Heroes of Horror

Rating:
Summary: A classic horror fan's delight
Review: First of all, this was a GREAT idea. I always appreciate documentary material added onto my favorite movies. Now, here's five very well-made docs on five great stars of horror cinema. Each is about 45 min. long, for I believe these originally aired as hour-long (with commericals) specials on the A & E network.

Each documentary traces its star from birth to death, with scores of old photos and film clips, and recent interviews with family members, friends and co-stars. It's a measure of their success that 3 out of the 5 stories had me near tears near the end, whether the subject's life ended on life-affirming high note (Vincent Price) or ravaged by diseases of the body and mind (Chaney, Lugosi).

Just the five programs here would have been worth the very reasonable price, but that's far from all you get on these 2 discs. There are generous collections of film trailers for each star, as well as other featurettes to keep you busy for hours. I'd suggest calling in sick and just spending a whole day with your favorite HEROES of the silver scream.

Rating:
Summary: A classic horror fan's delight
Review: First of all, this was a GREAT idea. I always appreciate documentary material added onto my favorite movies. Now, here's five very well-made docs on five great stars of horror cinema. Each is about 45 min. long, for I believe these originally aired as hour-long (with commericals) specials on the A & E network.

Each documentary traces its star from birth to death, with scores of old photos and film clips, and recent interviews with family members, friends and co-stars. It's a measure of their success that 3 out of the 5 stories had me near tears near the end, whether the subject's life ended on life-affirming high note (Vincent Price) or ravaged by diseases of the body and mind (Chaney, Lugosi).

Just the five programs here would have been worth the very reasonable price, but that's far from all you get on these 2 discs. There are generous collections of film trailers for each star, as well as other featurettes to keep you busy for hours. I'd suggest calling in sick and just spending a whole day with your favorite HEROES of the silver scream.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I highly recommend this DVD set to any fan of classic horror movies or of movie star biographies. This collection compiles the top notch A&E biographies of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Peter Lorre and Vincent Price. Each one is excellent and informative. While Karloff and Price had fine lives and seemed almost blessed, things did not fare quite so well for Chaney, Lorre and especially Lugosi. These features show some of the sadness of these lives without stooping to tabloid techniques.

In addition to the main features--this very reasonably priced 2 DVD collection features tons of extras including trailers for each of the 5 stars (I love watching trailers and these are all great classic 30s-60s trailers). There is a behind the scenes of Ed Wood featurette and a featurette on Vincent Price's Sears art collection (can you believe Sears once sold fine art?)

Also included are three hard to find Bela Lugosi interviews including the "Ship's Reporter" interview after his 1950's return from England, the interview after his release from the state hospital shortly before his death and the interview conducted at his home in the ealry 1930's.

But the real treasures are the much sought after Bela Lugosi/Boris Karloff Frankenstein vs Dracula ad promo and the "Hollwood on Parade" feature with Lugosi's Dracula biting none other than Betty Boop and informing her that "you have booped your last boop."

If you have any interest in this subject matter at all you simply cannot go wrong with Heroes of Horror. My only complaint is that it should have even more featured stars. I'd love to see an additional collection with Lon Chaney Sr, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and perhaps some great supporting stars like Dwight Frye and Lionel Atwill.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I highly recommend this DVD set to any fan of classic horror movies or of movie star biographies. This collection compiles the top notch A&E biographies of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Peter Lorre and Vincent Price. Each one is excellent and informative. While Karloff and Price had fine lives and seemed almost blessed, things did not fare quite so well for Chaney, Lorre and especially Lugosi. These features show some of the sadness of these lives without stooping to tabloid techniques.

In addition to the main features--this very reasonably priced 2 DVD collection features tons of extras including trailers for each of the 5 stars (I love watching trailers and these are all great classic 30s-60s trailers). There is a behind the scenes of Ed Wood featurette and a featurette on Vincent Price's Sears art collection (can you believe Sears once sold fine art?)

Also included are three hard to find Bela Lugosi interviews including the "Ship's Reporter" interview after his 1950's return from England, the interview after his release from the state hospital shortly before his death and the interview conducted at his home in the ealry 1930's.

But the real treasures are the much sought after Bela Lugosi/Boris Karloff Frankenstein vs Dracula ad promo and the "Hollwood on Parade" feature with Lugosi's Dracula biting none other than Betty Boop and informing her that "you have booped your last boop."

If you have any interest in this subject matter at all you simply cannot go wrong with Heroes of Horror. My only complaint is that it should have even more featured stars. I'd love to see an additional collection with Lon Chaney Sr, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and perhaps some great supporting stars like Dwight Frye and Lionel Atwill.

Rating:
Summary: Fright fans delight,...
Review: Image Entertainment has done fright fans a great service with this release. Originally airing as individual segments on A & E
Biography, this two disk set is a treat for anyone who appreciates classic horror films. Featuring interviews with family members and friends, rare color home movies and some great first run & reissue trailers, each separate biography is a long overdue tribute to these legendary actors who have chilled and delighted fans worldwide.

With the exception of the often repeated falsehood regarding
Lon Chaney Sr's demise ..(which was due to cancer of the lungs
and not throat cancer), I would highly recommend this set to
anyone who spent their Saturday afternoons with their drapes
drawn, shades pulled down and in their favorite spot by the TV.

Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Fright fans delight,...
Review: Image Entertainment has done fright fans a great service with this release. Originally airing as individual segments on A & E
Biography, this two disk set is a treat for anyone who appreciates classic horror films. Featuring interviews with family members and friends, rare color home movies and some great first run & reissue trailers, each separate biography is a long overdue tribute to these legendary actors who have chilled and delighted fans worldwide.

With the exception of the often repeated falsehood regarding
Lon Chaney Sr's demise ..(which was due to cancer of the lungs
and not throat cancer), I would highly recommend this set to
anyone who spent their Saturday afternoons with their drapes
drawn, shades pulled down and in their favorite spot by the TV.

Highly recommended.