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| Available at Amazon.com |
Fox wasn’t a studio known for horror. During the golden years of black and white cinema, they never delved deeply into the fright genre like Universal with its classic monsters. Fox Horror Classics Collection, Vol. 2 brings together a trio of films that put a chill in the audience without making them die of shock. Chandu the Magician, Dr. Renault’s Secret and Dragonwyck aren’t conventional horror films. There’s no gore or screams, but they do star Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi in creepy roles. And you won’t forget J. Carrol Naish’s haircut.
Chandu the Magician (1932 – 71 minutes) is what happens when you give a B-movie script a big budget. Chandu (Edmund Lowe) is a white guy who learned magic from the Indian yogis. He puts these skills to work when the devious Bela Lugois steals an inventor and his evil beam that can wipe out humanity. The inventor won’t crack so Bela tortures his family to learn how to operate the machine. The effects displayed in this film are eye-popping for the time. The Pyramid set is more complicated than what Universal used in The Mummy. No optical tricks can overcome Edmund Lowe’s extraordinarily bland performance. He has all the charisma of the doltish rich guy who loses the girl to the hero at the end of a romantic comedy. Luckily Bela’s evil charisma more then overcomes the weak hero. Oscar winning cinematographer James Howe (Hud) makes this film look so much better than the usual serial adventure.
Dr. Renault’s Secret (1942 – 58 minutes) is hailed as Fox’s first real horror film. This is more of a mad scientist film that plays toward the mystery genre. The audience keeps wanting to know what is the good doctor’s secret? Not to give it completely away: the doctor wants to prove Darwin’s theory of evolution with the help of Noel (J. Carrol Naish), his friendly assistant. This was the final film for Harry Lachman who had directed the final four Charlie Chan films for Fox. This explains why it plays like a “who done it” rather than a “run for the hills, the monsters are coming” film. Noel looks like Phil Hartman’s Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer character with the thick black wig and putty face.
Dragonwyck (1946 – 102 minutes) is Vincent Price in his prime. He’s a rich landowner who invites a poor distant cousin (Gene Tierney) to stay at his Dragonwyck mansion to be a nanny. His wife is sickly and his daughter needs proper attention. The God-fearing Tierney enters a diabolical world of the rich. Price has a special ceremony for collecting from the tenant farmers that work his upstate New York property. The blending of the romance between Tierney and Price’s growing insanity is potent. Things get twisted when the wife dies and Price is free to consummate his desires for Tierney. The farmers revolt and Price snaps. This is a great Gothic romance film with the horror influence. This role sowed the seeds for all the Poe pictures Price did with Roger Corman for AIP. Keep your eyes open for Harry Morgan (Col. Potter on M*A*S*H*) as an upset tenant farmer.
None of these films are hardcore horror. Chandu is more playful than anything Bela Lugosi was making on the Universal lot with Boris Karloff. Little kids won’t be having too many nightmares about Dragonwyck. Dr. Renault’s Secret has the biggest shock moments as the mystery unravels. This is a trio of films that will please folks who enjoy vintage cinema. Dragonwyck still has the power to mesmerize a modern audience. This film and the astounding bonus features should be reason alone to pick up Fox Horror Classics Collection, Vol. 2. All three are classic titles worthy of being watched as Halloween season approaches. This trio is more treat than trick.
The video on all three films is 1.33:1 full frame. They did a superb job transferring and restoring the celluloid image. There’s a richness to the black and white. The three films feature Dolby Digital Mono soundtracks. Dragonwyck and Dr. Renault’s Secret also have Spanish dub tracks. Chandu has a commentary from Gregory William Mank, a Bela Lugosi biographer. He’s very informative and engaging. He lets us know that Chandu is slang for opium. He breaks down the trick photography. Dragonwyck features a track with historian Steve Haberman and Constantine Nasr, the DVD’s producer. They play let us know about various scenes that were cut out of the film. Alfred Newman’s Dragonwyck score has an isolated track for those who wish to purely enjoy his music without the dialogue getting in the way. The subtitles are in English, French and Spanish.
Horror’s Missing Link: Rediscovering Dr. Renault’s Secret (15:51) gives us a sense of how rare and special this film was. Plenty of historians and film critics delve into film’s production and the audience’s reaction. Turns out the story was based on a book by the writer of The Phantom of the Opera.
Restoration Comparison (1:20) lets you appreciate the 39 hours of digital restoration it took to fix up the film.
Trailer (1:02) asks “What weird terror struck once…twice…three times – in a strange scientist’s castle?”
Gallery of Advertisements, Lobby Cards and Production stills for Dr. Renault’s Secret
Masters of Magic: The World of Chandu (15:17) delves into the creation of the film. Turns out the Chandu was a major radio serial before Fox decided to make it a film. They breakdown of duties between co-directors Marcel Varnel and William Cameron Menzies.
Restoration Comparison (1:15) demonstrates how they spent 103 hours tweaking the film to get this digital transfer looking nice and rich.
Still Gallery contains dozens of promotional shots, production stills and portraits.
A House of Secrets: Exploring Dragonwyck (16:12) questions if it is a gothic romance or a horror film. Historians and Filmmakers discuss the production including how director Joseph L. Mankiewicz worked with producers Ernst Lubitsch and Darryl F. Zanuck.
Lux Radio Theater (59:37) is an audio version of the film with Vincent Price and Gene Tierney reprising their roles. These files should be stored on the DVD so you can transfer them to your iPod.
Lady Ester Screen Guild Players (29:43) has Vincent Price voicing a shorter take of the radio version with Teresa Wright filling in for Tierney.
Restoration Comparison (1:55) shows what they did with 71 hours of hard work on the picture.
Trailer (2:16) lets us know that the powerful and impacting moments of the novel will be in the movie.
Gallery featuring Advertising, U.K. Lobby Cards, Behind the scenes photos and production stills.
Between the low price and the numerous bonus features, Fox Horror Classics Collection, Vol. 2 is a must have for fans of the spooky and supernatural. Bela Lugosi and Vincent Price are impressive in their roles. You won’t be hiding your head under the sofa from the frights. Your eyes will be glued to the screen from the intriguing effects and chilling performances.
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Fox Home Entertainment presents Fox Horror Classics Collection, Vol. 2. Starring: Vincent Price, Bela Lugosi & J. Carrol Naish . Boxset Contents: 3 movies on 3 discs. Rating: Not Rated. Released on DVD: Sept 9, 2008. Available at Amazon.com
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