Blu-Ray News #385: Dick Tracy RKO Pictures Collection (1945-47).

RKO’s four Dick Tracy films are just wonderful. Produced between 1945 and ’47, the first two star Morgan Conway as the detective, while the second two saw the return of Ralph Byrd, who’d starred in four Dick Tracy serials at Republic. They’re more faithful to the comic strip than the serials, and they do a great job of bringing common Tracy characters to the screen. In some ways they seem geared to kids, but the violence and darker themes will make you wonder. A friend calls them “kid noir.”

While these Tracy pictures have been languishing in PD Hell for years, VCI had the best-looking set by far. And now they’re bringing them to Blu-Ray, which is a reason to celebrate. (I absolutely adore these movies.)

Dick Tracy (1945)
Directed by William A. Berke
Starring Morgan Conway, Anne Jeffreys, Mike Mazurki, Lyle Latell

Morgan Conway is Dick Tracy and Mike Mazurki is an escaped convict, Splitface, who’s out for revenge. He ends up kidnapping Tracy’s girl, Tess (Anne Jeffreys).

Dick Tracy Vs. Cueball (1946)
Directed by Gordon Douglas
Starring Morgan Conway, Anne Jeffreys, Lyle Latell, Rita Corday, Ian Keith

Cueball (Dick Wessel) starts taking out some of his partners in crime, then figures it might be a good idea to get rid of Dick Tracy, too. Gordon Douglas’s direction is typically solid and economical.

Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947)
Directed by John Rawlins
Starring Ralph Byrd, Kay Christopher, Lyle Latell, Jack Lambert, Ian Keith

The Claw (Jack Lambert) is part of a gang responsible for stealing a fortune in furs from a warehouse and killing the night watchman. Dick Tracy (Ralph Byrd) and his partner Pat Patton (Lyle Latell) go from suspecting insurance fraud to wondering if there’s a serial killer on the loose. The Claw is creepy, the killings are pretty brutal and the film has a more shadowy, noir-ish look than the other three. Probably the best of the series.

Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)
Directed by John Rawlins
Starring Boris Karloff, Ralph Byrd, Anne Gwynne, Lyle Latell, Skelton Knaggs 

While Dick’s Tracy’s Dilemma might be the best, Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome boasts the most star power. Here, Byrd takes second billing behind the great Boris Karloff. This time, Gruesome (Karloff, naturally) uses a paralyzing gas to pull off a bank heist, while Tess Truehart (Anne Gwynne) is there! Karloff looks like he’s having a good time making this one.

From introductions to galleries to commentaries, there are all sorts of extras on the way for this new Blu-Ray set. I’m doing commentaries for the two Byrd films. Judging from the work-in-progress files I was sent to work with, this is going to be quite nice. Highly recommended.

 

Blu-Ray Review: Horrors Of The Black Museum (1959).

Directed by Arthur Crabtree
Executive Producer: Herman Cohen
Produced by Jack Greenwood
Original Story & Screenplay by Herman Cohen & Aben Kandel
Director Of Photography: Desmond Dickinson, BSC
Film Editor: Geoffrey Muller
Music Composed by Gerard Schurmann

Cast: Michael Gough (Edmond Bancroft), June Cunningham (Joan Berkley), Graham Curnow (Rick), Shirley Anne Field (Angela Banks), Geoffrey Keen (Superintendent Graham), Gerald Andersen (Dr. Ballan), John Warwick (Inspector Lodge), Beatrice Varley (Aggie), Austin Trevor (Commissioner Wayne), Malou Pantera (Peggy), Howard Greene (Tom Rivers), Dorinda Stevens (Gail Dunlap), Stuart Saunders (Strength-Test Barker), Hilda Barry (Woman in Hall), Nora Gordon (Woman in Hall), Vanda Godsell (Miss Ashton), Gerald Case (Bookshop Manager), Geoffrey Denton (Sergeant at Jail), William Abney (Constable), Howard Pays (Constable), Frank Henderson (Medical Examiner), Garard Green (Fingerprint Expert)

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Over the last few months, all sorts of B Movie riches have turned up in my mailbox. From 30s crime pictures (Convict’s Code from Film Masters) and 40s serials (VCI’s Jack Armstrong) to 50s sci-fi favorites (It! The Terror From Beyond Space from Kino Lorber) and on to Roger Corman’s Filmgroup titles (Film Masters again). And there are promises of many more to come.

One I was really looking forward to was Horrors Of The Black Museum (1959), now on Blu-Ray from VCI. I have a real soft spot for this deliciously nasty horror picture.

As a series of brutal murders terrify the people of London, famous (and surly) crime porter Edmond Bancroft (Michael Gough) splits his time between annoying Scotland Yard, buying instruments of murder in antique shops, arguing with his mistress (June Cunningham) and hypnotizing his young assistant (Graham Curnow) in his basement/dungeon “black museum.”

Along the way we’re treated to binoculars that shoot spikes out of the eyepieces (a sequence this film is largely known for), a portable guillotine, some sinister ice tongs and a vat full of acid (very similar to the one in House On Haunted Hill from the same year). When it’s not depicting a murder, it’s talking about one — and it would be easy to brand this as a prototype for the slasher and giallo films that came later.

With its Eastmancolor and CinemaScope (shot by Desmond Dickinson), Horrors Of The Black Museum was a bit of a novelty at its time of release. Horror movies were rarely in color and Scope at the time. Hammer’s first color horror picture, Curse Of Frankenstein (1957) was only two years old, and Fox’s color and Scope The Fly (1958) just a year. This gave Horrors Of The Black Museum a bit of prestige (ironic for such a mean-spirited little film) and plenty of marquee value — CinemaScope was still a very big deal.

Michael Gough is a real treat as the demented Bancroft. American producer Herman Cohen wanted to cast Vincent Price, but Anglo-Amalgamated, the British production company, wanted an Englishman. Price in the role would have completely changed the tone of the movie. June Cunningham (above, with Gough) is terrific as Bancroft’s mistress. They have a fun scene together before she meets her untimely end. Cunningham made a couple dozen films in the late 50s and early 60s and that was it. 

Geoffrey Keen (seated in the photo below) has a nice part as the Scotland Yard man trying to track down the madman, or men, behind these heinous crimes. Of course, Keen was in everything from Sink The Bismark (1960) and Taste The Blood Of Dracula (1970) to most of the Roger Moore James Bond films (plus 1987’s The Living Daylights).

Along with its promise of gore in “blood-curdling color” and CinemaScope, Horrors Of The Black Museum had an extra lure in the United States — Hypno-Vista, a gimmick worthy of the great William Castle. Hypno-Vista was nothing more than a prologue starring hypnotist Emile Franchele, demonstrating the powers of hypnotism. They say James H. Nicholson of AIP cooked it up.

That gives us a nice segue to VCI’s Blu-Ray of Horrors Of The Black Museum. AIP’s Hypno-Vista introduction is one of the extras on the Blu-Ray. There are also European and U.S. trailers, a commentary by Herman Cohen, another commentary by Robert Kelly, a still gallery, interviews, featurettes, even reversible artwork. Some of this has been carried over from the laserdisc and DVD.

But the real concern is, and should be, how does it look? Here, it comes up a real winner. Tbe picture is sharp. The color is strong, with that harshness that marks most 50s Eastmancolor. Being a CinemaScope picture, there’s the roundish distortion on the sides, noticeable in pans or when you’re looking at something straight like a door frame (it appears slightly curved). These are not complaints about the transfer — the problem would be if they were not there. The sound is clean with plenty of range, which sure helps with Gerard Schurmann’s score. 

Horrors Of The Black Museum is a lot of ghoulish fun, and its color and Scope photography has always been a large part of its appeal. So to see it lovingly presented in high definition is indeed a treat, with all the extras a definite plus — so glad they kept Herman Cohen’s commentary! Highly, highly recommended.

Blu-Ray News #364: Horrors Of The Black Museum (1959).

Directed by Arthur Crabtree
Starring Michael Gough, June Cunningham, Graham Curnow, Shirley Anne Field

The fine folks at VCI have announced a December Blu-Ray release of Herman Cohen’s Horrors Of The Black Museum (1959). Though tame by today’s standards, the folks who made this picture seem to really enjoy parading the gore in front of the camera — and in CinemaScope and color, too!

I love this nasty little movie with all my heart, and I’m so glad the terrific extras from the DVD (and laserdisc) release are making the move to Blu-Ray. Can’t wait to see what this thing’s gonna look like. An absolutely 100% essential release.

Blu-Ray News #345: Jack Armstrong, The All-American Boy (1947).

Directed by Wallace Fox
Produced by Sam Katzman
Starring John Hart, Rosemary LaPlanche, Claire James, Joe Brown, Jr., Charles Middleton, Jack Ingram

I was so happy to find out about this one! VCI is bringing the 15-chapter Columbia serial Jack Armstrong (1947) to Blu-Ray in August.

Based on the radio show, it stars John Hart as Jack Armstrong. Made not too long after Sam Katzman took over Columbia’s serials, it’s got secret island hideouts, radiation and natives. Can’t wait to see this in high definition.

Blu-Ray News #324: The Green Hornet (1940).

Directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor
Starring Gordon Jones, Wade Boteler, Keye Luke, Anne Nagel, Cy Kendall

In April, VCI is bringing The Green Hornet (1940) serial to Blu-Ray. 

It’s a terrific 13-chapter Universal serial, one of my favorites, with Britt Reid and Kato up against The Chief. Can’t wait to see this thing in high definition! Highly recommended.

The Phantom Creeps, Quite Literally.

Directed by Ford Beebe & Saul A. Goodkind
Starring Bela Lugosi, Robert Kent, Dorothy Arnold, Edwin Stanley, Regis Toomey, Jack C. Smith, Edward Van Sloan

VCI has been working on a restoration of The Phantom Creeps (1939), a 12-chapter Universal serial starring Bela Lugosi, for Blu-Ray release.

They’ve recently provided some info on why this thing is taking so long: “When we started working on the restoration early last year, we discovered that six of the 12 chapters, of the original film elements we received from Universal Pictures, had many issues. Some reels were missing, and some were on nitrate film and had deteriorated terribly. Fortunately, we found more complete original film elements stored at the Library of Congress. We have requested access to those film elements, however we were informed that film was actually owned by Sony Pictures (FYI, Sony actually is the owner of Columbia Pictures, who had a license in the 1950’s to distribute several Universal serials via their TV syndication division, Screen Gems, and that’s how they came to have these film elements). Since we discovered this, we have been negotiating with Sony’s legal department to give us permission to access and scan this film, which would allow us to finish our restoration. This process with Sony began last July, and so far, they have been cooperating, but still haven’t given us their permission. We feel confident that Sony will give us permission, but we just can’t say when. This is a very high-priority project to VCI, but unfortunately it is not as important to Sony, so we remain on hold.”

As this frame grab from Chapter 1 shows, this thing is gonna be incredible — and well worth the wait. The Phantom Creeps is a cool serial, put together by some of the very best at making such things: director Beebe, writer George Plympton and DP William Sickner.

I’m eagerly awaiting the next thrilling chapter in this story! When it gets here, it’ll be essential.

Blu-Ray #337: Phantom Of The Air (1933).

Directed by Ray Taylor
Starring Tom Tyler, Gloria Shea, LeRoy Mason, Craig Reynolds, William Desmond, Walter Brennan

VCI’s series of Universal serials on Blu-Ray continues with The Phantom Of The Air (1933), a 12-chapter pre-Code serial filled with Tom Tyler, Gloria Shea, terrific old airplanes and lots and lots of crazy stunts.

There’s a plane named “The Phantom” and an anti-gravity device called the Contragrav, stuff to talk about as they go from stunt to stunt in this “adventure in the sky.” It’s a lot of fun, and it should look just great on Blu-Ray. Coming later this year.

Blu-Ray News #281: Jungle Queen (1945).

Directed by Ray Taylor & Lewis D. Collins
Starring Edward Norris, Eddie Quillan, Douglass Dumbrille, Lois Collier, Ruth Roman, Tala Birell, Clarence Muse

Anything with Douglass Dumbrille as a Nazi, Ruth Roman as the Jungle Queen and Clarence Muse as anything is worth a few hours of your time. And since the Universal serials VCI has been bringing to Blu-Ray lately are absolutely beautiful, I’m really looking forward to this one.

It’s 1939, and the Nazis are trying to take over Africa. They’re looking for the fabled Sword Of Tongu, which will help them win over the natives and have them join the fight against the British. It’s up to a couple of Americans (Edward Norris and Eddie Quillan), a British agent/archeologist (Lois Collier) and the beautiful, mysterious Jungle Queen, Lothel (Ruth Roman), to stop them.

Directors Ray Taylor and Lewis D. Collins did a ton of serials, and Collins went on to direct a few of the terrific William Elliott B Westerns at Monogram and Allied Artists. Universal’s serials boast better production values than other studio’s chapter plays, though this one is a bit talky and makes liberal use of stock footage.

Blu-Ray News #224: The Vanishing Shadow (1934).

Directed by Lew Landers
Starring Onslow Stevens, Ada Ince, William Desmond, Walter Miller, James Durkin, Lee J. Cobb

Universal’s 12-chapter serial The Vanishing Shadow (1934) is making its way to Blu-Ray from our friends at VCI. It’s a science fiction revenge story, containing maybe the first use of a ray gun. It also feature a terrific robot.

What’s incredible about this release is that at one point, The Vanishing Shadow was thought to be a lost film. This June, it’ll be available in high-definition from original 35mm fine grain material. How cool is that? I’m really stoked to be doing a first-chapter commentary for it.

Blu-Ray News #221: Beyond Atlantis (1973).

Directed by Eddie Romero
Starring John Ashley, Patrick Wayne, Leigh Christian, George Nader, Sid Haig, Lenore Stevens

VCI has announced the upcoming Blu-Ray release (March 12) of Eddie Romero’s Beyond Atlantis (1973). This time around, Romero and producer-star John Ashley aimed a bit higher and added Patrick Wayne to the mix. With a transfer form the original 35mm negative and a commentary, interviews and other extras, this should be a lot of tacky fun.