The Walking Dead Blu Ray Review (Warner Archive Collection)

The Walking Dead is a 1936 horror film directed by Michael Curtiz (The Comancheros, We’re No Angels, White Christmas, Labyrinth of Horror, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Angels with Dirty Faces, Doctor X, Casablanca, and The Hangman). It was written by Ewart Adamson (Haunted Harbor and The Dark Hour), Peter Milne (The Verdict and Return of the Terror), Robert Hardy Andrews (Thriller and The Devil Commands), and Lillie Hayward (The Shaggy Dog and The Undying Monster). Gangsters with some corrupt members of the city which includes Loder (played by: Barton MacLane from The Maltese Falcon, Bullets or Ballots, High Sierra, and I Dream of Jeanie) and Trigger Smith (played by: Joe Sawyer from The Petrified Forest, Gilda, The Killing, and The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin) set up the unlucky and former criminal John Ellman (played by: Boris Karloff from the Frankenstein franchise, The Mummy, The Black Cat, The Mask of Fu Manchu, The Terror, Black Sabbath, The Raven, The Ape, Scarface, Bedlam, The Body Snatcher, and Mr. Wong franchise) for murder for the original judge that convicted him. After being framed, he loses at his trial that finds him guilty after being screwed by a shady lawyer Nolan (played by: Ricardo Cortez from The Maltese Falcon, The Case of the Black Cat, and The Sorrows of Satan). Two witnesses provide evidence that proves his innocence but it’s too late as he’s already executed. Doctor Evan Beaumont (played by: Edmund Gwenn from Miracle on 34th Street, The Trouble with Harry, Them!, Bewitched, and Les Miserables) takes the opportunity to experiment with his corpse. He manages to restore him back to life. The resurrected John Ellman is looking for revenge against everyone who wronged before he killed, will he get his gruesome payback before it’s too late???? The Walking Dead is a nice zombie and revenge hybrid with some mad scientist thrown in. These powerful and corrupt people set up piano player John Ellman that’s recently been released from prison. They want to take out a judge so they use Ellman’s past that’s connected to him to take advantage of the situation. The script mixes several sub-genres, it has some excellent tension and build up before it really picks up. Director Michael Curtiz did some great work back in the day but I think The Walking Dead is one of his most underrated productions. This was the perfect project for horror icon Boris Karloff. He was great as John Ellman, he’s just an unlucky guy that can’t catch a break. He has nothing to lose once he’s been resurrected. I really enjoyed how his look completely changes here when he comes back for some retribution. There’s some really nasty and unlikable villains here. Even some of the good ones are questionable, a couple just lets him get electrocuted and executed because they are cowards. The rest of the supporting cast includes Barton MacLane, Joe Sawyer, Ricardo Cortez, Edmund Gwenn, Marguerite Churchill (Dracula’s Daughter), Warren Hull (The Spider’s Web), Henry O’Neill (The World Changes), and Joe King (Special Agent). The Walking Dead is shorter so it goes by pretty fast. It has a great flow to it. It stays very entertaining and it’s worth your patience when John goes through the experiments with the doctor. It’s nice to see The Walking Dead get some new life with this brand new home video release. RECOMMENDED!!!! Let’s discuss this high definition presentation and special features from the Warner Archive Collection! This 1080p (1.37:1) unrated transfer looks amazing on blu ray. The black and white cinematography really pops with this brand new 4K restoration from the original nitrate camera negative. It has an English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track on the disc. The audio is much better than expected for being such an older film. When the vengeance starts, it really stands out. All of the dialogue is very clean, the suspense is elevated, and the music has a nice boost to it. It has English SDH subtitles. It has an “Audio Commentary” with author Greg Mank. The writer provides all kinds of information and stories about the horror sub-genre. He chats about the concept, the actors, performances, and a variety of other things when it comes to The Walking Dead. It has an additional “Audio Commentary” with film historian Alan K. Rode. It’s about as same as the other one. Lots of behind the scenes stories and inside information about The Walking Dead. It’s a little slower and it some silent parts unlike the first track but it’s still interesting. It has the little over 37 minute 2012 documentary “Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You’ve Never Heard Of” directed by Gary Leva. This was previously available on the Casablanca home video release but it’s a real nice addition to this. It has interviews with William Friedkin, Samuel Goldwyn Jr., Rudy Behlmer, Alan K. Rode, Kati Marton, Ben Burtt, Caleb Deschanel, Carol Littleton, and Steven Spielberg. It focuses on some of his Warner Bros projects and his work behind the camera. It has some fascinating stuff, I didn’t know much about this film maker until I watched this. If you are interested in knowing more about the director then you definitely need to check this out. It’s a quality tribute to the underrated Curtiz. It has two classic cartoons which includes the 8 minute “The Cat Came Back” and the almost 8 minute “Let It Be Me”. Both of these older restored Merrie Melodies animated shorts from the Warner Bros vaults were directed by Friz Freleng. It has the “Theatrical Trailer”. This is a must own for any Boris Karloff fan, this needs to be added to the collection. It’s available everywhere right now including MovieZyng.com, CHECK IT OUT!!!!