The Man They Could Not Hang starring Boris Karloff, Lorna Gray, Robert Wilcox, Roger Pryor
Before I Hang starring Boris Karloff, Evelyn Keyes, Bruce Bennett, Edward Van Sloan
The Boogie Man Will Get You starring Boris Karloff, Peter Lorre, Max ‘Slapsie Maxie’ Rosenbloom, Larry Parks
Directed by Roy William Neill, Nick Grinde, Lew Landers
Distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Legend is a strong word. It applies to those few who have achieved milestones in order to obtain that distinction. Whether you’re old, young, or somewhere in-between, if you’re a horror fan, chances are very good that you are familiar with the name Boris Karloff. While he may indeed be best known for playing the infamous Frankenstein Monster, he has a myriad of other films out there that some may argue are even better than that iconic role. After all, the man’s career spanned more than five decades, in which he accumulated over two hundred films under his belt. Finally four of his lesser-known gems have found their way home as part of Sony’s Icons of Horror Collection.
Things kick off with 1935’s The Black Room. Let me ask you, what could be better than one Karloff? Why two Karloffs of course! Yep, Boris pulls double duty in this flick playing twin brothers, one evil and one, well, not-so-evil. Legend has it that the older twin will die at the hands of his younger sibling inside the mysterious black room. *cue dramatic musical stinger* What sets The Black Room apart from some of Boris’ other works is the fact that he really gets to show off his range by playing two distinctly different roles in one film. Clocking in at about seventy minutes, The Black Room is a ghoulishly perfect way to start off this collection.
The third time’s the harm, as Karloff and Grinde once again get a little noose-happy in 1940’s Before I Hang. After being injected with a serum … Wait. Who am I kiddin’? This was no serum! *Ahem* After being injected with the blood of an executed killer, Karloff continues the dead man’s rampage. Or is he merely mercy killing? You be the judge. While I am a huge fan of this man’s work, I have to say that Before I Hang is the weakest of this DVD set. Don’t get me wrong, Boris is as good as ever, bringing a truly sympathetic element to this crazed role, but the movie is just too slow for its own good. And what the hell was with that endless piano playing scene? The movie’s only just over an hour for Cthulhu’s sake! *shakes head*
There are no supplemental materials to speak of included in this package, but hey, you get four classic flicks for barely the price of one. Who could resist?
Here’s hoping for Volumes Two, Three, and Four of this collection. Should they ever come out, I am sooooooo there. Be sure to join me, and bring the popcorn, ya dirty freeloader!
Special Features
Isn’t Karloff special enough?
4 out of 5