Kino International releases yet another fantastic classic film set with the 5 disc "American Silent Horror Collection."

"Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" (1920) may be a poignant story about the good and evil that resides in all of us, but this is far from the best theatrical version of the timeless story. The main problem is that John Barrymore's take on Mr. Hyde resembles a street bum mixed with the "Hunchback Of Notre Dame." He's not very menacing aside from one murder scene. More often than not, he just hits on women or acts like a slimeball. You're better off seeing the 1931 or 1941 versions instead. "The Penalty" follows an evil money hungry underworld leader named Blizzard who seeks revenge against the surgeon who amputated his legs by going after his daughter. While the story is hardly original, it really doesn't matter. Lon Chaney's masterful performance is the sole reason to see this film. Blizzard is unquestionably one of the best villains I have seen. From his spine chilling expressions to his frightening treatment of women, Blizzard is unforgettable. The only let down is the cop out ending that just doesn't fit at all. "The Cat And The Canary" is the weakest link of this collection. The story revolves around a group of people waiting to hear the will of a deceased relative in a supposedly haunted mansion. Of course, nothing goes as planned when all hell breaks lose when a crazed lunatic appears on the property and people begin to mysteriously disappear. As serious as the premise may sound, Paul Leni's haunted house tale is actually fairly goofy and filled with slapstick humor. I do have to give credit to director Paul Leni, however, as there are some truly memorable superimposed images in the opening. "The Man Who Laughs" is my favorite film of the bunch. The story is simple. A son of a lord (Gwynplaine) is kidnapped and has a permanent smile carved onto his face. Years later, as an adult, Gwynplaine lives as a circus freak. Things are not all bad for Gwynplaine, however, as he in love with a blind girl (who also loves him deeply). Conrad Veidt's performance as Gwynplaine is award worthy. He manages to be a sympathetic, creepy, and tragic figure all at once. The story will draw obvious comparisons to "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame," but that is because author Victor Hugo wrote both stories. Some viewers may also be quick to criticize the happy ending, but in my opinion, the main character was fully deserving of a happy ending. "Kingdom Of Shadows," narrated by Rod Steiger, is a 70 minute collection of clips from early silent horror films like "Haxan," "The Golem," George Melies work, F.W. Muranu's films, etc. While this documentary is worth a watch, you're better off renting or buying the full length silent horror films mentioned here instead.

The full frame picture quality varies from film to film. The picture in "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" contains lines and scratches, "The Penalty" is riddled with dirt, "The Cat And The Canary" picture was jumpy, and "The Man Who Laughs" and "Kingdom Of Shadows" were in the best shape. Of course, considering how old these films are, I'm willing to forgive the so-so quality. The orchestrated music on all five discs is perfectly fine. It's hard to mess up an audio track that consists entirely of music.

"Dr. Jekyll And Mr Hyde": * Info about the score. * An essay titled "Many Faces Of Jekyll/Hyde" * An audio recording of the transformation scene from the 1909 version. * "Dr. Pyckle And Mr. Pride" is hands down the best extra of the entire box set. This is a hilarious 21 1/2 minute silent parody of "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" that stars Stan Laurel. * An excerpt from the 1920 "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde." "The Penalty": * Photo gallery, production budget sheet, and an essay by Michael F. Blake. * Novel, script, to screen. * Scene comparison from novel, script, and film. * "The Big City" and "While The City Sleeps" trailers. * "By The Gun's Rays"- An 11 1/2 minute silent western with Lon Chaney. * 2 1/2 mins. of footage from the lost "The Miracle Man." * "Chaney's Secrets Revealed" is a delightful 9 1/2 minute look at the makeup, props, and costume from the film. "The Cat And The Canary": * Photo gallery. "The Man Who Laughs": * Gallery of photos and promotional materials. * Excerpt of Victor Hugo's novel. * About restoration text. * Excerpt of the Italian version of the movie. * "At Home With Conrad Veidt." * "The Story Behind The Man Who Laughs"- A 14 1/2 behind-the-scenes featurette that reveals interesting facts about the production.

"American Silent Horror Collection" is a must see for any silent or classic horror buff.