Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to In The Balcony. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Plus, you'll be eligible for the monthly $1 million prize. (Not really.)

Join our community!

If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
The New Universal Horror set; what's the verdict on the transfers...
Topic Started: Oct 3 2007, 03:25 PM (681 Views)
Inspector Carr
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Considering I am at a loss without this set for the moment....I am curious if any of you balconeers have had a chance to take a look....I am most interested in the quality of "Horror Island" which has never been released commercially and for years I have only had 16mm transfers (some better than others) I think a little feedback on the whole sets would be beneficial for all......

Posted Image
"Life is a Crapshoot however you need a pair of dice to participate"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
A review is going up this weekend, with screen grabs.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Black Tiger
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Horror Island was a fun B-movie mystery. Dick Foran is always fun to watch.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JazzGuyy
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
I wouldn't go that far.
TANSTAAFL!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mort bakaprevski
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
Well, how far would you go???
"Nov Shmoz Ka Pop."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
You guys are KILLING ME.

The '41 Black Cat, Horror Island, Night Monster... I've never seen any of 'em, and I wanted to debut one on FNF in a coupla weeks, and I considered them all carefully and elected Horror Island as likely to be the best... Is that not right? Somebody, anybody, talk me into one over the others!
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Inspector Carr
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
Horror Island is a fun little "old dark house on an island" story and would be great to review it only because of it's rarity of never being available commercially either on tape or DVD. Black Cat has it's fair share of comedy moments so I would classify it along the lines of Hope's Cat and the Canary. Night Monster would be the one I would recomend it has a great deal of creepy moments however let me warn you LG Lugosi is poorly used in this film, though they always show him either on the box art on the DVD set and in particular the VHS release of the film


Posted Image
"Life is a Crapshoot however you need a pair of dice to participate"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
mort bakaprevski
Member Avatar
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
I agree with the Inspector. NIGHT MONSTER is a nifty effort from Ford Beebe (produced & directed). I think you'll be surprised at how effectively the cessation of night sounds can produce a feeling of dread!!
"Nov Shmoz Ka Pop."
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Inspector Carr
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
And it was one of those few roles for Sweedish Actor Nils Asther after his early stardom in the 1930's (hey he also wears a turban like a tall Sabu)
"Life is a Crapshoot however you need a pair of dice to participate"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Johnny Sokko
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
I've been drooling over this set since word of it came out.

Horror Island- a mixture of 40's style mystery and comedy.A one legged crook.A broke ship captain.a gorgeous 'Dame'.A mansion on a secluded island.Who could ask for more?

Man Made Monster-Lon Chaney Jr. electrified!! a pretty rare Chaney film.

Black Cat-probably my favorite of the bunch.Bela Lugosi Excellent film.If my memory is right it has Gale Sondergaard who played the medium in Abbot and Costello's 'Time of thier Lives'

Night Monster-Another Lugosi film.This is a very over looked film.

Captive Wild Woman-A hairy woman goes wild! with Evelyn Ankers.I believe this is the first film of a set of three.The two others being 'JUNGLE WOMAN' and 'JUNGLE CAPTIVE'.All minor films but well worth the time to watch.

My vhs copies of these films are worn out.Best Buy does have it up on thier site to order.Cant wait till it gets to me. little luck "House of Horrors"1946 with Martin Kosleck and Rondo Hatton and the other two 'Jungle Women' films will be on next years 'Collection'.

But well worth the price for 'The Black Cat' alone.
Trust me folks...Universal has tons of these films laying around in the vault we've all forgotten about.

A few more i'd love to see put out [not sure about all them being Universal]
Cat Girl 1957
Cat Creeps 1946
The Mad Ghoul 1943
Island of Lost Souls 1932
Shadow of the Cat 1961- this maybe a Hammer film
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
You like cat movies, do ya?

Cat Girl: This was a British film picked up for release here by AIP. I tried to get it out on DVD, but there's a rights tie-up.
Cat Creeps 1946: Universal
The Mad Ghoul 1943: Universal
Island of Lost Souls 1932: Paramount film now owned by Universal
Shadow of the Cat: No idea

P.S. My guess is that if there's a vol. 2 next year, it'll contain The Strange Case of Dr. Rx, The Mad Ghoul, House of Horrors (with Rondo Hatton), The Spider Woman Strikes Back, and The Mad Doctor of Market Street. Or maybe another Captive Wild Woman picture, or The Cat Creeps.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Johnny Sokko
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
"Cat Girl: This was a British film picked up for release here by AIP. I tried to get it out on DVD, but there's a rights tie-up."

Gravy, I did not know you were involved in such things.Whatever it is you do, keep up the good work.Its a Honor to know someone who tries to bring lost and great films back to life.

Cat Girl is actually a very good film.Minor but a blast to watch.


"My guess is that if there's a vol. 2 next year, it'll contain The Strange Case of Dr. Rx, The Mad Ghoul, House of Horrors (with Rondo Hatton), The Spider Woman Strikes Back, and The Mad Doctor of Market Street. Or maybe another Captive Wild Woman picture, or The Cat Creeps. "

Dont say that to me.Do you know what it is for a man to lust after something he cant touch? some of those films i've never even heard of.


"Shadow of the Cat: No idea"
I'm pretty sure this is Hammer under a different studio name.And is an excellent film if you can find it.My copy is pretty beat up.

I love finding these obscure horror and scifi films.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
kirgo2
Balcony Gang, Foist Class
[ *  *  * ]
I've really been enjoying this set as it has brought back many memories of staying up late on a Friday night and watching "Shock Theatre". Some random thoughts...

I was around 6 or 7 years old and remember crying at the conclusion of "Man Made Monster" when I first saw it. My Mom (who was quite a movie buff) consoled me as it concluded...watching it again allowed me to recall that special moment.

The original "Shock Theatre" package contained Universal "B" films that were not really "monster" movies. I can remember being disappointed in the Inner Sanctum entries and "Night Key" (although I enjoy them today). For some reason, I really liked "Horror Island" and watched it every time it aired. What a great cast of old pros...some of my first exposures to people like Iris Adrian, Hobart Cavanaugh and Walter Cattlett.

Locally, our "Shock Theatre" package contained some non-horror "B" movies like "Sealed Lips" with William Gargan and "Chinatown Squad" with Lyle Talbot. Were these shown in other markets as well? I can remember really disliking these titles then...I sure wish I could see them now.

Finally, I watched "The Black Cat" this morning. Man, did Broderick Crawford work hard on this one! It's like he's auditioning for a Columbia two-reeler...not that that's a bad thing. I recently watched "All the King's Men" and this was fun to see Crawford in "manic" mode. Has anyone noticed Crawford's quick aside to Basil Rathbone when they find a clue near one of the bodies? I don't want to give it away if you've not watched the film yet. It made me laugh out loud.

I'm looking forward to watching "Night Monster" which I've never seen and "Captive Wild Woman".
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Inspector Carr
Member Avatar
Charter Member
[ *  *  * ]
kirgo2
Oct 7 2007, 04:09 AM
I'm looking forward to watching "Night Monster" which I've never seen

You will enjoy it. Personally I feel it is one of the better 1940's efforts by Universal. very atomospheric and creepy........
"Life is a Crapshoot however you need a pair of dice to participate"
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Laughing Gravy
Member Avatar
Look for In The Balcony on Facebook!
[ *  *  * ]
Review and screen grabs are up at www.inthebalcony.com
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Shock Theatre · Next Topic »
Add Reply