The Bride of Frankenstein

Dear sweet lord... Nearly two months. How in the hell did that happen?! Well, with October around again and horror on my mind, I've decided to find my way back to my little blog. After all, it's the one-year anniversary of this place. Well, technically, that was a few days ago, but I didn't notice that little oversight until it was too late. So now, it's time for some Halloween reviews!






With that said, let's begin. If you'll recall, my very first review back in last October was of James Whales' seminal classic, FRANKENSTEIN (1931). Taking the logical step from there, Tonight I'm reviewing his even-more-seminal (in my opinion at least) sequel, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935).

THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935): Starring- Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger, Una O'Connor, E.E. Clive, Dwight Frye, O.P. Heggie, and Elsa Lanchester.

Directed by- James Whale.

My review of the original FRANKENSTEIN was little more than a short blurb calling the movie an absolute classic. I hope I can go a little more in-depth this time, especially since I believe that this movie is even better than the first.

While it is very rare to find a sequel that is better than the original, I think this one can certainly make that claim. While the original is a brilliant and innovative horror movie, it did have its faults. This film has barely any, and improves upon the original in almost every way.

The film begins where the first one left off. Well, sort of. There is a brief prologue featuring Mary Shelley (Lanchester) explaining that she did not tell the entire story in her famous novel. (A bit unnecessary, considering that FRANKENSTEIN barely resembled Shelley's novel.)

Anyway, after that the film picks up where the original left off. Dr. Frankenstein (Clive) is being taken home to recover from his injuries while The Monster (Karloff, giving yet another fantastic performance in this role) burns alive at the hands of the angry villagers. However, The Monster isn't as dead as he seems. After killing two villagers and terrifying a few others, he is on the prowl throughout the countryside again. But, unlike the first movie, this time around The Monster is angry and on the warpath.

Meanwhile, Frankenstein is visited by an old friend and teacher, Dr. Septimus Pretorious (Thesiger). Pretorious shows Frankenstein that he has had similar ideas and created life himself. Unfortunately, Pretorious' creations were grown naturally instead of sewn togehter. Therefore, these creatures are only a few inches tall. Pretorious decides to blackmail Frankenstein into building a life-sized mate for The Monster. Frankenstein, however is unwilling to continue his work.

After meeting an old blind man in the woods, The Monster is taught to speak, and begins to desire a companion. He runs into Pretorious, who begins to use the creature as a pawn in his devilish plot. Knowing what The Monster is capable of, Frankenstein reluctantly agrees and the two scientists begin work on The Bride (Lachester, again...).

As I said before, I think this film surpasses the original in almost every way. The performances, the direction, the set design, and the cinematography are all perfect with very few exceptions. This movie is the ultimate product of Universal's horror cycle in the '30's and '40's, and I think it may be the best horror movie of the 1930's.

The performances are fantastic, especially Boris Karloff as The Monster. He brings a quiet pathos and sadness to the role, as he did in the first film. This time around, The Monster is allowed to speak, and Karloff has some brilliant lines ("I love dead.... hate living!") which he delivers perfectly . Also returning is Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein, giving yet another panicked, jittery performance that suits the character so well. Valerie Hobson is somewhat stiff as Elizabeth Frankenstein, but I much prefer her to Mae Clark, who played the character in the original. Besides Karloff's, the best performance in the film is delivered by Ernest Thesiger as Dr. Pretorious. He does everything in the film with such a devilish delight. This character is clearly entertained by just about everything around him, joking and laughing to his heart's content, and Thesiger delivers the dialogue with deliciously evil mirth. He also gives the most memorable line in the entire movie: "To a new world, of Gods and Monsters!" That is a true mad scientist, my friends.

Whale's direction is wonderful, and it's clear that this man knew how to make a movie. It's honestly a shame he didn't get more recognition as a director, but at least he got a biopic:

Anyway, the film looks fantastic, and was clearly a huge influence on many later horror films. This movie is responsible for just about everything we assosciate with old-fashioned horror these days. It has it all: Manic mad scientists, hulking monsters, damsels in distress, demented assitants, angry villagers, exploding buildings, a tragic ending, and best of all: the gigantic, elaborate laboratory sets (The exact props from this film were used in the original FRANKENSTEIN, this film, FRANKENSTEIN 1970 (1958), and many others, even YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN (1974). Those are some durable sets.)

So, there you have it. BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN is an absolute classic, and required viewing around Halloween.

My rating: * * * * out of * * * *

The Raven

     THE RAVEN (1935): Starring- Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Irene Ware, Lester Matthews, Samuel S. Hinds, Spencer Charters, Inez Courtney, Ian Wolfe, and Maidel Turner.

     Directed by- Lew Landers

     I must apologize once again for my terrible behavior as a blogger. I promise to post reviews more frequently in the future. 

     With that said, let's talk about THE RAVEN. The first thing I should mention is that this movie is not to be confused with THE RAVEN (1963), a comedy about wizards featuring Vincent Price.

This does not happen in this movie.

     The movie I'm discussing today features Bela Lugosi as Dr. Vollin, a mad surgeon who is also obsessed with the works of Edgar Allen Poe. I mean really obsessed. I mean really obsessed. This man actually has a pendulum and a shrinking room in his home. (For the record, the film has absolutely nothing to do with Poe's poem, The Raven, except for the poem being quoted by Vollin and discussed by the characters at one point.)

     Anyway, as Vollin is a highly skilled surgeon, he ends up saving the life of Jean Thatcher, a young dancer. Vollin quickly falls in love with Jean, but learns he can't have her, especially since her father (Hinds) is against this. Vollin swears vengeance against Jean, her father, and her fiance, Jerry (Matthews).

     Around the same time Vollin encounters a wanted criminal name Edmond Bateman (Karloff). Bateman, wanting to evade the police, begs the doctor to change his face so he can begin his life anew. Instead, Vollin hideously disfigures the right side of Bateman's face, using this factor to blackmail Bateman into helping him achieve his nefarious scheme.

     Vollin's plan comes together when he invites Jean, her father, Jerry, and a few other wealthy socialites to stay in his home for a night. Having Bateman pose as his butler, he soon kidnaps Jean's father, subjecting him to numerous Poe-esque tortures. The doctor also has a few surprises in store for his other guests, but Bateman has a few surprises in store for Dr. Vollin.

     This movie has quite a lot going for it. It's yet another great teaming of Karloff and Lugosi, it has great atmosphere, wonderful set design, and a relatively good disfigurement make-up, which was designed for Karloff by Jack Pierce. It's a very good make-up design, although it's not quite as memorable as Pierce's other works, such as Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, or The Mummy.

     Unlike THE BLACK CAT (1934) and some of his other films with Karloff, this movie belongs to Lugosi. Though Karloff received top billing (as he always did), this is Lugosi's  movie all the way. He revels in the role of Doctor Vollin. He's just deliciously over the top, laughing maniacally, shouting and raising his arms to the sky. I think my favorite scene is that in which he says, of his torture device: "What a delicious torture, Bateman! Greater than Poe! Poe only conceived it! I have done it, Bateman! Poe, you are avenged!" This speech is, of course, followed by a bout of maniacal laughter. Simply wonderful, we just don't have horror villains like that, anymore...

     Karloff is also good as Bateman. He has a particularly sad monologue about his past life, and why he committed his crimes. Once again, Karloff manages to bring sympathy to character who could have simply been a cheap throw-away. Unfortunately, that stops after he is disfigured. After that, Bateman rarely talks, mostly creeping around Dr. Vollin's house. In fact, one of Boris Karloff's growls from FRANKENSTEIN (1931) is looped into the movie in one scene. The character actually becomes quite similar to the role he played in THE OLD DARK HOUSE (1932). Still, I do think the movie would lack something if someone else played Bateman.

     The rest of the cast leave less of an impression, but they perform their parts well. Though, I will say that Ian Wolfe has one very funny line.  When Vollin threatens the guests with death, he says, simply: "See here, Vollin, things like this can't be done!"

     Also wonderful is the film's set design. Vollin's home at once seems both inviting and terrifying. The film manages to perfectly capture some of the tortures described in The Pit and the Pendulum, specifically, the pendulum and the shrinking room. And, I must note: while they seem a bit tame today, the torture scenes in this film must have shocked audiences back in 1935. (Perhaps an attempt to top the skinning scene from THE BLACK CAT?)

     While, at first glance, this movie seems like an attempt to cash in on the success of THE BLACK CAT, it manages to stand on its own as very good movie. It may not be as good as some of Universal's other classics, but it's very well made, highly entertaining, and definitely worth a watch.

     My rating- *  *  *  out of  *  *  *  *

The Wolf Man

     THE WOLF MAN (1941): Starring- Lon Chaney, Jr., Claude Rains, Evelyn Ankers, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Patrick Knowles, and Bela Lugosi.

                                                    Directed by- George Waggner

     Well, here we are, once again. Let me tell you something, folks. I'm not a fan of remakes at all. That's probably the understatement of the year. I fucking HATE remakes. It doesn't even matter what remake it is.

     It can be a really good remake.....

     ..... Or a really bad remake.

     I'm sorry to all you remake fans out there, but I just don't approve of remakes. I think we need some more originality in Hollywood these days. And I don't think that every movie ever made needs a remake, but that's what studio executives seem to think.

     Seriously, since 1999, everything from WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY to GODZILLA to PROM NIGHT has been given a remake. I suppose I get the attraction to most of these remakes, but fucking PROM NIGHT?! There isn't much of an audience for a bloodless, PG-13 rated remake of a third-rate 8O's slasher movie. 

     Hey, while they're at it, why don't they give us a remake of BLOOD CULT? I bet everybody wants to be reminded of that cinematic suppository.

     But what really pisses me off is when a remake overshadows the original, and people forget that the movie was even a remake in the first place. That is a great insult to everyone that worked on the original!

     So, you can imagine how far and fast my heart sank when I saw this travesty hanging in my local movie theater:

     No. You know what, no! I won't stand for this! They can remake anything else they want, but not this. They can remake CASABLANCA, but not this. I grew up with the original THE WOLF MAN, and I won't let those remaking Hollywood hacks mess around with one of my most cherished childhood memories!

     Well, it seems like I don't have much say in the matter, as the movie will be coming out. So, instead of protesting theaters, I decided to remind everyone that the original still exists with my review of it.

     The film starts out when Lawrence Talbot (Chaney) returns to his ancient family mansion in England to live with his father, Sir John (Raines). Lawrence spends some time getting reacquainted with his home town, and meets Gwen Conliffe (Ankers), whom he instantly falls for. He also purchases a silver-tipped cane from her and is told the legend of the werewolf: "Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms, and the Autumn moon is bright." 

     After several attempts, Larry manages to land a date with Gwen, who brings along her friend, Jenny. The three of them go to a visiting gypsy carnival, where Jenny decides to get her palm read by creepy fortune-teller, Bela (Lugosi). And, yes, that really is the character's name. They got Bela Lugosi to play a character named Bela.

     Anyway, Bela looks into Jenny's palm and sees the image of the pentagram. Bela freaks out and warns Jenny to run for her life. While looking for Larry and Gwen, Jenny is attacked and killed by a large wolf.

     Larry hears her screams and attacks the beast. He is bitten on the chest, but manages to beat the wolf to death with his cane. He is brought home by Gwen and Bela's mother, Maleva(Ouspenskaya). Just as soon as they arrive, Maleva has disappeared.

     The police do not find the carcass of a wolf at the scene, but instead find the body of Bela. And, the next morning, the wound on Larry's chest has disappeared, leaving only a scar in the shape of the pentagram.

     This is the point where Larry's life will become nothing short of a living hell. Everyone in the town now sees him as a murderer, and he can go nowhere without someone looking at him suspiciously. 

     Larry visits the carnival again and meets Maleva. He is told by the old woman that Bela was a werewolf, and that he is now a werewolf, having been bitten. Larry rushes home as the full moon rises, and he transforms into a beast that will haunt the citizens of this small village....

     Like I said before, I grew up loving this movie, and I still love it with all my heart. But, seeing it more recently, I picked up on so many things that went straight over my head when I was a kid. I never noticed how great the musical score was, or how haunting the photography looked, or how tragic the character of Lawrence Talbot is.

     Really, he might be my favorite of the universal monsters, beating out Frankenstein, Dracula, Kharis the Mummy, and the Invisible Man, among others. This character really isn't a monster at all, just a sad man who was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. I always end up feeling so sorry for him every time I watch this movie.

     Also, the movie is much more psychological than you would expect. It's never directly stated that Larry is a werewolf until about halfway through the movie.

      Also, all of the performances are fantastic. Larry Talbot is the greatest character that Lon Chaney, Jr., ever played. That's not really saying much, honestly, but it's still a great performance. And the relationship between Chaney and Claude Rains is amazing. I actually believe that they're father and son, which only goes to show what great actors both of them are. Evelyn Ankers is also good as the love interest. I honestly feel sorry for her character at times, as well. Finally, we have the great Maria Ouspenskaya as Maleva, the single greatest old gypsy woman in any movie ever.

     And the movie is shot beautifully. The fog shrouded forests, the bright, sunny, village streets, they all look so wonderful. This isn't just a classic horror movie, this is a classic movie.

     So, next month, when the inevitable remake comes out, go see it if you want to. It actually doesn't look all that bad. But I won't be seeing it. Ever. 

     Just promise me that you won't forget the original.

     My Rating: * * * *  out of  * * * *

The Black Cat

THE BLACK CAT (1934): Starring- Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi,

David Manners, Julie Bishop

Directed by- Edgar G. Ulmer

Since I'm still trying to wash out the bad taste left in the back of my throat by FEAR NO EVIL, I decided to get back to the classics, if only for a brief 66 minutes. So, I popped in a copy of THE BLACK CAT. Well, for me, that's the perfect cure for the bad-movie-blues.

While not as well known as the other Universal classics (FRANKENSTEIN, DRACULA, THE WOLF MAN, etc.), this movie is just as great, and I'd be as quick to watch it again as I would to watch some of those others.

But what a weird movie it is. Really, I'm amazed they got away with this one in 1934....

The plot concerns a young married couple, Peter (Manners) and Joan (Bishop), on their honeymoon in Hungary. As they arrive, they end up sharing a cab with with Dr. Vitus Verdegast (Lugosi) and his servant.

While driving through a violent storm (Don't you just love how there's always a storm in these movies?), they end up crashing, which kills the driver. As luck would have it, Verdegast realizes that they are very near the home of his old "friend" Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff). They arrive at the house and are immediately allowed to stay for the night.

But all is not as it seems. The truth is that Poelzig is a high Satanic priest, and he betrayed Verdegast during WWI, resulting in the deaths of thousands, and Verdegast's long imprisonment. Because of this, Verdegast has harbored a deep hatred for Poelzig, and has come seeking revenge. What he soon learns is that while he was imprisoned, Poelzig married his wife and adopted his daughter. Verdegast also learns that his wife has since died, and Poelzig has encased her body in a glass case, "Preserving her beauty...", and has married Verdegast's daughter.

But things don't end there. Poelzig has plans for Verdegast, and for Peter and Joan.

As I said, this movie was way ahead of its time both in plot, and in style.

The set design, camera work, photography and locations are all perfect and atmospheric.

And the plot... Well, wow. It really is bizarre and dark for the 1930's, with its Satanic rituals, hints of necrophilia, pedophilia, and the particularly nasty fate that befalls Poelzig in the film's final moments. It's also interesting that, by the end of the film, most of the cast (including an entire cult!) is dead. The only thing I could find to explain the title is that Verdegast has a pathological fear of black cats.

As for the acting, all of the performances are excellent, though I never really liked David Manners that much. Well, anyway, this was one of the first films to team Karloff and Lugosi, and they're absolutely phenomenal together. I often wonder if the story about the two actors hating each other in real life is true, because they play off of each other so well. If the rumor is true, I guess that just proves what great actors they both were.

I feel that I should mention that this movie also has some incredible dialogue ("Did you hear that, Vitus? Even the phone is dead....").

So, you should definitely see this one.

My Rating: * * * 1/2 out of * * * *

Frankenstein

FRANKENSTEIN (1931): Starring- Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae Clark,

John Boles, Frederick Kerr, Dwight Frye.

Directed by- James Whale

Well, I said I'd start out with a classic, and with Halloween on its way, what better to start with than that perennial favorite, FRANKENSTEIN?

What more do I need to say than the title? It's a classic. It's timeless. If you haven't seen it then get off of my blog right now!

But seriously, this movie is a classic in every field- The cinematography (just check out that scene that opens with five close-ups!), The dialogue (If you don't know the line "It's alive!" then you definitely need to get off of my blog right now!), and especially, the acting.

Who could forget Boris Karloff's iconic performance as the "Monster"? His performance defined what people imagine when they hear the word "Frankenstein". As for the other performances, well, Colin Clive may just be my favorite mad scientist of all time, and Dwight Frye is excellent as the creepy, sadistic, hunchbacked assistant (No, his name isn't Igor or Ygor, that came later!) Mae Clark makes a somewhat forgettable heroine, which is probably why they replaced her four years later in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Frederick Kerr, who plays Dr. Frankenstein's father, is quite funny in a dry, cantankerous way.

And, while the film hasn't aged well, it still has some great, effective moments, such as the monster trying to touch the sun when he first sees its light, and the somewhat violent-for-its-time death of Dr. Waldman (Van Sloan).

But, once again, do I really need to say all of this? This movie is legendary. Its influence is still on filmmakers to this day. It has stood the test of time, and it is a classic.

My Rating: * * * * out of * * * *

But next time, I won't be reviewing something as good or as influential! In fact, it won't be good at all!