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The Cat and The Canary (1927) Eureka Masters of Cinema Limited Edition Blu-ray Review: OUTSTANDING!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 ส.ค. 2024
- #thecatandthecanary #silentcinema #horrorfilms #universalhorror #eureka #bluray
I review Eureka’s first ever USA Blu-ray release which is of the 1927 masterpiece THE CAT AND THE CANARY. Paul Leni came to Universal and gave us the founding film of what became Universal Horror. All of the aspects of the classic horror films are already here but enlivened by a never ending series of inspired cinematic technique, prowling camera work, expressive angles and a timeless sense of quirky humor.
The film’s story is so embedded in pop culture that its influence extends to the various remakes but essentially all haunted house and murder mysteries. The line from Canary to Scooby Doo is clearly visible. It remains a timeless delight and a perfect gateway to silent cinema for newcomers and even children as well.
Past restorations from Blackhawk films and Photoplay Productions have been the only proper versions of the film on DVD but otherwise one is confronted with the usual depressing variety of public domain options of varying to downright atrocious quality at times. The Museum of Modern Art completed their restoration in 2022 and now after two years wait, we have this disc of perfection from Eureka. This disc is stuffed with hours extras, fantastic booklet, amazing new art and perfect disc encoding…all found in a release being sold at $20 and under.
This is a disc long awaited, a rare truly perfect physical media release, one of the essential silent classics now viewable in astounding quality, beyond affordable and worth your hard earned money and an amazing calling card for Eureka entering the USA market.
This is a candidate for disc of the year and one of the finest physical media releases of all time. If you have a player you need this disc. If you call yourself a horror fan you need this disc.
Order from Eureka UK directly:
eurekavideo.co...
USA orders:
www.orbitdvd.c...
www.target.com...
www.walmart.co...
00:00 Intro Goof
06:40 Film and release discussion
48:32 Eureka 2024 Blu-ray Release and Picture Quality
49:55 Wear and damage plus public domain editions
52:51 Audio Quality, new 5.1 score
56:29 Limited Edition Packaging, Slipcover, Artwork and Booklet
01:00:57 Supplemental Features: FULLY LOADED!!!
01:07:02 Final Summary: ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL ONE OF THE FINEST PHYSICAL MEDIA RELEASES OF ALL TIME DISC OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE
![[UNCUT] The Loyal Pin ปิ่นภักดิ์ EP.3 (3/4)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/733LDfWIyc8/mqdefault.jpg)
This is a candidate for disc of the year and one of the finest physical media releases of all time. If you have a player you need this disc. If you call yourself a horror fan you need this disc. Order from any of these links to support the label directly in the UK or indie stores in the US and the cheapest retailer prices are currently at Walmart and Target:
Order from Eureka UK directly:
eurekavideo.co.uk/?s=Paul+Leni
USA orders:
www.orbitdvd.com/products/the-cat-and-the-canary-1927-eureka-us-2-disc-limited-edition?_pos=9&_sid=16d5beecd&_ss=r
www.target.com/p/the-cat-and-the-canary-blu-ray/-/A-92100068
www.walmart.com/ip/The-Cat-and-the-Canary-Blu-ray-Masters-of-Cinema-Horror/5424356624
I haven't had such a satisfying feeling about adding a Blu-ray to my collection of horror movies since Warner's Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde (1931)🤤
Thank you so much for this review! (The beginning made me laugh my Scottish ass off) I'm Fiona Watson, co-creator of the video essay you're so kind about. I'm a huge Paul Leni fan so I was overjoyed when we got this job. David Cairns is also my husband and a few years ago we were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to do an essay on The Man Who Laughs for Masters Of Cinema. More people need to be made aware of this amazing director. Once again, than you so much for your hilarious, wildly enthusiastic review of this magnificent film. It was an honour to work on the release.
@@monsterfromid66 Aw shucks, thank you so much!! Your efforts are truly appreciated and anyone who picks up this release can tell it was a labor of love for everyone involved.
Admittedly I spend extra time on silent film reviews to try and convince newcomers especially when it’s a special film like this.
I’m particularly glad you liked the intro! I spent so long on it wondering if anyone would get such a quirky bit. It’s so rare for me to encounter a perfectly executed physical media release that I had to make something special.
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader ♥
I count myself amongst the many classic cinema fans who enjoy silent films, and want them to be preserved, and boutique labels, like Eureka, are doing excellent work on restoring and bringing silent film masterpieces to life.
It's strange that I shied away from watching The Cat and The Canary in its entirety. I couldn't quite put my finger on the reasons why. I had seen small clips of it floating around on TH-cam and other places but wasn't quite convinced to give the film its proper due and watch it in full.
That being said, you've certainly convinced me to give the film its proper chance, and I'll be buying a copy. Another great video, my good sir.
The people from Eureka should reward you with someting for this wonderful review. Although we all know you prepared this only out of your love for the great movies and your generous eagerness to share with the world this outstanding piece of media. Congrats.
@@general1362 thank you!
One starts to wonder exactly what do you have to do to ever be considered to at the very least get an occasional review copy of something…😂
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader Indeed!🤣
@@general1362 I would’ve thought making my own goofy silent film score would’ve done it…apparently not…🤪
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader So saad
I have this Eureka edition, haha! Great to know that you endorsed this one!
I finally got a copy of this, thank you for the excellent overview and video.
Is the tinting accurate?
Leni's early demise was one of cinema's greatest losses. The Last Warning is even more technically impressive than Cat. Who aside from Murnau was moving around the camera so freely in the 1920's? He seemed more comfortable working in Hollywood, and with genre conventions, than other GE directors, so he had the most commercial potential.
Let's hope his Chan film gets found at some point.
The color tinting is accurate.
And I fully agree with you regarding Paul Leni.
@@lamentate07 as far as I know, the tenting is accurate because I believe they had at the very least original tinting notes to reference. Also the past official restorations followed similar tinting so this I think is the most refined version yet in that aspect.
It's always great to see enthusiasm for the silent classics. This is such a playful film. You can definitely see how Paul Leni was a huge influence on James Whale's work in and out of the horror genre.
With all the crap and mediocre releases we get from major studio labels desecrating classic films it's always nice to see great boutique labels like Eureka presenting classics (from a different era) with the upmost quality in all regards. Only way this could be improved upon is with a 2.0 track (as you mentioned) and a UHD release. Which isn't out of the picture because they recently did one for Dr. Caligari and if this sells enough units it may become a consideration. Fingers crossed for Nosferatu as well.
Great in-depth analysis and thought. I just wish more people on YT put as much effort deconstructing an early masterpiece like this. Once again, thanks for your hard work and expertise with this well-deserved treasure.
One of my fav movies...i cant keep up with all you wonderfull nerds...
Greetings.
In the course of the last two years, during which time I've gotten to experience the full brilliance of The Man Who Laughs, The Last Warning, Waxworks, and The Cat and the Canary - all of them on Eureka Blu-ray releases, Paul Leni has effectively become one of my all-time favorite directors. And The Man Who Laughs has not only become one of my favorite silent films of all time, it's one of my favorite films, full stop. For this reason, the mind simply boggles at the prospect of what could have been if Leni had gotten to direct the 1931 production of Dracula. Browning's Dracula is a wonderful work of gothic horror, but I think Leni's version would have upped the gothic ante by employing more expressionistic aesthetics all around, and the photography would have been imbued with a dynamism that is sorely lacking in Browning's version. And with Veidt playing the bloodsucking count, it's hard not to think this would have resulted in absolute cinematic perfection - if such a thing even exists.
Great video! Love the opening montage (having also suffered through the old dvd)! Did you do the piano accompaniment? Funny parody of mickey mousing scores!
@@nealkurz6503 yes that was me banging away on a piano having no idea what to do except trying to sound like a really goofy silent score you might find on an old random public domain release.
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader As a very minor (piano) player in the silent film accompaniment firmament (I did scores for the old David Shepard DVDs of “Captain Fracasse, The Parson’s Widow, Monte Cristo, Michael & some of the George Melies set) , I laughed out loud at some of the stuff you did!
@@nealkurz6503 wow, thank you that is high praise! I was afraid it wouldn’t come out well at first (because I have no clue how to play a piano) but after much trial and error I managed to stitch this together.
Every time you post a video my wallet gets a wee bit lighter. Thank you?!?!
@@outerlimits7527 trust me I understand completely because my wallet is drained by every announcement and eBay search and bookstore and comic store and record store and site sale….
Where is this 20 bones? Looks like it is closer to 30 from what I’m seeing.
Walmart and Target still have it for $21: www.walmart.com/ip/The-Cat-and-the-Canary-Blu-ray-Masters-of-Cinema-Horror/5424356624
@@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader looks like it is sold out on Target but still available at Walmart. Thanks!