Review(s): DVD Dracula - The Legacy Collection (Dracula / Dracula (1931 Spanish Version) / Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula / House of Dracula)
Poor Transfer, Poor Audio
Why would Universal previously distribute a superior DVD and then repackage the same film but decrease the quality???
The Legacy Collection of the original Dracula movie from 1930 is a lesser quality DVD than it's predecessor from the Classic Monsters Collection set. The image quality is blurry and fuzzy - I'll take film grain and hairs over blurred out images anyday. The audio is also muted and soft as compared to the earlier released DVD.
I've compared both DVDs side by side, and the previous "Classic Monsters Collection" DVD won out in DVD quality.
My suggestion to all customers is to avoid these lesser quality (but newer) releases of Dracula and buy the earlier release instead.
Dracula is not scary anymore...
OK, my kids saw Van Helsing (dumb movie) at a sleepover last weekend and got into the whole Dracula thing so I sat down and did my research. In the last week I watched all the greats again, Murneau's Nosferatu and then Herzog's version. Today I watched Browning's and Coppola's Dracula and I watched Morrisey's last week (yuk!). I must say the German versions are far scarier and more realistic. Max Von Shrek is truly repulsive while Lugosi seems stiff and almost comical at times. Klaus Kinski nails the role while Oldman (maybe it was Coppola's fault) is more like "Count Liberace". As far as supporting roles go, if you look at the actors playing Lucy, Renfield and Harker there is no comparison, Murneau and Herzog have stronger casting. I probably shouldn't have watched the films in this order because I used to love the original Dracula and I dig Tod Browning and "Freaks" and all (check out Herzog's ode to Browning entitled "Even Dwarfs Started Small") but from the script to lighting to props (i.e., the bats in Browning's Dracula suck and Coppola's are overblown), the "Nosferatu's" are superior. I'm gonna have to see every flick about "Drac" ever made in the next few months (can't wait for the 70's trash pics) to give a fair comparison but for now, this is my two cents. As far as this DVD set and the rest of the films it features are concerned, I think the "Moster Collection" sets are still cool and the films may range from sorta scary to downright silly, but they're neat additions to the collection.
I never drink... wine! But this will make me start!
Transylvania's most famous citizen, Count Dracula burst onto the scene with the 1931 Classic Horror film. It was not Dracula's first film appearance; that may be credited to NOSFERATU, an unauthorized telling. But this film version, with Bela Lugosi as the title character defined the role. Ironically, his physicality so closely associated with the Vampire is far from Bram Stoker's description, a far more grotesque appearance. But, that doesn't matter. Bela is Dracula, and others will try to repeat it as will be seen in this DVD set..
DRACULA (1931) 5*'s The story follows Dracula as he moves from Transylvania to London, dragging along three coffins, and leaving a slew of victims along the way. The story focuses on his time with Dr. Seward's family, most notably Jonathan Harker, Mina and Lucy. Eventually, Van Helsing enters the picture and quickly has Dracula's number, performs the whole stake in the heart thing, and its suddenly time for a sequel.
The film has a unique visual quality to it. Much of it is static, as if watching a stage play. But occasionally a moving camera is used to great effect. Many complain about the film's pacing, and it is indeed a slow pace, much of it devoted to close-up shots of Lugosi's scowl, his eyes expressed in highlight. Since the film is mostly without a musical score, I believe that contributes to the pacing issues. This may be attributed to Tod Browning's experience as a silent movie director.
DRACULA's DAUGHTER (1936) 4*'s A very unique sequel. Gone are the foggy vistas and dark stone environments, much of this film takes place in drawing rooms and brightly lit London apartment living.
The story picks up moments after the death of Dracula, reproduced from the first film. We are quickly informed of something we didn't know during Legosi's death 5 years earlier... when Dracula's daughter (statuesque Gloria Holden) arrives to take her Daddy's body, performing a spooky exorcism. Her objective? She wants to end the Dracula curse! She no longer wants to depend upon bloodsucking for her survival. Unfortunately for her (and any innocent bystanders), it is going to take more than an exorcism!
The film has a musical score unlike the original and the film deals a lot of corny comedy, care of a couple bumbling coppers. We now have some abstract settings as well, introduced in the opening credits and make sporadic appearances throughout. Director Lambert Hillyer shows a lonely street walker stares out at a cityscape representation, far from realistic. But this shows creative use of a small budget.
SON OF DRACULA (1943) 3*'s A very polarizing sequel. There seems to be two camps, one that likes the film for its classic status and the other camp, with no tolerance for Lon Chaney's portrayal of Count Alucard.
This tale changes the iconic atmosphere so accustomed to Dracula. Gone are the cold stone castles and carriages, but, it is the casting of Lon Chaney as our favorite vampire that places this film off in another world. His make-up and overall design is different, and unfortunately, his accent and Bela Lugosi's charisma are nowhere to be seen. Even stranger, and contrary to the film's title, it appears that he is portraying the same character, count Dracula, rather than a "son" of any sorts.
The story follows Dracula as he heads to the southern US where a morbid woman has sent for him as a potential husband. She leaves behind some suitors and he leaves behind some corpses. And in typical Universal Horror fashion, the vampire gets his in the end.
HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) 3*'s House of Dracula is a marketing bonanza and an exciting production for fans of many monster films... Unfortunately, it isn't a great movie. It ends up standing on its own purely for the gimmick of bringing together several monster stories into one.
We've got a `dapper' Dracula played this time by tall John Carradine. Although he's no Legosi, he is sufficient this round as the Vampire's goal is initially to have his curse put to an end. He approaches Doctor Edelmann, a physician held in high regard and portrayed by Onslow Stevens. Another stricken soul, Larry Talbot, (Lon Chaney Jr. returning to his best role as the Wolf man) also seeks Edelmann's help. Coincidentally, Edelmann's castle is also the home of the muddy crypt of Frankenstein's Monster (Glenn Strange). To top it all off, Edelmann becomes a Jekyll and Hyde monster himself when he is infected with Dracula's tainted blood. (There's also a hunchbacked nursing assistant.. Don't ask.)
Yes, it's a mish-mash and the explanation never really works. But what it does do is put all these monsters in one film. Most exciting is giving Larry Talbot, the most tragic monster, a cure of sorts, showing a silver lining.
The UNIVERSAL LEGACY COLLECTION scores again with this great set. In addition to DRACULA, it also includes a running commentary, an optional musical score (that will annoy all purists), and a Spanish language version that many consider a better film, along with several documentaries of different lengths. But in addition to all that, the Disc Set also includes 3 sequels: Dracula's Daughter (1936), Son of Dracula (1943) and House of Dracula (1945).
Related DVD's Dracula - The Legacy Collection (Dracula / Dracula (1931 Spanish Version) / Dracula's Daughter / Son of Dracula / House of Dracula)
"It's alive! Alive!" shouts Colin Clive's triumphant Dr. Frankenstein as electricity buzzes over the hulking body of a revived corpse. "In the name of God now I know what it's like to be God!" For years unheard, this line has been restored, along with the legendary scene of the childlike monster tossing a little girl into a lake, in James Whale's Frankenstein, one of the most famous and influential horror movies ever made. Coming off the tremendous success of Dracula, Universal assigned sophomore director Whale to helm an adaptation of Mary Shelley's famous novel with Bela Lugosi as the monster. When Lugosi declined the role, Whale cast the largely unknown character actor Boris Karloff and together with makeup designer Jack Pierce they created the most memorable monster in... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Colin Clive - Mae Clarke - Boris Karloff Director(s): James Whale DVD Release Date: Released the 27 April 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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What famous horror classic, panned by reviewers upon its initial release in December of 1941, looks better and better every year? THE WOLF MAN, starring Claude Rains, Ralph Bellamy, Evelyn Ankers, and Lon Chaney Jr. as the hapless Larry Talbot.
The story is a familiar one: Larry, the son of esteemed Sir John (Rains) returns home to Wales after many years in America, is bitten by a werewolf (well played by Bela Lugosi), and becomes a werewolf himself. What's extraordinary is the fact that the film can be so effective today.
The biggest reason for this is the acting. Some classic films, pre-Actor's Studio, look pretty pathetic when it comes to realistic characterization. Not so THE WOLF MAN. Curt Siodmak's excellent screenplay (likened to a Greek Tragedy) provides... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Claude Rains - Warren William Director(s): George Waggner DVD Release Date: Released the 27 April 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Eagarly with anticipation I waited for Halloween night to watch "The Mummy"! To my horror, I must have purchased the one defective copy of the Legacy Collection The Mummy, for it was not on disc one or disc two. It's just non-existant!
After spending $23 for this DVD, I'm sorely disappointed with the set. More Info about this DVD Director(s): Christy Cabanne DVD Release Date: Released the 19 October 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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For being a film from 1933, The Invisible Man is a very good film. This DVD collection contains four other movies and a documentary.
The Invisible Man itself is not quite as good as its successors, however, it is well written and at times surprisingly original. The drawbacks are the Innkeeper's wife, who was (according to the documentary) hired for the entire reason I did not like her: she overreacts to everything. She's superstitious, overly suspicious of anyone, and screams an annoying scream that drives even the other prople in the inn batty. There is some mild humor and a bit of drama in The Invisible Man and Claude Rains does a passable job, with that voice that just creeps under your skin...
As one of the six "Legacy" collections featuring the popular Universal monsters, the Creature set has some distinctly unique features. In one way, it's the sparsest collection, with only three movies, but it also is the only one with commentaries on all the films. Perhaps more importantly is the nature of the Creature himself. While the other monsters are either purely supernatural (Dracula, the Wolf Man), purely man-made (Frankenstein's monster, the Invisible Man) or a combination of the two (the Mummy), only the Creature is a natural creature.
What also stands out in the Creature movies is that humanity in general comes off as the bad guys and the Creature is the most sympathetic figure. Acting in a generally defensive manner, the Creature is subjected to greater and... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Richard Carlson - Julie Adams Director(s): Jack Arnold DVD Release Date: Released the 19 October 2004 Usually ships in 24 hours
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