A Few Words About A few words about...™ Dragonwyck (1 Viewer)

[Robert Harris]

What an odd marketing decision.

Fox Horror Classics Vol. 2: Three films -

Chandu the Magician (1932), directed by Marcel Varnel and William Cameron Menzies, and starring Edmund Lowe, Bela Lugosi, Irene Ware and Henry B. Walthall;

Dr. Renault's Secret (1942), directed by Harry Lachman, and starring J. Carroll Naish, John Shepperd, Lynne Roberts and George Zucco...

and Dragonwyck (1946), based upon the current best selling novel by Anya Seton; the first directorial effort of the brilliant Joseph L. Mankiewicz; starring Gene Tierney, Walter Huston, Vincent Price and Anne Revere; score by Alfred Newman; Cinematography by Arthur Miller; produced by Ernst Lubitsch (who was originally set to direct).

I'm not saying that the other two are bad films, simply in a totally different class.

Which one doesn't fit?

It probably doesn't matter. What does is that Fox has finally released this brilliant film derived from a quality pre-print source.

Whether one considers this film as horror, gothic romance, noir or psychological suspense it matters not. You'll learn from the documentary featurette that the role played by Mr. Price was originally cast with Laird Cregar, and with Cregar's passing it went to Price, allowing him his first starring role. Also aboard is an isolated score track and commentary.

At under $13.99 street price for all three films, Dragonwyck alone is worth the price of admission.

Highly Recommended.

RAH

 

[John Hodson]

I'd never seen Dragonwyck and watched it last; it is a beautiful film, hints of Welles and Jane Eyre, more than a hint of things to come from the wonderful Vincent Price - Chandu the Magician is wonderfully kitsch, Dr. Renault's Secret wonderfully daft, Dragonwyck, despite best efforts in the featurette, is not 'horror', it's just wonderful.

The whole set is a tremendous bargain.

 

[Jeff Swindoll]

I just tell myself that Chandu and Renault's Secret are bonus features .

 

[Craig Beam]

I'm all over this. Should sit comfortably in the film noir/classic horror section of my collection....

 

[Dave B Ferris]

No kidding - at DVD Planet's retail store in Huntington Beach (California), the price is $12.96.

 

[Tom Kirk]

I've always wanted to see Dragonwyck so this is good news.
For years I've had it in my head that Lyndhurst, a wonderful mansion in Terrytown, was the filming location.
I can't find anything to corraberate that, but the location of the story is certainly meant to be a Hudson River estate.

 

[Richard--W]

Unless I'm mistaken Dragonwyck was shot entirely at the Fox studio. The mansion bears no resemblance to Lyndhurst:



The TV series Dark Shadows (1966-71) borrowed shamelessly from Dragonwyck, the novel and film. So far as I know House of Dark Shadows (1970) and Night of Dark Shadows (1972) are the only feature films ever shot at the Lyndhurst mansion and estate. Dan Curtis made extensive and effective use of it, a beautiful location for a gothic film. The mansion is also open to tourists, although the tour guides never mention either film as they escort you through the house and grounds.

Check out the Lyndhurst Estate website Lyndhurst - A National Trust Historic Site