Horror
Cats: Bogart|Back in the glorious days when there were only 7 channels from which to choose, when UHF was alternative viewing, back when most kids who were fortunate enough to have a TV in their rooms had a small black and white set (how many of you remember the slogan “a Sony for my own(y)”), at this time of year we would see an uptick in the number of scary movies available for viewing. Either on one of the 7 broadcast channels or from what ever UHF channel came in the least snowy. Every era, decade if you will, of the golden age of Hollywood put forth a menu of horror choices. Each era had it’s own style as did each studio.
The 1950’s had a fantastic share of what could be called classic horror pictures. Almost every picture had a not so hidden message. The Day The Earth Stood Still –anti –war. The Blob – communism (after all the Blob is red and is growing larger and more threatening every time it consumes something). Invasion of the Body Snatchers – McCarthyism.
The 1930’s, during the first wave of sound pictures, we find Gods on Mount Olympus of horror movies, the pictures that launched a million Halloween costumes, and most of them came from one studio – Universal Pictures. Universal perfected the telling and designing of a gothic tale. This was something I had put together as a child, as a tween, watching these pictures on “Creature Feature” on channel 5 on my 7 inch black and white Sony. I was not too scarred, but I did get scared in a fun way.
Dracula 1931
After the world was scared to death by the 1922 German picture Nosferatu, Universal took a shot at it. Casting Romanian stage actor Bela Lugosi as the undead, ancient Count Dracula type cast this talented co - founder of the Screen Actors Guild (member number 28) for the rest of his life. After rocketing to stardom in the 1927 Broadway version of Dracula (based on Bram Stoker’s novel) he ended up a drug-addicted pauper in Hollywood. Mr. Lugosi found that after establishing one of the screen’s greatest personifications of pure evil, his reputation rapidly declined, mainly because he was only too happy to accept any part handed to him, and ended up playing pathetic parodies of his greatest role, in low-grade poverty row shockers. He ended his career working for the legendary worst director of all time, Edward D. Wood Jr.. He was buried in his Dracula cape.
After a harrowing ride through the Carpathian mountains in eastern Europe, Renfield enters castle Dracula to finalize the purchaseof Carfax Abbey in London to Count Dracula. Renfield is hypnotized by the eerie count, and turned into one of his minions, protecting him during his sea voyage to London. After sucking the blood and turning the young Lucy Weston into a vampire, Dracula turns his attention to her friend Mina Seward, daughter of Dr. Seward who then calls in a specialist, Dr. Van Helsing, to diagnose the sudden deterioration of Mina’s health. Van Helsing, realizing that Dracula is indeed a vampire, tries to prepare Mina’s fiance, John Harker, and Dr. Seward for what is to come and the measures that will have to be taken to prevent Mina from becoming one of the undead. It’s your basic Dracula story.
Universal called the picture “The story of the strangest passion the world has ever known!” This picture was directed by Kentucky born, former actor for D.W. Griffith, Tod Browning. Mr. Browning went on to direct the cult classic Freaks in 1932
The following pictures are very similar in theme. The themes are as follows: Do not mess with nature. Do not play God. Very simple warnings that every one should follow. Those who break these rules must be punished, and sticking to the classical form, they are punished. All three of these pictures were directed by James Whale, played brilliantly by Ian McKellan in the 1999 bio pic Gods & Monsters which is very much worth a look.
The taglines for this picture were “A Monster Science Created - But Could Not Destroy!” and “To have seen it is to wear a badge of courage!”. We all know the the story, Dr. Frankenstein has gotten it into his head that to make life from something dead is a good idea. Yet he can’t set a wedding date.
Invisible Man 1933
In his second appearance in the movies (the first having been a silent picture) Claude Rains took on a role rejected by Boris Karloff. Mr. Karloff rejected the role because he is not seen for most of the picture. Director James Whale wanted a more “intellectual sounding” voice. Mr. Whale discovered Mr. Rains by accidentally hearing a screen test coming from another room. Mr. Rains went on to become one of the biggest stars at Warner Brothers (and being one of two favorite leading men of Bette Davis’). Gloria Stuart who plays Flora Cranley, went on to play “Old Rose” in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic.
The Tagline for this picture was “Catch me if you can”. Well this scientist catches a bad case of the crazies after he messes with nature by inventing a formula that makes one invisible.
“To a new world of Gods and monsters” states (rather loudly) Dr. Pretorious, an even madder scientist who forces Dr. Frankenstein to create again life from death. Preotoius has not yet learned his lesson.
As I pointed out, these pictures were on television and I saw them as a tween. They are scary, but is not that part of the fun? We know that this might happen as these pictures are billed as “horror films”, so we know what to expect. I am certainly not recommending these pictures to the 5 and 6 year olds out there (although I know a few 6 year olds that would not be phased by any of these pictures). I am suggesting that you know your child better than anyone. Can they handle it? However, would it not be nice to settle down, in the dark and watch these pictures with your children, allowing them the fun of getting spooked, seeing you get a little unnerved and finally really understanding the phrase “its just a movie”?
