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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 0012569792876
Feature: Doctor X/The Return of Dr. X Mark of the Vampire/The Mask of Fu Manchu Mad Love/The Devil Doll Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR Age: 012569792876 UPC: 012569792876 Manufacturer No: 79287
Format: Box set, Black & White, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
Item Dimensions: 60
Label: Warner Home Video
Languages: CzechOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 1.0EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 1.0EnglishSubtitledSpanishSubtitledFrenchSubtitled
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
MPN: 79287
Number Of Items: 3
Publisher: Warner Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 10, 2006
Running Time: 412 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: December 02, 1939
Features:- Doctor X/The Return of Dr. X Mark of the Vampire/The Mask of Fu Manchu Mad Love/The Devil Doll Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR Age: 012569792876 UPC: 012569792876 Manufacturer No: 79287
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Product Description:
Doctor X/The Return of Dr. X Mark of the Vampire/The Mask of Fu Manchu Mad Love/The Devil DollFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR UPC: 012569792876 Manufacturer No: 79287
Amazon.com:
Universal ruled the monster movie in the 1930s, but this hugely enjoyable DVD set offers a counter-argument from MGM and Warners. Its half-dozen horror titles run the gamut from classic vampirism to baroque romanticism, and gather horror luminaries such as Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Peter Lorre.
The greatest film of the bunch is Mad Love (1935), a rich and oft-imitated bit of perversity with a deeply romantic streak. Concert pianist Colin Clive (from Frankenstein) has his hands wrecked, and his actress wife (Frances Drake) turns to the obsessive Dr. Gogol (Lorre), who has long worshipped her. But the doctor replaces the pianist's hands with those of a murderous circus knife-thrower! Superbly directed by Karl Freund (The Mummy), this eerie film is shaped by Lorre's subtle, uncannily sympathetic performance.
Karloff reigns in The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932), which offers more minute-for-minute lurid action than any other movie in this set. Connoisseurs of horror will be well pleased by the roster: a crocodile pit, deadly snakes and spiders, poisons, various forms of torture including a man strapped beneath a giant reverberating bell, and Fu Manchu's sexy daughter (Myrna Loy). MGM designer Cedric Gibbons runs wild with a wonderfully daffy Deco-meets-Orientalism scheme. There are some undeniably racist epithets thrown in the direction of the evil Dr. Fu Manchu, but he gives as good as he gets, and the character is ultimately as irresistible as any evil mastermind. Karloff gives one of his juiciest performances ever.
Doctor X (1932) is presented in a recently-restored 2-strip Technicolor process (a lot of throbbing greens and oranges), which gives the movie an antique appeal. Doctor Xavier (Lionel Atwill) brings his colleagues together to figure out which of them might be the Full Moon Killer; daughter Fay Wray and reporter Lee Tracy (a typical fast-talking role for this fun actor) tag along. Michael Curtiz directed; he also did the similar Mystery of the Wax Museum, again with Atwill (available on the House of Wax disc). The Return of Doctor X (1939) is more of a curio than a full-fledged horror movie, as it has Humphrey Bogart, resplendent in a Bride of Frankenstein hair streak, in a rare supernatural outing.
The other two films are directed by Tod Browning. Mark of the Vampire (1935) is a clear example of MGM trying to ride the Dracula gravy train, with plenty of smoky graveyards, scuttling possums, and Lugosi in a tuxedo striding through giant spider webs. Lugosi is peripheral here, as Lionel Barrymore hunts down the blood-suckers. It's slow going, but the touches are wonderful and there's a spooky vampiress. Browning makes The Devil-Doll (1936) a memorably oddball thriller, with Barrymore a wronged man seeking revenge--and exploiting a device that allows people to be miniaturized. All the films have lively commentary tracks, except Devil-Doll. Overall this is a very neat package; even the inclusion of Return of Doctor X makes sense as a pairing with its original. MGM and Warners seemed embarrassed by the horror genre in the thirties, but these examples prove they could rise to Universal's game. --Robert Horton
Average Rating: 
Rating: -
I love these classic horror movies and it is a delight to see such big name stars in them..Bogart was the biggest shock and he gave it his best in the unusual part!!! It is money well spent and very reasonable at that..Thank you amazon..once again..
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The Hollywood Legends of Horror Collection is worth every one of the twenty seven hundred pennies that go into its purchase. For true fans of vintage horror or those looking for a perspective on it, you cannot ask for a better sampling. Usually in boxes of three or more films, you encounter some chaff, but in this case, all of these movies are worth watching, all of them an insight into a different time or career. The beautifully tinted Doctor X is at once simple and convoluted, deviant and innocent, the story of a neurologist under police investigation who gathers his colleagues to figure out which of them is a cannibal killer. This is livened up by an unnecessary reporter character and the divinely gorgeous Fay Wray. Ghastly subject matter combined with Monogram style tea parlor intrigue makes for a winner. On the same disc is Return of Doctor X, which has nothing to do with the first film, but showcases a phenomenally creepy undead Bogart. Undead Bogart. Are you buying this yet?
Also included is the nigh peerless Mad Love. Colin Clive, famous for his (mediocre) portrayal of Doctor Frankenstein plays a pianist who loses his hands. Peter Lorre plays the schizoid surgeon who replaces Clive's hands with a criminal's and comes up with a plan to win over the man's beautiful actress wife, with whom he is in love and sexually obsessed. Under the watchful eyes of Karl Freund and Greg Toland, this is stunning to look at and becomes a fantastic meditation on art, love and madness. Criterion stuff. On the same disc is The Devil Doll in which Lionel Barrymore in sinister old lady drag tries to save his reputation by having the men who sent him up the river killed by tiny homonculi. Are you buying this yet?
The final disc might be the least of the set, but it is still relevant and cool. Mark of the Vampire is a hackneyed retelling of London After Midnight and a masterclass in illogic. But Bela Lugosi's silent vampire and Carroll Borland's vampiress are images that will remain with you forever as symbols of the power of early horror. Also on this disc is yellow-peril pulp actioner The Mask of Fu Manchu. It might be politically incorrect, but I like it when Boris Karloff is Chinese. If somebody sold a "Boris Karloff is Chinese box set", I would buy it as soon as gaps appeared in the oubliette of poverty in which I live. Boris Karloff is Chinese, Peter Lorre is insane, Humphrey Bogart is undead. Halloween is coming. You need this.
Rating: -
The only film in this set whichI have not yet seen is Karloff's "The Mask of Fu Manchu," so I shall not comment on it as yet. The other films are at least enjoyable, some great, but my main interest in purchasing this set was Bogart's "The Return of Dr. X." Legend has it that this was Jack Warner's punishment for Bogie's protests against being typecast by the studio. I remember seeing it on TV, on a program called "Chiller Theater," and it impressed me from the very start, not merely because of Bogie's offbeat role as the murderous-medico-brought-back-to-life. It is in fact a taut, fast-moving and chilling tale, for the most part very well acted (superbly by John Litel as the well-meaning if obsessed hematologist who revives Dr. Xavier (Bogart), and stupendously by Bogart as the cruel, chilling child killer physician who ruthlessly murders people for his continued existence through blood transfusions). The only weakness is Wayne Morris' endlessly bumbling and wisecracking reporter, a concept that by 1939 has been done to death as an obnoxious stereotype. The musical score is outstanding, tense and atmospheric; I wish that the composer had been mentioned in the film credits. Anyway, this ia a film that has been neglected and underrated far too long; I am glad it is avaliable so that viewers can make their own judgments about its merit.
Rating: -
In the early 30's, Universal was the leading exponent of the horror genre on film with such classics as "Dracula", "Frankenstein" and "The Mummy". MGM and Warner Brothers also cashed in on the craze and the results are really good. Utilizing such iconic stars as Lionel Barrymore, Peter Lorre (in his first US film) and even Universal legends Karloff and Lugosi the companies made some fine entries into the genre. The weakest is DR. X. Using a gimmicky 2 strip color format, the print transfer is the worst of all the 6 films. The movie itself is dull and stagy despite the efforts of "scream queen" Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill. WB fared much better later with a follow up THE RETURN OF DR. X using a relatively unknown Humphrey Bogart in white face and skunk streaked hair.
Lugosi and Barrymore turn up in a clever MGM Vampire tale with a twist THE MARK OF THE VAMPIRE. Lugosi of course plays the vampire but the movie sports one of the greatest warped endings in movies.
Karloff is always great and breathes life into "FU MANCHU". I believe this was the first film incarnation and if not, it is certainly the best. All the predecessors pale under Karloff's brilliant understated performance. Watch for a young Myrna Loy as Fu Manchu's equally villianous daughter.
The best movie of the lot and the worst titled DEVIL DOLL, stars again, the great Lionel Barrymore in drag no less as a Devil's Island escapee who disguises himself to exact vengence on those who sent him up the river. This is one of his finest performances in a career built on great acting. A young Maureen O'Sullivan of TARZAN fame appears as he bitter daughter.
All the movies are two on one disc (3 total) and housed in a box. They are not dual layered, both movies play on the same side as none of them are much longer than an hour. The transers considering the age (with the exception of Dr. X) are great as is the sound quality. There is however little to no bonus material (some theahtrical trailers).
The movies were directed by several horror greats, Tod Browning, Karl Freund, et. al and for a nice price you have so many Hollywood legends in one package (Karloff, Lugosi, Barrymore, Atwill, Jean Hersholt, Myrna Loy, Maureen O'Sullivan, Humphrey Bogart--well, you can't ask for more than that now can you!
Rating:  -
This collection from the vaults of Warner Brothers and MGM, studios more famous for other film genres, contains some great stuff but it could have been better with a few changes.
First, the good - the prints are generally excellent, the theatrical trailers are included and the commentary for "Fu Manchu" is outstanding, with "Mad Love" and "Doctor X" close behind. "Mad Love" benefits from stunning camera work, not surprising when the director is the famous cameraman Karl Freund.
Second, the mediocre - the print of "Doctor X", an early example of 2 strip technicolour, is probably as good as it gets but that still does not make it clearly visible. "The Return of Doctor X" is a B film and the plot is dumb in a typical B way. It does not really justify a commentary except that the director was still alive so we get a few first hand comments from the geriatric Vincent Sherman.
Third, the bad - "The Mark of the Vampire" was butchered before release and the film is arrant nonsense, a remake of a lost Lon Chaney film. The theatrical trailer promises much more than the film delivers. The commentary attached to the film is appalling so at least the commentators have matched the film.
As for the films themselves, "Mad Love", "Devil Dolls" and "Doctor X" are ripping yarns with excellent casts and good scripts. "Fu Manchu" is an outrageous pre-code gem and best, of all, the DVD has been cut from the original print with all the censored bits restored.
The Set is good value but I would have flicked "Mark of the Vampire" and included Michael Curtiz's "The Walking Dead", a far superior film. Also, a good commentary about "Devil Dolls" would have rounded out the set nicely.
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