The Lugosi Enterprises DVDs
There’s
been a lot of curiosity on classic horror internet forums about the Bela
Lugosi Presents discs coming out from Lugosi Enterprises, the company
headed by Lugosi’s son, Bela Lugosi, Jr. When it was revealed that the
first titles to be released were going to be THE DEVIL BAT and BOWERY AT
MIDNIGHT – the question became how Lugosi Enterprises would manage to sell
oft-seen and readily available public domain films. The consensus was that the prints
would have to be top notch and the supplements filled with gems rarely, if
ever, seen. Would the DVDs
meet the challenge and satisfy the expectations of hopeful fans? Or
would they confirm the opinions of the dubious that there'd be little
interest in yet another presentation of THE DEVIL BAT and BOWERY AT
MIDNIGHT? Commentaries for both discs were
finished at the end of 2001, and fans expected the discs released
in Spring 2002, but when nothing came, they waited week after week for
news of their release, eager to hear of a sighting in stores or on an
order form on the web. Well, the DVDs have finally
arrived.
What strikes one immediately is the high-class design and
presentation. The matching
covers by Kerry Gammill employ original poster artwork, pseudo
gold-leaf lettering, a classic Dracula hypnotizing pose, and a flavorful
use of fonts. Michael Price, author of FORGOTTEN HORRORS, provides
entertaining back copy notes that seem, however, abridged from a lengthier
text. The amray case holds an insert of a mini-poster different than the
poster pictured on the front, and should the series be successful, it will
be a delight to collect these and display them in small frames or as part
of a larger piece.
The menu design by Mindsight is top-notch (particularly on THE
DEVIL BAT!) and each film is divided into ten chapters. A youthful-looking
Bela Lugosi Jr. introduces the general series, promising digitally
remastered and enhanced presentations, sourced from the best available
film elements, of many films never before available on the home video and
DVD market.
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