Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection Blu-ray (Pre-order Available)

In the fall, Universal Studios Home Entertainment will bring the Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection to Blu-ray. This eight-disc, limited-edition box set compiles nine films from the studio's venerated horror movie catalog, all of which make their respective U.S. Blu-ray debuts through this package.

The films include:

• Dracula (1931)
• Drácula [Spanish-language version] (1931)
• Frankenstein (1931)
• The Mummy (1932)
• The Invisible Man (1933)
• Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
• The Wolf Man (1941)
• Phantom of the Opera (1943)
• Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

While the exact technical specifications are still unknown for the individual discs, Universal's press release notes that the nine pictures have been "digitally restored from high resolution film elements." The set also includes over twelve hours of bonus supplements, such as:

Both versions of Dracula (on a single BD-50) -

• Introduction to the Spanish language version by Lupita Tovar Kohner
• Audio commentaries:
• Film historian David J. Skal
• Dracula: Dead and Loving It screenwriter Steve Haberman
• Alternate Philip Glass score performed by the Kronos Quartet
• Monster Tracks interactive pop-up feature about the making of Dracula
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
• The Road to Dracula
• Lugosi: The Dark Prince
• Dracula: The Restoration featurette
• The Dracula Archives feature
• Trailer gallery

Frankenstein -

• Audio commentaries:
• Film historian Rudy Behlmer
• Historian Sir Christopher Frayling
• Monster Tracks interactive pop-up feature about the making of Frankenstein
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
• The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made a Monster
• Karloff: The Gentle Monster
• Universal Horror featurette
• The Frankenstein Archives feature
• Boo!: A Short Film
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: Restoring the Classics
• Trailer gallery

The Mummy -

• Audio commentaries:
• Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns, and Brent Armstrong
• Film historian Paul M. Jensen
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
• Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed
• He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art Of Jack Pierce
• Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy
• The Mummy Archives feature
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Carl Laemmle Era
• Trailer gallery

The Invisible Man -

• Audio commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer
• Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed behind-the-scenes featurette
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: Unforgettable Characters
• Production photographs

Bride of Frankenstein -

• Audio commentary with Scott MacQueen
• She's Alive! Creating The Bride Of Frankenstein behind-the-scenes featurette
• The Bride of Frankenstein Archives feature
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: Restoring the Classics
• Trailer gallery

The Wolf Man -

• Audio commentary with film historian Tom Weaver
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
• The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth
• Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney, Jr.
• He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art Of Jack Pierce
• The Wolf Man Archives feature
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Lot
• Trailer gallery

Phantom of the Opera -

• Audio commentary with Scott MacQueen
• The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked behind-the-scenes featurette
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Lot
• Theatrical trailer
• Production photographs

Creature from the Black Lagoon -

• 2D and 3D versions of the film
• Audio commentary with Tom Weaver
• Back to The Black Lagoon behind-the-scenes featurette
• 100 Years Of Universal featurette: The Lot
• Trailer gallery
• Production photographs

In addition, the collection comes with a forty-eight-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, and rare correspondences.

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection streets on October 2nd and is available now for pre-order from Amazon for the price of $111.99.