Synopsis
Egyptology professor Boris Karloff is on his deathbed. He has just spent his fortuneacquiring a jewel he believes will open up the gates of the afterlife for him, and he demands to beburied with it, threatening to come back from the grave if his wishes are denied. Naturally, thejewel is stolen, and as a group of interested parties descend on his mansion, Karloff rises. ThisBritish film, made in the wake of the huge success of the early Universal horror classics, is als…very much an Old Dark House tale, with the attendant joys (creepy settings) and weaknesses(much slamming of doors and too much comic relief. The photography is marvellouslyatmospheric, however, and Karloff’s late return as a silent, unstoppable killer anticipates bydecades such stalkers as Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees.
Audio
A very clean mono. There is the odd gurgle early on, but by and large the sound issurprisingly good for a film that was long deprived of proper preservation. There is no distortionand very little hiss. A stereo remix would have been pointless, and it is nice to hear the filmsounding this fine.
Video
I’m surprised MGM has released this disc with so little fanfare, even on the case itself, asthis is a stunning transfer, the best the film has looked since its initial release. The print has beencleaned up of all damage and dirt. There are no speckles, no grain, and no edge enhancementissues. The picture looks a bit soft in some elements, but most of the time my jaw was on theground. I never expected to see the film look this pristine.
Special Features
Disappointingly, not a single extra. The menu is scored.
Closing Thoughts
A real treat for lovers of 30’s horror. The lack of extras is made up for by the beautifulcondition of the print.
