Best Universal Classic Horror Film Of All Time?

[Daemonia]

Originally Posted by vincenzo

The distributors last submitted the film in 2002 and requested a 15. It would easily pass with a lower rating today. Great opening scene but I find the film lumbers a bit afterwards.

Interestingly the original 1933 cinema release was rated 'A' without cuts.

That's odd, allowing the distributor to say what certificate they want! Does this happen often?

I know Vipco just pulled the trick of including 18 rated trailers to make the release an 18 overall. The Vipco DVD of Shock Waves should never have been an 18 - the cinema release only garnered an 'A'.

[P-Mac]

What sucks is that only The Mummy has received the Special Edition treatment in the UK.

The Anniversary editions of Dracula and Frankenstein, which were released in America, should be available over here!

[vincenzo]

Originally Posted by Daemonia

That's odd, allowing the distributor to say what certificate they want! Does this happen often?

The distributor normally submits the film under their required category/certificate. On a few past occasions (ie A Bridge Too Far which Attenborough submitted as a 'AA') the BBFC advised that a lower certificate was available with minor cuts. A few very brief snips and Bridge ended up with an 'A' (later raised to 15 for the uncut video/DVD releases).

Universal's Creature From The Black Lagoon was an uncut 'A' on the cinema way back in 1954. Quite amazing considering that Abbott & Costello Meet Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde was 'X' rated the previous year.

Can you pick ONE Universal film as your all time favourite?

[mark meakin]

My favourites:-
The Invisible Man
Creature From The Black Lagoon
Bride Of Frankenstein
The Mummy's Hand
Son Of Frankenstein
Dracula's Daughter
The Wolfman
House Of Frankenstein
Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man
The Invisible Agent
Murders In The Rue Morgue
The Raven

NON UNIVERSAL GEMS:-
The Bodysnatcher
The Uninvited
Cat People
I Walked With A Zombie
The Leopard Man
The Undying Monster
Return Of The Vampire
The Black Room
Dr Renault's Secret

[mark meakin]

Originally Posted by vincenzo

Can you pick ONE Universal film as your all time favourite?

Probably The Invisible Man overall.

[Angel]

Originally Posted by vincenzo

The distributors last submitted the film in 2002 and requested a 15. It would easily pass with a lower rating today. Great opening scene but I find the film lumbers a bit afterwards.

Interestingly the original 1933 cinema release was rated 'A' without cuts.

I don't know if the distributor requested the 15 again (ticked the box on the submission papers)
but as the BBFC said that they couldn't downgrade the film in 2002 because it was identical to the previous version the distributor had to accept the 15 again Unless of course they were prepared to accept cuts for a lower rating which evidently is something they didn't want to do. The film was only previously rated 15 because it was pre 1994 ie there was no 12 at the time so really they were stuck with the same rating again. Exactly the same thing happened with The Black Cat. There's no chance of this happening again though as the BBFC have changed their policy. Or at least that is what they have said anyway.

[Angel]

I'm a big fan of the universal Mummy and Invisible Man films.

[vincenzo]

Originally Posted by Angel

I don't know if the distributor requested the 15 again (ticked the box on the submission papers) but as the BBFC said that they couldn't downgrade the film in 2002 because it was identical to the previous version the distributor had to accept the 15 again.

The BBFC downgraded Piranha from an 18 to a 15 in 2002. The print submitted was identical to the previous one. All that was different was a change of distributor (MGM requested a 15).

[Stephen@Cult Labs]

Hmmm it's a tough choice but i'll pick The Bride Of Frankenstein as my favourite

[vincenzo]

The Wolf Man for me, followed extremely closely by The Invisible Man.