Author Archives: chipkaufmann

This D.W. GRIFFITH: YEARS OF DISCOVERY DVD set comprises the 3 VHS tapes released by Kino International a few years back. It consists of 22 shorts made by Griffith for the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company (now known as simply Biograph) between 1909 and 1913 when he left to make feature films. Although only aContinue reading “YEARS OF DISCOVERY Is The Best Of D. W. Griffith”

This second set of early films from the Gaumont Studios takes up where the first one left off. Not chronologically, as these films date from 1908-1916, but artistically as they focus on other contributors working there around the same time as Guy, Feuillade, and Perret who were the focus of the first set. The realContinue reading “GAUMONT 2 – Another Treasure Trove Of Early Cinema”

I have been waiting for this set to arrive for a long, long time. Now that it is here, I can say without a doubt that it was well worth the wait and more. Although Edison, the Lumieres and others had been working on the development of movies before Gaumont was founded in 1896, noContinue reading “GAUMONT: The Birth Of Cinema As We Know It”

While the subject material of this set as well as the price ensures that it will not be for everyone, those with an interest in early cinema or early 20th century history cannot afford to pass this one up. An unprecedented collaborative effort between MOMA, The Library Of Congress, and Kino International, EDISON: THE INVENTIONContinue reading “EDISON: The Rise And Fall Of America’s First Movie Company”

I was apparently one of the few people who saw this movie on its brief release in 1975. I knew about the 1942 Orson Welles film but had yet to see it. I went to see this version because of Vincent Price and he does not disappoint. Other big name cast members added to theContinue reading “JOURNEY INTO FEAR (1975): Ragged But Engaging Thriller Thanks To Great Cast”

It is ironic and perhaps appropriate that THEATER OF BLOOD was released the same year as THE EXORCIST for it is the latter that would forever do away with the old school type of horror film that Vincent Price specialized in and begat the mainstreaming of the gross out horror film that is still isContinue reading “THEATRE OF BLOOD: The End Of An Era And A Fitting Homage To Vincent Price”

As fans of THE WICKER MAN know, the original 1973 film exists in two versions. There is the original 102 minute version released overseas and then there is the truncated 88 minute version that played in only 3 cities in America before quickly disappearing. Unfortunately it is this truncated version that survives in pristine footage.Continue reading “THE WICKER MAN: Anchor Bay’s Nifty Packaging of Both Original 1973 Versions”

…no, not the Marvel AVENGERS of today but the original British THE AVENGERS from the late 1960s. It’s no wonder that Christopher Lee didn’t want to do this this movie after the abomination that was DRACULA A.D. 1972 but fortunately he was persuaded and this final film in the Hammer Dracula series is a fittingContinue reading “DRACULA Meets THE AVENGERS…”

That was my assessment in 1972 when I was 20 years old and right in the middle of the target demographic for this film. What would my reaction be 40 years later? Pretty much the same and for the same reasons. I hated the music, I hated the “totally cool” dialogue which was outdated inContinue reading “DRACULA A .D. 1972 Is Almost Unwatchable”

Finally a decent DVD version of one of my favorite Euro-Horror films is cause for rejoicing. TORTURE CHAMBER (not the original title which is THE SNAKE PIT AND THE PENDULUM) is a German made film from 1967 by Krimi specialist Harald Reinl. It has outstanding camerawork and some outrageous set pieces. Think of Poe’s PITContinue reading “TORTURE CHAMBER (1967) / DEATH SMILES ON A MURDERER (1973): Dynamic Euro-Horror Twinbill in Gorgeous Prints”