The Boris Karloff Box: 15 Frightful Films 2007 Horror Movie Review

In this creepy collection of 15 films, Boris Karloff’s cinematic talents are shown off to their best advantage with powerful performances that span more than five decades – from the silent cinema through the turbulent sixties. Some are outright horror films; others are detective yarns or melodramas; even a bizarre documentary on love practices around the world! 

Karloff was, of course, the definitive Frankenstein monster, but he was extremely versatile. Often disguising his cultured British accent, Karloff could become a Chinese detective, a German spy, a French doctor, even an over-the-top Dick Tracy villain.

Boris Karloff was a remarkable performer whose legacy continues decades after his passing. This 5-DVD collection is truly a treat for fans of horror and classic cinema!

THE BELLS (1926) JUGGERNAUT (1937) MR. WONG, DETECTIVE (1938) THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG (1939) MR. WONG IN CHINATOWN (1939) THE FATAL HOUR (1940) BRITISH INTELLIGENCE (1940) DOOMED TO DIE (1940) THE APE (1940) DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME (1947) SABAKA (1954) THE TERROR (1963) MONDO BALORDO (1964) THE SNAKE PEOPLE (1968) DUPONT SHOW OF THE MONTH: TREASURE ISLAND (1960)

BONUS: 100 Years of Horror: Boris Karloff (Hosted by Christopher Lee)

Disc One

THE BELLS (1926) – Karloff is a Caligari-inspired sideshow hypnotist, while Lionel Barrymore (It’s a Wonderful Life) is the murderer at the heart of this eerie tale.

JUGGERNAUT (1937) – Karloff is an evil French doctor who conspires with a greedy wife (French star Mona Goya) to poison her wealthy husband (Morton Selten of The Thief of Bagdad).

MR. WONG, DETECTIVE (1938) – The first of five appearances Karloff made as the famed Chinese detective finds him on the trail of international (and murderous) spies. Grant Withers makes his debut as the dependable Capt. Street.

Disc Two

THE MYSTERY OF MR. WONG (1939) – The murder of a wealthy antiques collector and the theft of a priceless gem challenge Wong’s deductive skills. Dorothy Tree (The Asphalt Jungle) costars.

MR. WONG IN CHINATOWN (1939) – A pretty Chinese princess (Lotus Long of Mr. Moto fame) traveling incognito is murdered shortly after asking for Wong’s help. 

THE FATAL HOUR (1940) – Captain Street’s friend is murdered and Mr. Wong uncovers a smuggling ring while trying to solve the murder. Marjorie Reynolds (Holiday Inn) costars.

Disc Three

BRITISH INTELLIGENCE (1940) – An attractive German spy (Margaret Lindsay of Ellery Queen fame) infiltrates a London family with the help of the butler (Karloff) who is also a spy. Yep – the butler did it!

DOOMED TO DIE (1940) – Karloff’s final outing as Mr. Wong finds the detective trying to solve the murder of a shipping magnate. Henry Brandon (Babes in Toyland) costars.

THE APE (1940) – Karloff is a scientist trying to cure his wife’s polio – by donning a gorilla skin and murdering innocents for their spinal fluid. Written by Curt Siodmak (The Wolf Man).

Disc Four

DICK TRACY MEETS GRUESOME (1947) - Ralph Byrd plays the legendary comic-strip detective while Karloff is Gruesome, an ex-con who stumbles across a secret paralyzing gas that he uses in bank robberies. Anne Gwynne (House of Frankenstein) is Tess Trueheart. 

SABAKA (1954) – Karloff is a tough general who stands in the way of a cult-murder investigation in faraway India. June Foray (the voice of Rocky the Squirrel) plays a high priestess!

THE TERROR (1963) – Legendary Roger Corman tale of an elderly baron (Karloff) who takes a young officer (a very youthful Jack Nicholson) into his castle during the Napoleonic Wars.

Disc Five

MONDO BALORDO (1964) – Karloff narrates this rare and bizarre documentary (or schlockumentary) about strange love practices around the world.

THE SNAKE PEOPLE (1968) – Karloff’s last outing as an evil scientist. This time, he creates an army of LSD-crazed, voodoo-practicing zombies. (Sure. It could happen.) Santanon the Dwarf is played by Santanon - a dwarf.

DUPONT SHOW OF THE MONTH: TREASURE ISLAND (1960) – Classic pirate tale is brought to life as a TV film with Hugh Griffith (Tom Jones) as Long John Silver and Karloff as rival pirate, Billy Bones. Directed by Daniel Petrie (A Raisin in the Sun).

SPECIAL FEATURE: 100 Years of Horror - Boris Karloff – Horror great Christopher Lee hosts this affectionate salute to The Master, with rare interviews and clips from his greatest films.