| Description |
5 videodisc (DVD)s (426 min.) : sil., sound, black and white, color ; 4 3/4 in |
| Contents |
Kingdom of shadows : the rise of the horror film (1998) / written and directed by Bret Wood -- The penalty (1920) / directed by Walter Worsely ; scenario by Charles Kenyon -- The cat and the canary (1927) / directed by Paul Leni ; adaptation by Alfred A. Cohn, Robert F. Hill ; titles by Walter Anthony -- Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920) / directed by John S. Robertson ; scenario by Clara Beranger -- The man who laughs (1928) / directed by Paul Leni ; adaptation by J. Grubb Alexander |
| Summary |
Documents the beginnings of horror films from the 1890s through the silent era; an embittered criminal seeks revenge on the doctors who erroneously amputated his legs as a child; possibly insane, an heir to a fortune must spend the night in a creepy mansion to receive the payout; a scientist finds a way to reveal the darkest side of man; with a smile permanently carved into his face, a man becomes a clown and falls for a blind orphan |
| Notes |
"The penalty" based on the novel by Gouverneur Morris; "The cat and the canary" based on the play by John Willard; "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson; "The man who laughs" based on the novel "L'homme qui rit" by Victor Hugo |
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Originally released as motion pictures 1920-1928; "Kingdom of shadows" originally released direct-to-video in 1998 |
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Features: story behind "The man who laughs," at home with Conrad Veidt, excerpt of the Italian version of "The man who laughs," excerpt of Hugo's novel, about the restoration for each film, photo galleries, promotional material galleries, "Dr. Pyckle and Mr. Pride" (1925) starring Stan Laurel, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" (1920) (excerpt) starring Sheldon Lewis, audio : the transformation scene (1909) featuring Len Spencer, essay : "The many faces of Jekyll/Hyde," about the score, about the Mount Alto Motion Picture Corporation, essay by Michael F. Blake "The penalty," "By the sun's rays," Chaney's secrets revealed, production budget sheet, novel/script to screen, Chaney trailers : "The big city" (1928) and "While the city sleeps" (1928), "The miracle man," scene comparison from novel to screenplay to film |
| Cast |
Rod Steiger (narrator), Lon Chaney, Laura La Plante, John Barrymore, Conrad Viedt |
| Notes |
DVDs, Dolby digital stereo |
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MPAA rating: Not rated |
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For private home use only |
| Subject |
Morris, Gouverneur, 1876-1953 -- Film and video adaptations
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Willard, John, 1885-1942 -- Film and video adaptations
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Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894 -- Film and video adaptations
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Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885 -- Film and video adaptations
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Amputees -- Drama.
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Distribution of decedents' estates -- Drama.
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Good and evil -- Drama.
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Disfigured persons -- Drama.
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| Genre/Form |
Horror films.
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Thrillers (Motion pictures, television, etc.)
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Film adaptations.
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Motion picture film collections
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Silent films.
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Fiction films.
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Feature films.
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Documentary films.
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Nonfiction films.
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Video recordings.
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Drama.
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| Author |
Wood, Bret.
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Worsely, Walter
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Leni, Paul, 1885-1929.
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Robertson, John S., 1878-1964.
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Steiger, Rod, 1925-2002.
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Chaney, Lon, 1883-1930.
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La Plante, Laura, 1904-1996.
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Morris, Gouverneur, 1876-1953.
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Willard, John, 1885-1942.
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Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894.
Strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
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Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885.
Homme qui rit. English.
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