Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection region 2 or 4 w/e the same as Region 1? (1 Viewer)

[Eric Emma]

I have a region free player, I've never use that feature, I just upgraded the firmware and the guy got rid of the regionlocks so anyway... I want buy the Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection 8 disc set and I can get it for a lot cheaper if I buy the region 4 box set it comes in a coffin(I think it's region 2 and the guy got it wrong but w/e) is this the same? Are there any differences?

 

[Mark_vdH]

To my knowledge, there's one major difference.

On the R1 Dracula, the alternative Spanish version that was filmed at the same time (well, not exactly the same time of course ) with the same sets but with different cast & crew, is also featured on the disc.

Universal apparently didn't have the rights of the Spanish version in (some?) PAL countries, or maybe they just wanted to fit everything on a single layered disc, so the R2 and R4 (they're actually identical R2 and R4 encoded discs) versions don't have the Spanish version of Dracula.


I wanted to get Dracula, Frankenstein and Bride Of Frankenstein when the R1 set went OOP, but - in retrospect very fortunately - was only able to get a copy of Dracula at that time.

 

[oscar_merkx]

I have the R1 Dracula which is absolutely stunning and indeed the Spanish version seems more vibrant

 

[John Hodson]

The slightly annoying thing about the R2 and R4 Dracula discs, as I said before, is that the commentary track is the same as the R1, and the Spanish version is constantly alluded to.

I really can't believe Universal will re-issue the discs stripped of the extras; why do that? It doesn't make any sense.

---
So many films, so little time...

 

[Vincent Matis]

I have the R1 Dracula which is absolutely stunning and indeed the Spanish version seems more vibrant

Yep indeed. But I found the character of Dracula to be more "menacing" in the US version.

Cheers,

Vincent

 

[Mark_vdH]

And one other (minor) thing, Eric:

The PAL versions (my copies are from Australia, so I don't know for sure about "European" copies) don't have inserts, the R1 dvd's do have inserts (with chapter listings)....

 

[Ruz-El]

Yep indeed. But I found the character of Dracula to be more "menacing" in the US version.

I agree, nothing compares to Bela Lugosi in his life defining roll. That said though, how about Renfield in the spanish version? I don't think I've seen such a psychotic over the top screaming crazy in any film that compares to the spanish Renfield!