7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A distraught doctor is tormented by voices in his head that are urging him to end his unhappy marriage - forever.
Starring: Lon Chaney Jr., Patricia Morison, J. Carrol Naish, David Bruce (I), Ramsay AmesHorror | 100% |
Mystery | 22% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.36:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.37:1
English: LPCM 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Note: This film is available as part of Inner Sanctum Mysteries: The Complete Film Series.
There may be two schools of thought with regard to those who make horror films, with one group opting for graphic, on screen representations of
whatever traumas characters experience, and with another group thinking that it’s best not to show every jot and tittle of various
nefarious
behaviors, in the belief that the audience’s imagination can make things even scarier than any overt offerings can. In that regard, it’s interesting to
think
about some of the old radio shows that frequently featured mystery, thriller or horror elements, since it probably goes without saying that a
broadcast
without a video element necessarily requires the active participation of a listener’s imagination in order to make everything “click”.
There
were any number of “spooky” radio programs back in the day, including such well remembered efforts as Suspense (which kind of
amazingly
managed to last until 1962), though Inner Sanctum owed its genesis to another medium that requires an active imagination — namely,
reading. Simon and Schuster launched an imprint called Inner Sanctum in 1930 which did traffic in mystery and thriller novels, but which kind of
humorously also offered other genres, including romance.
In 1941, the radio edition premiered in January and became a staple of the American
broadcast landscape,
with a licensing deal with Simon and Schuster that required regular advertising of whatever the latest Inner Sanctum book was. A little bit over
two
years later, Universal did another licensing deal with Simon and Schuster to use the Inner Sanctum title, though as the commentary on
Calling Dr. Death gets into, Universal was kind of aggressively circumscribed by both the publishing house and the radio version in
that
the film company could not use the radio sound effect of a creaking door (which memorably opened and closed each episode), and was also
prohibited
from actually adapting any of the Simon and Schuster books (which may seem like a kind of odd requirement). Universal ended up making six
titles under their Inner Sanctum imprint, with all of them offering Lon Chaney, Jr. a chance to do something other than grow hair (The Wolf Man), get wrapped in
ragged bandages (The Mummy's Tomb) or attempt
to maraud around in Boris Karloff's oversized boots (The Ghost of
Frankenstein). With regard to the two "schools" of horror mentioned above, for reasons probably related as much to the production era
as to any deliberate stylistic choice, things can be somewhat discursive in terms of on screen horror.
Calling Dr. Death is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.36:1. This is one of the nicer looking transfers in the set, though there are quite a few signs of age related wear tear, typically rather minor and in the form of scratches and other nicks and blemishes. There are a couple of unfortunate hairs in the gate, including on the left side of the frame during the opening credits, and a warped frame or two, but on the whole this transfer offers secure contrast and some appealing detail levels. Shadow detail is surprisingly strong, all things considered, and there is an organic looking grain field. My score is 3.75.
Calling Dr. Death features an LPCM 2.0 Mono track that betrays occasional fidelity issues, notably in the opening "crystal ball" sequence, where the comments of the "host" are a bit hard to make out. Otherwise, though, both a rather strident score by Paul Sawtell, which includes a bunch of organ cues apparently meant to evoke the radio version, and dialogue are offered without any problems. Chaney's whispered narration (a recurring motif in several of the Inner Sanctum films) sounds fine. There are also no signs of actual damage or dropouts. Optional English subtitles are available.
Eureka! has packaged this set on two discs, with both film specific and more generalist supplements on each disc. Here is a list of all the contents,
including supplements,
on both discs.
Disc One
- Calling Dr. Death
- Audio Commentary by C. Courtney Joyner and Regina Le Borg can be accessed under Calling Dr. Death on the Main Menu.
- Trailer (HD; 1:07) can be accessed under Calling Dr. Death on the Main Menu.
- Weird Woman
- Audio Commentary by Justin Humphreys and Del Howison can be accessed under Weird Woman on the Main Menu.
- Trailer (HD; 1:22) can be accessed under Weird Woman on the Main Menu.
- Dead Man's Eyes
- Trailer (HD; 1:05) can be accessed under Dead Man's Eyes on the Main Menu.
- The Amazing Death of Mrs. Putnam (25:15)
- The Black Seagull (28:46)
- The Skull That Walked (29:42)
- The Frozen Ghost
- Trailer (HD; 1:11) can be accessed under The Frozen Ghost on the Main Menu.
- Strange Confession
- Audio Commentary by Peter Atkins and C. Courtney Joyner can be accessed under Strange Confession on the Main Menu.
- Pillow of Death
- Skeleton Bay (29:44)
- The Man Who Couldn't Die (29:22)
- Death of a Doll (25:08)
Calling Dr. Death gets the Inner Sanctum series off to a fine if ultimately kind of predictable start. Chaney is fine in a largely sympathetic role, and the supporting cast is fun, including the always watchable Morison. Technical merits are generally solid, and Calling Dr. Death comes Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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