Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) Blu from France

[houndfan]

https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B01M7YFXUW?...I2AYENQSX5786K

It appears Elephant Films in France are releasing this Universal gem on January 25th. It's one I've been looking out for. Those expressionistic sets should look great! Fingers crossed for beautiful-looking transfer.

[bigshot]

https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B01M5K54T5/

They're also releasing Karloff in The Ghoul (1933), presumably from BFI's restored British print that was released on DVD.

[crissrudd4554]

They're also releasing Island of Lost Souls and The Old Dark House.

https://www.amazon.fr/gp/aw/d/B01M4S...7VQFA9JZY81EKY

https://www.amazon.fr/gp/aw/d/B01M36...Z68B86W59SB4RN

[babybreese]

OLD DARK HOUSE is DVD only, all others are combos.

[Killer Meteor]

Bad news - the BD of Murders has new music throughout the film.

[bigshot]

On the English track or the French?

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by bigshot

On the English track or the French?

English - there is no French track

[bigshot]

Why did they add music and what kind of music is it?

[MartinScorsesefan]

That's terrible. I should have waited before I pre-ordered.

[bigshot]

I'm not sure I believe it to be honest. The companion release, Island of Lost Souls is getting very good reviews. I haven't seen a review of Rue Morgue yet. All of my other Elephant Films blu-rays are just the film and nothing more. It doesn't make sense to add music to a film like this that has already been released on DVD intact in the Lugosi box.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I'm not sure I believe it to be honest. The companion release, Island of Lost Souls is getting very good reviews. I haven't seen a review of Rue Morgue yet. All of my other Elephant Films blu-rays are just the film and nothing more. It doesn't make sense to add music to a film like this that has already been released on DVD intact in the Lugosi box.

My suspicion is it's for re-copyright purposes, or for television. There is one for Dracula doing the rounds - http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum....e#.WJGsBn94S-c

[bigshot]

No added music. I was right. Your info is wrong killer.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by bigshot

No added music. I was right. Your info is wrong killer.

There is added music, I swear. Elephant likely didn't add it, but rather Universal, as they did for that TV showing of Dracula.

The litmus test: the scene with the gorilla in the girl's bedroom. On the vhs, no music. Now there is music.

In fact, I don't think there was ANY music on the original film, bar the opening and closing titles.

[houndfan]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I'm not sure I believe it to be honest. The companion release, Island of Lost Souls is getting very good reviews. I haven't seen a review of Rue Morgue yet. All of my other Elephant Films blu-rays are just the film and nothing more. It doesn't make sense to add music to a film like this that has already been released on DVD intact in the Lugosi box.

I haven't watched the film yet (so can't comment on the music question) but after taking a quick look, the picture on this disc looks very pleasing.

[bigshot]

I'm assuming the music is vintage and not an obvious synth track. How does the music compare to the DVD on the Lugosi set? I'm hesitant to accept a single VHS release from decades ago as the true version. Could it be a 1940s rerelease version they spruced up back in the day? If so, I wouldn't object too much. If it's cheesy synths I would.

Edit: OK. I figured it out... Wikipedia credits Heinz Roemheld for the underscore in Murders in the Rue Morgue. It says it was stock library music and he was uncredited. Roemheld did the music for the reissue of Hunchback in 1931 and All Quiet on the Western Front in 1930, so he was working at Universal at the time Rue Morgue was made. Library of Congress holds the master print on this.

Your VHS is probably an unrestored version which is missing sound elements. I'm betting the Elephant Films version is the Library of Congress version.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by bigshot

I'm assuming the music is vintage and not an obvious synth track. How does the music compare to the DVD on the Lugosi set? I'm hesitant to accept a single VHS release from decades ago as the true version. Could it be a 1940s rerelease version they spruced up back in the day? If so, I wouldn't object too much. If it's cheesy synths I would.

Edit: OK. I figured it out... Wikipedia credits Heinz Roemheld for the underscore in Murders in the Rue Morgue. It says it was stock library music and he was uncredited. Roemheld did the music for the reissue of Hunchback in 1931 and All Quiet on the Western Front in 1930, so he was working at Universal at the time Rue Morgue was made. Library of Congress holds the master print on this.

Your VHS is probably an unrestored version which is missing sound elements. I'm betting the Elephant Films version is the Library of Congress version.

It's very clearly a modern recording, not vintage music. Have you seen the film before?

[bigshot]

Yes, I have the DVD. Haven't gotten the blu-ray yet. It's still on the boat.

But apparently at least some of the music in the film is authentic. I'll see about the rest when it arrives. Have you contacted Elephant Films? They respond on their Facebook page.

[Killer Meteor]

No-one else got this yet? I don't want people to think I'm a liar.

[MartinScorsesefan]

I received it in the mail today, so I'll let everyone know what is and isn't on the disc.

[bigshot]

thanks! Mine should be here soon. If it's modern music slapped over it, it's going back.