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Horrors of the Black Museum AKA Crimes in the Museum of Horrors (1959)
SEE! The fantastic binocular murder! SEE! The vat of death!Director: Arthur Crabtree
Year of Copyright: 1959
Year of Production: 1958
OVERALL: Draw-
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Commentaries:(1) Audio Commentary by music composer Gerard Schurmann, moderated by film critic David Del Valle (2003)
(2) Audio Commentary by producer Herman Cohen (1997) -
Extras:"Herman Cohen: Cohen My Way by Didier Chatelain & Tom Weaver" 2003 interview (19:49)
Audio interview with producer Herman Cohen by Scarlet Street's Jessie Lilly (10:56)
Hypno-Vista Opening featuring psychologist Emile Franchel (11:47)
Animated Photo Gallery (3:23)
Trailers:
- American Theatrical Trailer (3:15)
- European Theatrical Trailer (2:55)
- Bonus Trailers:
-- "Target Earth" (2:09)
-- "Headless Ghost" (1:53)
-- "Blood & Black Lace" (1:03)
-- "The Whip and the Body" (3:22)
-- "The City of the Dead" (1:33)
-- "Ruby" (2:26)
-- "The Bird with the Crystal Plumage" (2:44)
Biographies of Cast (moving text):
- Michael Gough (2:50)
- June Cunningham (0:59)
- Graham Curnow (1:57)
- Shirley Ann Field (1:59)
- Arthur Crabtree (1:53) -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:A PAL-to-NTSC transfer.
Comes with an 8-page foldout leaflet with poster art on four sides and liner notes and adverts on the other (not included in repressings). -
Special thanks to Rewind user badnell for providing these specifications.
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Extras:
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Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:NTSC
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
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Case type:Keep Case
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UPC Number:0089859841729
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Notes:A PAL-to-NTSC transfer.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:Presentation about the film, by Jean-Pierre Dionnet (in French)
Introduction by Jean-Pierre Bouyxou (in French)
Theatrical Trailer
Production notes (text)
Stills gallery
Filmographies:
- Arthur Crabtree
- Michael Gough
- Graham Curnow
- June Cunningham -
Subtitles:French (optional)
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
French Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:DVD Title: "Crimes au musee des horreurs".
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Buy this disc from
Amazon France
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Extras:British Theatrical Trailer (2:54)
American Theatrical Trailer (3:15
American Theatrical Trailer (3:09, with German subtitles)
Teaser Trailer (0:48)
B&W Teaser Trailer (0:21)
U.S. Hypno-Vista Prologue (13:27)
German Titles Sequence (2:30)
Still Gallery (1:20)
IFB Film Program (1:37)
NFP Film Program (1:48)
U.S. Pressbook (9:35)
U.K. Pressbook (2:16) -
Subtitles:German (optional)
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
German Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono -
Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:DVD Title: "Das schwarze museum".
Comes with a 4-page liner notes booklet (in German). -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:Theatrical Trailer (2:56)
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Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
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Case type:Keep Case
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Special thanks to Rewind user kasase for providing these specifications.
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Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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Extras:U.S. Theatrical Trailer (3:14)
Hypno-Vista Opening featuring psychologist Emile Franchel (2.35:1, 4:3 letterboxed) (11:18)
Image Gallery (0:58) -
Subtitles:None
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Aspect Ratio:2.66:1
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Picture Format:Anamorphic
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TV System:PAL
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Soundtrack(s):English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
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Case type:Keep Case
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Notes:A new transfer from original film elements, exposing the optical soundtrack area of the negative.
Comes in a slimline, DVD-sized keepcase. -
Have you spotted a mistake in these specifications? If so, let us know via our forums. -
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OVERALL: Draw
The 2003 VCI release has the best offering of contextual material. However, it is a PAL-to-NTSC transfer and suffers from severe "combing" at times.
The R2 release from Anolis/e-m-s contains some minor exclusive bonus footage (principally the German titles sequence) and the UK release from Network is a brand new transfer from original film elements featuring a 2.66:1 AR (the film was intended to be framed at 2.35:1 while the negative transfer here exposes area intended for the optical soundtrack).
All available DVDs contain the uncut UK version.
GENERAL NOTES:
The original submission to the BBFC was 81:27 (78:12 PAL) but had pre-release cuts arrived at by mutual discussion between the film makers and the BBFC. Material removed included:
- The ice-tongs stabbing.
- Sounds of screaming during the binocular murder.
- Shots of a woman's decapitated head being placed into a bag.
The film was released on videocassette in the UK, in 1993, with a runtime of 77:59 PAL. Variation in length of distributor credits presumably accounts for the time differences between these releases.
The film exists in four primary versions:
- the uncut British version before BBFC cuts (~82 minutes);
- the British X-certificate version (~81 minutes);
- the U.S. theatrical version with added ~12 minute Hypno-Vista prologue (~93 minutes);
- the U.S. television version that removes the prologue and features cuts to violence.
Also available from:
- Cecchi Gori Home Video (Italy)
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CUTS:
- R0 America- VCI - No cuts - British version (78:07 PAL-to-NTSC)
- R0 Herman Cohen Classic Horror Double Feature America- VCI - No cuts - British version (78:07 PAL-to-NTSC)
- R2 France- Studio Canal - No cuts - British version
- R2 Germany- Anolis/e-m-s - No cuts - British version (78:12 PAL)
- R2 United Kingdom- Cinema Club - No cuts (78:28 PAL)
- R2 United Kingdom- Network - No cuts - British version (78:34 PAL)
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Do you own a release not listed? Then please visit our forums and let us know!
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Comparison added by Paul_Lewis on 30/07/08
Comparison last updated by Rick_Curzon on 27/11/23UPDATE LOG:
29/11/12 : R2 Spain added.
Please ensure you read our disclaimer.
11/05/13 : Added info on VCI PAL to NTSC problem and details of upcoming UK Network release.
30/07/13 : Specs of Network release confirmed & extras RTs added.
22/10/13 : Corrected Network AR.
26/05/14 : Added DVD Beaver link and Amazon IDs.
23/06/19: Tidyup.
25/11/23: Notes revisions, added US double feature.
27/11/23: The cuts were all in bold due to a tags being added unnecessarily to the notes above.
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