Horror Classics, Vol. 3: The Bat/House on Haunted Hill

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In The Bat, top-billed Vincent Price brings his silky sinister elegance to the second remake of the hoary "old dark house" stage play, but the real star of the show is Agnes Moorehead as an eccentric mystery writer who decides to pull off the million-dollar bank heist and the steel-clawed killer known only as "The Bat." Price's devious doctor is but one of a rogues gallery of suspects that include a Johnny-on-the-spot police detective, a chauffeur turned butler with a checkered past, and a housekeeper with echoes of Rebecca's Mrs. Danvers. Moorehead is a kick as the spirited author and makes the most of her expanded role, but fans of the early film productions (1926's The Bat and 1930's The Bat Whispers, both directed by Roland West) will be less forgiving of other changes, especially writer-director Crane Wilbur's decision to draw the story out over a succession of nights. Wilbur loses the tension and claustrophobia of the originals with handsome but airy photography, more appropriate to an episode of Perry Mason, and a rambling pace. Moorehead and Price bring a little spirit to the otherwise bland film, but not quite enough.

William Castle's gimmick-laden comic thriller House on Haunted Hill is not so much a horror movie as a fairground fun house come to life. Vincent Price stars as a deliciously silky millionaire married to a greedy gold digger (Carol Ohmart) who refuses to divorce him. When he turns his wife's idea for a haunted-house party into a contest--$10,000 to whoever can spend the night in "the only truly haunted house in the world"--it seems he may have found an alternative to divorce. Five strangers gather to test their stamina, Price hands each of them most delightfully twisted party favors ever imagined (loaded handguns, delivered in their own tiny coffins), and the spook show begins. Blood drips from the ceiling, zombielike apparitions float through rooms, severed heads and skeletons suddenly appear, and then a guest is found hanging in the stairwell. Full of screams and shocks and things that go bump in the night, House on Haunted Hill isn't particularly scary and often makes little sense, but, like a Halloween haunted house, the gag-laden spectacle of spook-show clichés is quite entertaining and Price makes a sardonic master of ceremonies. The original theatrical presentations featured a typically outrageous Castle-engineered gimmick: Emergo, which was nothing more than a skeleton that appeared to fly out of the screen and over the audience on a guide wire. --Sean Axmaker

Description

This double feature DVD offers two crime-tinged horror classics from fantastic prints in letterboxed widescreen editions! First up, The Bat, is actually the fourth filmed version of the Mary Roberts Rinehart-Avery Hopwood stage chestnut! The Bat comes to DVD courtesy of the Roan Group in a widescreen version for discerning cineastes! Agnes Moorehead plays mystery novelist Cornelia Van Gorder, whose remote mansion is the scene for all sorts of diabolical goings-on. The "maguffin" is a million dollars' worth of securities, hidden away somewhere in the huge and foreboding estate. Then, legendary cinematic carnival barker William Castleâ€™s original (and superior) House on Haunted Hillcomes to DVD in a letterboxed widescreen edition! House on Haunted Hill stars Vincent Price as a haunting gent (you're surprised?) who owns a sinister mansion on a haunted hill. He offers several of his enemies $10,000 eachâ€"if they agree to spend the night in the crumbling old mansion. Will they survive? Watch this exclusive digitally mastered DVD release from the Roan group and find out.

Customer Reviews:

Two Vincent Price Chillers For The Price Of One!.......2004-05-25

This DVD produced by "The Roan Group" features two of my favorite Vincent Price horror/suspense films: "The Bat" and "House On Haunted Hill", both of which were released in movie theaters the same year (1959).

"The Bat" is a creaky old-dark-house kind of tale, and stars Price along with the great Agnes Moorehead. Although not exactly nail-bitingly intense, it still emits a great deal of entertainment (including several unintentionally funny moments -- or at least I *think* they're unintentional). But, no matter. This movie is still very fun all the way around. And Miss Moorehead is always a treat on screen.

"House On Haunted Hill" is a William Castle-directed feature, which automatically means a fun outing at the movies! Castle's "gimmick" in movie theaters for this film was called "Emergo", which entailed a "flying skeleton" jumping out at the audience at just the proper moment in the film. Must have been pretty cool for kids back in '59!

Each film on this disc is shown in Widescreen format, with the original Mono soundtrack. And the picture quality looks A-OK. Very pleasing indeed (especially considering the fact neither film has been enhanced for 16x9 televisions). Aspect Ratio for each of these black-and-white films on this DVD is 1.66:1. The audio for each movie is 1.0 Dolby Digital (Mono).

The DVD is double-sided (therefore no disc art), with one movie residing on each side. There are no extra bonus features at all. But each movie does include several chapter breaks. There's a Chapter List included on a paper insert inside the DVD's Keep Case.

These two late-'50s flicks are essential viewing for any serious (or even casual) Vincent Price buff.

FOR EXTRAS LOOK ELSEWHERE.......2004-05-06

There are no extras on this Roan DVD, not even a menu. If you need extras, do not purchase this. If you want see two movies that are sharp and crisp then look no further. The sound is good. I heard no hiss. Both movies are interesting and well acted.

Double Feature for Fans of Castle and Price........2002-01-30

The Bat:A mystery Writer (Angus Moorehead) and her housemates(Darla Hood & Lenita Lane) rents a creppy old manison. Where a Serial Killer knows as the Bat is stalking them.

House on Haunted Hill:When five strangers (Richard Long, Alan Marshal, Carolyn Craig, Elisha Cook Jr. & Julie Mithchum) are Invivted by a Millionaire (Vincent Price) and his mean-spirited wife (Carol Ohmart) to the rule of the deal is:If the five stay for the night, they will get $10,000, if they survived the night in this Haunted House.

Directed by Crane Wilbur made a watchable Suspense Thriller. Price plays a Doctor here, not as Sound as House on Haunted Hill, that one was much more Better. DVD`s has a good non-anamorphic Widescreen (1.66:1) transfer and a fine Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono Sound. Grade:B. Directed by William Castle (The Tinger), Well the Best is House on Haunted Hill, the format of the film is a non-anamorphic Widescreen (1.66:1) transfer (Not the Original 1.85:1 Transfer) and a clear Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono Sound. Grade:B+.

Creepy, nostalgic fun,fun, fun!.......2000-12-16

Two fun "Creepy old house" flicks, from that old paragon of cheaply produced films, Allied Artists, (formerly Monogram),have been released on one DVD. "House on Haunted Hill", the better-known of the two, is a now-legendary William Castle opus, full of cheap shocks, including the infamous vat of acid in a wine cellar, an unsuccessful murder plot (with a twist), campy performances, little credibility, and is a real "party" film. "The Bat", while a little on the slow side, does have Vincent Price and the wonderful Agnes Moorehead. The woman did EVERYTHING well! The story line creaks, and is a little slow-going, but I always enjoyed it-mainly due to Agnes' performance. This was another childhood favorite of mine, along with "Haunted Hill", which used to run on "Million Dollar Movie" about 100 times in one week! The picture quality is excellent on both films (you can REALLY see how cheap the sets are), and if you're 40-something like myself, it will bring back memories of a mug of hot cocoa, "Melody" cookies, and an old black-and-white TV set with rabbit ears. My favorite part in "Haunted Hill"-Carolyn Craig runs shrieking through the house (her screams could wake the dead)-Alan Marshal knocks on Vincent Price's door, and asks, "Did you hear anything?" to which Vincent replies, "Organ music?"

Classic fun!.......2000-12-05

Roan Archival Entertainment has presented a series of consistently high-quality double featured DVDs. This one in particular is just one of those. THE BAT and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL are presented on opposite sides of the disc. Contrary to the description on this site, neither are (or ever were) in color. The sound qulaity for both pictures are exceptional. The widescreen framing is well rendered. The film elements for both are good, except for quite a bit of flecks on HOUSE and some film jumps on BAT. These flaws are not distracting, however. THE BAT has an exceptionally clear picture quality, with pleasant contrasts.

As for the quality of the films, they both are enjoyable for what they have to offer. THE BAT is a remake of the classic 1930 film THE BAT WHISPERS. This version stars Vincent Price and Agnes Moorehead (who 6 years later would get an Oscar nomination for HUSH..HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE). The film also has the final film performance of Darla Hood ("Darla" of the OUR GANG comedies of the 1930s). Contrary to the cover art, this is not a horror film. its actually more likened to an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" with Moorhead p[laying a mystery writer involved in a little murder mystery of her own. Vincent Price is pretty much wasted in this film. His role ends up being a thankless one, as one will observe. This film is nothing like the spook fest on the other side HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL. This minor film has developed quite a following. Its not difficult to see why with its cooky special effects and equally cooky script. This is full of surprises and unintentional dated laughs as the visitors to the house become pawns to Vincent Price's wicked games. William Castle directs in his usually manipulative style. This film will not be forgotton!

Please note: These films are available for purchase separately through Warner and Anchor Bay. If you are willing to give up extras, this edition will suit you just fine.

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