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«Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection» is a fantastic product. As many Canadian buyers, I decided to buy the less expensive UK version that also offer more language flexibility than the North American set. For me, as a French speaking person, the fact that these films are now presented with a French language track is a very good news. With the North American set, I could see the movies with the English or the French soundtrack but, unfortunately, I could not have the possibility to see the movies with the English track with French subtitles, what I can do with the UK set.
All this to say that I am really happy with this film collection and I even discovered an unexpected gift on the «Dracula» French speaking track : a new musical score. We all know that in 1931, when the Tod Browning «Dracula» was made, it was not common practice to compose original music to accompany movies (it will become standard procedure a few years later). So, I was under the impression that no music whatsoever exist to accompany that film until Universal asked Philip Glass to compose his score in 1998. I was wrong. Yes my friends, this is not a mistake. You can listen to original music on the French and Italian tracks of «Dracula» on the UK version of «Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection» (the exact same music is used on both language tracks). I read a lot about the history of that film and I never saw any mention about the existence of that score. I have to say that this is a very pleasant surprise. I have a master degree in musicology and from my knowledge of classical music and film music in general, I can tell you that the composer who created that piece did a very good job.
There are no information on the blu-ray disc about the French and Italian dubbing tracks and this new score but they were probably made around 1960 and part of the same production. The name of the composer is not mentionned anywhere but the music seems to be influenced by Bela Bartok. I would say that this music is more modern that what you would find in Hollywood at the same period. This is why I suppose the composer was European and was commisionned around 1960 to write music to accompany the new langage tracks. At first, I was shocked by this new music because it really transforms the original Tod Browning movie but finally the result is quite interesting. I would even say that this musical score do a better job than the Philip Glass music. Not that the Philip Glass composition is not well crafted. It is an excellent concert piece but utilized as film music it is so intrusive that it distracts the viewer from the movie. On the contrary, the new score on the French and Italian language tracks helps to create the right mood at every important moment in the film, what any good film music should do.
So, if seeing the Tod Browning «Dracula» with a new musical accompaniment is of special interest for you, you will find that music on the French and Italian tracks of the UK set. The three other languages (English, Spanish and German) don't have any music to accompany their speaking tracks. I suppose that you may also find that score on the French track of the North American set.
I would appreciate to have information about the creation of that composition : who the composer was, when it was composed, why Universal have commissioned this music and why the company use it on some language tracks but not on others.
Even if French is my mother tongue, for me the French version of the 1931 «Dracula» will never replace the original English version of the Tod Browning movie with Bela Lugosi enigmatic voice. But to discover a new musical score to accompany that classic movie is a gift from Universal and I thank them for that.
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All your favourite classic Universal horror icons in one boxset!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2019
Fantastic blu-ray box-set of all your favourite classic Universal horror icons c/w a 44 page colour booklet with tones of information!NOTE: This is the 2nd edition of this set with the cardboard slip case with a thick plastic blu-ray blue box inside & not the foldout digi-book first edition.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2019
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