6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In 19th Century Paris, the maniacal Dr. Mirakle abducts young women and injects them with ape blood in an attempt to prove ape-human kinship. He constantly meets failure as the abducted women die. Medical student Pierre Dupin discovers what Mirakle is doing too late to prevent the abduction of his girlfriend Camille. Now he desperately tries to enlist the help of the police to get her back...
Starring: Bela Lugosi, Sidney Fox, Leon Ames, Bert Roach, Betty Ross Clarke (I)Horror | 100% |
Mystery | 10% |
Crime | 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)
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 version of this film is available as part of Three Edgar Allan Poe Adaptations Starring Bela Lugosi.
Bela Lugosi may have sadly ended his life as a largely destitute, wasted drug addict consigned to wandering through films like Ed Wood’s Plan 9 from Outer Space, but in the wake of the release of Dracula in 1931, for one brief, shining moment he was arguably
the
biggest star at Universal, at least within the studio’s horror output. Of course Lugosi soon had considerable competition from the likes of Boris
Karloff
in Frankenstein, which opened just a few months after
Dracula and which arguably stole a bit of its thunder. That said, it’s important to note that Karloff got that iconic role only after Lugosi
dropped
out after what
have been described as less than successful make up tests. Eureka Entertainment’s Masters of Cinema imprint has now aggregated three early
Lugosi efforts, including his first two collaborations with Karloff. This set is at least somewhat similar to Shout! Factory's Region A release
of Universal Horror Collection: Volume 1
,
including not just in its inclusion of some of the same films but some of the supplements as well, so fans with region free players may want to do
some contrasting and comparing
between the two releases.
Murders in the Rue Morgue is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment's Masters of Cinema imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.36:1. This is often a very appealing looking transfer, though detail levels tend to fluctuate, especially when effects like supposed fog are added (see screenshot 5). Many of the chiaroscuro lighting effects are quite striking throughout the presentation and tend to point out this transfer's generally nice looking contrast. There are manifest signs of age related wear and tear, albeit minor, and as with some of the other presentations in this set, grain can be rather heavy at times, though notably never really encounters compression issues, even in some of those aforementioned scenes featuring heavy "fog".
Murders in the Rue Morgue features an LPCM 2.0 Mono track that is understandably narrow and shallow sounding, but which supports the film's dialogue and occasional effects well enough. In that regard, some of the wimpering sounds Erik makes may strike some as unintentionally humorous at various points. Other moments, like the harrowing sequence featuring Arlene Francis, offer some nice spikes of activity courtesy of things like screams. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.
Eureka! has packaged this release with Murders in the Rue Morgue on Disc 1 and The Black Cat and The Raven on Disc
2. While there are some film specific supplements, as in the commentaries, there are also more generalist items, so here's a full list of the contents
of both discs:
Disc One
Gregory Mank gets into some of the ways Murders in the Rue Morgue was restructured as it was prepared for release, and it's hard to argue with Mank's assertion that the film may have been more viscerally effective had some of those changes not been made. Yes, the whole plotline involving the ape is patently ridiculous, but the film is kind of disturbing anyway, and it certainly has a distinctive style. Technical merits are generally solid, and the supplementary package very enjoyable. Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
Masters of Cinema
1935
The Vanishing Body / Masters of Cinema
1934
Premium Collection
1933
Indicator Series
1961
Warner Archive Collection
1966
2015
1959
Premium Collection
1953
1968
Eureka Classics
1935
1963
Masters of Cinema
1932
1935
The Man Who Made a Monster
1931
1972
Indicator Series
1964
Horror of Dracula / Double Play
1958
Warner Archive Collection
1932
Eureka Classics
1952
Land of the Minotaur | Indicator Series | Limited Edition
1976