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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Fox
EAN: 0024543466796
Format: Box set, Black & White, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, Restored, Subtitled, NTSC
Label: 20th Century Fox
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageEnglishSubtitledFrenchSubtitledSpanishSubtitledSpanishDubbed
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
MPN: 2246679
Number Of Items: 3
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: October 09, 2007
Running Time: 224 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: January 19, 1944
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 10/09/2007 Rating: Nr
Amazon.com:
This three-disc collection of vintage suspense from the Fox vaults not only presents three atmospheric and underrated thrillers in sparkling remastered formats, but also serves as a long-overdue tribute to the talents of director John Brahm and actor Laird Cregar, who stars in two of the three films. 1944's The Lodger is probably the best-known of the three; it's a remake of a 1926 Alfred Hitchcock film and stars Cregar as a mysterious house guest who may be Jack the Ripper. Cregar is top-billed in 1945's Hangover Square as another psychologically tormented soul; here he's a concert pianist (Bernard Herrmann composed the film's stunning concerto) who flies into a psychotic rage at the sound of a dissonant chord. And 1942's The Undying Monster is the "truest" horror title in the collection due to its werewolf plotline, but there's more than a touch of detective drama (and scientific procedural) in its frames as well. All three pictures are distinguished by German-born director Brahm, whose expressionistic visual style and emphasis on psychological terror over physical frights help to set these films apart from the monster-driven horror films coming from Universal at the same time. He's aided considerably by Cregar, who set the standard for movie madmen for decades to come. In addition to their stunning remastering, all three films feature in-depth featurettes on their principal players and histories. Concerto Macabre: The Films of John Brahm traces the director's offbeat career (after making an impact with the three films featured here, he concentrated almost exclusively on TV, where his output included stellar episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits), while The Tragic Mask: The Laird Cregar Story explores the oversized actor's struggle with typecasting and his homosexuality. The Lodger gets its own making-of documentary, The Man in the Attic, which explores Brahm's stunning visual compositions and Cregar's intense performance in detail. Trailers and advertising galleries for all three pictures are included, as are two complete radio adaptations of The Lodger and Hangover Square, both starring Vincent Price, who became Fox's in-house heavy after Cregar's untimely death at 31. Commentary on Hangover Square by film historians Richard Schickel and Steve Haberman with cast member Faye Marlowe, and James Ursini and Alain Silver on The Lodger, round the extras on this chill-filled set. -- Paul Gaita
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Three really good films. All great stories, all done with powerful story telling. This is a good additon to a DVD horror collection. Even my mother, who's not into Horror, loved "The Undying Monster".
Classics you'll enjoy. Beautful transfers.
Rating: -
HANGOVER SQUARE is not only a showcase for Laird Cregar's talent, but one of the most gorgeous films of tragic star Linda Darnell. These three movies are classic Hollywood in the '40's, and fun to experience---they also have typically 1940's "dark" themes, and stunning production values.
UNDYING MONSTER stars the unique talent Heather Angel, a wonderful British actress made famous by her role as the suicidal mother in Alfred Hitchcock's LIFEBOAT.
Rating: -
If you admire good acting, directing and cinematography, this is a good movie to watch. It combines all of those elements. Fox is to be congratulated for making a great transfer as the picture is sharp and the lighting is outstanding.
To me, "Hangover Square" was easily the best of three films offered here in this "Horror Classics Collection," so I'll limit my reivew to it. That's not to trash the other two films, by the way. They can stand on their own, too.
As for HS,, the story settles in for awhile and you have to stick with it. If you're used to modern movies, you'll get bored but if you hang around "Hangover Square" to where the main figure commits his second crime, the rest of the film gets better and better from that point. So does the direction and the photography. Kudos to Director John Brahm for a variety of interesting angles, from floor level to above-ceiling, through peep holes and anywhere else he could think of to shoot the scene.
If you're a fan of film noir, Cinematographer Josesph LaShelle's work here will keep you enthralled. Once he gets rolling, scene after scene is jaw-dropping in his array of lights and shadows - superb stuff. These are really mysteries, more than horror films.
Laird Cregar is mesmerizing as "George Harvey Bone," a demented composer who, upon hearing discordant notes, literally goes insane and gets violent, intending to choke the life out of the last person who got him upset. What a shame the young Cregar never lived to see his great performance on screen. (Check out the 20-minute bonus feature of Cregar's career on this disc; it's fascinating.)
The fact that the actor is still talked about in reverent tones in Hollywood some 60 years after his death, is a testimony to his acting prowess. particularly since his career was so short. Linda Darnell adds a lot of sex appeal and evilness to "Hangover Square" and George Sanders - surprise - plays a good guy. How often do you see that?
The finale in here also is incredible - one you are guaranteed to remember!
Rating:  -
If you buy this DVD set expecting blood and guts films something along the lines of "Friday the 13th", you'll be sorely disappointed. These are more in the thriller vein with a dash of film noir. Featuring the much underrated Laird Cregar (in two of the three films in the package), I think Hangover Square is the best one included. The direction and photography are top notch. For me, the extra feature biography of Cregar was well worth the price of the box set. Anyone who is interested in film noir or films of the early 1940s would enjoy all three films. Happy I bought it; well worth the price.
Rating: -
3 films from the 20th Century Fox vaults that i'm proud to add to my dvd collection. Two of the films, The Lodger and Hangover Square, features the very underrated Laird Cregar in what I believe were his only 2 starring roles. What a fantastic actor this gentleman was and thankfully with the release of this box set, will always be. Other reviews have revealed the films storylines so I won't go into that. IMO Mr. Cregars own tortured private life spills over into his acting in both films which also adds a note of sadness and sympathy to both performances. With beautiful leading ladies, Merle Oberon in The Lodger and Linda Darnell in Hangover Square plus the exquisite b/w photography of foggy victorian England make both of these films a winner in my book.I also enjoyed the commentary of Hangover Square featuring the second leading lady of that film, Faye Marlowe. The only other work I have seen Miss Marlowe in is Fox's 1945 hit Junior Miss with Peggy Ann Garner. It's a treat to hear her take on the studio system and her very short film career. Not to mention what a lovely young lady she was. The third film in this box set is one I had never seen or even heard of. The Undying Monster. A "B" picture that is as classy looking as any "A" production I have seen. The film stars "B" leading actors James Ellison and Heather Angel. Miss Angel is one of my favorites who also had good roles in The Informer, Pride and Prejudice and Cry Havoc. Spooky atmosphere, a gothic castle on a cliff and first rate b/w photography imo make this little gem as good as any of the classic horror flicks that Universal was making at the time. I highly recommend this set to add to your own collection. They truly don't make them like this anymore but thanks to dvd can be enjoyed over and over again.
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