On Blu-ray: The Bermuda Depths (1978), The Isle of the Dead (1945), and Doctor X (1932)

I recently enjoyed a trio of horror/fantasy films new to Blu-ray from Warner Archive. While they are dramatically different stories, they each evoke suspense and mystery in intriguingly quirky ways. 

Bermuda Depths (1978) 

Watching and then re-watching this Rankin/Bass television production (yes, the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Rankin/Bass) was an interesting experience in the power of outside influence in changing perspective. I went into it expecting a monster movie, and was a bit disappointed to find a more dreamy fantasy with hints of romance and horror. While I enjoyed the beauty of the cinematography and the appealing cast led by Burl Ives, Carl Weathers and Connie Sellecca, it left me a little cold. Then I read a few fan reviews and I was stunned to find that many viewers had first seen the film as children and had been haunted and mesmerized by it ever since. Their experience watching the movie was so dramatically different from mine that I decided to give it another chance. Watching it again with a more childlike sense of wonder, I caught a bit of its magic, not as strong as those who saw it when they were young, but enough to appreciate its mysterious appeal. 

Special features on the disc include an international theatrical version of the film, and an audio commentary by Amanda Reyes and Lance Vaughan that effectively captures the wonder of this film that captivated so many young viewers.

Isle of the Dead (1945) 

A lesser known entry among the horror films produced by Val Lewton, this one is a slow burn. It doesn’t offer thrills until its last moments, but this chiller about an island isolated by quarantine and haunted by fear of dark spirits keeps you on edge. Elements of Greek folklore give the story of a peasant who suspects a young woman of possessing evil powers added texture. Ellen Drew is appealingly grounded as the suspected malevolent presence and Boris Karloff, Katherine Emery, and Skelton Knaggs are charismatic stand-outs in a uniformly fascinating cast. 

Special features on the disc include commentary by Dr. Steve Haberman and a theatrical trailer.

Doctor X (1932) 

It always astounds me how dramatically a great restoration can change the experience of watching a movie. The new 4k restoration of this two-strip Technicolor chiller is a perfect example of the way it elevates the experience. I’d always looked upon this horror flick directed by Michael Curtiz as an amusing enough comedy-tinged time killer, but a sharper image and better color composition brought out the horrific elements, making it a much moodier and ghoulish experience. I was mesmerized by moments I’d never noticed before, like a blue-green shot of the moon or the rosy hue of Fay Wray’s complexion in contrast to the monster that menaces her. 

An especially robust selection of special features includes a separately filmed black and white version of the film which has been unavailable for thirty years, the featurette The Horror Films of Michael Curtiz, a before/after restoration reel from UCLA, commentaries by Scott MacQueen and Alan K. Rode, and a theatrical trailer.

Many thanks to Warner Archive for providing a copies of the films for review.

On Blu-ray: Cowboys and Dinosaurs in Valley of the Gwangi (1969)

Cowboys and dinosaurs in a movie together? In The Valley of Gwangi (1969) the combination is as entertaining as it sounds. It is the last dinosaur film of effects designer Ray Harryhausen, and showcases some of his best work, in addition to being a rousing action flick. The film is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Archive.

In turn of the century Mexico, Wild West showrunner T.J. Breckinridge (Gila Golan) is in desperate need of a big attraction to build up ticket sales. Former show stuntman and estranged paramour Tuck (James Franciscus) wants her to settle down with him. Though their relationship is strained, they are still passionate about each other. However, T.J. is determined to make the show a success, and when a tiny horse comes into her possession, her hope for riches is renewed.

Tuck becomes acquainted with Professor Bromley (Laurence Naismith) a paleontologist, who declares the unusual horse a prehistoric breed. When he learns the animal has come from the mysterious Forbidden Valley, the scientist is eager to go there to look for additional specimens. Tuck envisions finding more fantastic creatures for T.J. so she can make her fortune and retire with him. He tricks the blind gypsy woman Tia Zorina (Freda Jackson) into telling him the location of this mysterious place, ignoring her warning to avoid the area and return the horse or face ill fortune.

When the horse is stolen to be returned to the Forbidden Valley, T.J. thinks Tuck is behind it. She follows him with the men from her show to the Valley, where they find more dangerous creatures than they had bargained for. Though they fight for their lives, their greed never lessens, causing chaos in the Valley and beyond.

Gwangi had originally been conceived by Willis O'Brien, the pioneering effects designer responsible for the creatures in King Kong (1933). He had also been Harryhausan's mentor and thus inherited the project when O'Brien failed to produce it before his death in 1962. Despite a dramatically different setting, the story has a lot of parallels to King Kong, carrying on the theme of greed blinding humans to their own best interests.

The story takes a while to truly get rolling. While appealing actors and a brisk pace keep the action riveting enough in the first half of the film, it becomes truly special when the group first encounters the creatures of the Forbidden Valley. 

Harryhausen's prehistoric figures are marvels of detail and emotion. In addition to making the dinosaurs seem real, he manages to telegraph their thoughts, showing them as fully-realized characters in moments of confusion, anger and fear. It is partly this attention to the creatures' inner life that makes his figures so timeless.

In an amusing element of the story, Dr. Bromley is aware of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures,  while the less educated cowboys are not. Completely baffled by what they are seeing, they think they've come across a plucked ostrich or a lizard who has grown out of control. To be fair, that actually makes a lot more sense than part of the earth existing in a time warp.

It's a fun adventure, made special by its mixing of genres and helped along by a rousing western score.

While there are a few brief moments in the beginning where the film seems fuzzy, overall the image is sharp and clean, with the Technicolor presented to striking effect. Special features on the disc include the featurette Return to the Valley, which includes commentary from Ray Harryhausen.

Many thanks to Warner Archive for providing a copy of the film for review. To order, visit The Warner Archive Collection.

On Blu-ray: Stop-Motion and Skin in When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)

While fantasy movies with stop-motion creatures have a reputation as being for kids, that has not always been the case. The Hammer Films production When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth (1970) is an example of a more adult take on the genre, at least in the original version, before US studios made a few edits to make it family friendly. Now the uncut UK version of the film is available on Blu-ray from Warner Archive.

One Million Years B.C. (1966), featuring Raquel Welch in a fur bikini, was a hugely successful British production. It inspired Hammer to produce another dinosaurs and skin adventure fantasy. Though this take on cave life can drag, impressive dinosaurs, attractive performers and an amusing script made up entirely of an invented "cave language," make this an entertaining flick.

There is a loose plot involving Sanna (Victoria Vetri), who is about to be given up for a ritual sacrifice, when she is rescued by Tara (Robin Hawdon), a man from another tribe. A coincidental celestial change makes the old tribe pursue Sanna, certain she has brought on trouble with her escape. This light framework holds together a heavy helping of dinosaur scenes, a cast of actors hired to be eye candy and a sprinkling of sex scenes.

Effects designer Jim Danforth's dinosaurs still hold up. He gives them a sense of danger and play, and they are part of several still appealing action scenes. While these figures dominate the film, in some respects it is more accurate to call this movie Hot Bods of the Prehistoric Age or maybe Sex and Dinosaurs. All of these cave people seem to work out, and their glistening, tanned torsos and scant loin cloths and bikini tops are presented without subtlety. 

I've often noticed a distinct youth quake vibe in British movies of the sixties, whether or not they take place in that time. It isn't the same as in American films attempting to tap into youth culture, which were often so literal, and tended to come off like a dad trying to learn slang from a book so he could seem hip to his kids. The Brits had a way of weaving the feel of the times into whatever they made, so whether it is Alexander the Great or When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth, you feel like you are watching a real troop of hippies, and you can't help but wonder what the parties were like after hours.

There are some draggy spots where everyone's just running around screaming "Akita!" "Neeco!" while the musical blares away, but you can generally count on a spontaneous dino fight or sexy cave people clinch to liven things up before it gets too painful.

This is one case where subtitles are essential, because the Hammer cave people language is actually transcribed for your reading pleasure. Apparently there are around a couple dozen words in this lexicon, so it doesn't take long to feel like you're getting fluent in cave talk.

American studios imported the film with some scenes of brief nudity edited out, though none of the more violent images, hoping to reach a family audience. The version on this release fully restores all scenes.

The picture quality is almost too good for a flick of this genre. Sometimes the crackles and dirt are part of the fun, but at least you can get a good look at the dinosaurs and company.

There are no special features on the disc.

Many thanks to Warner Archive for providing a copy of the film for review. To order, visit The Warner Archive Collection.