A Shriek in the Night

Customer Reviews:

Fun 1930's "B" Mystery Starring Ginger.......2006-03-08

This fun to watch "B" mystery is great for a rainy night. Frances Hyland's screenplay based on a story by Kurt Kempler is typical of minor formula mysteries of the early 1930's but a young Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot give this Allied Pictures offering just enough zip and nostalgia to make it a nice one for "B" movie fans to own.

The story starts off with a bang as a man named Harker falls to his death from his own apartment complex. Reporter Lyle Talbot is on the scene trying to get a scoop on the hot news story but Ginger, cute as can be, may have the inside track. She has been posing as Harker's secretary for a rival paper in order to explore his ties to an underworld boss. The cops question everyone but the most fun is derived from Ginger and Talbot trying to get the scoop. There is some fun byplay between the two when they inevitably fall for each other.

A serpant card given the victim and a second murder add some spice to the mystery. Someone may have to save Ginger from the murderer near the end and who does so will come as a surprise. While certainly no mastepiece, as these little early "B" mysteries go, this one is entertaining for buffs. Ginger's fans will love this look at her just as she was on her way to a career capped by an Oscar for Kitty Foyle.

Fun for fans of B-movie mysteries.......2005-12-02

Alpha Video currently offers two B-movie mysteries that both feature early starring roles for Ginger Rogers: THE THIRTEENTH GUEST (1932) and A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT (1933). GUEST is marginally better than SHRIEK, although the print of GUEST used for Alpha's DVD transfer is definitely inferior (the picture quality has a dupey, washed-out, milky look to it).

By contrast, Alpha's copy of A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT is pretty sharp (an original print, not a dupe) and the print is in very good shape. Fans of these kind of B-grade mysteries will enjoy watching Ginger Rogers and Lyle Talbot as rival reporters who try to solve a series of baffling murders. This is a typical 1930s "Poverty Row" production (i.e., a low-budget, independent studio release), so don't expect the kind of glossy production values you'd find in an MGM or Warner Brothers film. Nevertheless, sometimes these inexpensive little mysteries offer just as much entertainment value as their higher-bracketed counterparts. A SHRIEK IN THE NIGHT is proof of this, with Rogers, Talbot, and the rest of the cast giving lively performances that more than compensate for the budgetary limitations.

Early Ginger Rogers in Mystery Spoof now on DVD!.......2004-02-08

Ginger Rogers is really cute in this Murder Mystery Spoof.

This Standard Format Black/White 67 minute movie is a good quality DVD transfer.

Summary: Live in Undercover newspaper reporter Pat Morgan (Ginger Rogers) is acting as a millionaire mob bosses secretary. She is trying to discover his involvement in the crime syndicate. "A Shriek in the Night" awakens the entire apartment building. The crime boss has fallen mysteriosly from his Penthouse balcony to his death. Other deaths soon follow and Pat is in the middle of it all holding key clues to who the murderer is.

Customer Reviews:

lesbians seeing stuff.......2007-05-27

This is a pretty okay film about a lesbian who sees things and blacks out and hurts people. And the people who loved her and who manipulated her and things like that.

You know, some things were certainly happening in this movie, but I couldn't figure if the director intended for me to care or not. Or whether I was really supposed to know anything at all or not. But I didn't mind, I just went with the flow. Pretty fun movie to watch.

It's in a threepack with Werewolf Woman and Flesh for the Beast for actually a couple of bucks less, so you'll definitely want to pick that up instead of this dvd by itself. It's the same DVD as listed here too, so if you hate triplefeatures on single disks there's no problem there.

Not for the Franco beginner.......2005-08-10

Jess Franco's "Nightmares Come at Night" aka "Les Cauchemars naissant la nuit" is important for two reasons. First, it's a movie that sounds far more important when referred to by its French title. Two, the gorgeous Soledad Miranda of "Vampyros Lesbos" and "She Killed in Ecstasy" fame turns up in a very small part. Fans of this exquisite Spanish beauty will love to see her in another Franco film, even if she's only onscreen for a matter of one or two minutes despite receiving prominence on the DVD case. "Nightmares," it turns out, is a rather obscure effort from director Franco that disappeared for a number of years. Many feared this film lost until it recently resurfaced just in time for the DVD revolution. After sitting through the roughly eighty minute runtime of "Les Cauchemars naissant la nuit," I'm beginning to understand the reasons for its obscurity; it's not the sort of film that would endear itself to a large audience. In terms of plot and linear continuity, "Nightmares" will induce nightmares in viewers trying to make sense of the whole thing. If the viewer approaches the film understanding that atmosphere is the name of the game, Franco's film is far more enjoyable. I wished I'd known that going in.

Here's the synopsis as far as I could discern after a viewing of the film. A stage performer of some repute named Anna (Diana Lorys) falls under the spell of another beautiful gal named Cincia (Colette Jack). Perhaps their budding relationship has something to do with the way Anna manipulates that feather boa onstage. Who knows? Anyway, Cincia brings Anna back to her sumptuous home in order to get to know her better, but ominous things start to happen soon after their first meeting. Anna frequently falls into these odd spells in which violent hallucinations assume frighteningly real dimensions. These spells along with the fact that Anna seems like she's a prisoner in this house point to something sinister going on. A doctor that drops by the house from time to time to treat Anna for her weird fugues, Paul (Paul Muller), doesn't seem to help matters much. As the film progresses, it's obvious Cincia is keeping some grand scheme hidden from Anna, and that the same scheme likely involves two enigmatic figures keeping tabs on the house from a building across the way (one of whom is Soledad Miranda). Who are these people and why are they so interested in Cincia and Anna? Does Paul have something to do with Anna's spells? What's going on?

That's it as far as plot goes, folks. I could reveal the little subplot that feels thrown in just to explain Anna's extended hallucinations, but why spoil what little there is to understand here? I think it becomes fairly obvious early on that Franco's interests lie in creating a certain mood and style rather than worrying much about telling a coherent story. And considering he has beautiful women like Diana Lorys, Soledad Miranda, and Colette Jack on hand to help realize his vision, I say let the man do whatever he wants. The vast majority of the film deals with Anna's wacked out visions, which essentially means we watch her cavorting about the house or onstage in various stages of undress while a real funky jazz-type score thuds away in the background. Cincia isn't shy about prancing around her digs in her birthday suit, either. Whether she's entertaining Anna or meeting up with a mysterious boyfriend, Cincia's hostility to clothing comes through in spades. Come to think of it, even Soledad Miranda displays a shocking disdain for garments when we see her lounging on a mattress in the house next door to Cincia's abode. We owe Jess Franco a round of applause for making such an anti-clothing statement!

"Nightmares Come at Night," despite the title, isn't a horror film by any stretch of the imagination. There is a bit of violence on display from time to time--nothing too tough to sit through--which occurs when Anna starts remembering a few killings she committed during her endless fugues. I think it's important to draw a distinction between this film and Franco's more explicit horror films like "Faceless" because if you're looking for something with a lot of gore, you won't enjoy "Nightmares Come at Night." This is a movie more in line with "Vampyros Lesbos"--scads of symbols and style wrapped around an altered sense of reality. It's an arty flick in every sense of the word, although the abundant nudity, extremely low budget, and various "interactions," for lack of a better term, between Anna and Cincia definitely fall into the realm of classic Eurosleaze. I liked the movie and feel good about giving it a decent rating, but I'd have been mighty disappointed had I gone into this one convinced I was going to see another "Faceless."

Media Blasters gives us a great DVD presentation of the film. The transfer looks good, despite a few scratches, and extras abound. A lengthy interview with Jess Franco gives us some good insight into the man's vision of filmmaking as well as a few of his typical gripes. Trailers for other discs from Media Blasters, some liner notes, and a photo gallery round out the DVD. I recommend "Nightmares Come at Night," but not for the Jess Franco first timer. Start with another film first, possibly "Vampyros Lesbos" or "Faceless" or "Marquis de Sade's Justine" before dipping your toe into this picture. Those films will give you a good idea of Franco's range, or lack thereof in the case of some of these movies, and will provide you with the necessary fortitude to plumb the depths of this enigmatic flick. Good luck.

Lurid and Moody ... .......2005-02-01

Jess Franco's NIGHTMARES COME AT NIGHT was much better than I was expecting. This doesn't have Soledad Miranda in much of it, despite her billing on the box cover and still photos. However, the story and atmosphere was very close to the Franco film A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD in some of it's pace and moodiness. Franco's cinematragraphy seems a bit tighter here and Bruno Nicolai gives an inspiring score as always.
This film isn't for everyone and I am sure some Franco fans may cry foul at this release. Proceed with caution.

Franco the Tanco.......2004-09-28

I bought this film today (being a Franco and Miranda fan), but found myself a little dissapointed after watching it knowing it cost $20.It starts of good but then it suddenly goes nowhere until the last 12 minutes, when he throws you a suprise plot twist that explains everyhting that just saw for the middle 60 minutes. During the middle 60 min Annas reality is blurred with a lot of dream sequences, which includes lots of nudity. The last scene with Anna was cool in a freaky way, but the music definitely helped a lot. Better yet, the music and score by ? was excellent. I can honestly say the best 3 minutes of this movie was the 3 minutes Soledad Miranda was in front of the camera, she has something that is very hard to put into words.
Buy it only if you are a Franco fanfreak and want to add it to your dvd library. Its a movie I wouldn't watch more than a few times. If your not sure, rent it or borrow it first, which will probably be pretty hard.

12 Dvd Collection / 50 Movies / Hours of Chilling Tales on 12 Dvds (((Read Product Description for More Details))) Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore / Blue Beard starring John Carradine

Average customer rating:

Horror Movie Classics - 50 Movie Pack on 12 DVDs

12 Dvd Collection / 50 Movies / Hours of Chilling Tales on 12 Dvds (((Read Product Description for More Details))) Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore / Blue Beard starring John Carradine

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore / Blue Beard starring John Carradine
Blue Beard starring John Carradine / The Corpse Vanishes starring Bela Lugosi
The Corpse Vanishes starring Bela Lugosi / Night of the Living Dead starring Judith O'Dea
Doomed to Die starring Boris Karloff / The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney, Sr.
The Indestructible Man starring Lon Chaney, Jr. / The Hunchback of Notre Dame Lon Chaney, Sr.

ASIN: B000PUOE70

Product Description

All actors are the original cast members. Here are more movies: Bloodlust starring Robert Reed The Amazing Mr. X starring Turhan Bay Last Woman on Earth starring Robert Towne The Bat starring Vincent Price The House on Haunted Hill starring Vincent Price The Last Man on Earth starring Vincent Price Dementia 13 starring William Campbell Phantom from 10,000 Leagues starring Kent Taylor Carnival of Souls starring Candace Hilligoss Atom Age Vampire starring Alberto Lupo Creature from the Haunted Sea starring Robert Towne Nightmare Castle starring Barbara Steele Black Dragons starring Bela Lugosi Invisible Ghost starring Bela Lugosi One Body Too Many starring Bela Lugosi White Zombie starring Bela Lugosi Attack of the Giant Leeches starring Ken Clark The Screaming Skull starring John Hudson Beast of Yucca Flats starring Tor Johnson The Terror starring Boris Karloff Revolt of the Zombies starring Dean Jagger The Giant Gilla Monster starring Don Sullivan The Fatal Hour starring Boris Karloff Dead Men Walk starring George Zucco The Mad Monster starring George Zucco Maniac starring Bill Woods Metropolis starring Gustav Frolich The Vampi Product Description An instant library of 50 horror classics assembled on 12 DVD's. Silent classics include: Phantom of the opera, Nosferatu and Metropolis. Cult favorites include: Night of the Living Dead and House on Haunted Hill plus many more! Specificat

Customer Reviews:

Horror Movie Classics - 50 Movie Pack on 12 DVDs.......2007-05-01

All of these movie pack collections are pretty good for the price. However, this is not a new pack and the asking price is at least $10 higher than any of the other sets at their NEW price. Look further and this set could be purchased cheaper. The highest price on a new set is $20 and some are down to $10. The films are grainy and the sound isn't the best, but they are watchable and fun.

Average customer rating:

A Shriek in the Night
Starring: Louise Beavers , Maurice Black , Harvey Clark , Lillian Harmer , and Arthur Hoyt
Director: Albert Ray
Manufacturer: Westlake
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000GFRDUY
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Average customer rating:

A Shriek In the Night

Manufacturer: Synergy Ent
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000QRIK4A
Release Date: 2007-05-14

amazon.com

Rival reporters Pat Morgan (Ginger Rogers) and Ted Rand (Lyle Talbot) are always trying to out-scoop each other on stories. The latest involves the mysterious death of a philanthropist who fell to his death after a shriek was heard from his penthouse apartment. The two reporters start out as rivals but combine efforts to solve the crime and write the story when more residents of the apartment building turn up dead.

Horror Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 9 (A Shriek in the Night / The World Gone Mad / Maniac)

Average customer rating:

...AND PHYLLIS DILLER?
GINGER ROGERS, MURDERERS AND LUNATICS

Horror Classics Triple Feature, Vol. 9 (A Shriek in the Night / The World Gone Mad / Maniac)
Starring: Pat O'Brien , Evelyn Brent , Neil Hamilton , Mary Brian , and Louis Calhern
Director: Christy Cabanne , Albert Ray , and Dwain Esper
Manufacturer: Rph Productions
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Horror | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

Customer Reviews:

...AND PHYLLIS DILLER?.......2004-04-18

The image and sound quality is not great(or even good) for any of the movies, but based on Mart's review, this version of Maniac is probably the best you'll find. For the money...why not. I'll just add to what Mart wrote.

Maniac: Nudity, women in lingerie and eyeball eating. In the credits Phyllis Diller is listed.
A World Gone Mad: Good acting and a funny phone call scene involing diminishing returns.
A Shriek...: Ginger Rogers-pretty and young. Falling bodies.

GINGER ROGERS, MURDERERS AND LUNATICS.......2003-07-12

Not a bad buy, not at all. The most important thing: you'll get a decent copy of the unforgettably trashy The Maniac, which is garbage of the highest rating and provides many a good laughs for the one who dares watch it. The copy here is much better than on some other releases. The other two movies: The World Gone Mad is definitely no horror, more like a political corruption/murder tale. There are some quite good actors, the copy is quite good too, but nevertheless this is an entirely missable flick. A Shriek In The Night is a witty little murder mystery as well (fancy having these items on a horror collection), the copy passable, the story plausibly constructed, and by bits it can evoke some interest and even stir some moderate excitement. The main attraction however is the very young Ginger Rogers in probably her first starring role - and completely straight (meaning no singing-dancing involved). She doesn't yet look as lovely as she became a few years later, but it's fun to see how the studio obviously was uncertain what kind of material she should be used in - perhaps they deemed her another Fay Wray (who by that time - 1933 - had probably screamed her loudest screams). Miss Rogers gives a perfectly wonderful performance, though even she doesn't feel comfortable playing against the comic relief, elderly nutty housemaid. If you're a fan of hers, you won't regret buying this DVD just to watch her ACT and be convinced of her huge talent, although I trust you knew that already.

DVD:

DVD

DVD