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Universal Horror Collection: Volume 1
Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:
WARNING: THE SCORES ABOVE ARE A COMBINED SCORE FROM ALL 4 FILMS, THE INDIVIDUAL SCORES ARE CONTAINED BELOW IN THE INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS OF THE REVIEW
Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:
WARNING: THE SCORES ABOVE ARE A COMBINED SCORE FROM ALL 4 FILMS, THE INDIVIDUAL SCORES ARE CONTAINED BELOW IN THE INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS OF THE REVIEW
Back in the 1930s Universal was one of the most dominant players in the horror landscape (although one would more likely call their efforts dramatic thrillers rather than actual “horror” by today’s more violent standards), and Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff were at the head of Universal’s efforts. Films like Dracula and Frankenstein cemented the two actors as leaders of their craft, but Universal also utilized the two actors together as a powerhouse “couple” that would become massive box office draws for the studio. Scream Factory has gone back and pulled out 4 of their classic team ups on film for the 1st collection in a multi-film release (collection #2 drops in about a month) that is sure to please fans everywhere.
The Black Cat
Although both Karloff and Legosi cut their Universal horror teeth on portraying physical monsters the two teamed up in The Black Cat to play a different type of monster. Over the years there has been many different types of “scary boogeymen” played in horror/science fiction movies. We had the 1930s monster movies, 1950s irradiated bugs/creatures films, werewolves and vampires, cannibals, evil spirits and countless others. Back in the 1930s and 1940s we still had a lot of puritanical views and those other monsters really weren’t that prevalent. So what better boogeyman to have than the all power satanist! Men who could draw upon the powers of Lucifer himself and would sacrifice young virgins on an alter to said evil in hopes of gaining more power.
A young couple is traveling for their honeymoon when they are interrupted by Dr. Vitus Werdegast (Lugosi). On their way to their own destinations by bus they are involved in an accident, and the good Dr. is forced to take the injured young wife to an old associate of his by the name of Hjalmer Poelzig. There the young couple tries to recuperate, unaware that a war between the good Dr. and Hajalmer is going on. A war between good and evil which may consume them both.
It’s fun to watch Lugosi actually play a protagonist for once. He’s sinister seeming as always, but that’s part of his charm. His good intentions are not seen till its too late and it’s intoxicating. Karloff is fantastic as the cold and icy Hjalmer Poelzig, and it’s not surprise when it turns out that he’s actually a dark Satanist with a cult like following, who intends to use the young couples for his search for power. The film exudes a feeling of menace and somber terror, and at a mere hour and five minutes it goes by quite quickly.
The Raven
Much like The Black Cat, The Raven pulls from the world of Edgar Allen Poe in name only. However, The Raven (taking only the NAME of the infamous Poe story) has Bela Lugosi becoming a rabid fan of Poe, even going so far to quote the original “The Raven” during the film and borrowing different torture devices from Edgar Allen Poe’s works in order to torture his victims with. It’s a quirky, demented film that is probably the most scary out of all 4.
Bela Lugos plays Dr. Richard Vollin, a mad doctor who is shunned by the love of his life, and falls deeper and deeper into the pit of madness as he enacts his revenge on those who have “wronged” him. Taking a deadly criminal named Bateman (Boris Karloff), the surgeon turns him into a horrible monster (a little homage to Frankenstein), and uses this monster to craft horrible torture devices so that he can entrap and torture his enemies.
The Raven is hilariously campy, but also one of the most fun movies of the entire series. The film dances around with a sort of macabre humor, and Karloff is clearly enjoying himself as he hams up the role of the monstrous looking criminal Bateman. Lugosi is pure mad genius here, cackling at the screen and twirling his metaphorical mustache as he unleashes his machinations on the woman that spurned him and her associates. It’s a goofy film, but highly enjoyable and easily the creepiest of the 4 due to the various torture devices that Vollin uses throughout the film.
1936’s The Invisible Ray takes a distinct departure away from the typical horror roots of the previous two films. It instead takes on a more science fiction tone than the others, but remember, back in the 1930s science fiction and horror were nearly synonymous. Just one comes with a futuristic twist vs. a monster/supernatural one. A group of scientists discover a mysterious compound dubbed “Radium X” in Africa, which turns two of them into supernatural men. Dr. Felix Benet (Bela Lugosi) becomes murderous when exposed to Radium X, and soon looking for a cure for fellow Doctor, Dr. Janos Rukh (Boris Karloff) who has become irradiated as well and kills everyone he touches.
The Invisible Ray is the most expansive and spacious film in the 4 movie boxset as it tries to expand itself outside of just a and dusty castle or mansion. Sure, there are plenty of scenes in those confined spaces, but the movie takes us to on location shoots to Africa as well as several other different locals, making it feel like a much larger film than others of its ilk. The same thing goes for the running time, as it clocks in at a good 15-20 minute longer than any of the other films (most of which barely broke an hour).
Karloff and Lugosi work well with each other once more, with both characters being sympathetic villains at the end. Both have their good points, but after being poisoned by the radiation, begin to fall into deviant behavior that accentuates their flaws as humans. While the film was quite ground breaking as a sci-fi film over traditional horror, it DOES fall upon the same old tropes that made up the horror genre. Crazed doctors falling into disrepair, murderous intentions, and tragic endings fill out the film despite the attempts of a solid romance and futuristic settings.
Black Friday
Black Friday marks the end of an era and a bit of an odd bird for this collection. This was the final film that Lugosi and Karloff worked together on under the Universal Studios banner, and also a film that is barely a Karloff film, nor a Lugosi one. Karloff was originally slated to play the lead character, but dropped out from that burden at the last moment, giving Stanley Ridges the chance to play the lead. Instead he sunk down to second fiddle, playing a criminal whose mind gets transferred into another person, and is only in the film for a short time. Lugos is third fiddle at best, dropping down to the rank of a 1940s mobster, and is only in the film for one major scene that lasts a total of 5 minutes. As such, it’s really not a Karloff and Lugosi film by most standards, but hangs onto that title by the thinnest of threads.
The film is also a bit odd considering that it’s a bit more science fictionesque as well, but really is a 1940s gangster movie with supernatural elements. It revolves around a Dr. Ernest Sovac (Boris Karloff) making his way to the electric chair and reminiscing about what got him to this point in his life. Earlier he had transplanted the brain of a dying gangster into the brain of a dying teacher named George Kingsley (Stanley Ridges). Sovac learns of a hidden stash of ill gotten money from the gangster’s brain in George’s body, the doctor lets his more devious nature come out and encourages George to engage in violent criminal activity in hopes that the gangster’s brain will come more and more to the surface and lead him to the ill gotten treasure.
Black Friday is a weird film, and luckily it doesn’t delve too much into the brain swapping poppycock. Had they done that the film would have spiraled into mediocrity, but instead focuses on the macabre nature of the 1940s criminal underworld. Stanley Ridges takes center stage most of the time, with Karloff’s Dr. Sovac sort of fanning the flames so to speak. Lugosi himself really doesn’t get much to work with as one of the gangster’s surviving compatriots, but he does his best with the few minutes of screen time that he’s allotted.
Not Rated by the MPAA (All 4)
Video:
The Black Cat is the only film in the collections set of 4 to not advertise a new 2K master for the release. I’m not sure of the reasons WHY Scream Factory was unable to get a new transfer (whether that be their fault or Universal’s) but The Black Cat is definitely the weakest looking film of the franchise. That doesn’t mean it’s a BAD transfer for an 85 year old film, but it just doesn’t looks as clean and precise as the other 3. Black levels are very strong with only minimal crush on clothing to show it’s faults, otherwise most of the “issues” are simply speckles on the print, vertical lines here and there as well as a very thick and slightly noisy layer of grain. The transfer is more than adequate and actually looks really nice considering the age and condition of these old prints, and while it’s not perfection, is certainly solid enough to enjoy.
The Raven
The Raven did get a 2K remaster for this edition, and the new scan looks really good. it’s a good deal fresher than The Black Cat and while there are some vertical lines and mild speckling, looks fantastic. Detail levels are quite high around the crazed Dr.’s house, and the facial detailing is more than adequate. The print looked to be in a bit rougher shape than anticipated as there is some hazy softness to the film, but it’s nothing too wild and almost gives the film a romantic glow (could be intentional ,could not be as the commentary really doesn’t mention that in the cinematography). Grain is very noticeable, but it’s not nearly as noisy or intrusive as The Black Cat was by comparison to a non remastered title.
The Invisible Ray
The Invisible Ray is probably the cream of the crop, video quality wise, for this set. It’s also one of the later films in the collection, which could explain the cleaner look. There’s some mild print damage going on, with a few vertical lines, some mild speckling and debris making it’s way onto the scree, but this is a REALLY nice looking transfer. I hesitate to give it a 4.5/5 rating for those before mentioned issues, but again, this is a very nice looking 2K master from Scream Factory. Close ups are excellent, showing the craggy look of Karloff and the interesting haircut he dons for this one. Lugosi’s facial hair is detailed and precise, and while the overlaying of the “glow” on Karloff’s face is a bit wonky, it’s not something I hold against the transfer simply because it was an artifact of the technology of the time. One thing I did notice was a weird halo around a few objects, the most egregious being the halo around the giant safari helmet in chapter 7 (you can’t miss it). Otherwise this is a very good-great transfer.
Black Friday
Black Friday is just a hair behind The Invisible Ray picture quality wise, and is a real treat to watch in it’s native 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The picture is clean of most debris, although it does show some speckles and flickering now and again. Grain is nice and tight here, with only a few moments where it spikes up out of the norm. Black clothing shows some crush (specifically men’s suits), and facial details are more than revealing. Skin tones lean a bit towards the pale side, but the black and white photography is generally excellent in regards to overall look. All in all, I have very little to complain about here and the disc is more than appealing to a fanatic of the 1940s. The 2K master that Scream Factory used appears to have been fairly recent and once again, proves that old films can look great with a little TLC.
Audio:
All 4 films in this collection are in 2.0 DTS-HD MA Mono (no surround was really in effect during the 30s and 40s) and the tracks all sound fairly similar due to the limited nature of recording equipment back then. The Black Cat’s audio mix is kind of like the video. It’s not AS good as the rest, but it is still more than adequate at getting the job done. The 2.0 track is a little harsh and sharper than I’d like, and has an underlying analog his going on the background (nothing too wild). Voices are clean and clear, with the only issue being that sharpness to it. The score is strong and clean, and the track sometimes gives credence to the score more than any other portion of the audio. The sound stage is well done for the limited ambient effects, and is generally pleasing to the ear.
The Raven
The Raven’s 2.0 Mono track is a little better, with less analog hiss and a cleaner sound to the vocals. The dialog is mostly clear (sometimes Lugosi’s accent is a bit hard to hear, but that’s something that he’s always had an issue with), and the ambiance of the track is pretty spacious considering. There’s some rainfall in the background that sounds exceptional and the creaking and groaning of the closing walls at the end is well placed. The score is moderate and clean as well, and mixed evenly with the rest of the track.
The Invisible Ray
The Invisible Ray is about on par with The Raven, offering a solid audio mix that only has a few flaws. The dialog is crisp and clean, and the score is active and quite well done. There’s an issue with the 3rd reel where some analog hiss turns harsh, but it’s not really that noticeable until dead silence is on screen, then you can hear it in the background. The ambiance is quite nice, with some neat sound effects for Karloff’s “glowing” character. It’s a solid mix and one that’s way better than I expected for a 1930s film.
Black Friday
Black Friday is a slight step down in quality, as the track encounters more issues with crackling and analog hisses throughout the track. Dialog is clean and clear though, the track doesn’t suffer with much harshness. Instead it’s just the mild hissing and crackling that draws the attention to any issues. Ambient effects in the 1940s gangster world bleed through nicely, and the track’s simplistic sound design is generally pleasing.
Extras:
• NEW Audio Commentary by author/film historian Gregory William Mank
• NEW Audio Commentary by author/film historian Steve Haberman
• NEW Dreams Within a Dream: The Classic Cinema of Edgar Allan Poe – narrated by Doug Bradley
• NEW A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal Part One: The Black Cat
• Vintage footage – The Black Cat Contest
• Still Gallery
The Raven
• NEW 2K REMASTER OF THE FILM
• NEW Audio Commentary with author/film historian Gary D. Rhodes
• NEW Audio Commentary with author/film historian Steve Haberman
• NEW A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal Part Two: The Raven
• Audio Recording: Bela Lugosi reads "The Tell-Tale Heart"
• Still Gallery
The Invisible Ray
• NEW 2K REMASTER OF THE FILM
• NEW Audio Commentary with authors/film historians Tom Weaver and Randall Larson
• NEW A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal Part Three: The Invisible Ray
• Re-Release Theatrical Trailer
• Still Gallery
Black Friday
• NEW 2K REMASTER OF THE FILM
• NEW Audio Commentary with filmmaker/film historian Constantine Nasr
• NEW A Good Game: Karloff and Lugosi at Universal Part Four: Black
• Inner Sanctum Mystery Radio Show: "The Tell-Tale Heart" starring Boris Karloff
• Theatrical Trailer
• Still Gallery
Final Score:
Universal Horror Collection: Volume 1 is a nice change of pace from the traditional 80s and 90s horror films that Scream Factory pumps out. It takes some of the solid collaborative efforts between horror icons Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi outside of the classic monsters universe that Universal is known for, and packages it up in a sweet little package. Also, as the title suggests, this is only the 1st collection, as collection #2 is slated to hit next month from Scream Factory, so look forward to more classic 1930s and 1940s classic horror movies from the dynamic duo. The remasters for 3 of the 4 films are great, and even the one that DIDN’T appear to get a new scan looks quite solid as well considering the 80+ year old pedigree. Definitely worth checking out if you can.
Technical Specifications:
Starring: Boris Karloff, Bela Legosi, David Manners, Francis Drake, Stanley Ridges, Peter Lorre
Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer / Lew Landers / Lambert Hillyer / Arthur Lubin
Written by: Peter Ruric, Edgar G. Ulmer / David Boehm / John Colton, Howard Higgin (original Story) / Curt Siodmak, Eric Taylor
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 AVC (all 3 films)
Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono (all 4 films)
Subtitles: English SDH
Studio: Scream Factory
Rated: NR (all 4)
Runtime: 66 Minutes / 61 Minutes / 79 Minutes / 70 Minutes
Blu-ray Release Date: June 18th, 2019
Recommendation: Great Buy for Fans
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