The Republic Pictures Horror Collection (1944-1946) (Kino Studio Classics)

[MifuneFan]

Kino will be releasing a 4-film Republic Pictures Horror Collection on May 7th, with films ranging from 1944 to 1946.

Republic Pictures Horror Collection Blu-ray



https://kinolorber.com/product/repub...of-the-zombies

275 Minutes 1.37:1 Not Rated
These four acclaimed chillers from Republic Pictures are guaranteed to put a tingle down your spine and a smile on your face! THE LADY AND THE MONSTER (1944) – Erich von Stroheim plays a mad scientist bent on keeping the brain of millionaire William Donovan alive after he removes it from Donovan’s dying body. His assistant (Richard Arlen) serves as host for Donovan’s brain impulses; the lady of the title (Vera Ralston) fights against the monstrous experiment. THE PHANTOM SPEAKS (1945) – The vengeful spirit of an executed murderer (Tom Powers) enters the body of a physician (Stanley Ridges), and forces him to do its bidding—namely, murder. A newspaperman (Richard Arlen) must unravel the bloody supernatural secret before it’s too late. THE CATMAN OF PARIS (1946) – After a mysterious cat-like creature slaughters people close to him, Parisian Charles Regnier (Carl Esmond) is suspected of murder. Charles fears that he is the beast, but his paramour Marie (Lenore Aubert) and best friend Henry (Douglass Dumbrille) believe he’s innocent…until the Catman begins to stalk Marie! VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES (1946) – Long-dead madman Ormand Murks (Ian Keith) once believed that endless blood transfusions would make him immortal. Now resurrected via voodoo, he stalks the city for human blood. A woman (Adrian Booth) falls under Ormand’s hypnotic, vampiric spell.

• The Lady and the Monster (1944) Starring Erich von Stroheim, Vera Ralston & Richard Arlen – Shot by John Alton (He Walked by Night) – Based on a Novel by Curt Siodmak (Donovan’s Brain) – Directed by George Sherman (Larceny).

• The Phantom Speaks (1945) Starring Richard Arlen, Stanley Ridges & Lynne Roberts – Directed by John English (Adventures of Captain Marvel).

• The Catman of Paris (1946) Starring Carl Esmond, Lenore Aubert & Adele Mara – Shot by Reggie Lanning (Sands of Iwo Jima) – Directed by Lesley Selander (Flight to Mars).

• Valley of the Zombies (1946) Starring Robert Livingston, Lorna Gray & Ian Keith – Shot by Reggie Lanning (Wake of the Red Witch) – Directed by Philip Ford (Hideout).

Extras:

• HD Masters by Paramount Pictures – From 4K Scans
• NEW Audio Commentary for THE LADY AND THE MONSTER by Film Historian Stephen Bissette
• Audio Commentary for THE PHANTOM SPEAKS by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas
• NEW Audio Commentary for THE CATMAN OF PARIS by Film Historians David Del Valle and Miles Hunter
• NEW Audio Commentary for VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES by Historians David Del Valle and Miles Hunter
• Audio Commentary for VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas
• Sidebar on THE LADY AND THE MONSTER On-Camera with Tim Lucas and Steven Bissette
• Optional English Subtitles

[jshaide]

Nice!

[MifuneFan]

Those interested in this, will likely be interested in their upcoming Sci-Fi Chillers Collection as well.

[MoonlightMask]

Imprint had editions of all of these. Three in their OOP, and now pricey, Silver Screams Cinema box and Catman solo. They had nice commentaries by Tim Lucas and other (very good) usual suspects. I hope some of that gets ported over, but this is great news. That Sci-Fi Chillers looks great too.

[fred25_Ca]

Geez, I had no idea Republic made horror movies! These look awesome. How good are these?
This and the Sci-Fi set are exactly the kind of stuff I want from Kino. I love they are small sets too, unlike the noir ones for example.

[ravenus]

How do these compare in quality to the Sam Katzman movies?

[Steve Latshaw]

This is great news. A question "Are these better than Katzman films?' In term of production value, they are miles ahead of the Katzman Monograms. Republic films of this era had a professional look and sheen that rivaled, and sometimes surpassed Universal. Production values were uniformly high and the studio cranked out some nifty B horror thrillers.

LADY & THE MONSTER is almost an A picture, with magnificent sets and lighting and an over-the-top performance by Erich Von Stroheim as the mad scientist.

THE PHANTOM SPEAKS is the best of the B pictures that used the plot of a dead criminal inhabiting the body of a live scientist in order to take revenge on the enemies who sent him to the electric chair. Powerhouse performances from Stanley Ridges (his second time in this type of role) and Tom Powers (unforgettable as the dead gangster) with Richard Arlen in good form as an honest newspaper reporter. Some very artsy camerawork (check out the opening sequence filmed near a Carousel at a legendary LA park (now gone). It's a film noir/horror mash-up.

CATMAN OF PARIS is a period piece set in Paris, with clever visuals of a Paris street at night being stalked by what appears to be a giant cat. Again, high production values... though this being Republic and the director being western movie veteran Lesley Selander, they manage to squeeze in a bodies-flying stunt fight in a bar and an action-packed carriage and horse chase through what appears to be the Corriganville chase roads. Sort of a Val Lewton/Universal mash-up. Great fun, with Carl Esmond, Lenore Albert and Adele Mara.

VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES (1946) stars Bob Livingston, Lorna Gray and Ian Keith. Keith plays a madman believed to be dead who keeps himself alive by drinking blood. I'm a bit fuzzy on the science and mythology here but it doesn't really matter. Great chemistry between the leads, some very interesting visuals (including a repeated shot of a clock tower that looks like a frightened face). Directed by John Ford's nephew Phil Ford, an action specialist who went on to handle many of the fast-paced Allan "Rocky" Lane westerns of the late 40s and early 50s. Interesting to watch Ian Keith here playing the "Zombie" of the title - actually more or less a vampire. As he was reportedly under consideration to play Dracula a couple of years later in Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein, here's a chance to see him in a similar role.

To sum up - if you haven't seen these films you are in for a treat. Some say (including myself) that Republic had the best look - the best polish - and the best sound of any studio during this era.

[Hammerlover]

THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK (1945) has an eerie, Lewton-esque atmosphere as well, with a cackling and baleful cameo from Elspeth Dudgeon (unforgettable in SH! THE OCTOPUS).

[DrEricVornoff]

This looks great... although I just picked up Imprint's The Catman of Paris release...

But I may double dip to get these other Republic Pictures films!

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by DrEricVornoff

This looks great... although I just picked up Imprint's The Catman of Paris release...

But I may double dip to get these other Republic Pictures films!

Me too. I'm especially intrigued by THE PHANTOM SPEAKS, which I've never seen before. By the way, Carl Esmond (star of THE CATMAN OF PARIS) lived to be 102!

[Hammerlover]

I know this isn't the right thread for it, but has anyone seen the new release of THE MAN IN HALF MOON STREET? It's another one of those seldom-seen films I've long been interested in but just haven't had the extra funds to acquire just yet.

[bashfulstool]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK (1945) has an eerie, Lewton-esque atmosphere as well, with a cackling and baleful cameo from Elspeth Dudgeon (unforgettable in SH! THE OCTOPUS).

What does that movie have to do with this release??

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK (1945) has an eerie, Lewton-esque atmosphere as well, with a cackling and baleful cameo from Elspeth Dudgeon (unforgettable in SH! THE OCTOPUS).

This was my favourite of last weekend's KL announcements (reminded me of a Eureka release of some Boris Karloff films).

Have checked out The Woman Who Came Back. Don't believe I've heard of this film before (have heard of some those in this Republic Pictures Horror Collection set).

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by bashfulstool

What does that movie have to do with this release??

It's just another great Republic horror film.

[MifuneFan]

Dated for May 7th!

https://kinolorber.com/product/repub...of-the-zombies

(they spelled monster wrong in the URL and title, so that URL may break if they fix it)

[MifuneFan]

Official details, and extras have been announced

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

Coming May 7th!
https://kinolorber.com/product/repub...of-the-zombies

REPUBLIC PICTURES HORROR COLLECTION (1944-1946)
• HD Masters by Paramount Pictures – From 4K Scans
• NEW Audio Commentary for THE LADY AND THE MONSTER by Film Historian Stephen Bissette
• Audio Commentary for THE PHANTOM SPEAKS by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas
• NEW Audio Commentary for THE CATMAN OF PARIS by Film Historians David Del Valle and Miles Hunter
• NEW Audio Commentary for VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES by Historians David Del Valle and Miles Hunter
• Audio Commentary for VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES by Novelist and Critic Tim Lucas
• Sidebar on THE LADY AND THE MONSTER On-Camera with Tim Lucas and Steven Bissette
• Optional English Subtitles

275 Minutes 1.37:1 Not Rated
These four acclaimed chillers from Republic Pictures are guaranteed to put a tingle down your spine and a smile on your face! THE LADY AND THE MONSTER (1944) – Erich von Stroheim plays a mad scientist bent on keeping the brain of millionaire William Donovan alive after he removes it from Donovan’s dying body. His assistant (Richard Arlen) serves as host for Donovan’s brain impulses; the lady of the title (Vera Ralston) fights against the monstrous experiment. THE PHANTOM SPEAKS (1945) – The vengeful spirit of an executed murderer (Tom Powers) enters the body of a physician (Stanley Ridges), and forces him to do its bidding—namely, murder. A newspaperman (Richard Arlen) must unravel the bloody supernatural secret before it’s too late. THE CATMAN OF PARIS (1946) – After a mysterious cat-like creature slaughters people close to him, Parisian Charles Regnier (Carl Esmond) is suspected of murder. Charles fears that he is the beast, but his paramour Marie (Lenore Aubert) and best friend Henry (Douglass Dumbrille) believe he’s innocent…until the Catman begins to stalk Marie! VALLEY OF THE ZOMBIES (1946) – Long-dead madman Ormand Murks (Ian Keith) once believed that endless blood transfusions would make him immortal. Now resurrected via voodoo, he stalks the city for human blood. A woman (Adrian Booth) falls under Ormand’s hypnotic, vampiric spell.

[mep]

Are all four movies on just one disc?

[xXx$uicide_Ma$terxXx]

Originally Posted by mep

Are all four movies on just one disc?

I doubt they'd shove 4.5 hours of movies on one disc.

[mep]

Originally Posted by xXx$uicide_Ma$terxXx

I doubt they'd shove 4.5 hours of movies on one disc.

Hopefully not, but so far I cannot see it listed as at least a two disc set. I would be fine with two discs, but not only one.

[thisis2]

.. it is important to note the "lady and the monster" which was a bonus movie in the extras of "the phantom speaks" disc of the imprint set was in standard definition not high definition so would the print of that particular movie in this set be in high definition or not..?