Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Werewolf?
Igor: There.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: What?
Igor: There, wolf. There, castle.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: Why are you talking that way?
Igor: I thought you wanted to.
Dr. Frederick Frankenstein: No, I don't want to.
Igor: [shrugs] Suit yourself. I'm easy.
-Young Frankenstein
Yes, as you can see, I love Mel Brooks. I own every movie he has made, and "Young Frankenstein" is one of the very best. The man knew how to get us to laugh at some of the most cherished film genres without making fun of the movies they were based on. Mel Brooks loved movies, and he grew up watching those Saturday matinees, that showcased cowboys, space men, historical epics, musicals, silent movies (on occasion), war films, and most importantly monster movies. Mel has worked in every genre of film that Hollywood can find, but does it with a wink and a nudge. It's extremely evident that Mel loves the original movies that inspired his comedies. That attention to detail and the care he takes with each of his parodies shows that he is a huge fan of motion pictures. Mel Brooks is an institution and, while there is a wonderful Blu-ray set of his movies out now, that's not what this is about. This is about one of the most exciting Blu-ray announcement that has happened this week (yes, even better than Indiana Jones, which is saying a lot).
I love "Young Frankenstein", not only because it's hilarious, but because I love the film that it was based on. In 1931, Universal Studios made one of the greatest horror films ever, when they released "Frankenstein" to an unsuspecting public. It has become a classic, that has never been upstaged by any remakes or reboots. Young Frankenstein comes close, but this is a comedy we're talking about (it loves and respects it's source, but never surpasses the original). They had already had success with these kinds of movies starting in 1923 with "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and followed it with "The Phantom of the Opera". Both movies featured the great Lon Chaney Sr. and became huge audience draws. Universal hit it big again in 1931 with "Dracula" starring Bela Lugosi and followed that (the same year no less) with "Frankenstein". Thus began the long and glorious history of The Universal Monsters. They are recognized in almost every country and there images and likenesses have shaped the way we think about these creatures. Universal didn't create these characters, but they made them iconic and gave these old stories new life. They were ahead of there time using ideas and situations in order to adapt these stories into features, that while beholden to the original books in their basic premise, used new and innovative ways of telling these tales for a visual audience. I could right an entire post on the hidden symbolism in these movies and the cultural and societal views that they were attacking in a time that shunned political and social discourses. Back then, you weren't suppose to rock the boat, the makers of these films did just that and they didn't even get wet. "These films were just B-movie haunted house scares, they were not trying to make statements," says you. "Sometime the best place to hide is out in the open," says I. So, we'll save that till another day. For now, I want to tell you about the wonderful gift that Universal Studios Home Entertainment has bestowed on us.
On October 2nd. Universal will release a box set of their classic monster movies for the first time on Blu-ray high def. In a press release on their Facebook page (link below) they gave us the following:
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Eight Chilling Classics from the Studio that Pioneered The Horror Genre, Digitally Restored and Released on Blu-Ray™ for the First Time Ever in Celebration of Universal’s 100th Anniversary
UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION
The Ultimate Box Set with eight Films Plus Over 12 Hours of Bonus Features Arrives October 2nd, Just in Time for Halloween!
For the first time ever, eight of the most iconic cinematic masterpieces of the horror genre are available together on Blu-ray™ as Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection debuts on October 2, 2012 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Digitally restored from high resolution film elements in perfect high-definition picture and perfect high-definition sound for the first time ever, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection brings together the very best of Universal's legendary monsters—imaginative and technically groundbreaking tales of terror that launched a uniquely American movie genre. This definitive collection features eight films on Blu-ray™, a collectible 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, correspondence and much more. Each iconic film is accompanied by an array of bonus features that tell the fascinating story of its creation and history, including behind-the-scenes documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, storyboards, photo galleries, and trailers. Especially appealing for fans are a never-before-seen featurette about the restoration of Dracula and the first ever offering of Creature from the Black Lagoon in its restored Blu-ray™ 3D version.
From the era of silent movies through the present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection honors the studio's accomplishments with the most iconic monsters in motion-picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature from the Black Lagoon. Featuring performances by legends of the horror genre, including Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester, these eight iconic films also feature groundbreaking special effects and innovative makeup that continue to influence filmmakers into the 21st century. Sure to be a Halloween favorite for years to come, Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection is the ideal gift for film buffs and horror aficionados alike.
Dracula (1931) - both the American and Spanish versions of the film, 3 featurettes (Dracula: The Restoration (NEW), The Road to Dracula and Lugosi: The Dark Prince), Monster Tracks (interactive Pop-Up Facts), the Dracula Archives, the optional score by Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet, audio commentary (by film historian David J. Skal), audio commentary (by Steve Haberman, screenwriter of Dracula: Dead and Loving It) and a trailer gallery.
Frankenstein (1931) - 4 featurettes (The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster, Karloff: The Gentle Monster, Universal Horror and 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics), Monster Tracks (interactive Pop-Up Facts), the Frankenstein Archives, Boo!: A Short Film, audio commentary (by film historian Rudy Behlmer), audio commentary (by historian Sir Christopher Frayling) and a trailer gallery.
The Mummy (1932) - 4 featurettes (Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed, He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce, Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy and 100 Years Of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era), the Mummy Archives, audio commentary (by Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns and Brent Armstrong), audio commentary (by film historian Paul M. Jensen) and a trailer gallery.
The Invisible Man (1933) - 2 featurettes (Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed and 100 Years of Universal: Unforgettable Characters), a Production Photographs gallery and audio commentary (by film historian Rudy Behlmer).
Bride of Frankenstein (1935) - 2 featurettes (She's Alive! Creating The Bride of Frankenstein and 100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics), the Bride of Frankenstein Archive, audio commentary (by film historian Scott MacQueen) and a trailer gallery.
The Wolf Man (1941) - 5 featurettes (Monster by Moonlight, The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth, Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr., He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce and 100 Years of Universal: The Lot), the Wolf Man Archives, audio commentary (by film historian Tom Weaver) and a trailer gallery.
Phantom of the Opera (1943) - 2 featurettes (The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked and 100 Years of Universal: The Lot), a Production Photographs gallery, audio commentary (by film historian Scott MacQueen) and the theatrical trailer.
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) - both the 2D and 3D versions of the film, 2 featurettes (Back to The Black Lagoon and 100 Years of Universal: The Lot), a Production Photographs gallery, audio commentary (by film historian Tom Weaver) and a trailer gallery.
Holy, Bela Lugosi's Widows Peak, Batman, that sounds amazing. I already own these movies on DVD and spent much time and mucho dinero to acquire them, but with a line up like that and special features to boot, count (see what I did there) me in. These movies are Classic with a capital "C" (yes I know that I had already capitalized the "C" in classic, I was going for dramatic effect) and if you don't own them and have never seen them, well what a perfect Halloween gift for someone (I hope to get my list to "The Great Pumpkin" soon), or yourself. I promise, "You won't regret this, Ray. Everyone has three mortgages nowadays." Until next time, "it's Fronkensteen, Fronkensteen!"
Todd "Puttin' on da Ritzzzz" B.
[Universal Studios Home Entertainment and The Digital Bits]
This was to good to pass up, I really want to see this movie! Rock on, Twifarts!!
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