Horror Classics 08 - Dead Men Walk / The Monster Maker

Rating:
Summary: DEAD MEN WALK and THE MONSTER MAKER make a fun time!
Review: Roan Archival presents perhaps one of its most entertaining, if not distateful, volumes of "Horror Classics" devoted to preserving the "Poverty Row" pictures of Monogram and PRC. THE MONSTER MAKER is a particularly enjoyable (if not tasteful) hour of sick fun. J. Carrol Naish is superb as Dr. Markoff, a specialist in an elepantitis-like disease. Markoff uses his knowledge to gain control of his foes. In this particular story, he desires the hand of the daughter of brilliant pianist Frank Morgan. When Morgan refuses, he is injected with a virus that turns him into a deformed mess. When Naish discovers a cure, he uses it as a bargaining tool in a very sick and twisted way. This particular films is full of "mad scientist" cliches, yet I couldn't help but be utterly enthralled, especially by the higher-grade casting. As for the techincal side of this film, the print is a better than average one in quality. For the most part, THE MONSTER MAKER looks and sounds beautiful. But like most Poverty Row flicks, it is met with scrathes, speckled and at least one minor film jump. These are not distracting, however. The other side of the disc contains the campy DEAD MEN WALK with menacing George Zucco and the brilliant Dwight Frye (1931 DRACULA). What we have here is basically DRACULA told for the umpteenth time. The similarities in plot and in characters are oh so obvious. What saves this film are superb performances by Zucco as twins (one, if you haven't guessed, is cursed with VAMPIRISM!)and by Dwight Frye in one of his final roles. As for the technical side of this film, you get about the same quality as MONSTER MAKER print wise. DEAD MEN WALK seems to be more frequented by scracthes, splotches and speckles and a couple of film jumps, but overall its not distracting. Both films have attractive menus that are easy to navigate. This is definitely a GREAT value and highly recommended to those interested in this genre

Rating:
Summary: DEAD MEN WALK and THE MONSTER MAKER make a fun time!
Review: Roan Archival presents perhaps one of its most entertaining, if not distateful, volumes of "Horror Classics" devoted to preserving the "Poverty Row" pictures of Monogram and PRC. THE MONSTER MAKER is a particularly enjoyable (if not tasteful) hour of sick fun. J. Carrol Naish is superb as Dr. Markoff, a specialist in an elepantitis-like disease. Markoff uses his knowledge to gain control of his foes. In this particular story, he desires the hand of the daughter of brilliant pianist Frank Morgan. When Morgan refuses, he is injected with a virus that turns him into a deformed mess. When Naish discovers a cure, he uses it as a bargaining tool in a very sick and twisted way. This particular films is full of "mad scientist" cliches, yet I couldn't help but be utterly enthralled, especially by the higher-grade casting. As for the techincal side of this film, the print is a better than average one in quality. For the most part, THE MONSTER MAKER looks and sounds beautiful. But like most Poverty Row flicks, it is met with scrathes, speckled and at least one minor film jump. These are not distracting, however. The other side of the disc contains the campy DEAD MEN WALK with menacing George Zucco and the brilliant Dwight Frye (1931 DRACULA). What we have here is basically DRACULA told for the umpteenth time. The similarities in plot and in characters are oh so obvious. What saves this film are superb performances by Zucco as twins (one, if you haven't guessed, is cursed with VAMPIRISM!)and by Dwight Frye in one of his final roles. As for the technical side of this film, you get about the same quality as MONSTER MAKER print wise. DEAD MEN WALK seems to be more frequented by scracthes, splotches and speckles and a couple of film jumps, but overall its not distracting. Both films have attractive menus that are easy to navigate. This is definitely a GREAT value and highly recommended to those interested in this genre

Rating:
Summary: Two of Sam Newfield's better horror cheapies on one DVD
Review: Volume 8 of Horror Classics presents a pair of horror cheapies from director Sam Newfield, who turned out 23 films just in 1943. One of those was "Dead Men Walk," which stars George Zucco and Dwight "Renfield" Frye in a tale of science, the occult and vampires. Zucco plays Dr. Lloyd Clayton and his deceased twin brother, the evil magician Elwyn. Frye is Zolarr, Elwyn's hunchbacked servant who accuses Lloyd of Elwyn's murder. The doctor claims it was self-defense. But even from beyond the grave, Elwyn's evil reaches out to Lloyd's niece Gayle (Mary Carlisle) and her fiance Dr. David Bentley (Nedrick Young). It does not get more basic than this and the whole thing is crammed into 67 minutes of horrific fun. Newfield made "Monser Maker" in 1944 and this is clearly the better flick of the pair. This is a gruesome 62-minute film about mad scientist Dr. Igor Markoff, played by J. Carrol Naish, who infects his victims with the acromegaly virus that cause gross deformities. Ralph Morgan plays victim Anthony Lawrence and Glenn Strange, who would go on to play the Frankenstein monster for the first time that same year, plays Markoff's giant-size henchman, Steve. There are some tacky moments involving a gorilla, but there are a couple of real shocks here. It is nice to see that the heritage of B-Movies is being preserved on DVD, especially the schlock put out by PRC.

Rating:
Summary: Two of Sam Newfield's better horror cheapies on one DVD
Review: Volume 8 of Horror Classics presents a pair of horror cheapies from director Sam Newfield, who turned out 23 films just in 1943. One of those was "Dead Men Walk," which stars George Zucco and Dwight "Renfield" Frye in a tale of science, the occult and vampires. Zucco plays Dr. Lloyd Clayton and his deceased twin brother, the evil magician Elwyn. Frye is Zolarr, Elwyn's hunchbacked servant who accuses Lloyd of Elwyn's murder. The doctor claims it was self-defense. But even from beyond the grave, Elwyn's evil reaches out to Lloyd's niece Gayle (Mary Carlisle) and her fiance Dr. David Bentley (Nedrick Young). It does not get more basic than this and the whole thing is crammed into 67 minutes of horrific fun. Newfield made "Monser Maker" in 1944 and this is clearly the better flick of the pair. This is a gruesome 62-minute film about mad scientist Dr. Igor Markoff, played by J. Carrol Naish, who infects his victims with the acromegaly virus that cause gross deformities. Ralph Morgan plays victim Anthony Lawrence and Glenn Strange, who would go on to play the Frankenstein monster for the first time that same year, plays Markoff's giant-size henchman, Steve. There are some tacky moments involving a gorilla, but there are a couple of real shocks here. It is nice to see that the heritage of B-Movies is being preserved on DVD, especially the schlock put out by PRC.

Rating:
Summary: Chilling Fun!
Review: Well worth the money.These two lesser known horror features from the forties are just the thing to satisfy those looking for vintage chills.
Fun movies, well presented.
Lets see more like this on DVD.