The Black Cat Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Black Cat Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 5, 2021

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.

Considering this was the first pairing (of an eventual eight) of Lugosi and Karloff, The Black Cat might strike some as almost intentionally meant to subvert expectations about what that pairing might be. In that regard, it takes a good, long while for more "traditional" horror aspects to rise to the surface, as instead a more psychological, introspective approach is fostered that sees still traumatized World War I survivor Dr. Vitus Werdegast (Béla Lugosi) supposedly getting ready to reunite with an "old friend" named Hjalmar Poelzig (Boris Karloff), though it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out there might be some ulterior motives involved which in fact relate back to World War I. Caught up in this personal melodrama are a couple named Peter (David Manners) and Joan Alison (Julie Bishop), who are vacationing on their honeymoon, but who end up virtual prisoners in Poelzig's art deco inspired mountaintop lair after an unfortunate bus accident leaves Joan injured.

Without spoiling where this frankly kind of gonzo effort ends up going, suffice it to say that Poelzig may be worshiping at an altar devoted to the Black Arts, and that for a number of reasons Werdegast is intent on revenge. There's a really interesting style to this film, one that offers an increasingly Gothic flair once the pieces have all been set into place. It's fun to see Lugosi as the putative hero and Karloff as the unrepentant villain, and the two have a number of really nicely performed scenes with each other.

This is one of the films shared with the Shout! release linked to above, and those interested can find more information in Brian Orndorf's The Black Cat Blu-ray review of that version.

The Black Cat Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The Black Cat is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Eureka! Entertainment's Masters of Cinema imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.36:1. While the aspect ratio of this release is slightly narrower than the one put out by Shout! Factory for the North American market, judging solely by screenshots this looks very similar to that release in terms of contrast, detail levels and even some damage. Brian mentioned a "processed" look to some of the grain in the Shout! release, and I didn't really notice anything that looked too untoward here, but, as Brian also mentioned, the grain field can be extremely thick at times, to the point that it can almost look streaked (see the general background behind Karloff in screenshot 3 to see what I'm trying to describe). Fine detail on things like the natty suit Lugosi wears early in the film is often quite precise looking, especially in close- ups. There is recurrent damage in the form of scratches, nicks and other blemishes.

The Black Cat Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Black Cat features an LPCM 2.0 Mono track that doesn't have any outright damage, but which still understandably maintains a shallow, at times slightly brash, and often boxy sound overall. Some effects tend not to reverberate with much force, and the frequent underscore by Heinz Roehmheld can be a little thin sounding, especially in upper registers. Dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

The Black Cat Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

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

• Audio Commentary by film historian Gregory William Mank


• Alternate Soundtrack is presented in LPCM 2.0 Mono and comes with a warning that it was supplied by Universal Pictures and adds music to scenes of the film, and that they recommend listening to the original track for a first viewing.


• Kim Newman Interview (HD; 28:49) is another enjoyable piece with Newman, who discusses the Universal "Poe adaptations".


• The Tell Tale Heart read by Bela Lugosi (HD; 13:21)


• Trailer (HD; 1:35)


• Stills Gallery (HD)


• Reconstructed Version (HD; 1:00:19) features an alternately structured version sparked by an article originally appearing in Video Watchdog. This is an old style "easter egg" that's hidden, but if you poke around the listing right above this one, you'll find it.

Disc Two

• The Black Cat Audio Commentary by film historian Gregory W. Mank explicitly references the Steve Haberman commentary that is included along with this one on Shout! Factory's release of The Black Cat, which makes it doubly odd that the Haberman commentary isn't included here.


• Cats in Horror (HD; 12:47) is a fun overview from Lee Gambin.


• The Black Cat Radio Adaptation with Peter Lorre (HD; 26:02) is a September 18, 1947 radio broadcast from Mystery in the Air.


• Vintage Footage (HD; 00:49) is a kind of hilarious brief silent snippet of kids parading their black cats past Lugosi and Karloff (I'll at least give Bela first billing).


• The Black Cat Stills Gallery (HD)


• The Raven Isolated Music and Effects Track is presented in LPCM 2.0 Mono.


• The Raven Audio Commentary by film historian Gary D. Rhodes


• The Raven Audio Commentary by Samm Deighan


• American Gothic (HD; 14:59) is an interesting exploration of various motifs by Kat Ellinger.


• The Tell-Tale Heart Radio Adaptation with Boris Karloff (HD; 26:42) is an August 3, 1941 episode from Inner Sanctum Mystery.


• Stills Gallery (HD)

While I don't yet have a final retail version, it looks like this Limited Edition also comes with Eureka's typically well appointed insert booklet.

The Black Cat Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Black Cat is an extremely interesting film, but it may not be the film some fans were expecting back then and indeed may not be expecting even today when thinking about the first pairing of two of the most redolent names in Universal's horror canon. If accepted on its own terms, The Black Cat does provide some Grand Guignol chills, albeit after a while. Technical merits are generally solid, and the supplementary package very enjoyable. Recommended.