Customer Reviews

Fox Horror Classics Collection Volume 2 (Dragonwyck / Chandu the Magician / Dr. Renault's Secret)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In Fox's second set of "horror classics", Gene Tierney and Vincent Price are in 1946's "Dragonwyck", a Gothic period thriller, not a horror film, directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and set in the old mansion of title. It's based on a popular 1944 novel of the same name. Then there's 1932's "Chandu the Magician", based on the old serial, with Bela Lugosi in a battle over a death ray. Again, this film is more of an adventure (followed by sequels) and not really a horror film. And then there's 1942's "Dr.Renault's Secret" with horror vet George Zucco as the doctor and J.Carrol Naish as his "assistant" who's a tad on the simian side and capable of committing murder. This is a low budget affair, runs only around 58 minutes and it's played more like a drama--- not like a horror film. Of course, all of these films are worth a look for their casts (especially "Dragonwyck"), their rarity and their b&w restoration, but none of them really qualify as "classic horror". Except maybe "Dr.Renault's Secret", but judge for yourself. I was hoping for genuine classic horror films that Fox found and restored. Maybe next time.

I wanted to particularly express my enthusiasm for the rarely seen "Dr. Renault's Secret," a classic horror-mystery which has become something of a cult film these days. It was directed by Harry Lachman and is a Twentieth-Century Fox production.

I saw this movie for the first time on Turner Classic Movies a couple of years back and it's one of the superb old B&W horror-mystery flicks of the day ('40s). I tried to obtain it then but it wasn't available on either VHS or DVD... but it's available now!

Here's the story:

A dapper young brain surgeon, Larry Forbes, (played by John Shepperd) visits his fiancée ("Madeline Renault," played by Lynne Roberts) at her home in a remote French villa where her mad scientist father, Dr. Renault (played by George Zucco), resides and conducts horrific experiments in his lab. In fact, Zucco has created a man (of sorts) from an ape (reminiscent of "The Island of Dr. Moreau").

Forbes meets Noel (pronounced "no-ELL," and played by J. Carrol Naish) who functions as Dr. Renault's "Igor-like" assistant (and actually the ape-man), who harbors a dog-like devotion for Madeline, (Dr. Renault's daughter). Forbes, to his horror, soon learns Noel's true identity.

The main trouble begins at a local Inn where, during a Bastille celebration, we meet Rogell (played by Mike Mazurki), an ex-convict who is now Renault's gardener and Austin (played by Jack Norton), a drunken American who torments Noel (not a great idea!) with his insinuations about Forbes' upcoming marriage to Madeline. Austin is soon found dead, the result of a broken neck.

Local Police Inspector Duval suspects that Forbes was the intended victim and that Rogell was the perpetrator, (Forbes had involuntarily changed his sleeping arrangements with Austin) but Duval also ponders the possibility that Noel killed Austin because of his remarks about Madeline. Duval eventually releases all the witnesses and suspects and Noel drives Forbes to the Renault estate.

A sub-plot is that Rogell plots with Henri (Renault's butler, played by Jean Del Val) to kidnap Madeline and hold her for ransom.


I'll stop there to avoid any spoilers but there are indeed some surprises in the movie. This 1942 film is shot in black-and-white and the aspect is full-screen. I'm a huge George Zucco fan and this is one of his best movies, right up there with "The Flying Serpent" (1946) and "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (1939). In fact, I liked it just slightly better than three other great Zucco vehicles, "Topper Returns" (1941), "The Black Raven" (1943) and, "Fog Island" (1945). None were more magnificent than Zucco at portraying the role of "The Mad Scientist". (See my Listmania List for many more of Zucco's great films, "George Zucco... Almost Live!!!")

If I have a problem with this film it's that it only runs for 58 minutes, but that is a common caveat of 1940s period B-movies.

As far as the "Chandu" (Bela Lugosi) entry goes, I can add no information except to say that there is the ADDITIONAL Chandu entry, (not on this DVD package) the 1934 SERIAL (shown in its entirety, 12 chapters), broken down into two parts, available on two separate DVDs:

The Return of Chandu the Magician, Vol. 1

The Return of Chandu the Magician, Vol. 2


This Lugosi serial was later edited into this 1935 film:

Chandu on the Magic Island:Feature


The SERIAL version is terrific (the movie is pretty good too but I prefer viewing the uncut version of the film) with Lugosi playing Frank Chandler, aka Chandu the Magician, as he battles on with the evil High Priest Vindhyan on the South Seas Island of Lemuria. It is on this island where Chandu's fiancée, the Egyptian Princess Nadji (played by the lovely Maria Alba) is being held captive until Chandu can rescue her. You'll love seeing the special effects as Chandu "vanishes" into thin air -- it really freaks out his adversaries too!

I apologise that I can shed no light on the other films of this package but I did wish to present enthusiasts with some details on both "Dr. Renault's Secret" and "Chandu".

At $13.99 this is a bargain. I paid more than that for only a 'fair' VHS copy of Dr. Renault's Secret (a film I like very much). While I agree with another reviewer that there are other 'classics' out there I would like to see offered...I would have no problem paying this price just for Dr. Renault's Secret and consider the other 2 films a bonus.

This really is a fine trio of B horror films from Fox. The usual problem with B horror films is that the sound is bad and the video is atrocious. Since these are being reissued by Fox, you don't have to worry about that. I have last year's volume one and all of the films were first rate in their presentation. The following are the films with their extra features:

Chandu The Magician (1932)
My favorite is "Chandu the Magician". Bela Lugosi plays Roxor, who has kidnapped Robert Regent and his death ray. Roxor wants to use the weapon to aid in his plan for world domination. Chandu the magician intervenes using his special power of being able to make men see whatever he wants them to see. There are a couple of sight gags that get used once too often, and towards the end the special effects are a little cheesy, but in horror that can just add to the fun.
Extra features:
Commentary by Author Gregory William Mank
Masters of Magic: The World of Chandu featurette
Restoration Comparison
Still Gallery

Dr. Renault's Secret (1942)
I haven't seen this one since grade school on Saturday mornings, but I remember it pretty well as a fine old horror film. Zucco plays the title role, but the centerpiece of the film is J. Carroll Naish who is an ape that has been turned into a man by Dr. Renault's experiments. Trouble begins when Renault brings his ape-man back to his villa in France and allows him to interact with other humans, most notably Renault's daughter.
Extra features:
By the Book: Horror, Suspense, and Literary Inspiration featurette
Restoration Comparison
Trailer
Still Gallery

Dragonwyck (1946)
Dragonwyck is more of a drama and thriller than a horror piece, but it is still quite moving and atmospheric, and I always enjoy Gene Tierney and Vincent Price in any film they do.
Extra features:
A House of Secrets: Exploring Dragonwyck featurette
"Dragonwyck" Radio Show Performed by Vincent Price and Gene Tierney - October 7, 1946
Isolated Score Track
Restoration Comparison
Trailer
Stills Galleries

The previous two reviews must be corrected regarding "Chandu the Magician" (1932). If I am reading Amazon's product information correctly, the reviewer "Texas refugee" has it right: This is NOT the Bela Lugosi serial "The Return of Chandu," but an earlier, more lavishly produced Fox fantasy in which Lugosi plays the villian Roxor, not the hero Chandu. Many of us have been waiting anxiously for this flick's release on DVD. After reading about "Chandu" for years in fanzines and books, I finally caught part of it on the Fox Movie Channel a couple of years ago, and I was amazed at the imaginative sets and production values. Having this fantasy treasure finally available is reason enough to give the box set--assuming it's as nicely produced as other Fox reissues I've seen-- five stars.

Fox seem to have a very creative marketing team because it is a stretch of the imagination by any standards that this extraordinary package would be classified as a horror collection. True horror enthusiasts might be very disappointed.

First off is the 1932 "Changdu the Magician", a boys' own adventure which not surprisingly became a serial a few years later. The film has Bela Lugosi chewing the scenery with great aplomb as he steals a death ray and tortures its inventor to learn how to use it. Edmund Lowe, a matinee idol of yesteryear, is a stiff and far too proper hero but the film benefits from great photography and imaginative sets which help to overcome the dreadful script.

Next is "Dr Renault's Secret", a neatly directed programmer released in 1942 and with a fair gallery of supporting players, a moderately interesting story about the missing link between man and the ape and 2 fine central performances by the enigmatic George Zucco and the superb J Carroll Naish. It is a very polished "little" film with excellent sets and photography and the closest to a horror film of this trio.

The final film, released in 1946, is the gothic romance, "Dragonwyck", an expensively mounted vehicle for the rapidly rising Gene Tierney and a star making role for Vincent Price playing the sort of character he would make his own in subsequent years. This could not be classified as a horror film really (think of "Jane Eyre" or "Rebecca" and you'll get the idea) and while it is well made with good performances from the leads and the indispensible Walter Huston, it is quite dull and predictable. This was the first film directed by Joseph Mankiewicz.

The prints of the film are excellent, surprisingly so in the case of "Changdu" which is a very old Fox film, many of which have not survived. "Renault" is a very bright print preserving the outstanding Fox photography. Each film has a short documentary with the same group of dull historians. They tend to be repetitious. "Changdu" and "Dragonwyck" have good commentaries and Greg Mank is particuarly witty and entertaining with "Changdu". Theatrical trailers for the later films are also presented.

This is a very unusual set, nicely packaged with an insert about the films and also very cheap, possibly because it would appeal to a very limited audience. Accordingly, it is very good value if the films are of interest to you.

The title of this attractive set of three DVDs might be a little misleading because none of the three movies could be described as horror by today's definition, but by 1930's and 1940's standards they do fit the bill. So the keyword here is "Classics" from the early Fox Studios, and some rare, unusual and charming ones they are indeed! Each one is very different, but they all feature an outstanding cast with some legendary stars, and they are all top quality films in every aspect of production. Furthermore, all three films have not been readily available for a long time, which makes this set an extra exciting and special treat. For me personally, the dynamic and legendary stars - Bela Lugosi in "Chandu the Magician" and Vincent Price in "Dragonwyck" immediately appealed to me and raised my expectations, but I found so much more in all three movies that I've enjoyed watching them many times over already.

Although not the actual hero or main star, it's Bela Lugosi who steals the show in "Chandu", playing the evil madman, Roxor, as only Lugosi can. Famous for his role as Count Dracula, Lugosi, alongside Boris Karloff, was the king of the horror genre in the 1930s, and while his acting might seem over-the-top in our day, his style can still win a modern audience. "Chandu" features many interesting aspects of 1930's filmmaking with some impressive special effects, beautiful sets designed by the famous and award-winning William Cameron Menzies, and an unusual story about a Western yogi mystic who saves the world from Roxor's evil clutches by using his special magic. Back in the 1920s and 30s the Western world was fascinated by India and its mysticism, which explains why "Chandu" was actually a popular children's radio show back then, and this innocent, childlike fun and fascination with magic is evident in this movie.

As Lugosi's crown began to fade, the next king of the horror genre prepared to take over, and "Dragonwyck" is the first film to feature Vincent Price as a sinister, evil character; a role he fully embraced some years later to become the best known horror actor of more recent decades. Unlike his later roles, in "Dragonwyck" Price plays a character who appears normal and charming at first, and his devious plan is only gradually revealed as the story progresses. As a rich nobleman in early 19th century America, Price plays the part perfectly, especially when his new young wife begins to realize what danger she is in, and more and more of his mentally warped character comes to the surface. Also rich in lavish set designs, "Dragonwyck" throws light on a little-known part of American history while weaving an intricate plot in which many talented stars of the day contribute and support Price, such as Gene Tierney, famous for Film Noir movies like "Laura" who plays Price's young wife, and Walter Huston as her religiously fundamental father. Unlike "Chandu" which is fun and playful, "Dragonwyck" is serious and for the most part quite believable, and is overall a first-class drama of the mid 1940s.

"Dr Renault's Secret" completes this perfect trio of unusual movies of the early horror genre, this time featuring another gifted performer, J. Carrol Naish, who plays the role of a man who has been transformed from a gorilla so convincingly, that one could almost believe it to be possible. The experiment of a doctor with good intentions, Noel, as he is named, struggles to be a man in the human world while retaining his memory of life in the Javanese jungle, along with various animal instincts. The angle I enjoyed most in this film is that the mind of the gorilla-turned-man is one of love and peace, rather than wild, savage and primitive instincts, which people generally believed. In a time when King Kong and other horror films featuring wild and dangerous apes were popular, "Dr Renault's Secret" must have been a refreshing and intelligent change, and it still has that effect today. In fact, for anyone tired of the modern horror film with excessive gore, frights and terror, this set will be a welcome change, as well as a very pleasant and educational insight into films of the 1930s and 40s, with the help of good notes and audio commentary with two of the films. There are other bonus features such as short documentaries about the films which serve as a good introduction, or simply to explain a few things for those not familiar with these older films and its stars. Picture and sound quality are perfect, and all three films provide a wonderful escape from the modern world.

Because I am a rabid Bela Lugosi fan, I greatly enjoyed this collection. Chandu the Magician features Bela as one of his greatest villians: Roxnor! A black cloaked wizard in a tomb full of Frankenstein-like machines and weilding a "death ray" with which to rule the world! This is like Indian Jones finding a forgotten Idol of pure gold -in fantasy adventure! A Bela Lugosi MUST SEE!

Dragonwyck is a gothic romance with a very young Vincent Price doing his very cool Vincent Price thing. Lovely.

Dr. Renault's Secret is a wonderful horror film. An amazing proformance by J Carrol Naish as the heart breakingly human ape-man. George Zucco at his mad doctor best. A great addition to your "APE" horror collection that was all the rage in the 30's and 40's.

Beautiful transfers. Lush Black and White - moody, dark, rich with shadows and depth. Nothing like a well shot and restored Black and White film.

But are they all "Horror" films? Not really. Someone's pushing that genre a bit beyond it's bounds there with that claim. But still, all well worth a good watch. All "good stories" and that's what movies really are supposed to be.

However, if you loved Dracula, White Zombie, and Murders in the Rue Morgue, then you MUST have Chandu the Magician to see all of Lugsi's best work.

A terrific example of classic movie making with Dragonwyck (a must see for any classic film buff) and complete camp from Chandu the Magician. Dr. Renault's Secret is a terrific example of some of the very best character actors of the making a terrific movie from an absurd script! I recommend this collection highly!

Mystery and suspense so thick you could cut it with a knife. Magic, science fiction and gothic horror all rolled up into a fantastic set of three DVD's. The restorations are excellent allowing for full enjoyment of the acting, photography and set design by some of the great Hollywood masters.

CHANDU
The powers of mysticism, hypnotism and magic are harnessed to fight evil madman Roxor (Bella Lugosi) bent on enslaving the world with a terrifying death ray. Lugosi is at the top of his game. The special effects, photography and sets are superb.

DR. RENAULT'S SECRET
A scientist monkeys with the genealogical tree of primates and unknowingly provokes a clash between creatures from different branches. Man and chimp ape each other producing a drama full of suspense, excellent acting, sets and make up. This is one of those "He tampered in God's domain" thrillers.

DRAGONWYCK
Vincent Price once said he most wanted to be remembered for this film. Giving the defining performance of his career, he creates the prototype character for which he will later be famous.
Dragonwyck is a lavish, exquisitely filmed, gothic romance based on historical events occurring around New York State's Hudson River in the early 1800's. Miranda (Gene Tierney) is invited to the estate of wealthy Patroon Nicholas Van Ryn (Vincent Price) to be a tutor for his troubled daughter. She arrives only to be caught up in a bizarre battle of succession between rebellious tenant farmers and hereditary landlords. Trapped between the dark past and an uncertain future; haunted by the ghost of his great grandmother, Van Ryn struggles to insure the continuation of his title and possession of lands.

Van Ryn's wife dies mysteriously, but not before another damsel is enticed into his den of procreation - and guess who the lucky woman is! But as in all stories of the genre, dragons are destined to face off with a dragon-slayer, either on the field of battle or within the beast's lair.

This is filmmaking at its best.