touches are visible, from intelligent dialogue to the chaotic action scenes.

A wind-blown Gloria Stuart is awesome to behold as a damsel in distress. Well cast and well acted, this is one of the classics.

Nice!
This was an interesting film to watch, although I admit, a bit campy at times; nevertheless, the acting is quite good, and I especially liked the character of "Saul," at the end, he's a riot! (Especially when he laughs uncontrollably like a madman.)

Boris Karloff was excellent in this film as well.

thesiger's oscar worthy performance.
thesiger steals everything but the sets (as he also did in bride). he should have at least gotten an acadamy nomination for one of the two films.
whale's delightfully sardonic humour shines throughout the film.
a masterpiece all the way through. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Not only does the incurably sleepy Hans "Chris" Andersen dream in fullcolor, this future storyteller also dreams in "Animagic." From the award-winningteam that delights youngsters annually with their 1964 classic Rudolph theRed-Nosed Reindeer (Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass), The Daydreamerblends animated, roly-headed puppets with live-action talent including JackGilford (Cocoon) and Margaret Hamilton (The Wizard of Oz). Ahunger for knowledge sends young Chris Andersen searching for the elusive Gardenof Paradise. But the Sandman (a wavy shadow, voiced by Cyril Ritchard) castsChris into a magical puppet world where he breaks a little mermaid's heart,humiliates an emperor, and causes big trouble for tiny Thumbelina. Screenfavorites like Hayley Mills, Tallulah Bankhead, Burl Ives, and Boris Karlofflend their voices to the fantasy. Best suited for sentimental Rudolphfans and kids who adore lengthy song-and-dance classics like Willy Wonka andthe Chocolate Factory, this visual candy store runs 99 minutes. (Ages 6 andolder) --Liane Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Charming but uneven
As has been previously written, this film is by Rankin and Bass the team responsible for the holiday classics Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. This fillm is more ambitious and more uneven than either of those two favorites. They simply expanded on holiday legends/songs in a bright highly satisfying way. This film is a partial live action drama which features Chris (Paul O'Keefe) a young Hans Christian Anderson, whose father (Jack Gilford) is a penniless cobbler, escaping his desperate life to search for the Garden of Paradise and dropping into three Hans Christian Anderson stories (The Little Mermaid, The Emperor's New Clothes and Thumbelina all in the company's signature puppet inspired Animagic) on the way. This material has a lot of potential and the film does have some lovely sequences particularly during the Little Mermaid and Thumbelina sections. Maury Laws' songs don't reach the heights of Santa Claus or his wonderful work on The Little Drummer Boy but are tuneful and create a mood of wistful wonder. The character of Chris is fascinating too in that he initially seems simply a good hearted boy but often unintentionally betrays and abandons the characters around him and the animated sections have a darker tone than most children's programming. The religous tones (which are true to the Hans Christian Anderson original tales) in several of the stories also make this darker than the usual Rankin and Bass holiday fare.

There are problems. Often the film resorts to silly musical comedy routines to pull the audience out of the darker edges of the animated material. Jack Gilford performs in an almost vaudevillian broad comedy style and seems so powerless and impotent as Chris' father that one hopes that Chris is never forced to return home. Ray Bolger's charm is utterly wasted in his performance as the pieman and Paul O'Keefe's pleasant voice is undermined by the improbability of the situation (he's been captured for poaching and being led by rope down the middle of the town's square as the townsfolk cavort in the clearly underfunded big production number) that he's found himself stranded in. And the questions about Chris' character and his family's desperate financial straits are never resolved.

Still despite these qualms the film has undeniable charm and a certain magic pull in places. I still felt a magic shiver when Chris, caught in a seemingly inescapable situation, spies a flower magically opening up to reveal Thumbelina and a way to escape. I would certainly recommend this film to families to view together--just don't expect a seamless masterpiece or a film even as satisfying the Rankin and Bass Christmas specials.

I remember seeing this film as a child on television. I remember, even then, the print being muddy and the colors being washed out and skips cutting out moments of dialogue. What a pleasure it is to see this new DVD version of this film. The colors are full and bright and there is no bleeding and the sound is free of any pops and scratches. Not quite the labor of love their Mad Monster Party disc was but does include a brief history of the film in the insert.

Fascinating! Not your typical animated kiddie fare
This film was produced by the wonderful Rankin/Bass team - best known for their holiday masterpieces "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman" and "Mad Monster Party", just to name a few. The wraparound story (which is live-action) deals with a young Hans Christian Anderson struggling to find The Garden of Paradise. On his journey, we are treated to four haunting stories, each filmed in Rankin/Bass's trademark stop-motion "Animagic". The stories are unusual in that they all end on a low note rather than a typical "Disney happy ending" - keeping true to Anderson's original tales. Included here are "The Little Mermaid", "The Emperor's New Clothes", "Thumbelina" and "The Garden of Paradise". Once again Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass have created a fantasyland of wonder and imagination filled to the brim with beautiful tunes.

Ah, to daydream...
This is another wonderful childhood movie, full of the joys and woes that come to a young boy who dares to daydream, perhaps a little to obsession. He gets into all sorts of adventures and trouble. What also trully shines is Ray Bolger as the pieman, who dances around like a playful kitten, darting about the rest of the cast with his armful of pies, and his humerous gestures. You also get to see a little Rankin/Bass version of Ray, which is equally as charming. Great movie, great to watch when you're bored, or with he family, all year round.

The Enchanted World of Hans Christian Andersen
"The Daydreamer" has some really cool animagic sequences. Boris Karloff's song and dance bit with the Rat and the Mole is one of the best things I have seen from Rankin/Bass. The underwater sequence is great, with Burl Ives, Hayley Mills and Ta