ShareThisBy ALLAN WALTON
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
"Frankenstein: 75th-Anniversary Edition"
"Dracula: 75th-Anniversary Edition"
Freddy, Jason, Michael ...
None holds a candle to the B boys, Boris and Bela. That's "B" as in B movies; "B" as in brilliant.
Just in time for Halloween, Universal's Legacy Series has released two digitally remastered horror classics on DVD, "Frankenstein" and "Dracula." These are 75th-anniversary two-disc editions, gussied up with lots of extras that, for true film aficionados, ought to be required viewing.
After all, these 1931 films ("Dracula" came first by a few months) launched a movement that spells k-a-c-h-i-n-g every time another slice-and-dice flick puts out the open-for-business sign at your local megaplex box office.
For my money ($26.98 each), the better of these two is "Frankenstein," which was based on Mary Shelley's creepily atmospheric novel and deftly directed by James Whale. By today's standards, it isn't a bit scary, of course. But there are elements that hold up quite well, most notably the dark, moody sets and Boris Karloff's dead-on _ excuse me _ performance.
As the Monster, Karloff acts viscerally and movingly right through the pounds of pancake, latex and padding meant to make him a terror. In truth, he demonstrates an aching vulnerability through gestures and expression. As one of the commentators says in a bonus feature, he's the silent picture inside the talkie.
Most students of film know the role of the Monster had been targeted for Bela Lugosi, whose turn in "Dracula" made him an instant star. But the man whose career ultimately wound to a sorry conclusion in the schlock cranked out by Ed Wood turned down the part, which was tantamount to handing Karloff his pot of gold.
Still, Lugosi had his moment in the sun _ excuse me _ as Count Dracula. With Bram Stoker's book as inspiration and under the direction of Tod Browning, the vampire film was at once dark, sexy, shocking and disturbing. Again, it isn't spine-tingling scary and, in fact, is even a tad plodding and uneven. But it's still bloody good.
The extras? We could be here all night. Here's a sampling of what you'll find in the two editions:
_ Short documentary tributes to the two stars ("Karloff: The Gentle Monster" and "Lugosi: The Dark Prince").
_ Two other documentaries with "Frankenstein," one that discusses the film's influence on the horror genre and another, hosted by Kenneth Branagh, that takes viewers through the making of other memorable monster films.
_ A feature called "Monster Tracks," which enables MTV-style pop-ups of trivia and factoids.
_ "Dracula," the complete Spanish version of the tale, also made in 1931 but starring Lupita Tovar, as well as a documentary that traces the vampire's legend through a number of movies.
_ The original theatrical trailers and obligatory commentary tracks.
The extras are dutiful, plentiful and welcome additions to a pair of fine movies that, in many respects, are as educational as they are entertaining.
Boris and Bela, our "B" boys, gave all of us A-plus material for the ages.
As for the reference to "B" movies ... horrors no! Not anymore. These are cinematic classics, and you'd do well to add them to your collection.
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Features Editor Allan Walton can be reached at awalton(at)post-gazette.com.)
