The Man They Could Not Hang (1939) - Columbia Essential Classics Region 2 PAL

The first thing to say...The quality of all 6 films is very good indeed, THE BLACK ROOM being particularly "BluRay". The other 5 are all probably better than when they were in the cinema! As I wrote for "Inner Sanctum", if you know roughly what to expect and your sights aren't set too high, there is no way this collection will disapoint. Two of the films are excellent and show us what a really good actor Karloff was - "The Black Room" and "The Devil Commands" - my favourites. "Before I hang" tends to be a bit slow paced and wordy, but well worth watching, as are "Nine Lives" and "The Man they could not Hang" - strictly progammers but done with some style and the man himself as always, worth watching. I have to be honest and say I haven't watched "Boogie Man" - A comedy? like "Arsenic and Old Lace"?? I may see this out of curiosity and being a completist. VFM? Definitley and EUREKA have done a wonderful presentation as well as a fascinating booklet with full cast lists and details and background to each film. Highly recomended........A FEW DAYS LATER!....I watched BOOGIE MAN and sadly I was right in my concerns. It is a comedy and I just didn't find it funny. However Karloff and Lorre are a joy, so good to see them play out of character (well Karloff anyway) and (Miss) Jeff Donnell is a joy. It's OK and many will enjoy it, just not my cup of tea. Excellent quality and Subs.

Although the films that Boris Karloff made for Columbia don’t match up to his classic Universal roles, they were nevertheless well made and tightly produced on a low budget with an average running time a little over 60 minutes. Karloff, displaying several different appearances, appears in four “mad scientist” roles (sometimes starting experiments with the best of intentions!) in tales that include communicating with the dead (“The Devil Commands”) and taking revenge on those responsible for hanging him (“The Man They Could Not Hang”). He plays a dual role as twin brothers in the historic thriller “Black Room” which leaves “The Boogie Man Will Get You” as the dud in the package, a very unfunny spoof in which almost everyone overacts apart from a rather subdued Peter Lorre.All six movies are beautifully restored and the set is accompanied by a 48 page booklet featuring detailed information on the movies and an account of Karloff’s association with Columbia.

I have to say I purchased this box set and I was really disappointed.The films are all great except The Boogie man will get you which is poor.But I have to say there was no real big improvement in picture quality from the dvd collection of same films.Also the extras are disappointing as well.Your better off just purchasing the dvd collection and save yourself a few quid.

THE LAST COUPLE OF SCENES IN TMWNL ARE BLURRY,DON'T LOOK LIKE REST OF MOVIE WHICH IS CRYSTAL CLEAR,THE REST OF THE MOVIES DONT LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL DVD,IF AT ALL,EXCEPT FOR THE BLACK ROOM WHICH IS TOP NOTCH,AS REGARDS THE STANDARD OF THE FILMS THEY ARE ALL EXCELLENT EXCEPT TBMWGY WHICH IS SILLY AND DOS'NT WORK.

Excellent set, the only let down in this package is the final film as it is a bad attempt at comedy other than that it is well worth the having.

6 FILMS FROM BORIS ON BLU-RAY THAT I HAVE WANTED FOR YEARS AND I CAN WATCH ON MY 4K TV , I JUST LOVE WATCHING THEM ANY TIME I WANT TO SEE THEM . LOVE THEM .

these mad doctor karloff pictures were a staple of my child hood, trying to make the Milwaukee channel come in at midnight, so really wanted to get these in the best condition to feel like 17 again. The prints are great as are the commentaries

A diverting bit of nonsense, but a classic and very easy to sit back and enjoy. This was free on Amazon Prime a while back.