#Lon Chaney Jr. The Wolf Man: The Legacy Collection

[badmovieihave]

Bad movie I have Lon Chaney Jr. The Wolf Man: The Legacy Collection It has The Wolf Man 1941 , Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man 1943 , The She Wolf of London 1946 and Werewolf of London 1935

[brokehorrorfan]

The Universal Classic Monsters Collection will be released on 4K Ultra HD (with Digital) in digibook packaging on October 3 via Universal. Designed by Tristan Eaton, the eight-disc set is limited to 5,500.

It includes 1931's Dracula, 1931’s Frankenstein, 1932’s The Mummy, 1933’s The Invisible Man, 1935’s The Bride of Frankenstein, 1941’s The Wolf Man, 1943’s Phantom of the Opera, and 1954’s Creature from the Black Lagoon.

All eight films are presented in 4K with HDR10. The Spanish version of Dracula is also included. Special features are listed below, where you can also see more of the packaging.

Dracula is directed by Tod Browning (Freaks) and written by Garrett Fort (Frankenstein), based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel. Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, and Edward Van Sloan star.

Dracula special features:

Alternate score version by Philip Glass

Dracula (1931) Spanish version directed by George Melford

The Road to Dracula

Lugosi: The Dark Prince

Dracula: The Restoration

Dracula Archives

Monster Tracks

Trailer gallery

Transylvanian vampire Count Dracula bends a naive real estate agent to his will, then takes up residence at a London estate where he sleeps in his coffin by day and searches for potential victims by night.

Frankenstein is directed by James Whale (The Indivisible Man) and written by Garrett Fort (Dracula) and Francis Edward Faragoh (Little Caesar), based on Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel. Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, and Boris Karloff star.

Frankenstein special features:

Audio commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer

Audio commentary by historian Sir Christopher Frayling

The Frankenstein Files: How Hollywood Made A Monster

Karloff: The Gentle Monster

Universal Horror

Frankenstein Archives

Boo!: A Short Film

100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics

Monster Tracks

Trailer gallery

Dr. Frankenstein dares to tamper with life and death by creating a human monster out of lifeless body parts.

The Mummy is directed by Karl Freund (Dracula) and written by John L. Balderston (Dracula). Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan, and Arthur Byron star.

The Mummy special features:

Audio commentary by film historian Paul M. Jensen

Audio commentary by Rick Baker, Scott Essman, Steve Haberman, Bob Burns, and Brent Armstrong

Mummy Dearest: A Horror Tradition Unearthed

He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce

Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy

The Mummy Archives

100 Years of Universal: The Carl Laemmle Era

Trailer gallery

An Egyptian mummy searches Cairo for the girl he believes is his long-lost princess.

The Invisible Man is directed by James Whale (Frankenstein) and written by R.C. Sherriff (Goodbye, Mr. Chips), based on H.G. Wells’ 1897 novel. Gloria Stuart, Claude Rains, William Harrigan, Dudley Digges, and Una O'Connor star.

The Invisible Man special features:

Audio commentary by film historian Rudy Behlmer

Now You See Him: The Invisible Man Revealed

Production Photographs

100 Years of Universal: Unforgettable Characters

Trailer gallery

A scientist finds a way of becoming invisible, but in doing so, he becomes murderously insane.

The Bride of Frankenstein is directed by James Whale (Frankenstein) and written by William Hurlbut. Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, and Elsa Lanchester star.

The Bride of Frankenstein special features: 

Audio commentary by film historian Scott MacQueen

She’s Alive! Creating The Bride of Frankenstein

The Bride Of Frankenstein Archive

100 Years of Universal: Restoring the Classics

Trailer gallery

Dr. Frankenstein, goaded by an even madder scientist, builds his monster a mate.

The Wolf Man is directed by George Waggner (Operation Pacific) and written by Curt Siodmak (I Walked with a Zombie). Claude Rains, Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi, and Lon Chaney Jr. star.

The Wolf Man special features:

Audio commentary by film historian Tom Weaver

Monster by Moonlight

The Wolf Man: From Ancient Curse to Modern Myth

Pure in Heart: The Life and Legacy of Lon Chaney Jr.

He Who Made Monsters: The Life and Art of Jack Pierce

The Wolf Man Archives

100 Years of Universal: The Lot

Trailer gallery

Larry Talbot returns to his father's castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman. One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where they meet a mysterious gypsy fortune teller.

Phantom of the Opera is directed by Arthur Lubin and written by Eric Taylor (The Ghost of Frankenstein) and Samuel Hoffenstein (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde). Claude Rains, Nelson Eddy, Susanna Foster, and Edgar Barrier star.

Phantom of the Opera special features:

Audio commentary by film historian Scott MacQueen

The Opera Ghost: A Phantom Unmasked

Production Photographs

100 Years of Universal: The Lot

Theatrical trailer

An acid-scarred composer rises from the Paris sewers to boost his favorite opera understudy’s career.

Creature from the Black Lagoon is directed by Jack Arnold (The Incredible Shrinking Man) and written by Harry Essex and Arthur A. Ross. Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, and Whit Bissell star.

Creature from the Black Lagoon special features:

Audio commentary by film historian Tom Weaver

Back to the Black Lagoon

Production Photographs

100 Years of Universal: The Lot

Trailer gallery

A group of scientists try to capture a prehistoric creature luring in the depths of the Amazonian jungle and bring it back to civilization for study.

Pre-order Universal Classic Monsters Collection.

[docrotten]

HOUSE OF DRACULA (1945) – Episode 158 – Decades Of Horror: The Classic Era

“I find it difficult to believe that a human being can change himself into a bat, or that by feeding upon the blood of the living he can obtain eternal life. But what has this discussion to do with us, Baron Latos?” Watch and learn, grasshopper. Join this episode’s Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, Doc Rotten, and Jeff Mohr – as they travel to a house that’s a bit crowded … with monsters! Yes, they’re in Universal’s House of Dracula (1945)!

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 158 – House of Dracula (1945)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL, THE CLASSIC HORROR MOVIE CHANNEL, and WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL Which all now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/; https://classichorrorchannel.com/; https://wickedhorrortv.com/

The Wolf Man and Count Dracula beg Dr. Edelman to cure them of their killing instincts but Dracula schemes to seduce the doctor’s nurse. And don’t forget Frankenstein’s monster stuck in a cave below.

  Director: Erle C. Kenton

Writers: Edward T. Lowe Jr. (original screenplay) (as Edward T. Lowe); Dwight V. Babcock (story) (uncredited), George Bricker (story) (uncredited)

Makeup Department: Jack P. Pierce (makeup artist), Carmen Dirigo (hair stylist)

Selected Cast:

Lon Chaney Jr. as Lawrence Talbot / The Wolf Man (as Lon Chaney)

John Carradine as Dracula / Baron Latos

Martha O’Driscoll as Miliza Morelle

Lionel Atwill as Police Inspector Holtz

Onslow Stevens as Dr. Franz Edlemann

Jane Adams as Nina

Ludwig Stössel as Siegfried (as Ludwig Stossel)

Glenn Strange as The Frankenstein Monster

Skelton Knaggs as Steinmuhl

Ah, the Universal Monsters! Who doesn’t want to sit down with the classic Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, and the Wolf Man on any given Saturday afternoon? Many Monster Kids consider this episode’s film, House of Dracula (1945), the canonical end of the famous monsters’ original cinematic run; however, others will continue to include Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein (1948) into the mix, happily! Either way, director Erle C. Kenton’s third film featuring the Monster of Frankenstein is a fun, enjoyable romp regardless of how silly and overly convenient the plot remains. Lon Chaney Jr., John Carradine, and Glenn Strange all return as the Wolf Man, Count Dracula, and Frankenstein’s Monster respectively, each providing the best performances possible given the circumstances. Onslow Stevens, along with co-stars Martha O’Driscoll and Jane Adams, wonderfully provide the strands that hold the storylines together. Throw in Lionel Atwill for good measure and it’s a tried-and-true Universal Monster “house” feature. Grab your popcorn and large soda and join the Grue-Crew as they catch up with the shenanigans. 

At the time of this writing, House of Dracula is available to stream from the Classic Sci-Fi Movie Channel, the Classic Horror Movie Channel, and the Wicked Horror TV Channel, as well as a variety of PPV sites. In terms of physical media, the film is available in Blu-ray format as part of Dracula: Complete Legacy Collection, Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection, The Wolf Man: Complete Legacy Collection, and Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection.

For more Universal Horror, check out these Decades of Horror: The Classic Era episodes:

DRACULA (1931) – Episode 20 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

FRANKENSTEIN (1931) – Episode 100 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

THE INVISIBLE MAN (1933) – Episode 50 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) – Episode 14 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

SON OF FRANKENSTEIN (1939) – Episode 121 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

THE WOLF MAN (1941) – Episode 39 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

SON OF DRACULA (1943) – Episode 132 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) – Episode 44 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next in their very flexible schedule, as chosen by Jeff, is The Manster (1959), an American production, filmed in Japan, that answers the age-old question: are two heads better than one?

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel, the site, or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

To each of you from each of them, “Thank you so much for watching and listening!”

Check out this episode!

[universalmonstersuniverse]

Universal Monsters Universe takes a look at some of the collectibles based off of the classic monster, The Wolf Man.

As fans and enthusiasts of the movies we love, there’s nothing better than collecting a token, be it big or small, that represents what we enjoy. The classic Universal Monsters have been a part of the lives of generations of fans and because of companies like Mezco, Diamond Select Toys, Super7, they’ll continue to inspire, haunt, and excite us for generations to come. Over the past few months, I was inspired to take another look at Universal’s The Wolf Man and the spin offs the original 1941 classic led to. More so, I was inspired to take a look at the more modern merchandise of The Wolf Man and for those of you like myself, you’ll have a checklist of collectibles, some new and old, to howl about!

DST released 2 versions. The one pictured and another – a black & white silver screen version.

Diamond Select Toys, while they were still producing collectibles based off of the Universal Monsters, created an exciting line of toys based off of the monster made famous by Lon Chaney Jr. There were six different kinds of Wolf Man collectibles produced – action figures to busts. Diamond Select Toys first produced an action figure, not unlike the more statue like figures made by McFarlane Toys, that offered a highly detailed figure, but minimal articulation. It was their second figure that offered more articulation and while it featured a similarly detailed sculpt, the overall body of the figure was rethought. Diamond Select Toys also released a silver screen “black & white” edition of the figure through Entertainment Earth.

Also released under Diamond Select Toys was a bust bank of the Wolf Man and a planned set of minimates including The Wolf Man, Transforming The Wolf Man, Larry Talbot, and Gwen Conliffe. The only minimates to be released though, and quite hard to find, are of The Wolf Man and Larry Talbot.

The Wolfman, the 2010 remake starring Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt, saw an action figure release by Mezco. The Long Island City based toy company released four figures based off of the film and one prop replica. The only action figures made were of The Wolfman himself, but they were extraordinarily detailed with one regular edition and one bloody variant. Mezco also released a Mez-itz figure and a 12″ figure of The Wolfman, too. My favorite of Mezco’s The Wolfman collectibles was the prop replica of the two-sided medallion. I still proudly own it.

Image via figures.com

For more of the modern toys and collectibles that have been produced, I look to Super7, and Funko. Funko, the company most widely known for their Pop vinyl figures, released a Pop figure of The Wolf Man, a vinyl mystery mini figure of The Wolf Man, and through their collaboration with Super7, they released a few different versions of The Wolf Man under the ReAction figure line. Currently, Super7 has the license for the classic Universal Monsters and have just released a new version of their ReAction figure, featuring an all new sculpt, and stunning card art by Ed Repka. Super7 has also just released a 55″ “Paper People” Wolf Man decoration that is monster sized for your collection!

Universal’s The Wolf Man is a classic for many reasons – the artistry, the story, and its performances. The 2010 film, directed by Joe Johnston, was even nominated and won an Oscar for Best Makeup at the 83rd Academy Awards. Make-up artist Rick Baker has made no secret over the fact that the classic Universal Monsters films had inspired him over the years and, hopefully, the enduring legacy of The Wolf Man will continue to inspire others through the films and collectibles that have been made. And thanks to the artistry behind movies like The Wolf Man and The Shape of Water, the oscar award winning odds of another monster movie winning is quite high.

Do you have any of The Wolf Man collectibles mentioned? Let me know in the comments below.

(Steven Biscotti – @reggiemantleIII)

  Collectibles To Howl Over: A Look at The Wolf Man Collectibles. #thewolfman #universalmonsters Universal Monsters Universe takes a look at some of the collectibles based off of the classic monster, The Wolf Man.

[nightmareonfilmstreet]

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS 30 Film Collection Coming to Blu-ray

Even before I knew who Jason, Freddy, or Michael Myers were, I loved monsters. The monsters I loved, in particular, were the black and white ones. I adored the distinct costuming of the Invisible Man, the creepy elegance of Dracula, Lon Chaney Jr.‘s beastly brilliance as the Wolf Man. In those movies, I found worlds that haunted and amazed me. Don’t get me wrong, I love the horror movies of today. But nothing will ever hold the place in my heart that the Universal Monster crew does. Which is why I was thrilled to hear that the Universal Monsters are headed to an epic, 30-film blu-ray collection.

Previously, Universal has released individual “Legacy Collections” centered around each respective monster, but this will be the first time the majority if their classics are together in one Blu-ray collection. Of course, this collection features staples like Frankenstein, Phantom of the Opera, and The Mummy. But the list is from over. Stellar sequels and legacy films like Son of Dracula, Revenge of the Creature, and Invisible Agent show up too. And for the real fans out there, this collection even features the Abbott and Costello Meet series. Honestly, a collection with just that series would be worth your money, even more so if it features all the movie those slapstick comedies were spoofing. The Universal Monster collection is available August 28th, but you can head to Amazon and pre-order right now.

If you’ve been visiting Nightmare in Film Street for a while, then you already know how much we love our Universal Monsters. But if you’re new here, and you love these horror classics like we do, you are in for a treat. Many treats, actually. For example, Jae Prowse went in-depth for a retrospective on Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. Then there was that time Heather Powderly wrote a love letter to The Bride of Frankenstein. Frankenstein not your thing? Then you can’t pass up on Stephanie Cole’s look back at Creature from the Black Lagoon, especially if you’ve got hots for gill-man post-Shape of Water. If you’ve already read all of those, why not head over to our Facebook or Twitter pages? Universal Horror is always in fashion over there.

And for all your horror entertainment news, keep lurking at Nightmare on Film Street.

  The post UNIVERSAL MONSTERS 30 Film Collection Coming to Blu-ray appeared first on Nightmare on Film Street - Horror Movie Podcast, News and Reviews.

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[amplesalty]

Halloween 2020 - Day 17 - Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

WHAT ARE YOU ASKING ME FOR?!

Though the classic run of Frankenstein movies can be said to have ended with 1942’s Ghost of Frankenstein, this is the last film included in the Frankenstein legacy collection boxset I have so I might as well watch it just for the sake of completeness. It’s also included in the Dracula and Wolf Man collections as well so I now own three copies of this movie.

It’s something of a finale as well for that golden age of Universal Monsters with the Frankenstein monster, Dracula and Wolf Man appearing together and they pretty much pulled out all the big guns with Lon Chaney Jr returning as Larry Talbot and Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula. Lugosi was often typecast into these vampire type roles but this was the only other time he played Dracula on the big screen so it’s neat to see him make the comeback with lots of the Lugosi stare thrown in. It’s a shame they couldn’t convince KARLOFF to come back for a similar swan song as the monster but they did have a returning Glenn Strange so it still has some pedigree.

But there’s some other names on the marquee there beside Frankenstein, namely Abbott and Costello which means this is more of a comedy rather than a horror movie. They’re not a duo I’m overly familiar with outside the whole ‘Who’s on first?’ routine so it’s neat to see them for something other than that.

There’s a very typical double act dynamic going on between the two, with Abott being the traditional straight man and Costello the comic foil. The comedy comes from their antics and reactions to stumbling across these supernatural phenomons rather than poking fun at the monsters so it’s nice that they’re still treated with respect especially given it is one of the last big outings for them. The closest you really get is Wolf Man ineffectually trying to grab Costello or something reminiscent of a Scooby Doo cartoon where Shaggy and Scoob will inadvertently bump into a ghoul before running away. Still, it’s not like they’re dressing up the Monster in a silly hat or anything.

The pair play Chick Young (Abbott) ad Wilbur Grey (Costello), baggage clerks at a railway station that find themselves in charge of delivering a couple of big boxes to a local wax museum called McDougal’s House of Horrors. Only, these boxes are said to contain the fabled remains of Dracula and the Frankenstein monster. Talbot has been tracking the pair across Europe and phones the station to warn them not to deliver the crates, only he turns into the Wolf Man mid conversation and Grey thinks the guy has put his dog on the phone. It’s a fairly bog standard plot but it’s a relief to have Talbot doing something other than whine about his curse.

The biggest source of amusement is probably the unlikely love triangle that Grey finds himself in, with two women fluttering around him but holding ulterior motives; one working for an insurance broker trying to investigate the bodies of Dracula and the Frankenstein Monster that went missing when Young and Grey were delivering them. The other only wants Grey for his brains, or lackthereof, for she plans to put his feeble mind inside the Monster so that it wont have the same level of freewill that the original did when it ran amok. Forget all Dracula and friends, clearly women are the real monsters here! But Grey is blissfully unaware of all this and thinks he’s just suddenly God’s gift to women so it’s funny to see him bigging himself up in the mirror or bragging to his friend.

The ending remains very true to both the idea of this film itself and the wider Universal tropes as these ‘showdown’ movies always feel a little lacklustre when it comes to any final battle. This is kinda the same, with the Wolf Man and Dracula facing off but it mostly happens out of view as we instead focus on Young and Grey trying to get away from the Frankenstein monster and periodically the two groups will cross paths.

This was pretty fun and cool to see a slightly different approach to using the classic monsters. It’s something they dipped into further with follow up movies featuring The Invisible Man, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and the Mummy so I could always have a look at those at some point.

[n0nb1narycode]

**Just including this to denote that these are still catch-up reposts from when I originally did this** --------------------------- The next 3 movies on my continuing journey through history of Frankenstein in film (courtesy of the next disc in the Legacy Collection blu-ray- which have all looked amazing, by the way) are: ⚡ Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man [1943] (in which Lon Chaney Jr. returns to the familiar role of the Wolf Man, & hands over the reigns of the monster to previous Ygor & Dracula actor, Bela Lugosi) ⚡ House of Frankenstein [1944] (Karloff returns, but as a scientist, Chaney Jr is the Wolf Man again, John Carradine is Dracula, & Glenn Strange is the monster) ⚡ House of Dracula [1945] (Chaney Jr, Carradine, & Strange in the same roles as the previous.) ⚡ • • • • • #frankensteinmeetsthewolfman #BelaLugosi #lonchaneyjr #1943 #boriskarloff #karloff #glennstrange #johncarradine #houseoffrankenstein #1944 #houseofdracula #1945 #universalhorror #universalmonsters #frankenstein #frankensteinmovies #frankensteinfilms #frankensteinonfilm #frankensteinsmonster #Halloween #themonster #frankensteinsofinstagram ? #iLoveMovies #bluray (#blurays ) (at The Matt Cave) https://www.instagram.com/p/BLZTEYIghx7/?igshid=qp3v86l3fbkv

[popcorncinemashow]

Blu-ray Releases 8 May 2017 - New Releases

Dr. Loomis’s Picks of the week - These are this weeks new blu-ray releases

Phenomena Blu-ray (Limited Edition) 

Directed by Dario Argento

Universal Horror / Classic Films

Dracula: Complete Legacy Collection Horror Movies

Starring Bela Lugosi + Others

Frankenstein: Complete Legacy Collection Horror Films

Starring Boris Karloff + Others

The Mummy: Complete Legacy Collection Horror Movies

Starring Boris Karloff + Lon Chaney Jr + Others

The Wolf Man: Complete Legacy Collection Horror Films

Starring Claude Rains, Lon Chaney Jr, Bela Lugosi + Others

Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello

Passengers (2016) Sci-fi

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen, Laurence Fishburne

For full details along with movie trailers click the picture above.

[brokehorrorfan]

Blu-ray Review: Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection

Dracula. Frankenstein’s monster and its Bride. The Wolf Man. The Mummy. The Invisible Man. Creature from the Black Lagoon. The Phantom of the Opera. You don’t have to be a horror fanatic to know these beloved monsters by name. For nearly a century, the cinematic icons have been bringing frights, chills, and joy to viewers of all ages.

Universal has collected all 30 of its classic monster movies in one extraordinary Blu-ray box set, appropriately dubbed Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection. The first film in each respective franchise has been available on Blu-ray before, and the same 30-film box set was released on DVD back in 2014, but this marks the first time viewers can experience the entire collection - sequels, crossovers, and all - in high-definition.

In addition to the complete box set, the movies are also available in smaller sets divided by monster, so there’s some overlap among the collection. House of Frankenstein, for example, can be found in the Dracula, Frankenstein and Wolf Man sets, since all three monsters are featured. In addition to each of the sequels, the set includes the three Abbott and Costello films in which they meet the monsters, which are an absolute hoot.

The collection kicks off with Tod Browning's 1931 adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which stars Bela Lugosi as the unforgettable Count. 1936's Dracula's Daughter is a direct sequel with Gloria Holden as the titular progeny. It picks up immediately following the events of Dracula, but Edward Van Sloan (as Van Helsing) is the only returning cast member. 1943's Son of Dracula stars Lon Chaney, Jr. as Count Alucard. It's notable for being the first film to show a vampire is transforming into a bat on screen. Dracula would be portrayed by John Carradine in the crossover films, 1944's House of Frankenstein and 1945's House of Dracula. Lugosi would only reprise the role that made him a household name in 1948's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

In addition to six bloodsucking films, the Dracula portion of the box set offers the most substantial bonus features. Most notably, the 1931 Spanish version of Dracula - which was shot at night using the same sets that were being used by day for the Lugosi film - is included, along with an optional introduction by actress Lupita Tovar. This rendition is a bit slow-moving, and Lugosi is missed, but it’s a great alternative to the classic that, in some ways, is superior. On the same disc is Universal Horror, a feature-length documentary from 1998 about the studio’s remarkable reign of terror, among other extras.

Frankenstein gives you the best bang for your buck. Not only is the tragic character arguably Universal’s most interesting monster, but he appears in a whopping eight films. James Whale's original 1931 Frankenstein - based on Mary Shelley's influential novel - and his 1935 follow up, The Bride of Frankenstein, are among the best one-two punches in cinematic history. Boris Karloff would play the hulking creature three consecutive times, culminating with 1939's Son of Frankenstein, before relinquishing the role to Lon Chaney Jr. in 1942's The Ghost of Frankenstein and to Bela Lugosi in 1943's Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. Glenn Strange played Frankenstein's monster in 1944's House of Frankenstein (which features Karloff in a new part as Dr. Gustav Niemann), 1945's House of Dracula, and 1948's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein.

A year after Frankenstein, Karloff returned to Universal to star in 1932's The Mummy as the ancient, mummified Egyptian priest Imhotep. Rather than a direct follow-up, the concept was essentially remade as The Mummy’s Hand in 1940. This time around, Tom Tyler played the mummy, who was renamed Kharis. Lon Chaney Jr. took over the role for 1942's The Mummy's Tomb, 1944's The Mummy's Ghost, and 1944's The Mummy's Curse. Eddie Parker got under the wraps for 1955's Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy.

In between Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein, director James Whale found himself at the helm of another Universal monster movie: 1933’s adaptation of H.G. Wells' The Invisible Man. Although Claude Rains’ character of Dr. Jack Griffin becomes a cold-blooded killer, the film stands out for its sense of humor, along with the groundbreaking visual effects that remain impressive. Its first sequel, 1940's The Invisible Man Returns, boasts Vincent Price in the lead role. The Invisible Woman, also released in 1940, is a full-blown screwball comedy starring Virginia Bruce. 1942's Invisible Agent and 1944's The Invisible Man's Revenge star Jon Hall as the grandson of the original character. 1951's Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man features Arthur Franz as the science experiment gone wrong.

The Wolf Man is the role that brought Lon Chaney Jr. out of his illustrious father’s shadow, and it's also the only monster to be portrayed by the same actor in every film in which it appeared: the 1941 original, 1943's Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, 1944's House of Frankenstein, 1945's House of Dracula, and 1948's Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. (Impressively, Chaney Jr. also played Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Mummy in other Universal sequels.) In addition to the five the Wolf Man movies, two other vintage tales of lycanthropy from the Universal catalog are included: 1935’s Werewolf of London and 1946’s She-Wolf of London.

Although produced by Universal, the classic 1925 silent version of The Phantom of the Opera is sadly absent from the set. The film is in the public domain, so cheap versions are easy to come by, but a high-quality copy is rare. It’s a missed opportunity, especially considering Phantom is the only monster in the box set to feature only one movie. It’s the 1943 Technicolor production starring Claude Rains that is included. This take on Gaston Leroux’s novel pales in comparison to the previous adaption, but it remains a strong picture - shot on the same set as the original, no less. The climactic reveal of the monster offers rather impressive makeup effects for its time, and the vibrant colors really pop in high definition.

The last of the classic Universal monster movies, 1954’s Creature from the Black Lagoon, has always been a personal favorite. Although the movie itself may not be as strong as some of its precursors, Gill-man - the half-man/half-fish monster played by Ben Chapman (on land) and Ricou Browning (underwater) - is an undeniably cool character. Unlike most of the Universal classics, which were rich in Gothic atmosphere, Creature’s plot still feels contemporary. Gill-man is transplanted from the Amazon to civilization in America in its two sequels: 1955's Revenge of the Creature and 1956's The Creature Walks Among Us.

Creature from the Black Lagoon has the distinction of being the first 3D film to be shot underwater. Universal went above and beyond by including the 3D versions of the original Creature and Revenge of the Creature. (The third installment was not made for 3D.) A far cry from the crummy, old red-and-blue glasses, these have been upgraded to modern 3D technology - but you'll need a 3D TV and Blu-ray player to watch them. 2D versions are also included. (There was initially a manufacturing error with the 3D version of Revenge, but Universal swiftly implemented a replacement disc program, and the issue should be resolved on new copies.)

Each subset of the collection offers special features centering on the legacy of its respective monster and more. Several informative documentaries and audio commentaries are present as well. There aren't any new extras, but it's helpful to have everything in one convenient place alongside all of the films. The box set is rounded out by a 48-page booklet that provides context about each of the monsters and the talented people who brought them to life, accompanied by vintage ads and images.

Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection is a must-own release for any horror fan. Several of the films are, remarkably, more than 80 years old, but they still hold up, with the high-definition transfers giving them new life. Some have fared better than others over the years, but even the lesser entries remain fun. With runtimes averaging around 75 minutes, each picture is an easily digestible slice of spooky entertainment; a perfect way to set the mood during the Halloween season. With Universal's “Dark Universe” failing to take off after The Mummy, the studio execs ought to revisit these timeless classics before attempting the inevitable next reboot.

Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection is available now on Blu-ray and DVD via Universal.