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    • WSR Detailed LaserDisc Review

    Headless Ghost, The/Horrors Of The Black Museum
    Genre:Classic

    Reviewed In Issue 26 Of Widescreen Review® Stars:
    Richard Lyon, Lilane Sottane, David Rose, Clive Revell.

    WSR Review Scores
    Picture Rating: 2
    Sound Rating: 1.5
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    Reference Systems
    Critics' Composite Score:
    Internet Links

    Supplementals

    DVD General Information
    (Studio/Distributor): The Roan Group
    (Catalog Number): RGL9611
    (MPAA Rating): Not Rated
    (Retail Price): $69.95
    (Running Time In Minutes): 63
    (Color Type): Black & White
    (Chaptered/Scene Access): Yes
    (Closed Captioned): No
    (Theatrical Release): 1959
    (LD Release Date): 2/9/97
    (THX® Digitally Mastered):

    Credits Information
    (Director): Peter G. Scott
    (Screenplay/Written By):
    (Story):
    (Music):
    (Director Of Photography):
    (Production Designer):
    (Visual Effects):
    (Costume Designer):
    (Editor):
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    DVD Picture Information
    (Principal Photography):
    (Theatrical Aspect Ratio): 2.35:1
    (Measured LaserDisc Aspect Ratio): 2.38:1

    DVD Sound Information
    (DVD Soundtrack): Mono Sound
    (Theatrical Sound): Optical Mono
    (Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
    (Remastered Dolby Digital): No
    (Remastered DTS Digital Surround): No
    (Additional Languages):

    WSR Narrative Review
    Story Synopsis:
    American International Pictures would only get 50 percent of the drive-in boxoffice profit from Horrors Of The Black Museum—originally to be released as a single attraction—unless Herman Cohen could provide them with a second feature. That feature was The Headless Ghost. A mere 63 minutes, it is a brainless horror comedy about a group of college students investigating the haunted Ambrose Castle. When a tour of the castle leaves Ronny, Bill and Ingrid debating over the existence of ghosts—the three decide to find out. Sneaking into the castle after hours, they volunteer to help drive the evil spirit out of the decapitated Malcomb in order to rejoin his head with the rest of his body. The Headless Ghost doesn’t claim to be anything else as the ad states: “Head Hunting Teenagers Lost In The Haunted Castle.” Nonetheless, it is still a lot of fun.

    LaserDisc Picture:
    The DyaliScope® black and white picture, framed at 2.28:1, exhibits a generally good grayscale, but there are constant brightness shifts that distract. Images are wanting in sharpness and detail with good shadow detail. There is slight noise and major artifacts throughout.

    LaserDisc Soundtrack:
    The soundtrack is undistinguished, compressed and distorted monaural.
    (Surround Bass Below 50Hz): No
    (Aggressive System Surround): No
    (Intense 25Hz Bass): No
    (Deep Bass Challenging): No
    (Aggressive 0.1 LFE):
    (Holosonic Soundfield): No
    (Aggressive Split Surround): No
    (Center Back Surround Imaging): No
    (Directionalized Dialogue): No
    Superb Sound Effects Recording Quality:
    Superb Music Score Recording Quality:
    Superb Special Visual Effects Quality:
    Superb Color Fidelity:
    Superb Cinematography:
    Reference LaserDisc:
    Collector Edition: