FRIGHT GALLERY

Dracula, Frankenstein, King Kong-the '30s gave rise to some monster hits indeed. Now two other chestnuts from that era, THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932, Kino, unrated, $24.95) and SHE (1935, Kino, unrated, $24.95), are making proper debuts on home video (House had been available in an unauthorized version).

She stars Randolph Scott and Nigel Bruce as arctic explorers in search of a fountain of youth. What they find is a fabulous-looking empire ruled by a fabulous-looking ice queen (Helen Gahagan), who puts the make on Scott, imagining him the reincarnation of a dead lover. Though the background matte paintings and gargantuan sets are gorgeous, the film's risible dialogue and histrionics are best enjoyed today in Mystery Science Theater 3000-style group viewing.

Happily, there's nothing creaky about The Old Dark House. Its simple premise, about travelers taking refuge in a desolate mansion, turns into a sophisticated comedy of terrors. Stars Charles Laughton and Melvyn Douglas (as the guests) and Boris Karloff (as the butler) are engaging, but best of all are the hammy supporting players: Ernest Thesiger as the mansion's refined Horace Femm; Brember Wills as his pyromaniac brother, Saul; and actress Elspeth Dudgeon as their 102-year-old father. Don't wait till Halloween for this Grand Guignol treat. She: C+ The Old Dark House: A

You Might Also Like

• DVD Review Fright night flicks: We rate 10 DVDs for Halloween (Sep 26, 2006)
• DVD Review The Old Dark House (Aug 13, 1999) | Tim Purtell
• DVD Commentary Fright night flicks: We rate 10 DVDs for Halloween (Sep 26, 2006)
• DVD Commentary Fright night flicks: We rate 10 DVDs for Halloween (Sep 26, 2006)
• DVD Commentary Fright night flicks: We rate 10 DVDs for Halloween (Sep 26, 2006)
• DVD Commentary ''The Old Dark House'' is a scary DVD (Aug 13, 1999)