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If you read over the reviews for APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH you will discover that more people like it than dislike it but those that do, really dislike it. Although I align myself with the former, there are certain things that I don’t like and number one on that list is the score by Pino Donaggio.Continue reading “APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH (1988): Not Bad But It Could Have Been Better”

That antiquated phrase is the perfect description not only for its subject but for this new Blu-Ray set as well. After years and years of substandard prints especially in America, you can finally see Tod Slaughter in all his hand rubbing, lip smacking, fiendish cackling glory. For those of you who don’t know (mostly all ofContinue reading “TOD SLAUGHTER GETS HIS “JUST DESSERTS” AT LAST & IT’S ABOUT TIME”

The MR WONG series was not the first time that Boris Karloff had played an Asian character but it was the last. In 1932 he was the evil Fu Manchu for MGM and just before the WONG movies, he was a Chinese warlord in WEST OF SHANGHAI (1937) for Warner Brothers. He played detective JamesContinue reading “THE MR WONG COLLECTION (1938-1940): B Movie Mysteries With Boris Karloff”

I In the late 1960s after a long and productive career, Boris Karloff who was then in his late 70s and in poor health was asked if he planned to retire. His reply was “He who rests…rots! Not me. I plan to die in harness.” And that’s just what he did…almost. He died at 81 justContinue reading “THE BORIS KARLOFF COLLECTION (1968): His Last Cinematic Efforts & Definitely His Least”

BARON BLOOD was the only Mario Bava film that I saw in a movie theater during its initial run. That was in 1972. All of his other movies were either seen at a drive-in or on TV. It marked Bava’s return to his Italian Gothic roots which had begun with BLACK SUNDAY back in 1960Continue reading “BARON BLOOD (1972): Mario Bava Pays Tribute To Himself And To The 1953 HOUSE OF WAX”

Director Tod Browning has been well represented on DVD and Blu-Ray over the years. However that is mostly because of his star performers rather than for his name as a director. In addition to the ubiquitous DRACULA with Bela Lugosi, there are many collaborations with Lon Chaney. There are also his late Teens and earlyContinue reading “Tod Browning Triple Feature: FREAKS (1932) Gets The Criterion Treatment”

The AIP version of Mario Bava’s 1963 THREE FACES OF FEAR, renamed BLACK SABBATH, has recently been issued by KL Studio Classics This release features a high quality transfer but is not fully restored. No matter, it’s still nice to have Boris Karloff speaking in his own voice. The earlier Image and/or Anchor Bay editionsContinue reading “BLACK SABBATH (1963): KL’s Updated Release of the AIP Version”

I approached this second Douglas Fairbanks double feature Blu-Ray from the Cohen Media Group with some trepidation. Earlier this year (2023) they released a Blu-Ray of DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS IN ROBIN HOOD and THE BLACK PIRATE which, while definitely worth having, came up short when compared to Cohen’s previous efforts (those shortcomings are detailed in myContinue reading “Douglas Fairbanks Double Feature 2: This Time Cohen Media Group Does It Right”

THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD of 1926 joins the ever growing list of once lost Fox silent films (we’re talking pre-20th Century Fox) that have not only recently been found, but have been restored so that they can be enjoyed once more. Most people are unaware of the fact that virtually all of Fox’s silent film outputContinue reading “THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD (1926): A Much Needed Restoration Of A Forgotten Fox Film”

Back in 1988, Paramount released a handful of their classic silent film titles on VHS. Of the 8 titles made available, only one, Erich von Stroheim’s THE WEDDING MARCH, has yet to make it to DVD or Blu-Ray. In that 1988 set was the W.C. Fields comedy RUNNING WILD from 1927. Fields made 8 silent filmsContinue reading “IT’S THE OLD ARMY GAME (1926): Silent W.C. Fields Comedy With Louise Brooks”