Inner Sanctum Mysteries - Complete Film Series (1943-1945) - May 19, 2020

[MifuneFan]

Mill Creek will be releasing a Blu-ray set of the Inner Sanctum Mysteries Franchise Collection, starring Lon Chaney Jr.

Inner Sanctum Mysteries Blu-ray

Extras:

BRAND-NEW BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE:

THIS IS THE INNER SANCTUM: MAKING A UNIVERSAL MYSTERY SERIES produced by Daniel Griffith of Ballyhoo Motion Pictures (55 mins)

THE CREAKING DOOR: ENTERING THE INNER SANCTUM - History of the Radio Series with author/radio historian Martin Grams Jr. (15 mins)

MIND OVER MATTER: AN ARCHIVAL INTERVIEW WITH ACTOR MARTIN KOSLECK (The Frozen Ghost) - Never Before Viewed by the Human Eye! (20 mins)

3 FEATURE LENGTH COMMENTARIES:

CALLING DR. DEATH (1943)
Featuring commentary from screenwriter/film historian C. Courtney Joyner and Regina LeBorg (daughter of director Reginald LeBorg)

WEIRD WOMAN (1944)
Featuring commentary from author Justin Humphreys (The Dr. Phibes Companion) and screenwriter/film historian C. Courtney Joyner

DEAD MAN'S EYES (1944)
Featuring commentary from screenwriter Peter Atkins (Hellraiser II, III, & IV) and screenwriter/film historian C. Courtney Joyner


DIGITAL BONUS (Standard Definition Streaming):

Lady of Burlesque (1943) - 91 minutes
Inner Sanctum (1948) - 62 minutes
Inner Sanctum Mysteries (Radio Episodes 3 x 26 minutes)
"The Tell-Tale Heart" featuring Boris Karloff
"The Black Sea Gull" featuring Peter Lorre
"Melody of Death" featuring Mary Astor

Synopsis:

This is the Inner Sanctum, A Strange Fantastic World

Death, dementia, dark arts ... it's just another day in the forbidding and fascinating world of the Inner Sanctum!

Get ready for unlimited thrills and chills as all six classic Inner Sanctum Mysteries come to Blu-ray for the first time ever. Based on the popular radio shows of the 1940's, this collectible set is a must-own for every classic mystery and horror fan.

You'll have a hauntingly good time with horror icon Lon Chaney, Jr., as he gives timeless performances in these spooky feature-length films.

Calling Dr. Death – 1943 - A doctor is not sure if he murdered his wife and has his nurse try to find the truth by hypnotizing him.

Weird Woman – 1944 – While on a trip, a professor falls in love with an exotic native woman who turns out to be a supernatural being.

Dead Man's Eyes – 1944 - When an artist is blinded, an operation to restore his sight depends on another person willing to donate their eyes.

The Frozen Ghost – 1945 – A stage mentalist and a discredited plastic surgeon are involved in mysterious goings-on in an eerie wax museum.

Strange Confession – 1945 – Flashbacks reveal the events leading up to a man's revenge on the racketeer who took advantage of his wife.

Pillow of Death – 1945 - A lawyer in love with his secretary is suspected of suffocating his wife, among others.

[SMOOT]

Wow. Great news if this is true.

[Craig Beam]

Mill Creek????? What the hell? I was certain Shout Factory would release this. So--- no bonus features, no commentary tracks, probably not even trailers. And that cover is hideous... the DVD is so much classier.

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[RICKBONDOO7]

Originally Posted by Craig Beam

Mill Creek????? What the hell? I was certain Shout Factory would release this. So--- no bonus features, no commentary tracks, probably not even trailers. And that cover is hideous... the DVD is so much classier.

Attachment 235524

I bought mine at Best Buy day 1 when they used to have a Large video dept. Those days are Long gone. I thought Mill Creek only released Columbia movies. ? I hope these will be Restored for Bluray. How did Mill Creek get the rights to release this instead of Shout Factory ????

[BarnDoor]

BallyHoo Motion Pictures are close to completing a documentary about the Inner Sanctum Mysteries, which I have to imagine is for this release:

https://ballyhoomotionpictures.com/

[babybreese]

I smell old transfers coming....likely I am OK with the DVD's.

MillCreek is a not a label I need more of on my shelves.

[Slob]

Originally Posted by babybreese

I smell old transfers coming....likely I am OK with the DVD's.

MillCreek is a not a label I need more of on my shelves.

The DVDs used the same SD masters as the VHS tapes. Either these are new HD masters or upscaled SD. Betting it's new masters.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by babybreese

I smell old transfers coming....likely I am OK with the DVD's.

MillCreek is a not a label I need more of on my shelves.

I’m not choosing to jump to conclusions or assumptions, no matter what the previous evidence may bear, and I will patiently wait to see what the consensus will be. Since you seem to have already made up your mind about this SPECIFIC release, employing absolutely nothing substantial for proof other than your apparently flawless sense of smell, please enjoy your DVDs.

In other words, I have no expectations whatever at the moment, but I’m still excited by the announcement and won’t let all the usual suspects who perpetually complain about everything dissuade me from my enthusiasm. It may be a different story after the reviews are in, we’ll see, but for now this is great news.

[babybreese]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

I’m not choosing to jump to conclusions or assumptions, no matter what the previous evidence may bear, and I will patiently wait to see what the consensus will be. Since you seem to have already made up your mind about this SPECIFIC release, employing absolutely nothing substantial for proof other than your apparently flawless sense of smell, please enjoy your DVDs.

In other words, I have no expectations whatever at the moment, but I’m still excited by the announcement and won’t let all the usual suspects who perpetually complain about everything dissuade me from my enthusiasm. It may be a different story after the reviews are in, we’ll see, but for now this is great news.

Yawn.
Amazon has this for $70...that's not Mill Creek Pricing.
Hopefully they up their presentations accordingly.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by babybreese

Yawn.
Amazon has this for $70...that's not Mill Creek Pricing.
Hopefully they up their presentations accordingly.

It's not going to be $70 by release date. Probably should take one or two price cuts before then and there are other retailers in town other than Amazon.

[MJD64]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

BallyHoo Motion Pictures are close to completing a documentary about the Inner Sanctum Mysteries, which I have to imagine is for this release:

https://ballyhoomotionpictures.com/

That's great news, and more than I would've expected from a Mill Creek release...it was also great to read in that link that there are new supplements being done for forthcoming releases of MYSTERY MEN, BASIC INSTINCT and PITCH BLACK.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

BallyHoo Motion Pictures are close to completing a documentary about the Inner Sanctum Mysteries, which I have to imagine is for this release:

https://ballyhoomotionpictures.com/

The founder of BallyHoo Motion Pictures, who's also a member here (DGriffith), just posted this under the news post. So this is pretty much confirmed to be included with the set, which is great news.

Just wait for future announcements concerning NEW and EXCLUSIVE bonus features on the "Inner Sanctum" release. I think you will be surprised!

[DrCushing]

Didn't see Mill Creek as the company to release these titles. Damn.

[fred25_Ca]

Wow, this is great news! While I would have preferred Shout!, i'll admit my wallet is quite happy about it (those Universal horror collections haven't been cheap!).
With this, the fourth Universal horror collection and the Phantom Creeps (who knows what's happening with this one) all coming out this year, it's a wonderful time to be a Universal horror fan!

[MifuneFan]

On the sell sheet, it says it "Includes newly created special features!" so it won't be a barebones release at least, even if it doesn't reach the level that Shout! would do. It'll be a fraction of the cost too of course.

[RICKBONDOO7]

I was expecting Shout ! to release this 6 film set. I have the old DVD set for years. I Love these films. I hope Mill Creek does a good job. They should look Great on Bluray. Now for The Black Castle (1952) another title from my Wish List.

[MJD64]

Mill Creek's website is listing the MSRP for this title at $69.98; I realize that won't be the selling price for most distributors but still, isn't that a rather hefty MSRP for this label? It's listed as a 2-disc set, and though I'm not overly familiar with these guys- I only own one Mill Creek title, Ridley Scott's WHITE SQUALL - I would've guessed at their cramming all these short films onto one disc when I first read about this release.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by MJD64

Mill Creek's website is listing the MSRP for this title at $69.98; I realize that won't be the selling price for most distributors but still, isn't that a rather hefty MSRP for this label? It's listed as a 2-disc set, and though I'm not overly familiar with these guys- I only own one Mill Creek title, Ridley Scott's WHITE SQUALL - I would've guessed at their cramming all these short films onto one disc when I first read about this release.

Probably related to how much it cost them to license them, and/or how well they think they will sell for. They do include 6 feature films, so it's still a good value when it hits retailers for like $40 or so.

[jrcasey1960]

Mill Creek can do well when they want to. MOTHRA was on a single disc. I just hope they don't try to cram these on a single disc. I know they are short movies, but I'd rather the bits be stretched over 3 discs. Especially if there are supplements.

Addendum:
Per above, 2 discs. As much as I want to support this release, I'll have to wait for reviews. $70 for a 2 disc set is not very realistic marketing. Scream gives us comparable length movies on their own discs with their sets!

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by jrcasey1960

Mill Creek can do well when they want to. MOTHRA was on a single disc. I just hope they don't try to cram these on a single disc. I know they are short movies, but I'd rather the bits be stretched over 3 discs. Especially if there are supplements.

It'll be on 2 discs. Total run time is 382 mins according to their site, so that's 6 hrs and 22 mins. Divided into 2, that shouldn't be a problem. I don't imagine they'll have tons of extras, probably a new interview or two.