The Old Dark House
by James Whale
List Price:
Our Price: $14.99
You Save: $14.96 (50%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $11.94 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Boris Karloff, Charles Laughton, Ernest Thesiger, Lilian Bond, Melvyn DouglasDirector: James Whale
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Black & White, DVD-Video, NTSC, Special Edition
Picture Format: Academy Ratio, 1.33:1
Running Time: 72 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-09-02
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Kino Video
Movie Reviews of The Old Dark House
Movie Review: Raging storm, trapped in a spooky mansion with psychopaths!
Summary: 5 Stars
For the vintage black-and-white mystery-thriller film purist, this 1932 Universal Pictures flick has it all: brilliant casting, stormy night, spooky mansion, vulnerable travelers, crazy residents... what more could anyone ask for? Now, while this is a very old film the sound is pretty darn good and the print quality is much better than what I had expected.
THE STORY: During a raging thunderstorm, several travelers are forced to stop and seek refuge at the Femm Family Mansion due to road wash-outs and landslides. The Femms, all pretty aged (along with their domestic spore), are as wacky as they come. Horace is bug-eyed, skeleton-ish, paranoid, and terrified while his sister, Rebecca, is as venomous as a mamba and notably inhospitable ("NO BEDS! THEY CAN'T HAVE BEDS!") -- but as it turns out, she's sort of the brains of the outfit. There's also Morgan the Butler (Karloff!), a depraved creature who becomes VERY dangerous to be around when he's drunk (which is most of the time). And, best of all, locked away upstairs is Saul, an ancient psychopathic, conniving, homicidal pyromaniac -- and sometimes he gets out!
The mixed gender travelers (portrayed in part by Raymond Massey and Charles Laughton) try to make the best of their situation by backing up to a blazing fireplace and filling their empty bellies over a meal of roast beef and potatoes, but the combination of the storm (which threatens to wash away the entire mansion!) and the depraved proclivities of the morbid and bizarre house residents take its toll before the night is over. The gothic ambiance of the venue serves to further generate lots of terror and thrills.
In private, Rebecca regales one of the jumpier female guests with a little story: "They were all godless here. They used to bring their women here - brazen, lolling creatures in silks and satins. They filled the house with laughter and sin, laughter and sin. And if I ever went down among them, my own father and brothers - they would tell me to go away and pray, and I prayed - and left them with their lustful red and white women."
The story is based upon a 1927 novel by J. B. Priestly, entitled "Benighted," and Benn W. Levey developed the screenplay. The film was directed by James Whale ("Bride of Frankenstein," 1935) and the Producer was Carl Laemmle, Jr. ("The Invisible Man," 1933). While he was not credited, the (original music) filmscore was composed by David Broekman. The movie runs for 72 minutes and the aspect is full-frame.
If you're into the "dark and stormy night" thing and you savor older films, you've hit the jackpot with this one!
(See my numerous Listmania lists for similar reviews and recommendations).
Summary of The Old Dark House
A dark, gothic, one-of-a-kind macabre comedy. Directed by James Whale, subject of the acclaimed "Gods and Monsters," "The Old Dark House" tells the story of three weary travelers who find shelter in a mysterious Welsh manor, soon find themselves in the unwelcoming company of the psychotic Femm family--and never will they be the same!Horror DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in If you want to discover Charles Laughton (1899 - 1962)
PiccadillyRelease date: 2005-03-01; DVD
Best price: $18.07
Price in other shops:
The Old Dark HouseRelease date: 2003-09-02; DVD
Best price: $12.09
Price in other shops:
![If I Had a Million [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ] Image](/images/If-I-Had-a-Million-NON-USA-FORMAT-PAL-Reg-2-Import-Spain-B0019D39XM-X.jpg)
If I Had a Million [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]DVD
Best price: $33.99
The Cecil B. DeMille Collection (Cleopatra/ The Crusades/ Four Frightened People/ Sign of the Cross/ Union Pacific)UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $21.46
Price in other shops:
The Private Life of Henry VIIIWESTLAKE ENTERTAINMENT INC; Release date: 2003-01-23; DVD
Best price: $16.99
Price in other shops:
Ruggles of Red Gap / DVD CHARLES LAUGHTONBUDDHA VIDEO CO.,; DVD
Best price: $11.99
Les Miserables (1935 & 1952 Two-Disc Set)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $10.81
Price in other shops:
Mutiny on the BountyRelease date: 2004-02-03; DVD
Best price: $5.23
Price in other shops:
RembrandtRelease date: 2001-06-19; DVD
Best price: $3.45
Price in other shops:
Vivien Leigh Classics (Dark Journey, Fire Over England, Sidewalks of London, Storm in a Teacup)Release date: 2003-11-25; DVD
Best price: $65.00
Similar DVD Movies
The Return of Dracula/ The VampireRETURN OF DRACULA, THE/VAMPIRE, THE (DVD MOVI; Release date: 2007-09-11; DVD
Best price: $4.45
Price in other shops:
Invisible Man - The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/ Invisible Man Returns/ Invisible Agent/ Invisible Woman/ Invisible Man's Revenge)Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
Tales From the Crypt / Vault of Horror (Double Feature)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-09-11; DVD
Best price: $7.55
Price in other shops:
Fox Horror Classics Collection, Vol. 2 (Dragonwyck / Chandu the Magician / Dr. Renault's Secret)FOX HORROR CLASSICS VOLUME 2 (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $11.49
Price in other shops:
The Mummy - The Legacy Collection (The Mummy/ Mummy's Hand/ Mummy's Tomb/ Mummy's Ghost/ Mummy's Curse)Release date: 2004-10-19; DVD
Best price: $16.48
Price in other shops:
Icons of Horror: Hammer Films (2-disc) (The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb / The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll / Scream of Fear / The Gorgon)Release date: 2008-10-14; DVD
Best price: $16.90
Price in other shops:
Hollywood's Legends of Horror Collection (Doctor X / The Return of Doctor X / Mad Love / The Devil Doll / Mark of the Vampire / The Mask of Fu Manchu)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-10-10; DVD
Best price: $22.99
Price in other shops:
The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)Release date: 2005-09-06; DVD
Best price: $14.75
Price in other shops:
Fox Horror Classics Collection (The Lodger / Hangover Square / The Undying Monster)TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-10-09; DVD
Best price: $15.98
Price in other shops:
The GhoulTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2003-08-26; DVD
Best price: $2.76
Price in other shops: