Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (1931-1954)

[MykeHavoc]

Anticipation - is - killing me!

It's fantastic to see the resurgence in interest of classic monsters though. My buddy and I were discussing it and it seems to go in 20 year cycles. When we were growing up in the early 90's, a new wave hit with the release of the VHS collection, and you had tie-ins with Doritoes and Mountain Dew. We got Monster Squad, Tim Burton movies, the Addams Family reboot, Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Creepy Crawlers and Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs. It was a great time to be a monster kid. Thankfully, with this set being released and stuff like Hotel Transylvania and Frankenweenie coming out, I'm overjoyed to see a new generation of kids join the club

[LucasM2012]

Originally Posted by Forever Knight

Regarding sequels for these films, which ones are the best of the Universal Monster franchise?.

I agree with those who've said - of those not in this set (as 'Bride' is the pinnacle of Universal horror) - Son of Frankenstein and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein beyond those in this set. I would only add House of Frankenstein, which has more depth to the plot than many of the earlier (and all the subsequent) films. And, while Karloff plays a mad scientist, rather than the monster, his performance adds greatly to the film.

Frankly [no pun intended (well, OK, none initially ), those four films total in the Frankenstein series are probably the best outside those that can be found in this set. But I've always had a soft spot for another film that isn't a sequel to a film in this series, even though they are often clumped together. That is The Mummy's Tomb with Lon Chaney Jr as a rather chubby mummy. In case you aren't familiar with that string of films, starting with The Mummy's Hand a different mummy was introduced than Karloff's Im-Ho-Tep/Ardath Bay. Kharis was introduced in 'Hand' as was the need for a living 'guide' who dispensed Tana leave 'tea' to provide the mummy with movement. There were three sequels to that, with The Mummy's Tomb being the first sequel to 'Hand' (the other two being his 'Ghost' and 'Curse').

[john01824]

Originally Posted by dsman71

I still have no results with this link or any DHL link, just Amazons left Croydon on 10/2

Croydon must be quite the town since our packages have been there since Monday. From my experience is it usually takes a good 2 weeks or more for DHLGA to arrive. I figure we'll probably see some updated tracking by the middle of next week. Once it arrives in the US it takes another 2-3 days to get by customs and into the USPS system. From there it is transferred to your local post office and handed over to you carrier.

I figure it should be here sometime on or about the 15th-17th. DHLGA sucks but for the money($5) you really can't beat it. I just wish Amazon UK would give you a choice between Royal Mail or DHLGA even if Royal Mail would cost me a few bucks more. The expedited shipping option costs an extra $32 and just isn't feasible for me.

[dsman71]

Originally Posted by john01824

Croydon must be quite the town since our packages have been there since Monday. From my experience is it usually takes a good 2 weeks or more for DHLGA to arrive. I figure we'll probably see some updated tracking by the middle of next week. Once it arrives in the US it takes another 2-3 days to get by customs and into the USPS system. From there it is transferred to your local post office and handed over to you carrier.

I figure it should be here sometime on or about the 15th-17th. DHLGA sucks but for the money($5) you really can't beat it. I just wish Amazon UK would give you a choice between Royal Mail or DHLGA even if Royal Mail would cost me a few bucks more. The expedited shipping option costs an extra $32 and just isn't feasible for me.

I agree with that...Royal Mail is much better but I suppose due to the size of this set , they went with DHLGA. Nothing new on my tracking..Im sure it will come, Im nowhere near worry mode yet...just wish there was a newer update

[Terrorfirmer]

Originally Posted by MykeHavoc

Anticipation - is - killing me!

It's fantastic to see the resurgence in interest of classic monsters though. My buddy and I were discussing it and it seems to go in 20 year cycles. When we were growing up in the early 90's, a new wave hit with the release of the VHS collection, and you had tie-ins with Doritoes and Mountain Dew. We got Monster Squad, Tim Burton movies, the Addams Family reboot, Tales from the Cryptkeeper, Creepy Crawlers and Monstervision with Joe Bob Briggs. It was a great time to be a monster kid. Thankfully, with this set being released and stuff like Hotel Transylvania and Frankenweenie coming out, I'm overjoyed to see a new generation of kids join the club

Yes, yes it was. i miss those times... and dont forget there was also Are You Afraid of The Dark and Goosebumps.

[john01824]

Originally Posted by dsman71

I agree with that...Royal Mail is much better but I suppose due to the size of this set , they went with DHLGA. Nothing new on my tracking..Im sure it will come, Im nowhere near worry mode yet...just wish there was a newer update

I guess that's what I get for buying the Bond set as well as the Universal one at the same time.

[troykan]

Originally Posted by john01824

Croydon must be quite the town since our packages have been there since Monday. From my experience is it usually takes a good 2 weeks or more for DHLGA to arrive. I figure we'll probably see some updated tracking by the middle of next week. Once it arrives in the US it takes another 2-3 days to get by customs and into the USPS system. From there it is transferred to your local post office and handed over to you carrier.

I figure it should be here sometime on or about the 15th-17th. DHLGA sucks but for the money($5) you really can't beat it. I just wish Amazon UK would give you a choice between Royal Mail or DHLGA even if Royal Mail would cost me a few bucks more. The expedited shipping option costs an extra $32 and just isn't feasible for me.

Yep, my set is in the same Croydon state of flux, hopefully they get cracking soon!

[Jbug]

Originally Posted by KCota15

How's the quality on the Spanish Dracula? The 3rd reel in particular.

It's very nice overall but there are a couple of scenes that jar you because they are so low rez.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by adamclark83

On the back of the enclosed booklet, it says for both Dracula and Frankenstein that they are the restored versions. Why didn't Universal do that with the others?

Frankenstein has been marketed as "The Restored Version" since it's VHS reissue in 1986 when they reinserted long censored footage back into the movie.

[Old Bones]

Originally Posted by dsman71

I agree with that...Royal Mail is much better but I suppose due to the size of this set , they went with DHLGA. Nothing new on my tracking..Im sure it will come, Im nowhere near worry mode yet...just wish there was a newer update

I ordered on Oct 1st and recieved on Oct.5th , standard shipping Amazon UK to BC Canada I was shocked

[UncleBuckWild]

From my past experiences - Deutsche Post is bad news, I wonder why it takes so long... my Titanic Exclusive took nearly 3 weeks to arrive after touring Europe and the Atlantic Ocean, thankfully it didn't hit any icebergs.

[Nine18Pictures]

Originally Posted by mikey horror

I love how people in Chicago are getting theirs already and I'm in PA and nothing. How does that make sense?

I'm also in Chicago and my set is still enjoying the Croydon nightlife.

[Forever Knight]

Cracked my set open and I'm watching Dracula right now. The PQ looks nice and clean. Gonna get Frankenstein in afterwards.

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

Bride of Frankenstein of course, followed by Son of Frankenstein. It is not considered to be a classic, but it's a cut above all the other sequels in my opinion. The film introduces Bela Lugosi as Ygor and Karloff puts on the Monster make-up for the last time. Basil Rathbone rounds out the cast as the Son of Frankenstein and Lionel Atwill very memorable as Inspector Krogh. I enjoy some of the others, like The Invisible Man Returns with Vincent Price and Revenge of the Creature, but Son of Frankenstein remains my personal fav of the sequels, excluding Bride.

Originally Posted by LucasM2012

I agree with those who've said - of those not in this set (as 'Bride' is the pinnacle of Universal horror) - Son of Frankenstein and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein beyond those in this set. I would only add House of Frankenstein, which has more depth to the plot than many of the earlier (and all the subsequent) films. And, while Karloff plays a mad scientist, rather than the monster, his performance adds greatly to the film.

Frankly [no pun intended (well, OK, none initially ), those four films total in the Frankenstein series are probably the best outside those that can be found in this set. But I've always had a soft spot for another film that isn't a sequel to a film in this series, even though they are often clumped together. That is The Mummy's Tomb with Lon Chaney Jr as a rather chubby mummy. In case you aren't familiar with that string of films, starting with The Mummy's Hand a different mummy was introduced than Karloff's Im-Ho-Tep/Ardath Bay. Kharis was introduced in 'Hand' as was the need for a living 'guide' who dispensed Tana leave 'tea' to provide the mummy with movement. There were three sequels to that, with The Mummy's Tomb being the first sequel to 'Hand' (the other two being his 'Ghost' and 'Curse').

Noted. I got a friend who is lending me the entire franchise excluding the ones in this Blu-ray release so I will be able to watch everything.

I also believe it is a must to only watch these movies at night....

[RipleyLV426]

Originally Posted by mikey horror

I love how people in Chicago are getting theirs already and I'm in PA and nothing. How does that make sense?

Originally Posted by shrex

I'm in Chicago, nothing yet

Originally Posted by Lsalas76

same here, Im hoping for Tuesday

Originally Posted by Nine18Pictures

I'm also in Chicago and my set is still enjoying the Croydon nightlife.

Ditto, fellow peeps (lovin all the Windy City members on here ). Still waiting for mine...oh the suspense...

[Forever Knight]

Drac was a bit slow but I appreciated everything out of it. I noticed everything that pop culture has taken from it as well which proves on how influence this movie has.

The PQ and AQ were fantastic. I thought Bela Lugosi did a pretty good job with those close up face shots too.

I'm a bit into Frankenstein right now and I like this one a bit more like I figured I would.

Am I the only one that finds the sets used in these movies to be so cozy?.

[dsman71]

Dracula wasnt considered slow in the 1930s, it was scary , tame by todays standards. It is a very creepy methodical film that you have to be in the right mood to watch,something to lay down curl up on a grey day or at night...
More Lugosi try to Return of the Vampire and Mark of the Vampire...

[LucasM2012]

I think I've seen a couple people here mention getting films from Amazon.fr. Do region-free blu-rays from France have french for the navigation menus (and French as the default language), or is there something built into the players that compares the language set in your player to those in the disc and provide the appropriate on-screen and film language that way?

I'm getting a tad more anxious about possibly getting the French release, since someone posted here that the UK coffin set sold out within basically 3-4 days of being officially on sale. [i.e. I don't feel I have much of a luxury waiting til they come out and someone receives and reviews their set to decide]

Thank you very much for any information!

[crow2k5]

I really hope my order arrives soon, so i can start a marathon with the 8 universal classic monsters, followed by ed wood, than bram strokers dracula, than the wolfman remake & van helsing to finish it.

[Atreyu]

Still waiting for mine to ship. Amazon has this and Ed Wood listed as shipping soon since about last Wednesday afternoon.

[madlost1]

Originally Posted by Whirlygig

Still wondering why they didn't put the movie title on Bride & Phantom UK discs...looks like a mistake to me...what is it about all of these fall releases?

Unless I'm blind it's not on Frankenstein either. My guess is they didn't want to put any additional text on those discs to avoid blocking the faces on them.