Actors: Vincent Price, Reggie Rymal, Frank Lovejoy, Carolyn Jones, Charles Bronson
Directors: Andre De Toth
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: October 1, 2013
Run Time: 88 minutes
Film: 5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars
I remember the very first time that I ever saw “House of Wax”, I believe it was also my first introduction to the amazing Vincent Price. That was many many years ago and yet watching the film today, it is still as amazing as it was over 20 years ago. “House of Wax” was released in 1953 and was the first color 3D feature released by a major studio and grossed (in adjusted figures) over $400 million dollars. This film is celebrating it’s 60th anniversary and Warner Bros is releasing it for the first time ever in 3D as it was originally meant to be seen in theaters. Highly recommend for any classic horror and Vincent Price fan.
Official Synopsis: Professor Henry Jarrod (Price) is the owner and figure sculptor in a wax museum whose specialty is historic figures. When he and his business partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) quarrel over the choice of exhibits displayed, Burke suggests it would be more profitable to burn down the museum in order to obtain the insurance money. As they fight, the museum burns and Jarrod is left for dead. It’s not until much later at a new museum that the fate of Jarrod and the mystery of how the lifelike waxed figures are created becomes gruesomely evident.
The film marked Vincent Price”s first major starring horror role and a real landmark point for his career. It also co-starred a young Charles Bronson (that’s right same guy from “Death Wish”). So this film just wasn’t a typical convert to 3D to cash in release, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Imaging delivered a brand new 4K scan, a full restoration and a perfect 3D image alignment. It really shows and looks quite amazing in 3D for a film celebrating 60 years. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track also works very well. Warner also included as a bonus, the 2D version of the film as well. This also marks the first time that “House of Wax” is being released on Blu-ray.
The special features are pretty decent. There is all new featurette: “House of Wax: Unlike Anything You’ve Seen Before”, which is a must watch for any fan. I was also really impressed that “Mystery of The Wax Museum”, the original 1933 film on which “House of Wax” is based was also included as a bonus feature. “Round-the-Clock Premiere: Coast Hails House of Wax” looks at the premiere of the film. Lastly, there is an expert commentary track included as well as a theatrical trailer.
The most successful 3D movie of the 1950s, House of Wax, comes to 3D Blu-ray™ for the very first time on October 1st! http://amzn.to/18TEJ1q