James Reader
Screenwriter
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2002
- Messages
- 1,465
Available in Australia is a Boris Karloff Trilogy (promisingly subtitled volume 1) - see here for the information via EzyDVD.
The disc includes 'The Black Cat', 'The Raven' and 'The Mummy'. While the writeup on the back of the case indicated that the Raven is the Roger Corman film from the mid-sixties, it is in fact, like 'The Black Cat' and 'The Mummy' a classic Universal Horror from the thirties.
Of course, Universal have chosen not to release any more of their classic horror titles this Halloween season. The Black Cat and The Raven are unavailable on DVD.
The films are in adequate condition - the sound on all three has an almost constant loud hiss; with the Black Cat perhaps being the worst offender. Those who complained about the print and sound quality of the last batch of Classic Monster DVDs may have a slightly harsher opinion, but I'm simply happy to have both unreleased films in my collection. Considering the disc costs less than £4.00 (aprox $5 US) who can complain that much?
However, looking at the case, I can see no evidence of a copyright for Universal, though it does state that 'the copyright proprietor has licensed the film...' without naming the company.
Is this release licensed from Universal Studios? Surely the films are not in the public domain, especially The Mummy?
Hopefully we'll see at least one more Karloff collection, and perhaps a Lugosi disc in the future - and more, top quality, feature packed Classic Monster releases from Universal themselves next year.
The disc includes 'The Black Cat', 'The Raven' and 'The Mummy'. While the writeup on the back of the case indicated that the Raven is the Roger Corman film from the mid-sixties, it is in fact, like 'The Black Cat' and 'The Mummy' a classic Universal Horror from the thirties.
Of course, Universal have chosen not to release any more of their classic horror titles this Halloween season. The Black Cat and The Raven are unavailable on DVD.
The films are in adequate condition - the sound on all three has an almost constant loud hiss; with the Black Cat perhaps being the worst offender. Those who complained about the print and sound quality of the last batch of Classic Monster DVDs may have a slightly harsher opinion, but I'm simply happy to have both unreleased films in my collection. Considering the disc costs less than £4.00 (aprox $5 US) who can complain that much?
However, looking at the case, I can see no evidence of a copyright for Universal, though it does state that 'the copyright proprietor has licensed the film...' without naming the company.
Is this release licensed from Universal Studios? Surely the films are not in the public domain, especially The Mummy?
Hopefully we'll see at least one more Karloff collection, and perhaps a Lugosi disc in the future - and more, top quality, feature packed Classic Monster releases from Universal themselves next year.
