The Last Warning (Region B)

Adapted from Thomas F. Fallons 1922 Broadway play of the same name,The Last Warningis based on the storyThe House of Fearby Wadsworth Camp and centres onan unsolved murder that occurs during a live Broadway performance. When the victims body goes missing, the death remains unsolved and the theatre is condemned. That is, until years later when a suspicious new producer arrives to restage the play with the original cast and crew.

The Last Warningwas Paul Lenis final film before his untimely death, and a prime showcase for Universals leading lady of the era, Laura La Plante (The Cat and the Canary, Skinners Dress Suit). A visual artist at the peak of his career, Lenis camera never stops shifting, offering cutaways and trick shots involving nervous could-be culprits, a highly suspicious sleuth, and cast members who suddenly disappear in the darkened theatre. The result is a cinematic funhouse that restlessly cross-examines the suspense of the storys stage play against the real murder mystery saga, all unfolding amid the outstanding production design of Charles D. Hall.

Part of Universals ongoing silent restoration initiative,The Last Warninghonours the studios rich film history that has spanned more than a century. Universals team of restoration experts conducted a worldwide search forThe Last Warnings available elements, ultimately working with materials from the Cinmathque franaise and the Packard Humanities Institute Collection in the UCLA Film & Television Archive. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the completed 4K restoration on Blu-ray, the first time the film has ever been available on home video in the UK.

SPECIAL FEATURES

• 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from Universals 4K restoration, available for the first time ever on home video in the UK
• Score by composer Arthur Barrow
• Brand new audio commentary with horror and fantasy authors Stephen Jones and Kim Newman
• Paul Leni and The Last Warning video essay by film historian and author John Soister on Lenis final film
• Rare stills gallery
• A collectors booklet featuring a new essay by Philip Kemp and a short essay by composer Arthur Barrow on his score for the film