Author Archives: chipkaufmann

Kino Lorber in partnership with Paramount has just released another title in an ongoing series of silent movies from the Paramount vaults which started back in 2017 with THE COVERED WAGON and BEGGARS OF LIFE. This time it’s William Wellman’s YOU NEVER KNOW WOMEN, an engaging comedy-drama that was his penultimate film before the monumentalContinue reading “YOU NEVER KNOW WOMEN (1926): This Silent Feature Is An Ideal Introduction To Silent Movies”

That was back in 1927. It remains one of the great anti-war films even though the war is World War I. It also marks the apex of the careers of its three stars: Clara Bow, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, and Richard Arlen. Buddy Rogers would later marry Mary Pickford and concentrate on Big Band music whileContinue reading “WINGS (1927): Winner Of The First Best Picture Oscar”

…has always been my take on this movie even when I first saw it as a child. I was fascinated by the Karloff character in the beginning and then felt sorry for him when I realized that he did it all for love. His hypnotic powers were awesome especially the shots of his eyes glowingContinue reading “THE MUMMY (1932): A Doomed Love Story With Horrific Overtones…”

No sooner had I finished writing a review of THE BORIS KARLOFF COLLECTION saying that someone should release THE BLACK ROOM on DVD when lo and behold here it is. The fact that it’s being issued by Sony means that it will use the best prints available which is great considering how often Boris isContinue reading “ICONS OF HORROR – BORIS KARLOFF: Ask And Ye Shall Receive”

“The Master Of Horror In His Most Frightening Roles!” claims the DVD box cover. Of the 5 films here only TOWER OF LONDON is a bonafide classic. More about that later. THE CLIMAX is Boris’ first film in color (which clearly shows his East Indian heritage) while two others (THE STRANGE DOOR, THE BLACK CASTLE)Continue reading “THE BORIS KARLOFF COLLECTION Is Worth Having For TOWER OF LONDON”

…this set should have included FIEND WITHOUT A FACE instead of THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE. It was made at the same time as the other three films by the same British production team (Richard Gordon/Amalgamated Productions), it also features Marshall Thompson making it a perfect companion piece to FIRST MAN INTO SPACE, and Criterion has alreadyContinue reading “MONSTERS & MADMEN Is A Nice Collection But…”

I have searched high and low for a high quality print of THE TERROR, a favorite of mine since I saw it back in 1963, but since it’s in the public domain, the numerous VHS and DVD copies have ranged from bad to worse. My search is finally over, for the print in this newContinue reading “THE TERROR (1963): Finally A Copy That Isn’t Terrible”

No other series from the Golden Age of TV had the impact on me that THRILLER did. This was in the early 1960s when your viewing choices were extremely limited. Fortunately the NBC affiliate was very close by so that we could get a clear sharp signal with our rabbit ear antennas (remember those?). IContinue reading “THRILLER: THE COMPLETE SERIES Is A Dream Come True BUT With Reservations”

I had forgotten all about this series until the set was released and then flashes of it came back. Melvyn Douglas as a grandfather on a dark mission, Rip Torn & Geraldine Page as a spooky Southern couple living in a decaying mansion, Patricia Neal as a guest who has lost her husband while stayingContinue reading “GHOST STORY: The TV Series – When Storytelling Mattered”

first saw HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR back in 2010 on the old A&E DVDs with the green covers. At that time I wrote in my first review that I was disappointed in the series as a whole. There were a number of reasons for this. The biggest one was that I was really looking forwardContinue reading “HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR: What A Difference A Decade Makes”