Product Details

• Actors: Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Jr Lon Chaney
• Format: Blu-ray, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Subtitled
• Language: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono), French (DTS-HD 2.0), Spanish (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 8
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: October 2, 2012
• Run Time: 710 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (188 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B008FL8OTK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,340 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • #94 in Movies & TV > Blu-ray > Horror

Editorial Reviews

From the era of silent movies through present day, Universal Pictures has been regarded as the home of the monsters. Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection showcases 8 of the most iconic monsters in motion picture history including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Phantom of the Opera and Creature From the Black Lagoon. Starring Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains and Elsa Lanchester in the roles that they made famous, these original films set the standard for a new horror genre with revolutionary makeup, mood-altering cinematography and groundbreaking special effects. Featuring over 12 hours of revealing bonus features plus an exclusive collectible book, each film has been digitally restored from high resolution film elements for the ultimate classic monster experience.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

259 of 269 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding Blu Ray Transfers! September 23, 2012

By Marty Gillis TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Blu-ray

The 'Universal Classic Monsters Essential Collection' takes most of the top tier titles from Universal's classic horror library of the 30's, 40's and 50's and puts them all together in one box set. These films have not just been remastered in 1080p but have also been meticulously cleaned up with much work done to both video and audio. The end result is an eye opening revelation for all the fans of these films.

(PLEASE see the very bottom of my review for info on the current state of disc defect reports regarding the 'Creature' disc)

To call these movies "classic" is really somewhat of an understatement for fans. These are basically the gold standard for horror films and Universal has finally given them their due. I was fortunate enough to borrow a review set for 2 days in anticipation of receiving my own set that was pre-ordered the same day it was announced. One week to go and I can watch them again! I made notes as I watched and spent a great two days and nights with this set.

With that said, this review will focus on the video/audio quality of the set and not the films' content. Basically, what everyone is wanting to know is whether or not this upgrade is a major step up from the legacy series DVD sets. Other than containing the more popular top tier titles and only one of the sequels (Bride of Frankenstein) the answer is YES this is a HUGE upgrade. In fact, once you see these transfers on a properly calibrated display you will NEVER want to watch them any other way. I simply can not imagine them looking any better when first released (other than a few missing frames here and there these days) and the audio is most definitely the best it has EVER sounded. Major kudos and hats off to the team at Universal that did this fantastic job of restoration.

The included booklet is very nice but doesn't contain anything the more than casual fan doesn't already know. Still, it is nice to have and looks great. Unfortunately the US set has the cardboard sleeve design of the new 'Indiana Jones' set and as such is going to receive numerous complaints about disc scratching, etc. The Box itself looks great and even the discs look really good. It is a shame Universal opted for the slide in/out disc storage system. Spindles and hubs would have been SO MUCH better! Due to time constraints I had no time to view any special features and just watched the films. (ok, I admit to watching both 'Bride" and 'Dracula' twice!)

***** Since writing this review I have received my UK Coffin version set. I am still blown away by the video and audio quality and have now had a chance to check out many of the special features. Seems almost all the special features from the Legacy sets have been ported over, unfortunately still presented in SD video. Still, it is a tremendous value and die hard fans will of course be holding on to their legacy sets until the remaining titles are released on Blu. (if ever)

The coffin packaging is very nice, but as another reviewer has pointed out, the disc case that holds the gate-fold disc holders , booklet and art cards is a BIT too small and constantly removing it might eventually cause the coffin to split. To solve this I am keeping the "Swag" in the coffin and the discs in the inner case just next to the coffin on my shelf. I can't figure out why they wouldn't notice this before producing large production runs but that's just the way it is. The discs themselves are much better protected in the UK packaging as they sit on hubs instead of those annoying cardboard sleeves so many are worried about. So basically, the CONTENT is stellar on either set but the packaging on BOTH sets leaves just a bit to be desired overall, albeit for different reasons. *****

If you don't know by now, here are the titles that are included in this collection:

Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein (1931 and 1935)
Dracula/Spanish version of Dracula (1931)
The Mummy (1932)
The Invisible Man (1933)
The Wolf Man (1941
Phantom of the Opera (1943)
and last but not least
Creature From the Black Lagoon 3D+2D (1954)

All titles are presented in their original Black and White other than 'Phantom' which was shot in color. Each film other than 'Creature' (widescreen format) is presented in their original 4:3 aspect ratios and sporting nice healthy bit rates for each film and VERY nicely restored sound presented in DTS HD Master Audio stereo, although each film is actually a mono track with identical sound output on both sides.

THE VIDEO QUALITY:
So how does the video quality fare you ask? Absolutely Stupendous! The grain structures are INTACT and for the most part that is a VERY good thing! You will see things as you have never seen them before. You will see things you wished you hadn't seen before such as the crudely painted warped/rippled backdrop during the graveyard and ending scenes in 'Frankenstein'... Various black wires and threads are now clearly visible during effect shots of 'The Invisible Man' , etc. I for one am glad the restorers saw fit to only remove print damage such as scratches and white specks and left the original productions alone as much as possible.

Details and fine texture abound. Equipment in Frankenstein's lab reveals every nuance and texture, fabrics and set decorations become crystal clear, even shaving bumps are visible on Colin Clive's face and there is so much more added detail to Jack Pierce's makeup jobs that it would take a 5 page review to document all the new things I noticed and could see clearly for the very first time. At first I constantly A/B'd the new transfers against the legacy DVD collections to check for any discrepancies but soon realized I was dealing with something that was so much improved it was a useless exercise. These are flat out gorgeous to look at and some of the best vintage black & white restoration jobs I have seen. If you have watched these films over and over like I have on both VHS and DVD, you will be extremely excited about these new renderings.

For those that insist the video quality is no better than the Legacy DVD sets, I suggest perhaps some may have their players connected to a standard video connection or SDTV , or perhaps for some reason just can't appreciate what high end restoration/scanning rendered in 1080p has done for these films. There is NO comparison between the Legacy sets and these transfers and that goes for video AND audio. I have kept my Legacy sets to hold on to the missing titles for each parent film. (ie: Son of Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein and the ever popular Mother-In-Law of Frankenstein, etc.)

Rather than go through each and every film in great detail I will just pick out a few moments that stood out for me personally. I was absolutely floored when I began watching 'Frankenstein' where light and shadow resolved as never before. Each and every scene was vastly improved to the point where I found myself actually cheering out loud as I watched. It truly is eye opening. I did notice a slight glitch between scenes where the video just stopped for a fraction of a second. This had nothing to do with a layer change and appears to be an encoding/editing error as my DVD's do not display this pause. (occurs at the end of the meeting between Victor, Elizabeth and Dr. Waldman before they show up at the lab)

During the early scenes in 'The Mummy" the detail revealed in Boris's bandages is extraordinary. You can truly see the extent that makeup man extraordinaire Jack Pierce went to with this makeup, actually achieving the look of an ancient and rotting mummy. These details were lost to both the VHS and DVD version and only now can you see them perfectly clearly. With the massive increase in detail comes an increase in involvement while watching the film. I guarantee you will be sucked into the story like never before!

'Dracula" has been so improved that it deifies description. Yes it is a very old film and problematic in certain areas but the picture quality presented here had me almost having to pick my jaw off the floor. Renfield in 1080P? It just doesn't get any better than this! Bela's eyes actually gave me the creeps and I have seen this movie a good 50 or 60 times over the last 50 some odd years. It is simply outstanding! And YES, Dracula does groan at the end after Van Helsing whacks the stake for those that were wondering. (Renfield screams too which seems to be cut on some earlier DVD versions)

'The Invisible Man' stands out for me as one of the best transfers. Maybe I only think that because it is a personal favorite. Still, I found it to be almost on par with the new Casablanca 4K scan for overall balance and detail. I really enjoyed watching it and I was very happy to see that one of my favorite titles turned out so very well! (ok, maybe not as good as the new Casablanca scan, but pretty darn close)

I have only viewed 'The Creature' in 2D and can not comment on the 3D rendering. (vision problem precludes me from evaluating 3D in my reviews)
I can definitely say this of the 2D version, it is by far the clearest, most detailed rendering I have ever seen of this movie and unfortunately betrays clearly just how fake the "Creatures" suit really is. On the other hand, Julie Adams is even more of a dish than ever before in 1080p so this transfer certainly DOES have it's advantages. (hard to believe she ended up selling Real Estate in Cabot Cove. Maine!)

Another real standout is 'The Wolfman" with both contrast levels and detail being absolutely fabulous. A tiny amount of EH causes just a smidgen of 'ringing' in the video but it is so little only the most picky would EVER notice it. And the fog/mist is handled very well in this transfer, something that normally is a sore point with digital. Read more ›

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Blu-Ray for Universal Monsters Buffs! (Comprehensive Review) September 26, 2012

By Andre Dursin TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Blu-ray

No series in the history of the cinematic horror genre has endured as long as the Universal Monster classics of the 1930s and '40s - a time marked by the Great Depression, the rise of Hitler's Germany and America's eventual involvement in WWII. At the outset, the Universal films were hugely successful with audiences seeking an escape, but by the time the U.S. became embroiled in the conflict, the popularity of the studio's trademark monsters became less inviting to viewers, who turned their attention to war-time enemies as the cinematic nemesis of choice. Before that happened, however, Universal established a litany of Monster Classics that would inspire long-running franchises and become favorites of viewers for generations to come.

Universal's eagerly anticipated UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION arrives on Blu-Ray this week and pays a new, glorious high-definition tribute to eight of the studio's genre benchmarks, all presented in fresh, and impressive, 1080p AVC encoded transfers marked by a surprising amount of detail.

Looking at Tod Browning's 1931 DRACULA is virtually like gazing upon the Bela Lugosi classic for the first time. The movie is best remembered for its opening Transylvanian set-piece that introduces viewers to Lugosi's unforgettable count, and while the London sequences tend to be static and dull by comparison, the increased detail seen here in the Blu-Ray's HD presentation even makes the talky, latter sections of the picture more interesting. In fact, without any overt use of DNR, this ranks as one of the studio's most satisfying catalog transfers to date. The DTS MA mono sound is nearly crackle-free, and Philip Glass' Kronos Quartet score (which makes the stilted drawing room sequences a bit livelier at least) is also available in Dolby Digital stereo.

Supplements include two commentary tracks reprised from prior DVD editions: an authoritative discussion by historian David J. Skal, and a more recent talk with Steve Haberman (screenwriter of the awful Mel Brooks spoof "Dracula: Dead and Loving It"), both offer enlightening analysis and artistic commentary on the film; "The Road to Dracula" (35 mins.), hosted by Carla Laemmle, returns here from its original DVD appearance, as does the still gallery "Dracula Archives" (8 mins.), while "Lugosi: The Dark Prince" (36 mins.), a carry-over from the 75th Anniversary DVD, sports interviews with historians and directors including Joe Dante paying tribute to Lugosi's career. Trailers are included for the whole Universal "Dracula" series (Dracula, Dracula's Daughter, Son of Dracula and House of Dracula), and an eight-minute restoration featurette (HD) includes a look at the studio's efforts to restore both the English and Spanish language versions as a part of their centennial efforts, noting that a portion of the Spanish "Dracula" had to be taken from an international print as the studio's negative was badly damaged during the third reel.

Speaking of the Spanish "Dracula," it too has been lovingly restored here in a 1080p AVC encode that's perhaps not quite as crisp as the Lugosi version, even if the elements seem to be, on balance, in healthier condition. An optional introduction with star Lupita Tovar is included as well.

James Whale's FRANKENSTEIN introduced viewers to Boris Karloff in his legendary role as the Frankenstein monster, and while the film remains a striking work for its 1931 release date, it pales in comparison to THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, the 1935 sequel graced with a spectacular Franz Waxman score that shows, in the space of four short years, how quickly movie-making had progressed as a medium. Whale's playful, inventive direction, the performances of Karloff, Colin Clive and Elsa Lanchester, and that Waxman score - one of the all-time greats - are unforgettable aspects of a film many regard as the finest in the pantheon of Universal Monsters.

Each included here on separate BD platters, "Frankenstein" includes a number of supplements carried over from prior releases: "The Frankenstein Files" is an engaging 45-minute account of picture's production and legacy; "Karloff: The Gentle Monster" (36 mins.) is a carryover from the 75th Anniversary release; "Frankenstein Archives" is another 10-minute assortment of stills; "Boo!" is a fun 1932 Universal "Brevity"; commentaries are provided by Rudy Behlmer and Sir Christopher Frayling; and a full trailer gallery boasts the original coming attractions for Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man and House of Frankenstein.

Also included on the "Frankenstein" disc is Kevin Bronlow's fine 1998 TCM documentary, "Universal Horror." This examination of the beginnings of Universal's monster franchises is narrated by Kenneth Branagh and offers ample vintage footage, interviews and an entertaining look into the genre's origins.

Visually, both movies look more detailed than I've ever seen before, with crisp 1080p presentations that blow past prior DVD releases - even if there does seem to be, perhaps, just a bit more filtering on "Bride of Frankenstein" than "Frankenstein" or especially "Dracula." Regardless, the image still looks exceptionally good, and extra features - not as substantive as the other discs - include the original DVD documentary, "She's Alive! Creating `Bride of Frankenstein,'" plus a stills archive, commentary with historian Scott MacQueen, and trailers for Bride, Ghost and House of Frankenstein (surprisingly, "Son of Frankenstein"'s trailer is nowhere to be found in this set).

In 1932, "Dracula" cinematographer Karl Freund helmed the first appearance of what would ultimately become - thanks to both a handful of sequels and a contemporary series of modern fantasy films (with another version headed to theaters in 2014) - the most durable of Universal's monsters, THE MUMMY. Boris Karloff carved out his second iconic studio role as Imohotep, who lusts after Zita Johann in an entertaining - if somewhat creaky - film with unforgettable imagery (though ironically, Karloff only appears in the patented Mummy make-up for a couple of minutes).

A bit uneven in its overall visual appearance, there's some occasional filtering on-hand in "The Mummy"'s 1080p AVC encoded transfer compared to the other films in this set. It's certainly an appreciable improvement on DVD, however - crisp detail is in evidence during most of the transfer, but some sequences look sharper than others. Extra features include "Mummy Dearest" (30 mins.), a documentary from the original DVD release; "He Who Made Monsters" (24 mins.), a Jack Pierce retrospective; "Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy" (8 mins.), a brief featurette from the 75th Anniversary DVD; "The Mummy Archives" still gallery; commentaries by Paul M. Jensen and a more recent track with Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns and Brent Armstrong; and trailers for all the "Mummy" films (The Mummy, Mummy's Hand, Mummy's Tomb, Mummy's Ghost, Mummy's Curse).

Inbetween "Frankenstein" pictures, James Whale helmed a magnificent adaptation of H.G. Wells' THE INVISIBLE MAN, a 1933 classic that, in certain ways, holds up better than any of Universal's earliest genre outings for sheer dramatic impact. Claude Rains gives a memorable performance as a scientist who slowly goes mad after an experiment renders him invisible - a portrayal that relies heavily on his voice since Rains is only on-screen for a few minutes. John P. Fulton's visual effects, especially for their era, are superb, and Gloria Stuart believably renders Rains' sympathetic girlfriend.

Arguably tthe healthiest looking of the original, early `30s Universal Monsters classics, "The Invisible Man" appears in top form in its 1080p AVC encoded HD transfer here - there's still a bit of filtering present in some sequences (like "The Mummy," some scenes seem to be affected more than others), but on balance the transfer is exceptionally good for any film of its vintage. Special features include the original DVD doc, "The Invisible Man Revealed" (35 mins.) plus production photographs, trailers for the Invisible Man series, and commentary by Rudy Behlmer.

Scripted by Curt Siodmak, Universal's 1941 classic THE WOLF MAN stars Lon Chaney as Larry Talbot, who becomes cursed with the fate of a werewolf after wandering in the forests of Wales and bitten by one of the creatures. Claude Rains plays Talbot's father, and the supporting cast includes Maria Ouspenskaya and Bela Lugosi as the Gypsies who predict Talbot's fate, along with Evelyn Ankers as the love interest and additional supporting turns from Ralph Bellamy and Patric Knowles. The settings, atmosphere, and direction (by George Waggner) are all top-notch and the movie compares favorably with the Universal chillers of the period.

Last released on DVD a couple of years ago, "The Wolf Man"'s 1080p AVC encoded HD transfer is solid, generally in-line with the other transfers in the box-set, with deep blacks and added detail over its standard-def releases. Extras are bountiful here, highlighted by David J.Skal's "Monster by Moonlight" documentary, a DVD carryover hosted by John Landis, this is an engaging look into the Wolfman's creation and phenomenon as the last great character to originate from Universal's "Golden Age" horror cycle. Eschewing the testimony of countless historians (as were utilized in Skal's other documentaries) in favor of interviews with make-up artist Rick Baker (who discusses Jack Pierce's lasting legacy) and screenwriter Siodmak, the program is entertaining and enlightening, even though it uses a generous selection of film clips from the Wolfman's subsequent cinematic appearances to round out the program. Read more ›

105 of 116 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Collection November 18, 2002

By Gary F. Taylor HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

This box set is truly worth every penny it costs: a collection of eight iconographical titles in the "Universal Horror" pantheon from the 1930s and 1940s. The titles are DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, THE INVISIBLE MAN, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE WOLFMAN, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. Each DVD comes in a plastic case sporting original poster art, and all eight are neatly packaged in a single box for easy organization. Each of the titles have been significantly restored, and although the bonus features vary a bit from disk to disk each disk has a short documentary and interesting critical audio track.

The "Jewel In The Crown" of the set is DRACULA. While critical response to the film varies, the DVD includes both the Bella Lugosi and the so-called "Spanish" Dracula, as well as the option to play the Lugosi version with or without the recent Philip Glass soundtrack as well as memorable bonus material. The weak link the collection is THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA; the Claude Rains remake isn't a patch on the original, and it is a pity that the silent Lon Chaney version was not offered instead. Still, the Rains version has its charms, and it far surpasses later film versions of the same title.

While each of the DVDs included can be purchased separately, those wishing to have all these titles will find the box set more cost-effective. Sure to delight fans of Universal horror classics and fans of classic film in general; strongly recommended as an essential.