Search - TCM Greatest Classic Films Collection: Horror (House of Wax 1953 / The Haunting 1963 / Freaks / Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1941) on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 5/10/2019...

House of Wax - 5/5 - This movie reminds me of how great of an actor Vincent Price is and how his unique voice completely worked with this plotline. The special effects were pretty great in this considering how old the movie it. A must watch for Vincent fans and if you are a fan of Charles Bronson, who is a young Igor! Avoid the Mystery of the Wax Museum. House of Wax was closely based on that original but the original was really boring with poor acting, poor video transfer and a boring presentation of the plotline. The remake was awesome!

An Open Love Letter to TCM

Kathy | Fort Lauderdale, FL USA | 06/22/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Let's see...
"Freaks" has been out for years and is still available. It includes wonderful commentary by David Skal.
"House of Wax" has also been available on DVD for years. It also is still available and includes the original "Mystery of the Wax Museum" as a bonus.
"Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde" also - available for years and still is as a double feature DVD with the Frederick March version of this film.
"The Haunting" is on DVD.
Dear TCM: I love you. Everyone does. Your network is part of every Premium Package on cable. And I own - or will own as soon as I get the newest "Forbidden Hollywood" - all of your DVD releases.
But why waste time and materials releasing movies that have been easily available for ages? Some with more value for the money.
When I think of the movies that you could be releasing in this set. "Orphan films" that for some reason no one will put on disc. Films we can only see on your network when we're lucky.
Just off the top of my head, why these films when Howard Hawks' "The Criminal Code", "Five Star Final" (both with Boris Karloff in supporting roles prior to "Frankenstein"), "Page Miss Glory" with Marion Davies, Dick Powell and Pat O'Brien and "This Land Is Mine" with Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara (someone must want it - they sell a region 2 version of it here on Amazon) can't find distribution?
If you wanted a sci-fi set, what about "Colossus of New York", "The 27th Day", later William Castle films or - I'll never understand this never being on DVD - "Island of Lost Souls"?
These are the kinds of films that make people spend the money for that Premium Package to have your network in their homes. These are the kinds of films that you should be making the effort to get onto DVD and seen by people.
The movies in this set and those others you plan to release on the same day are great films. Unfortunately, if even you would rather double-dip films with proven sales records than champion lesser known classics...lovers of great old black and white films like myself are lost.
Please tell me you're not going "AMC" on us."

Same discs as individual releases

W. Smith | 09/10/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For those hoping this new package set would contain remastered prints or new material, look elsewhere. These seem to be the exact same content as the previously released individual editions of each film, except rendered on 2 double-sided discs (This means that the 1933 film Mystery in the Wax Museum, which originally appeared on the flip-side of House of Wax, is not found here, even though they forgot to remove reference to the film from the House of Wax menu screen!)

All films are presented in original aspect ratios (meaning only The Haunting is widescreen). Trailers, commentary tracks and supplemental material from the initial releases of The Haunting, House of Wax and Freaks are carried over here."

I'd make just one change...

calvinnme | 07/05/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"... and that would be the deletion of the 1941 version of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde and replacing it with the 1932 version of the same film. The 1932 version was made before the production code went into effect and allowed you to see Mr. Hyde in all his debauchery along with Miriam Hopkins as the girl of the street caught in his grasp. The two are available as a double feature in Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Double Feature (1932/1941).

Frea ks (1932) was misunderstood at the time of its release, but is now highly regarded as a horror classic. Director Tod Browning really had a vacuum to fill after Lon Chaney's death ended their successful partnership. This film is an example of his finest work post-Chaney. It is about Hans, a little person in a circus attracted to a beautiful but evil woman who marries Hans for his money and plans to murder him. When the other circus "frea ks" find out about Hans' bride's plans, they extract a cruel but fitting revenge. This film is available in a more deluxe edition that includes commentary. Audiences were troubled by this one when it came out because people with actual disabilities were used rather than actors and actresses in makeup.

The Haunting (1963) is more effective in this version than in the 1999 version with all of the special effects. You actually never see anything in this film - you just hear the sounds and experience the horror of Julie Harris' character as she stays in a haunted house along with a group of people as part of an experiment framed by a psychiatrist. This is currently available separately as The Haunting

House of Wax (1953) is a remake of a precode version of this same film made in 1933. This 1950's version has both advantages and disadvantages when compared to the precode version. The 1950's version has the advantage of Vincent Price as the mad sculptor and a very young Charles Bronson as his brutish assistant. However, the 1930's version had Glenda Farrell as the brassy newspaper woman trying to solve the case of a bunch of disappearances with Fay Wray as the damsel in distress that the mad doctor has his eye upon. The 1950's version has the damsel in distress as the female lead, with no equivalent to Glenda Farrell in sight. You can compare the two yourself by purchasing House of Wax, which is a double feature including both versions of the film. The color on the 1953 version of this film was very "runny" on the original DVD. Let's hope it's been cleaned up some.

If you're really curious about Warner Horror and can stand to spend just a little bit more, I highly suggest Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection (Doctor X / The Return of Doctor X / Mad Love / The Devil Doll / Mark of the Vampire / The Mask of Fu Manchu). Most of the films have commentary in that collection."