Showing posts with label horror. Show all posts
Showing posts with label horror. Show all posts
6/24/10
4/4/10
Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff was the pseudonym of William Henry Pratt, and English actor who, by fate and circumstance, ended up as one of Hollywood's Big Three horror film stars of the first two decades of the sound era, including Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney, Jr.
His most famed role was as the square-headed monster of Dr. Frankenstein:
But, he essayed many other roles, until ending his career, like his peers, doing low budget horror films to pay the bills. His last great role was as the narrator in the cartoon version of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
He also did voiceover work for many other cartoons.
He did films with both Chaney and Lugosi, but got his best kudos for those with Lugosi. It was Lugosi, ironically, who helped launch Karloff's career, by refusing to play the Frankenstein monster.
His most famed role was as the square-headed monster of Dr. Frankenstein:
But, he essayed many other roles, until ending his career, like his peers, doing low budget horror films to pay the bills. His last great role was as the narrator in the cartoon version of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
He also did voiceover work for many other cartoons.
He did films with both Chaney and Lugosi, but got his best kudos for those with Lugosi. It was Lugosi, ironically, who helped launch Karloff's career, by refusing to play the Frankenstein monster.
Lon Chaney (Deux?)
If one is a horror film fan, one cannot avoid the name Lon Chaney, which was borne by both father (Senior) and son (Junior). Senior became a star of the silent film era, known as The Man Of A Thousand Faces, for his ability to slip in and out of makeup, to the point that it was rare for him to be seen, in public, in his lifetime, with his real face.
Aside from Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Charlie Chaplin, the elder Chaney was arguably the biggest star of the silent film era. While he appeared across genres, his two most famous roles were as Quasimodo in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, and as The Phantom Of The Opera's 'Phantom.'
His son continued in his father's footsteps. He did not begin his career until after his father's death, in 1930, but in the 1940s became a staple of the Universal Studio's horror series, as The Wolf Man, in that film series.
His most famous non-horror role was in the western High Noon. But he did essay the Frankenstein monster as well:
LON CHANEY FRANKENSTEIN 1
Uploaded by NilbogLAND. - Sitcom, sketch, and standup comedy videos.
This was a television show, and Chaney's makeup here would influence later portrayals of the monster away from the flatheaded fiend popularized by Boris Karloff.
Both men had their ups and downs in the business, but both are now immortalized under the same name, and one cannot help but think that, centuries from now, their old 20th Century films will still be entertaining bored people in search of a fright on distant worlds.
Aside from Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. and Charlie Chaplin, the elder Chaney was arguably the biggest star of the silent film era. While he appeared across genres, his two most famous roles were as Quasimodo in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, and as The Phantom Of The Opera's 'Phantom.'
His son continued in his father's footsteps. He did not begin his career until after his father's death, in 1930, but in the 1940s became a staple of the Universal Studio's horror series, as The Wolf Man, in that film series.
His most famous non-horror role was in the western High Noon. But he did essay the Frankenstein monster as well:
LON CHANEY FRANKENSTEIN 1
Uploaded by NilbogLAND. - Sitcom, sketch, and standup comedy videos.
This was a television show, and Chaney's makeup here would influence later portrayals of the monster away from the flatheaded fiend popularized by Boris Karloff.
Both men had their ups and downs in the business, but both are now immortalized under the same name, and one cannot help but think that, centuries from now, their old 20th Century films will still be entertaining bored people in search of a fright on distant worlds.
On Paul Naschy
In 2009, Paul Naschy died. For those to whom the name means nothing, I can only state that you were not around in the 1970s, when he was, to foreign horror films, what Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Lon Chaney, were to English language horror. I exclude Vincent Price because, well, Price was in a league of his own.
Most of his films were filled with soft core porno, as well as horror, and in this way they parodied the Eurotrash films of haughtier filmmakers like Pier Paolo Pasolini and Luis Bunuel. There was no place for pretension in Naschy's films.
My pals and I would sneak into theaters, and get high watching his films, along with the stuff released by Hammer, Roger Corman, Ray Harryhausen, and the Godzilla film series. Occasionally, we'd even go in for a blaxploitation or martial arts film.
Naschy often scripted his own films, and if there was one flaw to them it was that he never quite succeeded in making them as memorably bad as the films of Ed Wood. Perhaps had he not acted in them he would have acheived this. But, he was a damned fine actor. No, the Oliviers of the world will not have to roll over in their graves, but outside of the aforementioned Vincent Price, few actors in the horror genre were capable of bringing in a gravitas to their roles, no matter how silly.
Naschy did, and his work, while largely forgotten on this side of the Atlantic, did push boundaries and meld genres like few before. And, it's worth noting that he did this before the slasher film genre took off in the late 1970s. That genre, in fact,owes a debt to Naschy, as a pioneer, and one who mixed horror and sex better than any of those genre films did.
It's a little late, but R.I.P. Jacinto Molina Álvarez (aka Paul Naschy).
Most of his films were filled with soft core porno, as well as horror, and in this way they parodied the Eurotrash films of haughtier filmmakers like Pier Paolo Pasolini and Luis Bunuel. There was no place for pretension in Naschy's films.
My pals and I would sneak into theaters, and get high watching his films, along with the stuff released by Hammer, Roger Corman, Ray Harryhausen, and the Godzilla film series. Occasionally, we'd even go in for a blaxploitation or martial arts film.
Naschy often scripted his own films, and if there was one flaw to them it was that he never quite succeeded in making them as memorably bad as the films of Ed Wood. Perhaps had he not acted in them he would have acheived this. But, he was a damned fine actor. No, the Oliviers of the world will not have to roll over in their graves, but outside of the aforementioned Vincent Price, few actors in the horror genre were capable of bringing in a gravitas to their roles, no matter how silly.
Naschy did, and his work, while largely forgotten on this side of the Atlantic, did push boundaries and meld genres like few before. And, it's worth noting that he did this before the slasher film genre took off in the late 1970s. That genre, in fact,owes a debt to Naschy, as a pioneer, and one who mixed horror and sex better than any of those genre films did.
It's a little late, but R.I.P. Jacinto Molina Álvarez (aka Paul Naschy).
1/9/10
Nosferatu: A Symphony Of Horror
F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu is one of my favorite all-time films, and perhaps my fave silent film; although Metropolis and a few Chaplin shorts come close.
While not as psychologically complex as The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu is a more political film, as well as a blatant ripoff of the novel Dracula, by Bram Stoker, in his 1979 redo, Werner Herzog restored his count's name to Dracula, vs. this one's Orlock.
There is something a bit more eerie and touching about this vampire than any of the vampires played by Bela Lugosi, or even Christopher Lee. There's also a bit more scariness and 'realism,' of a sort.
Max Schreck's portrayal of Orlock has also become legendary; as in the film Shadow Of The Vampire it was posited that Schreck (as played by Willem Dafoe) was a vampire in real life, and the name was referenced in the 1990s film Batman Returns.
While not as psychologically complex as The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, Nosferatu is a more political film, as well as a blatant ripoff of the novel Dracula, by Bram Stoker, in his 1979 redo, Werner Herzog restored his count's name to Dracula, vs. this one's Orlock.
There is something a bit more eerie and touching about this vampire than any of the vampires played by Bela Lugosi, or even Christopher Lee. There's also a bit more scariness and 'realism,' of a sort.
Max Schreck's portrayal of Orlock has also become legendary; as in the film Shadow Of The Vampire it was posited that Schreck (as played by Willem Dafoe) was a vampire in real life, and the name was referenced in the 1990s film Batman Returns.
1/8/10
The Golem
This was a solid film, but it never quite had the panache and verve that Caligari did.
Here is the whole film:
Watch The Golem: How He Came into the World in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
1/7/10
The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari
I cannot recall when first I saw this film, but it was likely on PBS in the 1970s. I had grown fond of old silent films after watching The Joe Franklin Show in the summers of mu childhood, but he showed mostly the great silent comedians' best stuff. Real cinema, like this, came to me later.
The big twist of the film is one that, by now, is old hat, having been ruined after the revelation that a season of Dallas, the 1980s prime time soap opera, was all a dream. Yes, this film is where the 'It's only a dream!' trope started.
But, in films like this it's rarely the what will happen that matters bit the how it happens. I know this film was recently remade, although it was in a shot by shot replay of the film, not unlike the Psycho remake of some years back, but one has to wonder why, if done shot by shot, there is a need to remake a film as influential as this one?
Other silent horror films, notably The Golem and Nosferatu, also had moments of greatness, but Caligari also had a psychological aspect that they were missing, and it's likely this aspect why the film retains its power in my mind, whereas The Golem is hazy and Nosferatu was superseded by Werner Herzog's 1970 updating.
Check it out for yourself:
The big twist of the film is one that, by now, is old hat, having been ruined after the revelation that a season of Dallas, the 1980s prime time soap opera, was all a dream. Yes, this film is where the 'It's only a dream!' trope started.
But, in films like this it's rarely the what will happen that matters bit the how it happens. I know this film was recently remade, although it was in a shot by shot replay of the film, not unlike the Psycho remake of some years back, but one has to wonder why, if done shot by shot, there is a need to remake a film as influential as this one?
Other silent horror films, notably The Golem and Nosferatu, also had moments of greatness, but Caligari also had a psychological aspect that they were missing, and it's likely this aspect why the film retains its power in my mind, whereas The Golem is hazy and Nosferatu was superseded by Werner Herzog's 1970 updating.
Check it out for yourself:
11/6/09
8/15/09
Paul Naschy Lives!
When I was a child, my friends and I would often sneak into local theaters during late summer mornings or early afternoons. Back then, many theaters were open 24 hours, to try to maximize profits. Sometimes we'd outright sneak in, and other times we'd do little errands for the theater owners to get in, especially for skin flicks and horror crap.
Back then, the crap that ran in off hours was usually B film detritus- Toho monster flicks, Ray Harryhausen flicks, soft to hard core porno, Hammer horror films, AIP-Roger Corman crapola, and, if lucky, stuff with monsters and chicks.
Enter Paul Naschy and the films he scripted.
Naschy was the king of Spanish exploitation and horror films. Many of them showed nudity, too!
Imagine being a six or seven year old in the early 70s, and seeing stuff like that.
Well, recently I saw a boxed set of Naschy films really cheap at a Half Price Books store, and given the decades intervening, will savor my watching of the films.
Anyway, here is a clip of the films in the Naschy boxed set:
And, if you wanna find out more about the grand man himself, check out his website: http://www.naschy.com/
Back then, the crap that ran in off hours was usually B film detritus- Toho monster flicks, Ray Harryhausen flicks, soft to hard core porno, Hammer horror films, AIP-Roger Corman crapola, and, if lucky, stuff with monsters and chicks.
Enter Paul Naschy and the films he scripted.
Naschy was the king of Spanish exploitation and horror films. Many of them showed nudity, too!
Imagine being a six or seven year old in the early 70s, and seeing stuff like that.
Well, recently I saw a boxed set of Naschy films really cheap at a Half Price Books store, and given the decades intervening, will savor my watching of the films.
Anyway, here is a clip of the films in the Naschy boxed set:
And, if you wanna find out more about the grand man himself, check out his website: http://www.naschy.com/
8/5/09
Pan's Labyrinth
Wassim sent me a clip from this film yesterday, in response to some discussion over my The Question post.
Here it is:
Note the palmed eyes, and the herky jerky motions. The pale man almost looks silly, rather than scary- but that's exactly why it is more scary than CGI crap effects. It's also why the Bogeymen of Babes In Toyland are especially terrifying to a child; because that's the way real nightmares are.
Gotta see this film. Here's the trailer:
Here it is:
Note the palmed eyes, and the herky jerky motions. The pale man almost looks silly, rather than scary- but that's exactly why it is more scary than CGI crap effects. It's also why the Bogeymen of Babes In Toyland are especially terrifying to a child; because that's the way real nightmares are.
Gotta see this film. Here's the trailer:
7/22/09
7/21/09
Chiller Theater
I loved this movie series in NYC, as a kid. Here was an early opening:
Ah, the nights frittered away!
It was later replaced by this even cooler opening:
It was a nationwide series, but each local station had their own opening. I've seen a few online, but the WPIX openings weere the best!
Ah, the nights frittered away!
It was later replaced by this even cooler opening:
It was a nationwide series, but each local station had their own opening. I've seen a few online, but the WPIX openings weere the best!
6/20/09
Wlliam Henry Pratt
Who was he?
Boris Karloff, that's who!
If I have to tell you who Karloff was the natural reply is, 'What da hell be wrong with you?"
Simply put, he was the biggest horror film star of the 20th Century. Beyond Frankenstein and the Universal films, Karloff never phoned in a performance, no matter how shitty the film. The Ape is a good example:
Boris Karloff, that's who!
If I have to tell you who Karloff was the natural reply is, 'What da hell be wrong with you?"
Simply put, he was the biggest horror film star of the 20th Century. Beyond Frankenstein and the Universal films, Karloff never phoned in a performance, no matter how shitty the film. The Ape is a good example:
5/13/09
Dr. Cyclops
One of the earliest color horror films, and one that has stayed with me for decades.
Albert Dekker is great as the Doc, but it's hard to believe this was made almost 70 years ago!
Albert Dekker is great as the Doc, but it's hard to believe this was made almost 70 years ago!
4/9/09
Night Of The Living Dead
Ok, you just knew I had to add this freeby, eh?
Here it is:
Still the prime example of a great idea trumping limited budgets. Yes, the acting is hit and miss, but has there ever been a more symbolically political film (ok, maybe the original Planet Of The Apes, released in 1968, as well)?
I'll one day have to review the Millennium Edition of this classic film, but has there been a more analyzed film? Not even 2001: A Space Odyssey, Gone With The Wind, nor Citizen Kane likely equal all the ink spilled over this film.
Like 2001 (also a 1968 release), I saw this film for the first time about a decade after its initial release, and late at night. It really was scary. Granted, I was likely less scared than most kids my age were when they saw this, but that a film could scare me at all is a testament to its craft.
Unfortunately, while director George Romero made some interesting films throughout the 1970s and thru the early 1980s, the last 25 years have been a, ahum....Dead Zone.
This is his masterpiece, and likely a film that will still be watched centuries hence. Give it aanother go, or, if you are a Dead virgin, let it play out fully on you.
Here it is:
Still the prime example of a great idea trumping limited budgets. Yes, the acting is hit and miss, but has there ever been a more symbolically political film (ok, maybe the original Planet Of The Apes, released in 1968, as well)?
I'll one day have to review the Millennium Edition of this classic film, but has there been a more analyzed film? Not even 2001: A Space Odyssey, Gone With The Wind, nor Citizen Kane likely equal all the ink spilled over this film.
Like 2001 (also a 1968 release), I saw this film for the first time about a decade after its initial release, and late at night. It really was scary. Granted, I was likely less scared than most kids my age were when they saw this, but that a film could scare me at all is a testament to its craft.
Unfortunately, while director George Romero made some interesting films throughout the 1970s and thru the early 1980s, the last 25 years have been a, ahum....Dead Zone.
This is his masterpiece, and likely a film that will still be watched centuries hence. Give it aanother go, or, if you are a Dead virgin, let it play out fully on you.
4/8/09
Unearthly Stranger
I'd mentioned this little gem of a sci fi horror film from the U.K., in 1963, before (although I may have added the article The to the title), and here it is now online, albeit broken up into chunks. It's a very good little B film; quite superior to Village Of The Damned, and reminiscent of Night Of The Demon. Toss in a bit of Orson Welles' indy film style, and voila- a nailbiter.
Here is part 1:
Follow the link to Youtube and you can see all the parts for free.
Here is part 1:
Follow the link to Youtube and you can see all the parts for free.
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