Inner Sanctum Mysteries Complete Movie Collection (Calling Dr. Death / Weird Woman / The Frozen Ghost / Pillow of Death / Dead Man's Eyes / Strange Confession) DVD
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Universal Studios
EAN: 0025193108524
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Item Dimensions: 35
Label: Universal Studios
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 1.0EnglishSubtitledFrenchSubtitled
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
MPN: D31085D
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Universal Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: September 19, 2006
Running Time: 379 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios
Theatrical Release Date: June 01, 1945
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Includes:Calling On Dr. DeathWeird WomanDead Man's EyesThe Frozen GhostStrange ConfessionPillow Of DeathFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: HORROR Rating: NR UPC: 025193108524 Manufacturer No: 31085
Amazon.com:
"This is the Inner Sanctum...." And this is the world of B-movies, where Hollywood studios churned out entertaining little numbers to fill out an evening back in the Golden Age. Universal's Inner Sanctum series, released in 1943-45, was inspired by the successful radio show of the same title. They're gathered on Inner Sanctum Mysteries: The Complete Movie Collection, a fun grouping of a minor cinematic achievement.
All six films star the phlegmatic Lon Chaney Jr., and most begin with a floating head in the crystal ball, welcoming us to the inner sanctum, "A strange, fantastic world, controlled by a mass of living, pulsating flesh... the mind." The vaguely supernatural promise of this grabby opening is rarely fulfilled by the movies, which tend to be acceptable murder mysteries with--despite the wacky titles--very little horror content. Chaney plays a man of some distinction (a professor in Weird Woman, famous mentalist in The Frozen Ghost, physician in Calling Dr. Death) who runs afoul of women (among them Evelyn Ankers and Patricia Morison) and murder. At some point in each movie he has some elaborate voice-over agony, making clear the connection to the radio series' interior monologue. The one-hour-and-change productions are handsome, considering their budget restrictions, and Universal's prints are well-preserved; the literacy of the writing is surprisingly high--although decent writing can't put much zip into the proceedings.
Weird Woman is probably the best of the bunch, an adaptation of Fritz Leiber's novel Conjure Wife (later filmed as Burn, Witch, Burn!). Chaney is an expert on superstition who marries a voodoo-obsessed woman, whose spells might be responsible for his rapid professional rise. The influence of Cat People is as strong as the source novel. Calling Dr. Death, the first in the series, is duller, with a hypnotism-minded Chaney bedeviled by a wanton wife who conveniently dies under mysterious circumstances. Dead Man's Eyes and the amazingly-titled Pillow of Death are more fun, the former a variation on the old eye-transplant story and the latter a whodunit with lawyer Chaney accused of his wife's murder (the supernatural touch this time: séances).
Strange Confession has Chaney as an honest chemist battling an evil pharmaceutical tycoon (J. Carrol Naish), and The Frozen Ghost combines two horror staples, the unstable mentalist and the wax museum. It's just crazy enough to be entertaining, even if there's no ghost (and hardly any freezing). All in all, the DVD set is a good look at Universal's second-tier output of the era. And then there's Chaney, whose jowly steadfastness can become weirdly fascinating if you watch a few of these close together. Universal put him hard to work after the success of 1941's The Wolf Man, and alongside his monster-movie excursions and his singular triumph in Of Mice and Men, the Inner Sanctum pictures represent Chaney's best moment as a leading man. Despite his limitations, he'll always have his spot in the Universal galaxy. --Robert Horton
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
Besides the Frankenstein, Dracula, Wolf Man and Mummy movies Universal is well known for, they also released six films in their Inner Sanctum series, all starring Lon Chaney Jr. Universal has done a very good job on the film transfers to DVD. As for the films themselves, some are better than others but I found them all enjoyable as "B" thrillers with "Weird Woman" the best of the bunch, followed by "Dead Man's Eyes." I hope Universal puts out more of their 1940's "B" movies on DVD.
Rating:  -
I'm a fan of old B films that Hollywood cranked out by the hundreds in the 30's and 40's. The Innersanctum series made by Universal is imo some of the best. Lon Chaney Jr who stars in all 6 of the series was a very underrated actor in his day. He seemed to live in the shadow of his famous father not to mention the burden of having the same name. His alcoholism might be attributed to this. Despite all of this I think he carved his own niche in films, first with his brillant portrayal of Lennie in ... Read More
Rating: -
Inner Sanctum Mysteries Complete Movie Collection (Calling Dr. Death / Weird Woman / The Frozen Ghost / Pillow of Death / Dead Man's Eyes / Strange Confession)
Scott- "The Perfectionist"
For 6 hours of concentrated and blissful escape into noir worlds of the past, I highly recommend this collection. Lon Chaney Jr. is at his best, he is backed up by some knockout actresses, the sets and backgrounds leave nothing to be desired and the transfers to DVD are excellent. I get bored very ... Read More
Rating: -
This is a great compilation of 6 shows featuring Lon Chaney jr in the roles. He as expected it fantastic. The shows were just as I had expected in content but I was surprised at how good they looked on the screen. I think they were better resolution than watching them on the big screen at the movies. Anyway, I was pleased with the purchase of pre Twilight Zone type material. A good transition from radio, too.
Rating: -
Universal finally decided to put all six B-grade low budgets on DVD. According to the superb INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES: BEHIND THE CREAKING DOOR by Martin Grams (also available on Amazon.com), Universal created a series of six low budget pictures with Lon Chaney Jr. in the lead. Evelyn Ankers was pregnant in one movie, so the film in which she stands behind a sofa and other concealments was done on purpose. The studio would have let her go if the heads had known. Contrary to popular belief, Lon Chaney ... Read More
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