The Mad Magician – Indicator Series (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1954
Director: John Brahm
Writer: Crane Wilbur
Cast: Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, Patrick O’Neal, Eva Gabor, John Emery, Lenita Lane, Donald Randolph, Jay Novello

Release Date: April 25th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 72 Minutes 51 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 12 (UK)
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £8.99 (UK)

"Made shortly after the box-office success of House of Wax, The Mad Magician returns Vincent Price to the world of three-dimensional horror. He plays Don Gallico, the creator of elaborate illusions for stage magicians, who seeks their fame… and will turn to murder to achieve it!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Sony's 2K remaster, supervised by Rita Belda, was the source to this Indicator edition."

The Mad Magician comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.9 GB

Feature: 21.4 GB

For this release, both the 3-D and 2-D versions of the film have been included. It should be noted that no 3-D glasses are included, and you will need the required equipment to watch this film in 3-D.

The source is in great shape; image clarity and compression are solid, black levels are strong, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. Though this release shares the same source Twilight Time used for their 2017 Blu-ray, Fidelity in Motion’s solid encode of the 2D version gives it the edge.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery (32 images - stills/posters), a  theatrical trailer (2 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), two super 8 versions of The Mad Magician: version #1 (8 minutes 34 seconds, no sound with burnt English subtitles) and version #2 (16 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Three-Dimensional Magic an appreciation of The Mad Magician and the 3D filmmaking boom of the 1950s by cinematographer Frank Passingham (Kubo and the Two Strings) and archivist Tom Vincent (15 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historians Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby, two short films starring the Three Stooges, both presented in 3D and 2D: Spooks! (15 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with removable English SDH) and Pardon My Backfire (15 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with removable English SDH), and a 40-page booklet (limited edition of 3,000 copies) with cast & crew information. An essay titled Merv Taylor: The Real  Mad Magician written by Kat Ellinger, Bryan Foy: King of ‘Little Pictures”, an interview with John Brahm conducted by David Del Valle, a guide to the promotional campaign, an overview of contemporary critical responses, cast & crew information for Spooks! and Pardon My Backfire, an essay titled The 3-D Stooges written by Jeff Billington, archival images, and information about the transfer.

Summary:

Shortly after the box office success of House of Wax, producer Brian Foy would quickly start another similar-themed film. And that film in question was The Mad Magician. Besides borrowing elements from the aforementioned House of Wax, another area where these two films have similarities is the carryover of key cast members, including screenwriter Crane Wilbur and cinematographer Bert Glennon, and Vincent Price once again being cast in the lead role.

From a production standpoint, The Mad Magician features a solid premise, a strong narrative that is wonderfully paced, and well-defined characters that are all superbly portrayed by the cast. Another strength of The Mad Magician are its striking visuals, and when it comes to the use of 3-D, this film far exceeds expectations.

Standout moments visually include a sequence of moments where the protagonist has just severed off the head of his employer and the bag he put the head in has been mistakenly taken by a young woman who works for him, and the scene where the protagonist's ex-wife discovers that he has been impersonating a dead man.

When discussing The Mad Magician, one must not overlook the contributions from Vincent Price (Theatre of Blood) in the role of this film’s protagonist, Professor Henry Jarrod. He delivers a rock-solid performance, which allows him to take on many personas. Other notable cast members include Eva Gabor ("Green Acres") in the role of Jarrod’s ex-wife, John Emery (Spellbound) in the role of a magician named The Great Rinaldi, and Lenita Lane in the role of Alice Prentiss, an inquisitive novelist who writes murder mysteries.

Though not as well-remembered as House of Wax, The Mad Magician is a highly entertaining film that makes an excellent companion piece to the aforementioned film.

The Mad Magician gets its best home media release to date from Powerhouse Films, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Hangover Square – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1945
Director: John Brahm
Writer: Barré Lyndon
Cast: Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Glenn Langan, Faye Marlowe, Alan Napier

Release Date: November 21st, 2017
Approximate Running Time: 78 Minutes 3 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"The great Laird Cregar (I Wake Up Screaming) gives a staggering nightmarish performance as an amnesiac London composer George Harvey Bone, who learns that a murder occurred during one of his blackouts and starts to worry that he himself may be the murderer. Although a Scotland Yard report proves his innocence, Bone's murderous streak reveals itself when a pub singer with ulterior motives betrays him." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Brand New 4K Restoration!".

Hangover Square comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 20 GB

Feature: 17.5 GB

When compared to previous home video presentations. This new transfer is vastly superior in every way. with the greatest areas of improvement being image clarity, contrast, and black levels.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. There are no issues with distortion or background noise; the dialog always comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; and the score sounds appropriately robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a vintage radio show performed by Vincent Price, Linda Darnell and Faye Marlowe (29 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a featurette titled The Tragic Mask: The Laird Cregar Story (19 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles),  an audio commentary with film historian Steve Haberman and actress Faye Marlowe and an audio commentary with film critic Richard Schickel.

Other extras include trailers for The Lodger, The Undying Monster and I Wake up Screaming.

Summary:

When discussing Hangover Square, there is no denying the impact of Laird Cregar’s (I Wake Up Screaming) haunting performance in the role of George Harvey Bone, a composer who is blinded by love and loses sight of his original ambition to complete his concerto. And with his performance, he delivers a haunting performance that perfectly fuses the character he is portraying with his own personal demons. though his career spanned a mere six years. His impact on cinema is undeniable.

Content-wise, Hangover Square features a psychoanalysis angle that was becoming all too familiar in Hollywood cinema during this era. with the protagonist's amnesia being triggered when he hears dissonant sounds.

Though Hangover Square is set in the Victorian era, the visuals have a film noir vibe to them. Another strength of the visuals is how they reinforce the mood and perfectly capture the protagonists’ state of mind. The most memorable moment visually is its finale, where the protagonist plays his concerto as his world burns to the ground around him.

As mentioned before, though, Hangover Square's greatest strength is Laird Cregar’s haunting portrayal of George Harvey Bone. Not to be overlooked are the performances of the rest of the cast. Notably, George Sanders (All About Eve) plays the role of a psychologist who tries to help the protagonist. Linda Darnell (My Darling Clementine) plays a singer who takes advantage of the protagonist's talent to further her own ambitions. Ultimately, Hangover Square is an exceptional psychological thriller that stays with you long after its unforgettable finale.

Kino Lorber gets its best home video release to date; highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Mad Magician – Twilight Time (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1954
Director: John Brahm
Writer: Crane Wilbur
Cast: Vincent Price, Mary Murphy, Patrick O’Neal, Eva Gabor, John Emery, Lenita Lane, Donald Randolph, Jay Novello

Release Date: January 11th, 2017
Approximate Running Time: 72 Minutes 47 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: OOP

"The Mad Magician (1954) stars Vincent Price in a trademark role as a round-the-bend illusionist bent on revenge." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video:  4/5

The Mad Magician comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 34.4 GB

Feature: 23.1 GB

For this release, both the 3-D and 2-D versions of the film have been included. It should be noted that no 3-D glasses are included, and you will need the required equipment to watch this film in 3-D.

The source used for this transfer looks great, and it is free of any print debris. Image clarity, contrast, and black levels are solid, and there are no issues with compression.

Audio: 4/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. Though the audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, it has a limited range.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 9 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), a featurette titled The Master of Fright Conjuring the Mad Magician (19 minutes 49 seconds, DTS-HD stereo English, no subtitles), two Three Stooges shorts, Spooks (15 minutes 44 seconds, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH subtitles), and Pardon my Backfire (15 minutes 56 seconds, DTS-HD mono English with removable English SDH subtitles), an option to listen to a Isolated music track, an audio commentary with film historians David Del Valle and Steven Peros, and an eight-page booklet with an essay written by Julie Kirgo.

Summary:

Shortly after the box office success of House of Wax, producer Brian Foy would quickly start another similar-themed film. And that film in question was The Mad Magician. Besides borrowing elements from the aforementioned House of Wax, another area where these two films have similarities is the carryover of key cast members, including screenwriter Crane Wilbur and cinematographer Bert Glennon, and Vincent Price once again being cast in the lead role.

From a production standpoint, The Mad Magician features a solid premise, a strong narrative that is wonderfully paced, and well-defined characters that are all superbly portrayed by the cast. Another strength of The Mad Magician are its striking visuals, and when it comes to the use of 3-D, this film far exceeds expectations.

Standout moments visually include a sequence of moments where the protagonist has just severed off the head of his employer and the bag he put the head in has been mistakenly taken by a young woman who works for him, and the scene where the protagonist's ex-wife discovers that he has been impersonating a dead man.

When discussing The Mad Magician, one must not overlook the contributions from Vincent Price (Theatre of Blood) in the role of this film’s protagonist, Professor Henry Jarrod. He delivers a rock-solid performance, which allows him to take on many personas. Other notable cast members include Eva Gabor ("Green Acres") in the role of Jarrod’s ex-wife, John Emery (Spellbound) in the role of a magician named The Great Rinaldi, and Lenita Lane in the role of Alice Prentiss, an inquisitive novelist who writes murder mysteries.

Though not as well-remembered as House of Wax, The Mad Magician is a highly entertaining film that makes an excellent companion piece to the aforementioned film.

Note: This Blu-Ray release was limited-edition release of 3,000 copies and it is now OOP.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Lodger (1944) – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1944
Director: John Brahm
Writers: Barré Lyndon, Marie Belloc Lowndes
Cast: Merle Oberon, George Sanders, Laird Cregar, Cedric Hardwicke, Sara Allgood, Aubrey Mather, Queenie Leonard, Doris Lloyd, David Clyde

Release Date: December 13th, 2016
Approximate Running Time: 83 Minutes 57 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"After a mysterious young man named Slade (Laird Cregar, I Wake Up Screaming) rents a London flat, a murder spree begins nearby and the landlady suspects her new lodger to be Jack the Ripper. Kitty (Merle Oberon, Wuthering Heights), a talented singer ignores warnings about the crimes from her new love interest, Inspector John Warwick (George Sanders, Hangover Square) who’s assigned to the case - or the man who may have committed them and soon she becomes Slade's object of obsession in this pulse-pounder that packs an unsettling punch." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

The Lodger comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.4 GB

Feature: 16.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Any print debris is minimal. Also, this transfer is sourced from the same restoration that was used for Fox’s DVD release. The image looks crisp, the contrast and black levels look very good, and there are no compression issues.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. Though the dialog comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced, things are limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (2 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an animated montage of images, a restoration comparison (16 minutes 17 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled The Man In The Attic: The Making of The Lodger (15 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), The Lodger vintage radio show performed by Vincent Price and Cathy Lewis (29 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historian Gregory William Mank, and an audio commentary with film historians Alain Silver and James Ursini.

Other extras include trailers for The Undying Monster and The Black Sleep.

Summary:

Though John Brahm’s The Lodger is a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s film of the same name, comparing the two films would be doing both films a great disservice since their only connection, besides sharing the same name, is that both films have a Jack the Ripper-like character.

When discussing a film like The Lodger, it is hard to look past the contributions of its lead actor, Laird Cregar (Hangover Square), in the role of Mr. Slade, a Jack the Ripper-like character who finds lodging one evening after his latest kill. He delivers a nuanced performance that makes his character more than a one-dimensional caricature. Other performances of note are Merle Oberon (The Dark Angel) in the role of Kitty Langley, an actress whom Mr. Slade becomes infatuated with, and George Sanders (Rebecca) in the role of a Scotland Yard inspector named John Warwick.

Although there have been numerous films about Jack the Ripper or have used his story as a starting point. The Lodger is an interesting take on a familiar story that does a great job of retaining the core elements of Jack the Ripper’s story.

From a production standpoint, there is not an area where The Lodger does not excel. A well-executed narrative builds tension and momentum that culminates in a very satisfying climax. Other strengths include solid costume and production designs and striking cinematography. Ultimately, The Lodger is a riveting film that, for its time, pushed the boundaries of what could be on screen or even suggested.

The Lodger gets a good release from Kino Lorber that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Undying Monster – Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1942
Director: John Brahm
Writers: Lillie Hayward, Michael Jacoby, Jessie Douglas Kerruish
Cast: James Ellison, Heather Angel, John Howard, Bramwell Fletcher, Heather Thatcher, Aubrey Mather, Halliwell Hobbes

Release Date: November 22nd, 2016
Approximate Running Time: 63 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"When Helga Hammond (Heather Angel, The Informer) hears about a legend whereby a male member of her family is about to be sacrificed every few years, she discounts the legend as nonsense. But when Helga's brother, Oliver (John Howard, Lost Horizon) is attacked by a horrific beast that is part man and part wolf, it appears that the legend is true. When Scotland Yard inspector (James Ellison, I Walked with a Zombie) investigates the link between the werewolf and the family, he discovers an even more shocking truth!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

The Undying Monster comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 14.2 GB

Feature: 12.6 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Any source-related debris is minimal. Also, this transfer is sourced from the same restoration that was used for Fox’s DVD release. The image looks crisp, the contrast and black levels look very good, and there are no compression issues.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. Though the audio sounds clean and balanced, things are limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (1 minute 4 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an animated montage of images, a restoration comparison (3 minutes 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Concerto Macabre: The Films of John Brahm (16 minutes 30 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film Historians Tom Weaver and Robert J. Kiss with Sumishta Brahm, daughter of John Brahm, and an audio commentary with film Historians Tom Weaver and David Schecter.

Other extras include trailers for The Lodger (1944) and The Black Sleep.

Summary:

The Undying Monster was Twentieth Century-Fox’s attempt to replicate what Universal Pictures did with their monster horror films from the 1930’s. The narrative revolves around a curse where family members for generations have died under suspicious circumstances. And there is a monster that roams the countryside near the family's estate that bolsters the curse.

Though The Undying Monster has many elements that are associated with the horror genre, the result is a film that is best described as a horror/mystery film, leaning more towards the latter. The bulk of the narrative is a whodunit scenario in which characters try to uncover the truth about what is going on.

Surprisingly, the performances are actually very good, and often exceed expectations. With the strongest performance being Heather Angel (Lifeboat) in the role of Helga Hammond, a woman whose family is plagued by untimely deaths. Her character's role in the investigation drives the narrative.

Though most B films from this era have their fair share of shortcomings, this is not the case with The Undying Monster, a film that maximizes its resources. The strong visuals give The Undying Monster an ample amount of atmosphere, and at just around sixty-three minutes in length, a briskly paced narrative ensures there is rarely a dull moment. Ultimately, The Undying Monster is a solid B film that does a great job of capturing the essence of Universal’s 1930’s monster films.

The Undying Monster gets a good release from Kino Lorber that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a trio of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer