Fox Horror Classics Collection, Vol. 2 (Dragonwyck / Chandu the Magician / Dr. Renault's Secret)

Hardly horror but neat package   December 2, 2008
Fox seem to have a very creative marketing team because it is stretch of the imagination by any standards that this extraordinary package would be classified as a horror collection. True horror enthusiasts might be very disappointed.

First off is the 1932 "Changdu the Magician", a boys' own adventure which not surprisingly became a serial a few years later. The film has Bela Lugosi chewing the scenery with great aplomb as he steals a death ray and tortures its inventor to learn how to use it. Edmund Lowe, a matinee idol of yesteryear, is a stiff and far too proper hero but the film benefits from great photography and imaginative sets.

Next is "Dr Renault's Secret", a neatly directed programmer released in 1942 and with a fair gallery of supporting players, a moderately interesting story about the missing link between man and the ape and 2 fine central performances by the enigmatic George Zucco and the superb J Carroll Naish. It is a very polished "little" film with excellent sets and photography and the closest to a horror film of this trio.

The final film, released in 1945, is the gothic romance, "Dragonwyck", an expensively mounted vehicle for the rapidly rising Gene Tierney and a star making role for Vincent Price. This could not be classified as a horror film at all (think of "Jane Eyre" or "The Woman in White" and you'll get the idea) and while it is well made, it is quite dull and predictable.

The prints of the film are excellent, surprisingly so in the case of "Changdu" which is a very old Fox film, many of which have not survived. "Renault" is a very bright print preserving the outstanding Fox photography. Each film has a short documentary with the same group of dull historians. They tend to be repetitious. "Changdu" and "Dragonwyck" have commentaries and Greg Mank is particuarly witty and entertaining with "Changdu". Theatrical trailers for the later films are also presented.

This is a very unusual set, nicely packaged with an insert about the films and also very cheap, possibly because it would appeal to a very limited audience. Accordingly, it is very good value if the films are of interest to you.

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Horrors? Volume 2   October 26, 2008
Around a year ago, I had the opportunity to watch the movies that comprised Fox Horror Classics Volume 1. They were enjoyable enough, but I wondered if they were truly horror films. Similarly, I enjoyed Fox Horror Classics, Volume 2, but still wondered if the trio of could really fit the definition of horror.

Chronologically, the first in the set is Chandu the Magician, a cliff-hanging adventure which pits the mystically powered Chandu (Edmund Lowe) against Roxor (Bela Lugosi), a megalomaniac intent on world conquest with a death ray invented by Chandu's brother-in-law. It's fun fantasy adventure reminiscent of the early adventure serials, but the only real connection to true horror is Lugosi's presence, which is also the highlight of the movie.

Next is Dr. Renault's Secret, and this movie fits much better in the horror genre. This brief (58 minute) film is one of a series of horror films in the era that deals with men becoming animals (like The Wolf Man) or animals becoming men (like Island of Lost Souls). In this case, the title character (George Zucco) has tried converting an ape to a human (J. Caroll Naish), but like all mad scientists, has tampered with forces he doesn't fully comprehend. This also has veteran tough guy actor Mike Mazurki (from Murder My Sweet) involved in a kidnapping subplot.

While Dragonwyck has a vague supernatural element and a gothic atmosphere, it is more reminiscent of stories like Jane Eyre and Rebecca than what would have been considered horror at the time. Vincent Price and Gene Tierney star, and unlike the movie Laura, there is no Dana Andrews to get in their way (but like Laura, there is a painting that plays a part in the tale). Price is the wealthy master of the title estate who invites distant farm girl cousin Tierney to stay at his estate. The overt reason is so she can be a companion to his daughter, but Price has a secret agenda in mind as well. Though Tierney gets the top billing, this is really Price's movie, with a role that is a precursor to the haunted characters he would later play in the Roger Corman-directed Poe films.

All three movies in the set are fine movies, even if I don't think I'd really call them a horror set; more like one horror film, one gothic romance and one adventure story. But even if Fox has fudged things a bit to make up the set, it is still a nice set, with commentaries on the first and third movies plus other extras. This may not a set to treat yourself to on Halloween, but for the rest of the year, it is perfectly fine.

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Nice set of excellent, rare old films! (2 of 2 Found this Helpful)   October 25, 2008
The title of this attractive set of three DVDs might be a little misleading because none of the three movies could be described as horror by today's definition, but by 1930's and 1940's standards they do fit the bill. So the keyword here is "Classics" from the early Fox Studios, and some rare, unusual and charming ones they are indeed! Each one is very different, but they all feature an outstanding cast with some legendary stars, and they are all top quality films in every aspect of production. Furthermore, all three films have not been readily available for a long time, which makes this set an extra exciting and special treat. For me personally, the dynamic and legendary stars - Bela Lugosi in "Chandu the Magician" and Vincent Price in "Dragonwyck" immediately appealed to me and raised my expectations, but I found so much more in all three movies that I've enjoyed watching them many times over already.

Although not the actual hero or main star, it's Bela Lugosi who steals the show in "Chandu", playing the evil madman, Roxor, as only Lugosi can. Famous for his role as Count Dracula, Lugosi, alongside Boris Karloff, was the king of the horror genre in the 1930s, and while his acting might seem over-the-top in our day, his style can still win a modern audience. "Chandu" features many interesting aspects of 1930's filmmaking with some impressive special effects, beautiful sets designed by the famous and award-winning William Cameron Menzies, and an unusual story about a Western yogi mystic who saves the world from Roxor's evil clutches by using his special magic. Back in the 1920s and 30s the Western world was fascinated by India and its mysticism, which explains why "Chandu" was actually a popular children's radio show back then, and this innocent, childlike fun and fascination with magic is evident in this movie.

As Lugosi's crown began to fade, the next king of the horror genre prepared to take over, and "Dragonwyck" is the first film to feature Vincent Price as a sinister, evil character; a role he fully embraced some years later to become the best known horror actor of more recent decades. Unlike his later roles, in "Dragonwyck" Price plays a character who appears normal and charming at first, and his devious plan is only gradually revealed as the story progresses. As a rich nobleman in early 19th century America, Price plays the part perfectly, especially when his new young wife begins to realize what danger she is in, and more and more of his mentally warped character comes to the surface. Also rich in lavish set designs, "Dragonwyck" throws light on a little-known part of American history while weaving an intricate plot in which many talented stars of the day contribute and support Price, such as Gene Tierney, famous for Film Noir movies like "Laura" who plays Price's young wife, and Walter Huston as her religiously fundamental father. Unlike "Chandu" which is fun and playful, "Dragonwyck" is serious and for the most part quite believable, and is overall a first-class drama of the mid 1940s.

"Dr Renault's Secret" completes this perfect trio of unusual movies of the early horror genre, this time featuring another gifted performer, J. Carrol Naish, who plays the role of a man who has been transformed from a gorilla so convincingly, that one could almost believe it to be possible. The experiment of a doctor with good intentions, Noel, as he is named, struggles to be a man in the human world while retaining his memory of life in the Javanese jungle, along with various animal instincts. The angle I enjoyed most in this film is that the mind of the gorilla-turned-man is one of love and peace, rather than wild, savage and primitive instincts, which people generally believed. In a time when King Kong and other horror films featuring wild and dangerous apes were popular, "Dr Renault's Secret" must have been a refreshing and intelligent change, and it still has that effect today. In fact, for anyone tired of the modern horror film with excessive gore, frights and terror, this set will be a welcome change, as well as a very pleasant and educational insight into films of the 1930s and 40s, with the help of good notes and audio commentary with two of the films. There are other bonus features such as short documentaries about the films which serve as a good introduction, or simply to explain a few things for those not familiar with these older films and its stars. Picture and sound quality are perfect, and all three films provide a wonderful escape from the modern world.

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Classic horror fans need this collection!   October 18, 2008
I bought this for "Dr Renault's Secret", which has a remarkably subtle performance by J. Carroll Naish as a half-man, half-ape creature. This is such a cliche that it's hard to imagine someone doing a good job of it, but this is a remarkable film. This remake of the long-lost silent film "The Wizard" is highly recommended. The print is beautiful.

"Chandu The Magician" is a revelation for those of us who never bought any of the previously available public domain DVDs. Lugosi is at his best - this is right after "Dracula", "Murders In The Rue Morgue", and "White Zombie" - and he is in his prime, as the accompanying documentary takes pains to emphasize. The photography is drop-dead gorgeous if you're into films from 1930-1936. The hero himself (Chandu) could have been played by a more dynamic actor than Edmund Lowe, but he really doesn't screw it up as badly as the documentary implies. Again, the print is beautiful.

I haven't watched "Dragonwyck" yet, but the New Yorker magazine thinks it's the highlight of the set.

So what are you waiting for? Buy it.

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Fox Horror Classics 2 (1 of 1 Found this Helpful)   October 10, 2008
A terrific example of classic movie making with Dragonwyck (a must see for any classic film buff) and complete camp from Chandu the Magician. Dr. Renault's Secret is a terrific example of some of the very best character actors of the making a terrific movie from an absurd script! I recommend this collection highly!

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