‘The Walking Dead’ (1936) Blu-Ray Review – Boris Karloff Finds Pathos In Classic Horror Outing

Boris Karloff stars in this classic horror film as John Elman, a man who comes back from the dead to seek revenge on the gangsters who framed him for the murder of the judge who first jailed him. After evidence proving Elman’s innocence arrives seconds following his electrocution, officials allow Dr. Evan Beaumont (Edmund Gwenn) to experiment with putting a mechanical heart into Elman. The device revives the dead man, but he has become a monstrous, white-haired, vengeful zombie. Directed by Oscar® winner Michael Curtiz, this thriller is a must-have for fans of the genre.

For thoughts on The Walking Dead (1936), please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: 

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents The Walking Dead for the first time on Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K restoration of the Original Camera Negative. You can always expect the utmost quality from the label, and this restoration is another stunning achievement. Print damage is virtually nonexistent throughout the movie with a consistently clear appearance. This black-and-white feature has sumptuous natural film grain throughout that unlocks a notable amount of detail to the image. There are never instances when it gets too lumpy or unnatural. The presentation has a fetching amount of depth to it including in the shadows where there are no signs of black crush. It is always a treat to see how film preservation can bring a film back to life, and Warner Archive has reanimated this one with the utmost care. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray release comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio split mono track that sounds very strong for the time period. Exchanges come through clearly with no dialogue muddled in the mix. None of the sound effects or the underlying compositions ever conflict with the clarity of ideas. The more pulse-quickening sequences make themselves known in the speakers, but this film is not a standout in that regard. There does not appear to be any major damage or age-related wear to the track. Overall, this is a top-tier audio presentation that gives the material the necessary resonance and complexity. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided. 

Special Features

• Audio Commentaries: Two commentary tracks are provided by film historians that offer great insights into the production, ensemble, the film’s legacy, and more. 

• • Audio Commentary #1 (Archival): Author Greg Mank

• • Audio Commentary #2 (New): Film historian and author Alan K. Rode

• Michael Curtiz – The Greatest Director You’ve Never Heard Of: A nearly 38-minute documentary in which Steven Spielberg, William Friedkin, and other notable filmmakers, authors, biographers and experts dive deep into Curtiz, his life outside of movies and wide and varied body of work. This documentary can also be found on the 4K UHD release of Casablanca. 

• The Cat Came Back: An eight-minute Merrie Melodies cartoon is presented in remastered HD in which mice and kittens are taught how to hunt and survive in this world. 

• Let It Be Me: An eight-minute Merrie Melodies cartoon is presented in remastered HD which depicts a dramatic tale of love, desire, and betrayal between a trio of chickens. 

• Original Theatrical Trailer: The minute-long trailer is provided for the film. 

Final Thoughts

The Walking Dead finds Boris Karloff in a surprisingly emotional role that balances pathos with something more unsettling and haunting. The core conceit is simple and executed well as the powers that be take advantage of those at a societal disadvantage. The thrills are not particularly intense, but they still land effectively all these years later. Michael Curtiz directs with an assuredness that allows this one not to be lost among imitators as another throwaway effort. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and some amazing special features. If you need something haunting to watch from the Golden Age, this one should be on your list. Recommended 

The Walking Dead can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.