Hollywood's early black and white horror films were the best for conjuring up intrigue and fear. Fox's Horror Classics Collection is at the top of the list. Making their debut on DVD, the 3-disc collection includes The Lodger (1942), Hangover Square (1945) and The Undying Monster (1942). Interestingly, it was Vincent Price who narrated this tales on the radio before they were made into movies. The Lodger, is considered a superior thriller to the silent Jack €˘the €˘Ripper fable originally directed by Hitchcock back in 1927. Hangover Square has a legion of fans, making the movie one of Fox's most requested titles for DVD release.

Director John Brahm, who made more than 36 films or television productions (many with Alfred Hitchcock) over 31 years, was superb at layering every scene with suspicion and red herrings. Most everyone seems a suspect, and even more are slightly off-kilter.

Credit for these chillers must also go to the cinematographers - in this case Lucien Ballard and Joseph LaShelle - who worked their craft exceptionally well using dark shadows and just the right lighting to create terror. Of course none of the films would have impact without the great cast members including Laird Cregar, George Sanders, Merle Oberon, Cedric Hardwicke, and Linda Darnell.

There are some great bonus features on the DVD including commentaries from film historians, cast members and authors and the segment on Laird Cregar alone is worth getting this collection, especially if you are a fan of early horror movies.

The Lodger

This remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1927 silent film about Jack the Ripper, and based on Marie Belloc Lowndes's book, was very well done. In addition to the terror plot, the scenes of London's Victorian actress Kitty Langley (Merle Oberon) performing are light-hearted with wonderful costumes, which provide a great counter balance to the drama. She even surprised the director when she pooh-poohed her stand in and did a can-can herself. Everyone was later surprised when Merle Oberon actually married the film's cinematographer, Lucien Ballard.

As one woman after another is murdered, Slade (Laird Cregar) a mysterious man checks into the boarding house where Kitty lives. As Ellen (Sara Allgood) the owner of the house, shows Slade his room, he confesses he's out a lot at night. "I enjoy the streets at night," he says.

The Undying Monster

Adapted from Jessie Douglas Kerruish's novel, The Undying Monster (1942) is another early picture about the myth that a man can become a werewolf and turn into a wolf late at night and stalk victims. The Hammond family lives in a gated English country estate. While all seems normal on the surface, the family has actually been dealing with suspected "ghosts" in the house and even worse, that there are rumors of werewolves in the family history.

The starlet of this film is Heather Angel who plays Helga Hammond. When late-night murders of victims being attached by something vicious increase, Scotland Yard inspector Robert Curtis (James Ellison) shows up to investigate. John Howard has the interesting but unsurprising role of Helga's brother Oliver.

Hangover Square

George Harvey Bone (Laird Cregar) is a classical composer living in Hangover Square in London and suffering from periods of blackouts, disillusionments and dizziness. When Sir Henry Chapman (Alan Napier) invites George to finish a piece of music, George is ecstatic. When Sir Henry leaves, his daughter Barbara (Faye Marlowe) stays behind to be with George and he tells her he doesn't know how he spent the night on the streets.

Photos © Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Review of The Lodger

Review of The Undying Monster

Review of Hangover Square