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Posted: **Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:30 am**

...or Legacy Series.

Posted: **Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:25 pm**

DVD Times announces a special edition two disc Universal Legacy Series release of the Mummy on July 8th. This is great news because it is going to have a documentary about Universal Horror on the second disc.

Posted: **Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:41 pm**

It's a fine Kevin Brownlow documentary, but only great news for those not in possession of the 2006 75th anniversary DVD editions of DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN, which both feature the same documentary. Universal are certainly getting some mileage out of it.

Posted: **Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:45 pm**

I wonder if it's going to be new or the old Brownlow Universal Horror doc. My wager is that its the Brownlow, since it never seemed to get out on disc. I have a vhs from a TCM broadcast. It's pretty good.

I absolutely adore The Mummy. One of my favorite (and one of the strangest, most original, and difficult to classify) "fantastic" films of all time... more fantasy than "horror". You never even see a mummy w his wrappings walking around... save the two pieces of wrappings trailing behind and out the door while Bramwell Fletcher goes mad with insane laughter (and perfect diction). Even his slumming bohemian painter in Svengali (love this film) talks like... some kind of... perfect... diction guy.

Karl Freund, man. The Mummy & Mad Love. Nuff said.

EDIT: whoops reaky beat me to the guess.
I hear he was a pretty good photorapher as well. SOme film about a doorman at the Days Inn on the Lumpenstrasse.

EDIT#2: well now you know I dont have those HD-telecine reissue 2-disc sets of Frank & Drac. I own so many issues of these films I just couldnt spring for them... it's universal re-re-re-re-re-re-release strategy hell at it's most absurd.

Posted: **Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:48 pm**

I wish they would at least include the film sequels and supplements from previous releases if they expect us to keep repurchasing these.

Posted: **Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:10 pm**

So now that the new 2-disk edition of The Mummy is out, does anybody know how it compares to the Legacy Collection set?

For someone thinking about buying one or the other: Is the new one an improvement that makes it the choice for similar money? Or does having the sequels included make the Legacy Collection the better choice?

For what it may be worth relative to documentary overlap: I have the Legacy Collection sets of Frank and Drac (and Wolfman and Invisible Man), but *not* any of the other editions (such as the 75th Anniversary).

Posted: **Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:49 pm**

According to this thread at the CHFB, Universal have actually managed to crop the image more than on either of the earlier releases. Plus there's the UNIVERSAL HORROR documentary for the third time! The level of incompetence is staggering. Anyone looking forward to the WOLF MAN anniversary edition, with no doubt a fourth chance to see Brownlow's doc?

Posted: **Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:28 pm**

Thanks.

Posted: **Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:42 pm**

Incidentally, I've seen all three titles in this series in dump bins, brand new, sealed for $8 here in Canada.

Posted: **Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:06 pm**

They claimed that the recent, new "Legacy" Drac & Frankenstein rereleases were-- for the first time-- from new high definition transfers. I don't see that (or didnt see it when I held the sucker in my hands) specified on The Mummy's packaging (which, if not hd-sourced, would be a shame since it's always been my favorite of all the "original" universal monster films from the early 30's-- certainly the most unusual of the bunch. However as it stands now the only edition which I might consider picking up these new HD-transfered new editions of is Dracula.. since the older, extras loaded edition (with all the sequels including the sublime Dracula's Daughter, the package came out around the time of Van Helsing or wutever the frick they called the thing) transfer of the original film is abysmal, and -- believe it or not -- looks worse than my old MCA-Universal vhs edition of the film.

Gary's caps give a little bit of a sense of the improvement of the newer edition vs the old... but in motion the old one really was bad. (I'm also assuming the edition being compared to the new Legacy edition contains the same old transfer as was used in the old Legacy collection I'm talking about (which coincided w Van Helsing).

Posted: **Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:26 am**

Just received the Frankenstein Legacy Collection through the post from DVD Pacific. What a horrible box! It is also very worn and the plastic bits the discs are held in by are smashed and broken meaning that the discs fall about if the box is in upright position on a shelf. Always had a great service from DVD Pacific (and this isn’t bad service – it was very quick) but wondering if it’s worth bothering them for a replacement set – anyone had experience with DVD Pacific in connection with this sort of thing? The discs seem to play ok but just disappointed the box is such a wreck.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this question.

Posted: **Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:45 am**

Sheriff Chambers wrote:Just received the Frankenstein Legacy Collection through the post from DVD Pacific. What a horrible box! It is also very worn and the plastic bits the discs are held in by are smashed and broken meaning that the discs fall about if the box is in upright position on a shelf. Always had a great service from DVD Pacific (and this isn’t bad service – it was very quick) but wondering if it’s worth bothering them for a replacement set – anyone had experience with DVD Pacific in connection with this sort of thing? The discs seem to play ok but just disappointed the box is such a wreck.

DVD Pacific has nothing to do with it. This is a special packaging for this Legacy collection - they have hired dedicated monsters to individually smash the boxes!

Posted: **Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:20 pm**

Bad news regarding Universal horror for this year: the thread title says it all.

Posted: **Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:51 pm**

I'll say it for the last time...

Universal NEEDS to stop repackaging these films and simply release a FORD-AT-FOX mega set of their COMPLETE 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's horrors in one all-inclusive collection!!!

A giant box with slimline cases bearing original poster art, all extras previously attached to these films along with every single new supplement produced and no thinning or rehashing of content!

Every single monster movie and it's sequel need to be included. Including the latter b-grade cheapies that haven't made it out yet! And a nice book full of information with dates, filmography and production photos, stills, etc. should be included.

I would pay a thousand bucks for that if done right!

No stupid monster head packaging or van helsing promo trailers and crap. Just every single classic Universal horror film in a giant fucking box with original poster art and a shitload of special features!

It'd certainly make more sense than those retarded UA gift sets or superfluous MGM musical collections that seem to be pouring out of the floodgates as of recent!

Posted: **Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:49 pm**

At least if they don't want to release those films themselves, they could licence them to Kino, speaking of whom I'd like to see them reissuing The Old Dark House in the superior print which definitely exists: some footage is shown in the Branagh narrated documentary, the title of which escapes me just now. Of the titles outstanding, I'd most like to see THE ISLAND OF LOST SOULS and the Ray Milland film THE UNINVITED sounds interesting.

Posted: **Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:45 pm**

Mr Finch wrote:and the Ray Milland film THE UNINVITED sounds interesting.

The Uninvited is fantastic! And actually quite popular. How it's remained unreleased on DVD all these years is a mystery.

I'd still prefer to see Island of Lost Souls released first.

Posted: **Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:07 pm**

Here in Cambridge there'll be a film festival starting on September 18th, and in a Karloff strand they're showing THE OLD DARK HOUSE. The brochure states "Print source: Universal". Can't wait to see if this is a gorgeous 35mm print. I'm also ecstatic about the opportunity to see a double bill of THE BLACK CAT and BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN on a cinema screen.

Posted: **Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:29 pm**

There apparently IS a 35mm print of this film which has been discovered in the intervening period since the preservation of the public utilization of the Harrington 16mm personal copy, which is the source for the Kino dvd (and prev vhs) and which once was believed to be the sole extant print of this title. I believe it is the Eastman House which is the source-- or at least preservation location-- for this 35 which has since been discovered-- and exhibited at least once on the circuit. Whether or not this originally came FROM universal, or was uncovered elsewhere and then delivered to Uni as rights-holders, I'm not sure.

Does anyone know whether or not this thing has even been broadcast on tv?

Imagine Special Edition 2-disc CC's of a restored 35mm Old Dark House and Island of Lost Souls?

The mind reels... but since we know these two exist, and that there are no discs of these from 35, Universal is hugely remiss... unless Kino has renewed the rights on House, and an updated dvd is coming from them.

Hell if they did it for that halfass SHE-- which is fun, dont get me wrong, but its no masterpiece-- Kino can do it for House. And sooner or later, Souls must come out of limbo, either from Uni or CC. One or the other.

Posted: **Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:11 pm**

Shreck, there's a Library Of Congress 35 mm print, seen by many on this thread from the CHFB. It really does need a proper release - I think it vies with BRIDE for the title of Whale's masterpiece.

Posted: **Tue Sep 02, 2008 10:20 pm**

Interesting that Universal don't own the rights to the 35mm print and that licensing it was too costly for Kino. A CC release of the 35mm print would be a dream come true - although the R2 Network release does have a very good commentary by Kim Newman.

Posted: **Wed Sep 03, 2008 1:28 am**

Let's not forget MURDER BY THE CLOCK (1931) when compiling our wish list of Universal-owned Paramount titles. Great fun, but it's almost never shown; I don't think it's ever been on TCM.

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:51 am**

Specs from DVD Times:

Universal Studios Home Entertainment have announced the Region 1 DVD release of The Wolf Man (1941) Special Edition on 15th September 2009 priced at $26.98 SRP. The 1941 film by director George Waggner makes another appearance on DVD in the run-up to the new 2009 film starring Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving amongst others.

Previously released as part of their ‘Monsters collection’, this new 2-Disc Special Edition offers all the content of the previous release on Disc 1 (with added Spanish subtitles, and the loss of Production Notes and Cast & Crew Biographies). Disc 2 offers the Universal Horror documentary found on numerous releases from Universal (the 2-Disc SEs of the classic horrors Frankenstein, Dracula & The Mummy) and the Jack Pierce featurette that was on the recent SE of The Mummy (1932). The two other featurettes on the bonus disc appear to be new, but we could be wrong…

Disc 1: Main Feature

* Full Frame
* English DD2.0 Mono
* English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles
* Monsters by Moonlight
* The Wolf Man Archives
* Trailer Gallery
* Feature Commentary with Film Historian Tom Weaver

Disc 2: Extra Features

* The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
* Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney Jr.
* He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce
* Universal Horror (documentary narrated by Kenneth Branagh)

Posted: **Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:20 pm**

Given the upcoming remake this is hardly a surprise, but ... sheesh ... again?

Posted: **Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:52 am**

When you're feeling blue and need a laugh, look no further than Universal and their handling of their classic horror films..

Posted: **Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:18 am**

I would have expected a Blu-ray release for this, too bad only An American Werewolf in London is released. That's frankly the only good thing with most of these remakes: the originals get released on Blu-ray. But then again, Universal's handling of classic movies in HD isn't that great.

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