The Man Who Laughs / The Penalty / The Cat and the Canary / Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde / Kingdom of Shadows;
Actor/Actress: Lon Chaney,
John Barrymore,
Conrad Veidt,
Creighton Hale,
Laura La Plante,
Mary Philbin,
Rod Steiger;
Director: J. S. Robertson,
Wallace Worsley,
Paul Leni,
Bret Wood;
Year: 1920-1928;
Rating: Not Rated;
Language: English/Title Cards;
Runtime: 426 Minutes
;
Video: Black & White/Color;
Closed Captioned: N;
UPC: 738329057220
;
Screen Ratio: Fullscreen;
Discs: 5;
Features: Y, Collection/Boxed Set;
4 Horror Gems from the silent era plus an original documentary.
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde:
This first great American horror film follows the transformation of a prominent London physician, Dr. Jekyll, into the murderous Mr. Hyde while he explores the dual nature of man.
The Penalty:
In one of his most diabolical roles, Lon Chaney stars as a criminal mastermind who carries out a gruesome vengeance upon the doctor who amputated his legs.
The Cat and the Canary:
A decaying mansion and a stormy night are the archetypal setting for mystery and chaos when a pack of greedy relatives gather for the reading of a twenty-year-old will. But before the West fortune can be handed down, the family must endure a night in the cavernous manor. THE CAT is a milestone of the American horror film, thanks to the ingenuity of its director, Paul Leni. One of the first film artists imported from Germany by Hollywood, Leni invigorated this stage-bound genre with expressionist flair, transforming conventional material into a visual feast. Meticulously restored from original nitrate prints by Photoplay productions and a new score by Neil Brand.
The Man Who Laughs:
Paul Leni's adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel tells the story of Gwynplaine (Conrad Veidt), a tortured man with a permanent smile carved on his face. Batman creator Bob Kane has cited Leni's film as inspiration for his classic villain The Joker.
Kingdom of Shadows:
The horror film, from the turn of the century to the end of the silent era, is explored in this haunting, sometimes shocking documentary...a danse macabre of religion, carnivals, sex, nightmares, monstrosity, and death. With scenes from 50 rare and classic films. Narrated by Rod Steiger.
