DVD Review: Frankenstein - 75th Anniversary Edition - Page 2

Two commentary tracks go along with the film; Rudy Behlmer and Christopher Frayling are both monotone. Information is shared between them extensively, repeating focal points, actors, and facts about the shoot. Frayling is especially awful in his delivery, seemingly reading a script instead of following the film. Monster Tracks is a third way to learn about the shoot via text pop-ups. Again, this tends to be redundant information with the commentaries.

Karloff: The Gentle Monster is a short look back on the actor's career. It stays focused on acting. There is hardly anything said about his life offstage.

Disc two begins with the superb Frankenstein Files, running 90-minutes. Covering each film, this commendable documentary is produced beautifully. Fans of the DVD format have probably seen this, however, since it popped up on the Legacy Collection.

The Frankenstein Files turned up on the previous DVD set as well. It's a 45-minute piece hosted by David J. Skal, with interviews from familiar faces in Hollywood. Universal Horror was produced in 1998 for TV viewing. A little over 90-minutes, this covers the studio's horror lineup from the beginning and into the early 40s.

Two final pieces round off this set. Boo! is a short comedy produced in the silent era featuring many of the Universal monster roster before they became iconic figures. Finally, The Frankenstein Files is a collection of posters and lobby cards from the film.

Presented in an undeniably gorgeous thick cardboard cover, this Legacy Series release is a looker. Sadly, the product contained inside isn't worth the asking price. Unless the weak commentaries are worth it to you personally, it makes far more sense to buy the package with five films and a few less items to find in the extras department.

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Article Author: Matt Paprocki

Matt Paprocki is a 12-year movie and game critic. He currently freelances for Blu-ray review site DoBlu.com and video game site MultiPlayerGames.com.

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  • 1 - Mat Brewster

    Oct 27, 2006 at 4:37 pm

    Looks like I'll skip this. I have the legacy collection and adore it. Sure some of the later films aren't that spectacular, but its great to have them, and the asking price was super cheap.

    Why pay more, for what appears to be less?

  • 2 - Iloz Zoc

    Oct 27, 2006 at 8:22 pm

    Ditto on what Mat said. What would have been super would have been a theatrical release of Frankenstein and Dracula on a double bill.

    For the 75th anniversary of these iconic films, you would think more attention should have been paid instead of yet another DVD release with little to offer.

  • 3 - Luciano

    Sep 07, 2007 at 12:27 am

    Poor Universal Monsters - they are so poorly treated that one is tempted to see them as the paupers, with the princes being their funny versions in the Munsters and Addams Family! :!

    I guess Universal thought a 75th anniversary is really no big deal at all... And that makes me wonder if they will not simply omit to celebrate the Wolfman, the Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera and my favorite, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, once THEIR turn comes...! :(

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