Prior to the release of the old dark house 1932, a secondfiddle chiller that reunited director james whale and stars boris karloff after the overnight success of frankenstein, motion pictures of similar persuasions were confined to the realm of silence. The film is based on the novel benighted 1927 by j. But that was not before whale had turned in his most tabooladen picture. The old dark house 1932 an odd assortment of travellers find themselves forced to seek shelter with an even odder family of eccentrics in a remote welsh manor on the proverbial dark and stormy night. Several of his plays combine a supernatural or at least mysterious strain with an allegorical message about the importance of unselfishness and people working together to help one another. Having directed one of the alltime great horror films in frankenstein, james whale delivered the old dark house, a masterful comedychiller that after years as a thoughtlost film has now undergone a 4k restoration and was recently released on bluray by masters of cinema. The old dark house mystery was a pet subject of theatrical productions in new. In the old dark house, however, director james whale uses a house in a different, more rewarding way. In the horror genre, when a house stands out as a primary component, it is often going to be haunted. Forget all those modern wannabe horror films that cut the suspense and story for buckets of blood and guts.
Sara karloff and dean otto on the old dark house and boris karloff featurette 14. Adored by uk audiences when it first opened, yet soundly rejected in the us, it was missing for over a decade and rediscovered only thanks to the persistence of whales friend and fellow horror director curtis harrington, who went on to arrange its restoration. Indeed, the two most famous lost films in the horror genre were tod brownings london after midnight 1927 starring lon chaney as a hideous vampire and the old dark house. These days its a great chiller with whales special brand of humor and. The old dark house is a 1932 american precode horror comedy film directed by james whale and starring boris karloff. Feb 12, 2018 the old dark house 1932 bluray 1080p avc lpcm 2. Sep 01, 2016 the old dark house is a 1932 american precode horror comedy film directed by james whale and starring boris karloff. Both men previously contributed to the 1931 frankenstein in the countryside of wales, several people are caught up in a raging storm and seek shelter from a mansion they come by. Seeking shelter from a storm, five travelers are in for a bizarre and terrifying night when they stumble upon the femm family estate. Beware the night seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of wales, several travellers are admitted to a gloomy, foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange femm family. Trying to make the best of it, the guests must deal with their sepulchral host, horace femm and his obsessive, malevolent. The old dark house 1932 720p bluray flac x264amiable. The old dark house is a universal horror movie from the year 1932.
The old dark house 1932 is a terrific film, set in the ever popular haunted house on a dark, spooky rainy night. The old dark house 1932 new 4k restoration bluray dvd. The old dark house was almost lost forever but director curtis harrington convinced universal to search their vaults high and low for a print and, when it was found, harrington convinced eastman to do a restoration of the film this was back in the early 70s as i recall saving the film for future generations. The old dark house, beginning a weeklong run friday at the quad cinema in an excellent 4k digital restoration, opens on a dark and stormy night. Driving through a terrible rainstorm, philip and margaret waverton raymond massey, gloria stuart and their prankster friend, penderel melvyn douglas, suddenly find the road blocked by avalanches. My first time was via a dark bootleg tape and i just didnt see what all the fuss was about. The old dark house 1932 driving through a brutal thunderstorm in wales, three travelers take refuge in an eerie house owned by the femm family. Seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of wales, several travellers are admitted to a gloomy, foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange femm family.
Long enough to set the stage for the films morbid setting, but not long enough to make it a presence. Our travelers find themselves stuck in an abode more akin to a. The old dark house is a fascinating film and this bluray high definition presentation will make a great many people happy to be able to revisit this timeless classicor enjoy this masterpiece for the first time. Oct, 2016 the deal announcement comes as, in a major move for horror fans, the cohen media group v. The old dark house sits uncomfortably between horror and humour. From frankenstein director james whale, 1932s the old dark house introduces us to a mix of travelers who get stuck due to a landslide while they traverse a remote area in wales desperate for shelter, they come to a mansion maintained by the femm family. The old dark house appears in an aspect ratio of 1. Sep 07, 2017 from the director of frankenstein, a group of stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of the highly eccentric, and potentially dangerous, femm family. The drawings in the title sequence were by charles addams, whose whole career was inspired by the 1932 version of the old dark house 1932 of which this is a remake.
Of course, films that cant be seen cant be criticized and the reputation of the old dark house increased dramatically during the years when it was inaccessible. The old dark house is a 1932 american precode comedy horror film directed by james whale. The old dark house 1963 film, a comedymystery film. The old dark house is a lot of fun, a genuinely quirky mix of laughs, chills, suspense and hey, even a bit of good old fashioned romance thrown into the mix for kicks. The deal announcement comes as, in a major move for horror fans, the cohen media group v. Whale whose personal life was memorably examined in the semifictional film, gods and monsters 1998 is best remembered for his iconic horror trinity, frankenstein 1931, the. The old dark house, the once forgotten 1932 comic horror classic from. Priestly, the old dark house is the second of james whales classic horror films frankenstein. Long lost horror film the old dark house stands as one. The old dark house was so forwardthinking in its approach to horror that its setup travelers seeking refuge in a big scary house would go on to become a staple of the horror genre. The old dark house 1932 is a terrific film, set in the ever popular haunted house. Amongst the special features i note that optional english sdh subtitles are included. The new york times praised the film, stating, there is a wealth of talent in. The steady, stable image has excellent contrast and much less granularity than one would expect from 1932era film stock.
The least successful of this quartet of fright classics, the old dark house came to be. Featuring a brand new hd transfer from a recent 4k restoration complete with uncompressed 24bit audio this also contains a noteworthy selection of special features. Despite the films advanced age, the image looked terrific. The old dark house 1932 begins when married couple phillip and margaret waverton raymond massey and gloria stuart and their friend penderel melvyn douglas, get caught in a violent rainstorm that leaves them drenched and unable to continue any further. An odd assortment of travellers find themselves forced to seek shelter with an even odder family of eccentrics in a remote welsh manor on the proverbial dark and stormy night. The old dark house has become a big favorite of mine too, i had two bootlegs of it before it officially became available. The release will be available for purchase on october 24. Even if it hadnt been essentially lost, james whales the old dark house 1932 wouldnt ever have fit, exactly, on the mount rushmore of universals horror greats.
The old dark house critics consensus a deft blend of wellchosen ingredients, the old dark house is a delightfully scary horror comedy that benefits from james whales suspenseful direction. Seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of wales, several travelers are admitted to a. Trying to make the best of it, the guests must deal with their sepulchral host, horace femm and his obsessive, malevolent sister rebecca. From the director of frankenstein, a group of stranded travelers stumble upon a strange old house, and find themselves at the mercy of the highly eccentric, and potentially dangerous, femm family. Seeking shelter from a relentless rainstorm and landslides in a remote region of wales, five travelers are admitted to a large foreboding old house that belongs to the extremely strange femm family. The cohen media group has confirmed that it will release on bluray the new 4k restoration of director james whales film the old dark house 1932, starring boris karloff, melvyn douglas, charles laughton, lilian bond, and ernest thesiger. Ive come to love the old dark house, but it wasnt always so. The old dark house 1932 film, an american precode horror film. However, they definitely do not play the good natured hosts when stranded travellers are forced to stay there because of the terrible storm. Cinematographer arthur edeson, editor maurice pivar, set designer charles d. Long lost horror film the old dark house stands as one of. Things like seldomvisited rooms, locked closets, and atodds inhabitants provide rich ground for such use. If you watch the old dark house with these points in mind you may see it in a more moving and profound light. The old dark house critics consensus a deft blend of wellchosen ingredients, the old dark house is a delightfully scary horror comedy that benefits.
The old dark house 1932 16 10201932 us comedy, horror 1h 12m user score. Wonderfully weird and atmospheric, flavoured with james whales trademark dark humour, and featuring an outstanding cast including boris karloff, raymond massey, gloria stuart, melvyn douglas, ernest thesiger, and. From frankenstein director james whale comes this atmospheric horrorcomedy starring charles laughton and featuring the first starring horror role for boris. Itll always live in the shadow of whales more famous karloff collaborations, those obviously being frankenstein made a year prior and bride of frankenstein made in 1935. The old dark house 1932 4k restoration classic horror. Check here english if you are not a hdcenter premium member, you cannot see premium links. The old dark house has had something of a dark and stormy history. The old dark house 1932 new 4k restoration bluray posted on october 22, 2017 by shawn francis when i saw william castles 1963 remake in the early 2000s i had a vague memory of, perhaps, bumping into it when i was a kid, the opening credits looked familiar, but when i saw the 1932 original in 1999 i didnt put two and two together. The old dark house 1932 although james whale was a key horror director of the 1930s, his reputation has soared to unexpected heights in the past several years. The house also holds surprises and a brutish mute manservant named. The performances are strong and the films influence is undeniable. The old dark house mystery was a pet subject of theatrical productions in new york and abroad during the 1920s. With boris karloff, melvyn douglas, charles laughton, gloria stuart. Oct 04, 2017 even if it hadnt been essentially lost, james whales the old dark house 1932 wouldnt ever have fit, exactly, on the mount rushmore of universals horror greats.
Wonderfully weird and atmospheric, flavoured with james whales trademark dark humour, and featuring an outstanding cast including boris karloff, raymond massey, gloria stuart. Any member of the family refusing to live here, loses all rights to the fortune. The movie, considered lost until director curtis harrington discovered material in the late 60s, is worth owning in this its 4k restoration. Sepulchral horace femm and his obsessive, inhospitable sister rebecca are the groups peculiar hosts. Although little seen since its original release, the old dark house 1932 had by the 1960s attained a graillike status among fans of director james whale, whose beloved universal horror films included frankenstein 1931, the invisible man 1933, and the bride of frankenstein 1935. It is very obvious that the old dark house was richard obriens inspiration for the rocky horror picture show.
I had never expected to see a bluray release of this movie and i am extremely grateful for cohen to add this film to their cohen. She also played the old gypsy woman at the campfire who wants her pepper and salt in bride of frankenstein. A deft blend of wellchosen ingredients, the old dark house is a delightfully scary horror comedy that benefits from james whales suspenseful direction. They wind up at a creepy gothic mansion and to their relief are offered shelter, but it. Why theres more going on in the old dark house than you might.
Oct 12, 2017 take the titular old dark house for example. Priestley, the old dark house was a sublimely pitched blend of horror and black comedy that once again featured karloff in a nonspeaking role, and boasted standout performances from a perennially disgruntled eva moore and a wonderful, prebride of frankenstein ernest thesiger, plus a lively turn from an. The old dark house, the once forgotten 1932 comic horror classic from james whale the legendary helmer of frankenstein makes its worldwide blu ray debut from the cohen media group. Long thought lost, the old dark house was rediscovered in the early 1970s.
Directed by james whale way back when in 1932 for universal, the old dark house is not be as wellknown as some of the other classic universal horror pictures of the time. One was extremely dark and the other was a multigeneration copy that was barely watchable. Both men previously contributed to the 1931 frankenstein. Heres a really great atmospheric haunted house classic that our viewers really love. A couple wider shots displayed a dollop of softness, but those occurred infrequently and seemed minor. Driving through a terrible rainstorm, philip and margaret waverton raymond massey, gloria stuart and their prankster friend, penderel melvyn douglas, suddenly find the. Whale stays away from using it as the visual element of evil and shows us the complete house in only one single shot, for a very brief moment. It was directed by james whale and features boris karloff among its cast. The couple caught in the rain, they see a light shining from an old house, a creepy man answers the door. Boris karloff and gloria stewart in the old dark house bloodcurdling high jinks abound. The house also holds surprises and a brutish mute manservant named morgan.
Wait until dark 1967 720p bluray dts x264amiable chandu the magician 1932 720p bluray flac x264sadpanda the dark house aka dom zly. Horace and rebecca femm, brother and sister, are the owners of a drab mansion. Find low everyday prices and buy online for delivery or instore pickup. If an internal link incorrectly led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Wait until dark 1967 720p bluray dts x264amiable chandu the magician 1932 720p bluray flac x264sadpanda the dark house aka dom zly 2009 polish 1080p bluray dts x264ivandro. Approved, 1 h 12 min boris karloff, melvyn douglas, charles laughton, lilian bond director. The cohen groups bluray of the old dark house is quite a revelation, like finally seeing a fine painting when before only sour photocopies were available. Nov 22, 2017 the old dark house was so forwardthinking in its approach to horror that its setup travelers seeking refuge in a big scary house would go on to become a staple of the horror genre. The old dark house 1932 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Preorder the old dark house 1932 bluray available for.
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