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Showing posts from May, 2011

The Monster Walks

Not too long ago, I reviewed five movies from the silent film era of the 1920's.  Due to favorable responses from the membership of Horror-Movies.ca, I have decided to continue moving forward through the years by reviewing five movies from each subsequent decade- right up to the most recent one.  To kick off this trek, let me present the first of the ones from the 1930's... " The Monster Walks "... Ruth Earlton returns home after years away for the reading of her father's will.  Soon, the stormy night is filled with the chilly touch of death as some inhuman monster stalks through the halls.  It's up to Ruth's fiance, Dr. Ted Carver to figure out what is happening before Ruth becomes the next victim ... This is a sad... sad movie. It seems that in the transistion from silent to talking films, some of the art was lost.  The sets aren't all that interesting or creative... nor is the story.  While the camera work is still simplistic, you can start t

Happy 100th Birthday, Vincent Price!

Today- May 27, 2011 marks the 100th birthday of that master of horror- Vincent Leonard Price, Jr. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Price had a father who was the President of the National Candy Company, and a grandfather that invented, "Dr. Price's Baking Powder"- the first cream of tartar baking powder, which secured the family's financial security. During the 1930's Vincent Price became interested in the theater, and started performing on stage in 1935.  Soon, in 1938, Price made his film debut in the film, " Service de Luxe ", but didn't start gaining recognition until 1944 when he starred in the Otto Preminger film, " Laura ". His first horror film was the Boris Karloff feature, " Tower of London " in 1939, which he followed up as the title character in " The Invisible Man Returns ".  he would reprise this role vocally at the end of 1948's " Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein ". Price was often

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

I started my exploration of the silent horror films of the 1920's (even if TECHNICALLY, " The Hunchback of Notre Dame " isn't a horror film), with the artistic, German expressionist film, " Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror ".  It is therefore, only fitting that I end my journey of that time with another artistic German expressionist film- " The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari ". Alan and Francis visit a carnival in the small German town of Holstenwall, where one of the attractions is Dr. Caligari and his somnambulist.  Caligari claims that is sleeping attraction can answer any question asked of it.  When Alan asks when he'll die, his death is predicted for that night... a prediction that comes true.  As Francis and his betrothed investigate Dr. Caligari, things seem to be more sinister than they first appeared... The writers of the screenplay for this movie originally met shortly after World War I, and used their own experiences to come up with the

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Since I've been on a bit of a silent horror film run the past little bit, I figured I might as well sit down and review another classic from the silent film era- " Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ", starring John Barrymore (Drew Barrymore's grandfather). Dr. Jekyll is a fine, upstanding member of society: respectable, intellegent, and giving of his time to the poor in his clinic.  When criticized by his soon to be father-in-law, for his lack of worldly experience, Jekyll is determined to gain experience in the darker side of life.  A potion he creates allows him to revel in humanity's depravity as Mr. Hyde... but soon Hyde begins to take over. Of the many versions of Louis Stevenson's novel, the 1920 silent version is probably one of the most famous ones.  The differences in this version and the novel are attributed to the fact that it was actually based on a stage play adaptation from 1887. I really quite enjoyed this film.  While the pacing isn't all tha

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

I've recently been watching some of the classic black and white silent horror films in my collection, and the third one I sat down and watched in my little darkened corner of the world was the 1923 Lon Chaney, Sr film- " The Hunchback of Notre Dame ", based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Within the bell tower of Paris's Notre Dame cathedral a deformed hunchback by the name of Quasimodo lives.  The only solace he has from the miseries of his lonliness are the ringing of the cathedral bells.  After an act of kindness done for him, he falls in love with the lovely gypsy girl, Esmeralda.  Unfortunately, both Jehan (the Archdeacon's brother) and Phoebus (the Captain of the Guards) have both been smitten by her beauty. There are no surviving original prints of this film.  Modern video copies have been made from duplicate 16mm prints that were distributed by Blackhawk Films in the 1960's and 19720's.  The original prints from the 1920's were actually filmed

The Phantom of the Opera

  Not too long ago, I reviewed the silent horror classic, "Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror", and wound up being in the mood to view a few other of the silent horror films in my collection.  The next one I watched was "The Phantom of the Opera", starring Lon Chaney, Sr, and released in 1925.   A mysterious stranger has been threatening the star singer of the Paris Opera House- someone who has signs his letters simply as, "The Phantom".  This stranger wants to clear the way so his protege, Christine Daae can ascend to stardom herself.  Soon, her love for the Comte de Chagny collides with The Phantom's desire for Christine forcing both to take drastic actions in order to be with the one they love. " The Phantom of the Opera " actually underwent three periods of re-shoots and editing, due to poor reception and test viewings.  In 1930, a sound version was created- often assumed to be what is called "The Eastman House Print".  It is

Death on Demand

When I buy my horror box sets, I expect plenty of low budget horror movies.  I expect a fair number of bad ones.  I expect fewer decent ones.  I expect even fewer jewels. " Death on Demand " definately wasn't one of those jewels. Twenty years after a mountain climber is traumatized by an experience with a Yeti- culminating in his butchering his family during a nice dinner, a sleazy business man holds a contest in the now supposedly haunted house- a sort of scavenger hunt where the couples involved are looking for clues as to WHY the aforementioned mountain climber hacked his family to bits.  Unfortunately, they awaken his still insane spirit... and death ensues. Up to the point where the blood starts to flow, you would swear that " Death on Demand " was filmed for the Family Channel.  It has that "feel" and look to it.  The camera work is very simplistic, and brightly lit... almost cartoony.  The acting is sit-comy, and the humour rather immature

Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror

Let me say that not only am I a fan of horror films, but I'm a fan of black and white horror films... and silent black and white horror films.  There's just something satisfying about watching a well made "old school" movie that is innovative and able to tap into your emotions without being heavily reliant of technology to do so. "Nosferatu" is one of those films. During World War One, Albin Grau- one of the founders of Prana Films was inspired to do a vampire film when a Serbian farmer informed Grau that his father was one of the Undead.  In 1921, Grau and his partner, Enrico Dieckmann assigned Henrik Galeen to come up with a screenplay based loosely on Bram Stokers novel, "Dracula".  French-German film critic Lotte Eisner described Galeen's Expressionist screenplay as: "full of poetry, full of rhythm" Thomas Hutter is sent to Transylvania to meet a new client by the name of Count Orlok.  Despite being warned about Count Orlok

The Ghost of Flight 401

I first heard about the "Ghost of Flight 401" as a kid, and saw a movie... appropriately titled, "The Ghost of Flight 401".  I'd heard that it was based on true events, and was interested in learning more about this case of the paranormal.  What I didn't know at the time was that it was also based on the book of the same name by John G. Fuller. Then one day, while rummaging through the Paranormal section of one of my favorite book stores, I came across this book.  Remembering the case from my childhood, I that it would be a good addition to my collection.  And it was. John G. Fuller was a journalist/author that at one time wrote a regular column for the magazine, " Saturday Review ".  He also wrote several non-fiction books regarding UFO's and the paranormal, including, " The Interrupted Journey: 2 Lost Hours 'Aboard a Flying Saucer' ", "Incident at Exeter: The Story of Unidentified Flying Objects Over America Now &q