I ordered this movie because I'm a dedicated fan of actor David Manners. Instead of receiving the Gotham Distribution version pictured here, I received the Alpha Video DVD release of "The Moonstone". This version of the film is *not* worth adding to your collection, at least as presented on this DVD. The original running time of "The Moonstone" was 62 minutes; here it runs only 47 minutes, meaning that one-fourth of the movie is missing! And the footage that remains is scratchy and jumpy, with grade Z contrast ... not even remotely worth watching for a glimpse of cult actor Manners.
The Alpha Video DVD does contain a second feature, a creaky 1931 mystery named "Murder at Midnight". Unfortunately, it also is a bottom-of-the-barrel transfer of a film that wasn't any too interesting to begin with. Best to avoid this selection until a better, more complete version makes it to DVD.
This is one of the better films of its type I've seen. It moves along at a brisk pace and the script is witty. The story is about an American guy who goes to London to check out an old manor, "The Hawk's Nest", that was left to him by his dead uncle. He finds strange people living there (including the babe he met on the boat over) and sinister goings on before he is forcibly evicted. The police are not much help to him and seem to be evasive. Throw in secret passages, a pirate's treasure, a government conspiracy, some American gangsters, and you've got a pretty lively "old, dark house" flick happening here. The Alpha dvd is the usual standard. Looks like it was mastered from an old VHS somebody bought from Sinister Cinema or Something Weird Video. Definately NOT what dvd is all about, but... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Leslie Fenton DVD Release Date: Released the 22 July 2003 Usually ships within 24 hours
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This is one of Paramount's low-budget features produced by William Pine and William Thomas. As is customary with Pine-Thomas product, the cast is accomplished, the story is atmospheric, and the workmanship is efficient. The entire cast will be familiar to fans of old movies: William Gargan and Ann Savage as the bantering newspaper reporters trying to outscoop each other when a murder victim disappears, George Zucco as a velvet-voiced, dangerous killer, Leo Gorcey as comedy-relief office boy, Charles Halton as a worried museum curator, Don Beddoe as a frustrated detective, Paul Hurst as a bemused watchman, and George E. Stone as the missing corpse (always a fine actor: he doesn't say a word, but he expires eloquently). The pacing is good and the dialogue is snappy. The DVD derives from an... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): William Gargan DVD Release Date: Released the 22 July 2003 Usually ships within 24 hours
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From the opening moments the jokes are flying in this entertaining movie. Newlyweds Webster and Jackie Frye are spending their honeymoon at an old country home. As soon as they arrive, they are confronted by the retired town's executioner who is intrigued with their chauffeur's neck. Next, they are greeted with the coffin of the previous owner, who happened to be a criminal. Not knowing what to do with their unwelcome guest, they call the police only to discover the coffin is empty. The "deceased's" next of kin show up to claim the body, or are they really there for another reason? This is a fast paced movie, it's only 56 minutes long, but is entertaining. So grab the popcorn, pepsi and dim the lights and enjoy this movie. More Info about this DVD Director(s): William Nigh DVD Release Date: Released the 22 July 2003 Usually ships within 24 hours
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THIS MOVIE LOOKS VERY GRAINY AND THE SOUND IS FILLED WITH STATIC, but if you don't mind those things it's not bad. Wonter's films are in terrible shape, but he's damn good. I enjoy him in all his Holmes films despite their rough condition. I give Wonter 5 stars. More Info about this DVD Director(s): Thomas Bentley DVD Release Date: Released the 10 June 2003 Usually ships within 24 hours
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