House of Wax (Region 1 Import DVD)

André de Toth's remake of MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM is one of the first and best 3-D (stereoscopic) feature films, an alternative technology (like Cinemascope, Cinerama) used by 1950s directors attempting to compete with the new threat of television. Professor Jarrod (Vincent Price) is a devoted wax figure sculptor for his museum in 1910s NYC. When his financial partner, Sidney Wallace (Paul Cavanagh), demands more sensational exhibits to increase profits, Jarrod refuses. The vengeful Wallace torches the museum, leaving Jarrod for dead. Miraculously, Jarrod survives (though his hands and legs are rendered useless) and builds a new House of Wax with help from threatening deaf-mute sculptor, Igor (Charles Bronson). The museum's popular "Chamber of Horrors" showcases recent crimes like the murder of Wallace, a victim of a cloaked, disfigured killer along with his fiancée, Cathy (Carolyn Jones). When Cathy's friend, Sue (Phyllis Kirk), visits the museum she makes a discovery that leads to the horrifying truth behind the House of Wax. With gasp inducing (and tongue-in-cheek) 3-D scenes like the museum fire, paddleball man, and can-can girls, de Toth creates an atmospheric film which stands up as a horror classic in 2-D as well.

General

Studio:	Warner
Release date:	November 2009
Movie released:	2009
Actors:	Vincent Price • Frank Lovejoy • Andre De Toth
Dimensions:	192 x 137 x 15mm (L x W x T)
Format:
Running time:	1 hour, 30 minutes
Region encoding:	This DVD will not play in all South African DVD players. You should only buy this if you are sure that your DVD player can play region 1 disks.
Age restriction:	PG
Categories:	Books DVD > Horror
LSN:	XUA-G1A-AJ2-5
Barcode:	0883929091485

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Review This Product

HOUSE OF WAX

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 | Review by: Micky B

I have never seen this movie in the 3D proces in which it was filmed...but then, neither has its director, Andre du Toth who, only being able to see with one eye, was unable to discern the "depth" effect for which the "Natural Vision" was intended. It scored several "firsts: 1. This was the first 3D movie made by a major studio (Warner Bros;) 2. The first 3D film ever to be recorded with Stereophonic sound, and 3. Vincent Prices first horror film, believe it or not. The story: dedicated and gifted sculptor Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) is with a 1910 museum, when his business partner, Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts) insists that he create more sensational exibits in order to generate more business. Jarrod refuses, and Burke delibertely sets fire to the museum. In order to save "his" beloved exhibits, Jarrod remains in the building...when it explodes! Burke claims the insurance money, only to be murdered by a horribly disfigured Jarrod, who somehow survived both the fire and the explosion. Aided by a deaf mute, Igor (Charles Bronson (then called Charles Buchinsky,) Jarrod then sets up to establish the kind of horror waxworks museum that Burke originally wanted...only his "sculptures" look too real to be wax creations. That is because Jarrod is using REAL bodies that are simply coated with wax! Tom Brennan (tough-looking Frank Lovejoy) is the detective who is sent to investigate. Even shown "flat," this is a most enjoyable movie indeed, with the eerie WarnerColor adding to the sinister atmosphere of the piece. Also in the cast are Carolyn Jones, Phyllis Kirk, Paul Picerni (who?), and Angela Clark. Incidentally Charles Bronson, a short man in real life, is photographed so as to look about 12 feet tall here!

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