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Just in time for Halloween is the expanded revision of a classic. I have no idea how it's possible, but Universal Horrors: The Studio's Classic Films, 1931-46, Second Edition, by Tom Weaver, Michael Brunas and John Brunas ($55, McFarland hardcover), is even better this time around.

Eight-six classic horrors, from the studio that basically defined the genre, are all covered with amazing write-ups that not only boast good, solid writing, but an awareness, love, admiration (even for the ones they dislike) and knowledge that is unsurpassed. Forget about other books devoted solely to the Horrors of Universal (especially the long-winded Gods and Monsters by John Soister). This is the book to get.

First off, here are the horror movies covered: Dracula, Dracula (Spanish version), Frankenstein, Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Old Dark House, The Mummy, Secret of the Blue Room, The Invisible Man, The Black Cat, Secret of the Chateau, The Man Who Reclaimed His Head, Life Returns, Mystery of Edwin Drood, Night Life of the Gods, Bride of Frankenstein, Werewolf of London, The Raven, The Great Impersonation, The Invisible Ray, Dracula's Daughter, Night Key, The Black Doll, The Missing Guest, Son of Frankenstein, The House of Fear, Tower of London, The Invisible Man Returns, Black Friday, The House of Seven Gables, The Mummy's Hand, The Invisible Woman, Man Made Monster, Horror Island, The Black Cat (1941), Hold That Ghost, The Wolf Man, The Mad Doctor of Market Street, The Ghost of Frankenstein, Mystery of Marie Roget, The Strange Case of Doctor Rx, Invisible Agent, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, The Mummy's Tomb, Night Monster, Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, Sherlock Holmes in Washington, Captive Wild Woman, Phantom of the Opera, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, Flesh and Fantasy, Son of Dracula, The Mad Ghoul, Calling Dr. Death, The Spider Woman, Weird Woman, The Scarlet Claw, The Invisible Man's Revenge, Ghost Chasers, Jungle Woman, The Mummy's Ghost, The Pearl of Death, The Climax, Dead Man's Eyes, Murder in the Blue Room, House of Frankenstein, The Mummy's Curse, Destiny, The House of Fear, That's the Spirit, The Frozen Ghost, The Jungle Captive, The Woman in Green, Strange Confession, Pursuit to Algiers, House of Dracula, Pillow of Death, Terror by Night, The Spider Woman Strikes Back, House of Horrors, Night in Paradise, The Cat Creeps, She-Wolf of London, Dressed to Kill, The Time of Their Lives, and The Brute Man.

What, you're asking yourself, is different about this second edition? Why get this new volume if I have the 1990 volume? Here's why:

The entries all have been revised-a few have only minor revisions, but most have been spruced-up quite a bit, and a few, like Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Invisible Ray, have been rather extensively rewritten. Every write-up now ends with review quotes from a bunch of contemporary newspapers, magazines, etc. As well, there's increased coverage of the recurring music cues used in each movie.

The Spanish Dracula now has its own chapter (in the old version, it had just a fleeting mention in the chapter on the Lugosi Dracula). In the previous volume, Night Life of the Gods was not available for viewing, but this time the authors were able to view a print and that chapter is much more complete because of it.

The first edition, of course, incorporated many interviews with actors, directors, writers, etc. of these films. This new edition adds many more interview quotes from people not heard from previously, among them Lupita Tovar (the Spanish Dracula), Turhan Bey (The Mummy's Tomb, The Mad Ghoul, etc.), Anne Gwynne, Anna Lee (Flesh and Fantasy), Edward Norris (Mystery of Marie Roget), Donnie Dunagan (Son of Frankenstein), Phil Brown (Weird Woman, The Jungle Captive), Gloria Jean (Flesh and Fantasy, Destiny), June Lockhart (She-Wolf of London), stuntmen Carey Loftin and Gil Perkins, director Edward Dmytryk (Captive Wild Woman), Robert Boyle (art director of The Wolf Man), even some kin of Universal Horrors veterans (the wife of director Edgar G. Ulmer, the son of Dennis "Inspector Lestrade" Hoey, the daughter of SFX wizard John P. Fulton), et al.

There's an all-new section called "Exclusions, Borderline Inclusions, Odds and Ends" with one-paragraph write-ups on movies that came "this close" to getting entries of their own (but missed the boat). There's also a new Introduction (which explains why they wrote a second edition) and a new epilogue.

Photo-wise, there's a brand-new selection of images-more than 200 of 'em-not a single shot reused from the first volume. There are many fabulous behind-the-scenes shots from the Universal lot, including a terrific one of Bela Lugosi schmoozing with Gloria Stuart and Gloria Holden (Dracula's Daughter) in the commissary. The oddest, but undoubtedly funniest, photo in the book is the one picturing John Bromfield being choked by the Gill Man (played by Tom Hennesy) in Revenge of the Creature.

The layout itself, I think, is much nicer, slicker, and with a better type font. The overall look of the book is outstanding. There's now even a photo on the cover, a colorized Boris Karloff-Gloria Stuart shot from The Old Dark House; Rondo Hatton is on the back cover.

Besides the copious and important interviews (check out Edward Norris's terrific quotes in the Mystery of Marie Roget chapter), the best part of these critiques is the humor. The Jungle Captive is a good example of a chapter with a few surprises and a lot of little zingers. In short, the authors are very, very sly and funny in their write-ups, a welcome relief to some of the pseudo-intellectual gibberish I sometimes read. This is at once historic, informative and lively. The write-ups are honest and not at all fan drivel. There's real, useful information in these pages. It's not all plots and cast bios. The authors give us all the background we want to know about these films, and more.

This over 600-page book is a must-an instant classic. Usually second editions leave me cold; there is generally no justification for them. In this case, however, the authors managed to do a complete makeover and come up with a remarkable revision. Forget the price, go for this one. It's essential. Order from McFarland & Company, PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640 or www.mcfarlandpub.com or 800-253-2187.

That pretty much sums it up!