"NEW" UNIVERSAL MONSTERS DVD BOXED SET

Ever eager to separate monster fans from their money, Universal has announced yet another DVD boxed set -- this time a 30-film fright fest that includes every essential horror classic from the 30's through the 50's.

Personally, I am a little reluctant to divest myself with said cash and fall oblivious into line with what looks to be a repackaging rather than anything fresh. Even the extras look suspiciously familiar. Hey guys, every so often you need to replace the cedar lining in grandma's cabinet, ya know what I mean?

Nevertheless, this is the first time that such a product has included what could easily be called "Universal Classic Monsters: The Final Version" -- except that we still have yet to see the same lineup in Blu-ray . . . and how about a 3D version of The Creature From the Black Lagoon? It would also be nice if one of these so-called set of "classic" Universal horror films included silent era touchstones of terror such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Cat and the Canary, and The Man Who Laughs?

Lest you think me too harsh in criticizing this latest release in a loooong line of these movies, I find them all still relevant, still influential, and most of all, still entertaining. And -- God help me! -- despite all my pitiful protestations, I'll probably end up still giving these a look with one hand on the keyboard and the other on my credit card.

Werewolf Cub Reporter, Scott Essman, provides the ballyhoo in this press release:

GREATEST HORROR FILMS IN HISTORY TO BE RELEASED IN UNIQUE 30-FILM DVD SET

(Los Angeles, Calif. July 23, 2014) — They informed our dreams and nightmares, each and every one.  Brilliant actors, craftspeople, and filmmakers combined to deliver these indelible characters who may have died on screen, but they will surely live forever.  They are the one and only Universal Classic Monsters.

Now, for the first time ever, all 30 Universal Pictures' Classic Monster films will be available together on DVD in the "Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection," available on September 2, 2014, showcasing every original film featuring Hollywood's most iconic monsters, including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, The Phantom of the Opera and The Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Everyone knows the names of the great actors who delivered the performances which made the films magnetic in unprecedented fashion: Karloff, Lugosi, Chaney, Jr., Rains, Hull, Lanchester, Rathbone, Carradine, Chapman.  Their cinematic presence both individually and collectively stand tall in singular fashion through film history. 

With hours of bonus features as well as a 48-page book featuring behind-the-scenes photographs, original posters, rare correspondence and more to enhance the viewing experience, Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection includes the following genre masterpieces:

Dracula (1931)		Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
Frankenstein (1931)		Phantom of the Opera (1943)
The Mummy (1932)		Son of Dracula (1943)
The Invisible Man (1933)		The Invisible Man's Revenge (1944)
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)		The Mummy's Ghost (1944)
Werewolf of London (1935)		House of Frankenstein (1944)
Dracula's Daughter (1936)		The Mummy's Curse (1944)
Son of Frankenstein (1939)		House of Dracula (1945)
The Invisible Man Returns (1940)		She-Wolf of London (1946)
The Mummy's Hand (1940)		Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)
The Invisible Woman (1940)		Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951)
The Wolf Man (1941)		Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)		Revenge of the Creature (1955)
Invisible Agent (1942)		Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955)
The Mummy's Tomb (1942)		The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

BONUS FEATURES:

·   Behind the Scenes Documentaries

·   The 1931 Spanish Version of Dracula

·   Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr. and Jack Pierce Featurettes

·   13 Expert Feature Commentaries

·   Archival Footage

·   Production Photographs