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The Haunted Strangler (1958)
Topic Started: Nov 2 2007, 10:19 AM (218 Views)
Laughing Gravy
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The Haunted Strangler
Amalgamated/MGM, 1958
Directed by Robert Day

Starring Boris Karloff, Anthony Dawson, Jean Kent, and Vera Day

The 1950s was not a particularly good decade for Mr. Karloff; despite an audience reinterest in horror films that grew throughout the decade, giant bugs and sea monsters took precedence over gothic horrors. After a string of truly lousy films (thankfully, some of the most obscure of his career), including Monster of the Island, The Hindu, and Voodoo Island, Boris received a script written specially for him, Strangle Hold, about a novelist who reopens a long-closed file on a serial killer, only to discover that an innocent man was hanged and the real Haymarket Strangler still survives as a Jekyll-Hyde personality. He had to go to England, to his old friend Alex Gordon, to get financing, but the film was made and released there under the title Grip of the Strangler (a great title, connoting Karloff character's obsession, the Jekyll personna's tenuous grip on reality, and the Strangler's method of dispatching his victims) and here under the title The Haunted Strangler, where it played on a double-bill with Fiend without a Face.

This is an unusual picture, undeniably slow in spots and the hidden identity of the killer is revealed midway through, making the second half seem anti-climactic in some ways. But oh my gosh, check out Boris in the last 25 minutes of the film -- it seems impossible that this 70-year-old actor could summon up the strength to do what we see him doing onscreen. It's a great performance, and left me with even more admiration for his abilities as an actor.

The Criterion Collection offers more than 400 outstanding films from around the world; they're a prime source for cinematic masterpieces in amazing deluxe packages that set the standard for truly great DVD releases. So imagine our surprise when they released something called the "Monsters and Madmen" collection, with First Man Into Space, The Atomic Submarine, The Haunted Strangler, and another Karloff film, Corridors of Blood (1959). Now, nobody is going to call rank any of these films as among the greatest in history, but it's a nice little package with spectacular bonus material, including feature commentary, and arguably the greatest single presentation of Karloff material on DVD. Highly recommended, but don't expect Ran or Seven Samurai, okay?
"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
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Brother Voodoo
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It's a nice set, albeit a little pricey (c.80.00 Cdn), but at 20 per movie, it's a deal compared to other Criterions.
No real gems in the set, but no dogs either.
Yes, don't expect Seven Samurai, but nor are they the enigmas of the Criterion collection that Armageddon or The Rock are. I assume Michael Bay owns the company.
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The Batman
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Michael Bay may not own the Criterion company outright, Bro, but he surely owns a hefty amount of stock at least. Or has compromising pictures of their CEO. I mean, come on, THE ROCK?!? WTF?!?
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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Brother Voodoo
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The Batman
Nov 26 2007, 07:51 PM
Michael Bay may not own the Criterion company outright, Bro, but he surely owns a hefty amount of stock at least. Or has compromising pictures of their CEO. I mean, come on, THE ROCK?!? WTF?!?

man, next you're going to slam Ewe Bol.
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The Batman
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Brother Voodoo
Nov 26 2007, 11:55 PM
Ewe Bol.

Watch your language, this is a respectable site. :o :lol:
Always be yourself! Unless you can be Batman...then always be Batman!
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