Two By Bob Clark

November 18th sees the DVD releases of two of Bob Clark’s best films:

Black Christmas
and
Murder by Decree

Bob Clark is known to many as a Canadian director though officially, Clark was born in the U.S. and died in the U.S. as a result of a fatal car accident involving a drunk driver.  Clark is best known for 4 commercial hits, A CHRISTMAS STORY, PORKY’S and two that will be released on DVD Tuesday November the 18th: MURDER BY DECREE and BLACK CHRISTMAS.  [Black Christmas Blu ray to follow on December 2]

The 2 DVD releases are from Critical Mass Releasing and Anchor Bay Entertainment just in time for the festive giving season. 

BLACK CHRISTMAS is my favourite slasher movie of all time.  The slayings will literally make one jump out of ones seat.  Despite the horror, Clark’s film is full of laugh-out loud moments.  MURDER BY DECREE is also deliberately funny, but one that keeps thru to the sleuth genre with Sherlock Holmes and trusty Dr. Watson out to find Jack the Ripper.  Below are capsule reviews of the DVDs.

BLACK CHRISTMAS (Canada 1974) ****
Directed by Bob Clark

He sees you when you are sleeping, he knows when you are awake.  Someone is watching and hearing all of what is going on at the Pi Kappa Sig Sorority House at the campus town of Bedford.  And killing off all her members!

The main character of the film is good girl Jessica Bradford (played by at that time famous Olivia Hussey right after her success in ROMEO AND JULIET).  The other not-so-nice sorority members include Barb (Margot Kidder in her best role, playing the perpetually drunk rebel) and house mother, Mrs. Mac (Marian Waldman).  There is nothing much in terms of plot or story.  But who cares?  The development of the suspense leads to a terrific climax in which the identity of the killer is still (or maybe not) in question.  (The answer can be found in the Q and A special feature of the DVD.)

Despite all the grisly killings, Clark’s film contains an enormous amount of humour – probably all vent up to be released in his later teen sex comedy, PORKY’S. The best line belongs to Kidder telling the police sergeant in his face: “For a public servant, I think your attitude sucks!” before turning to face the camera and cracking open a can of beer with her back to the sergeant.

But Clark’s film is well crafted suspense – from the eerie sounds from the obscene caller, the lighting (Christmas never looked so scary) to the creepy sounds of the Christmas carols.  The best segment is the technician running around the telephone exchange trying to nail the location of the caller before he hangs up on Jessica.

The film was shot around the University of Toronto and those familiar with the campus grounds will be pleased to recognize familiar landmarks.  The subway street to get off is Bedford Street – the name used for the town in the film
BLACK CHRISTMAS is most entertaining for the combination of good old fashioned suspense, creepiness and wicked humour that does not compromise the scares.  As I have said, BLACK CHRISTMAS is in my opinion, the best slasher film ever.

Special features included in the DVD:-

- The 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS documentary featuring current interviews
- Individual interviews with Olive Hussey, Art Hingle and Margot Kidder
- Q and A session with Bob Clark and John Saxon at one midnight screening

MURDER BY DECREE (Canada 1979) ****
Directed by Bob Clark

MURDER BY DECREE reveals the much respected Sir Conan Doyle sleuth Sherlock Holmes (Christopher Plummer) as a man vulnerable, kind, thoughtful but by no means less intelligent.  Together with his ever faithful Dr. Watson (James Mason), the duo set up to solve the crime of Jack the Ripper in 1888 London.  Plummer and Mason are aided by a fine British/Canadian cast that includes Donald Sutherland, Anthony Quayle (at his most animated), Sir John Gelgud, David Hemmings and Genevieve Bujold who at that time seems to appear in every Canadian international co-production.

Though the culprit or culprits of the hideous killings can be determined midway during the film, Clark’s film still holds tremendous interest from the interaction of Holmes and Watson and from the script’s subtilty and occasional wit.  Clark’s period London is atmospherically created complete with fog, cobble stone streets and horse drawn carriages. 

Plummer won the genie (the Canadian equivalent for the Oscar) for Best actor.  Plummer and Mason are magnificent.

Special features included in the DVD:-

- an audio commentary with Bob Clark
- the theatrical trailer
- talent bios
- the original screenplay (the prize here).