Any more info/rumours about this re-re-release?

I actually bought 3 of the 6 Legacy collection sets today for $12 a piece. Think I'll stick with them, personally. Besides, touching up classics such as these, I think, they would lose their luster.

I wonder if the hd 1931 DRACULA and FRANKENSTEIN will play on the playstation 3(blu-ray) or would I have to buy a different hd player?

Universal is not currently supporting Blu-ray, so you'd need to get an HD DVD player.

Other Universal horror in September -- they're releasing the unrated version of Land of the Dead on HD DVD on 9/19, which I believe is the first announced horror title for the format.

Didn't we already get this when it came out originally 6 months or whenever? I'm pretty sure what I have at home is unrated.

Ack. I meant to say "on HD DVD".

Any word on extras? I have the Legacy sets and they pretty much have everything I want on them. Oh, and I saw the box set with the busts at Newbury Comics in downtown Boston for pretty cheap this week.

I would definitely double dip for The Old Dark House if it has more extras than my Image disc.

I doubt it. Universal seems to be more in the mood lately of bypassing any kind of extras in favor of stuffing as much as they can movie wise into one package of dvd-18s. Last october's franchise releases of the Lugosi collection and the Hammer horror collection had nothing in terms of extras. At this point i think the only way they're willing to include extas in a franchise set is if they are pre-existing extras from a previous release (a la the Riddick Franchise) or an extra used to promote a new Universal Film (a la the Stephen Sommers extra from the legacy sets). Don't get me wrong, quality as far as picture and sound has been great and price wise you cant go wrong. My only beaf is that they still haven't managed to correct the persistent freezing and skipping issues with their dvd-18s. Extras for these i can give or take i guess. Really none of the ones being released this time around are ones that I think Universal would deem worthy of a new doc or commentary so its likely we'll get the films and nothing else. Old Dark House is always likely to come out again but I'd be willing to bet it'll be with the same extras imported over from the Image disc

Here is the confirmation link for Dracula and Frankenstein, but no real news. I have pretty low expectations for these, since they are from Universal. Hopefully, they will surprise me.

http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releas...cy-series.html

Title: Universal Legacy Series (IMDb: 1, 2)
Starring: Bela Lugosi & Boris Karloff
Released: 26th September 2006
SRP: $26.98 Each

Further Details:
Universal Home Video has announced 75th Anniversary releases of Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi, and Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and Colin Clive. Each two-disc package will be available to own from the 26th September, and both retailing at around $26.98 a pop. The full disc specs have yet to be revealed for either title I'm afraid, although we are able to confirm that the films will be presented in 1.33:1 full frame - along with English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono tracks. We are also able to confirm that Dracula will include both the 1 hour 14 minute film, and the 1 hour 44 minute Spanish version. Stay tuned for more.

I love these movies, so I may end up double dipping through Columbia House, especially if the transfers are improved.

DVDactive has added artwork and some details:
http://www.dvdactive.com/news/releas...cy-series.html

Digitally remastered 1.33:1 full frame - along with English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono tracks. Extras will include all-new documentaries, feature commentaries and much more.

I'm also a big fan of these movies and, although I own the Dracula and Frankenstein Legacy Collection sets, I may double-dip with these. I'm sure the transfers will be better and that artwork is beautiful.

Well, I already own the first releases of Dracula and Frankenstein, the Monster Collection with the busts and just for the artwork alone on this release (as well as the new docos and commentaries - although they are secondary to those fantastic covers!) I will be triple-dipping.

I too, will stick to my original boxset...

I already own the first two DVD versions of Dracula and have bought all the monster releases so far, but if these have been restored and look better than ever I will triple dip on an HD DVD version of both.

The packaging was lousy on the legacy sets. The discs were loose and scratched up when I bought them.

I'll wait and see on these... the existing legacy sets are pretty darn decent, both in terms of picture quality, value (lots of sequels on each set), and extras.

It's going to take a huge leap in quality (in picture/sound or extras) for me to consider these. And somehow, I'm not convinced that Universal will deliver.

I'll definitely be skipping these. It's very pointless of Universal to keep releasing the same batch of films over and over again, when they have so much more that they could be releasing instead. Yes, great... give us Frankenstein and Dracula AGAIN. But how about giving us a lot of other stuff? More Franchise collections, please. More horror, please. Then, after a few years go by, release Frankenstein and Dracula.

I disagree completely. I'm sorry yours got loose somehow, I know what that's like, and it sucks. But the packaging for their Legacy sets is terrific. They hold the discs very snugly, and are uniquely attractive on the DVD shelf. These new discs look like every other DVD, and worse; because they kind of look like they would be part of a box set that you only have 2 of the discs from. That monochromatic black and sepia just doesn't do it.

Typical rant of a person whose property happens to fall under the category looser..

One question I have is will they finally get Dracula right? Neither of the first two Dracula DVDs was the best version possible and hopefully they can get everything right this time out with the soundtrack.

For those that don't remember, Universal restored the audio for the original DVD release which made the movie sound better than ever and also restored some sounds that were missing. However, in doing this they accidentally lost a music cue. With the Legacy release they went back to the old audio which restored the music cue, but lost the other restored sounds (moans and screams if memory serves) and also sounded terrible compared to the original DVD release.

Hopefully they can find a way to go back to the restored audio and also add back in the missing music cue.

So happy that you've never opened the set and actually watched the DVDs?

I believe that the "Legacy" version doesn't include Bela's moan at the end as the stake is driven through his heart.

Odd that these films are 75 years old, and they still haven't been able to get them right. My dream special edition Universal horror DVD release would be one in which the original cut of Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man is discovered. Come on, Universal, dig around the vaults and find me this treasure!

I think this is it. The commentary track on the original DVD release mentions this discovered audio on the restored track and it makes sense, but when they reused the commentary on the Legacy version it made no sense because the moan was no longer there.

This can't be that hard to fix. Use the restored audio, but add back in the music cue. There has to be some sound tech that can figure that one out.

Missed this thread the first time around, but I wanted to chime in and say that the Old Dark House was released by Kino, not Image. It is a nice package, and well worth picking up.

As for this, I spent quite some time tracking down the Universal Studios Classic Monster collection, back when it was out of print and before Universal announced the Legacy Collections. I'll stick with what I have.

Yeah, Image put out the laserdisc version (with the same commentary) which is what may be confusing people.

I agree. Great disc.

My DVD version was distributed by Image as well though it also has the Kino Video logo.