Classic Horror Movie Characters (819 hits)
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Submitted by kaos-king (antius777) (View user info) at 2006-07-03 09:04:57 EDT
As per usual, blame Jack McCallum... http://www.ubersite.com/m/89899
Thanks to his post, I started thinking about horror movies in general and their origins. I went back and examined the classics. It's strange, in the last ten years we've had a bit of a return to the formula of monsters and atmospheric horror (not to mention out-right gore) than we had in throughout the 80's and early 90's. I suppose this has something to do with the special effects leap and that fact that the youth market has more money to blow on these times of films at the cinema.
In 1919, Robert Wiene directed "The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari," and in 1922, the brilliant "Nosferatu" was created by F.W. Murnau. These were the two of the first "horror movies" as we have come to know them. Both silent films, they relied heavily on the thespians to portray things more deeply and perhaps a bit more theatrically. Wiene's piece is slightly hard to follow at some points, but the somnambulist Cesare is a frightening sight none the less. Many people have seen clips from the infamous "Nosferatu," images of a make-up heavy Max Schreck as 'Count Orlok' bending over the helpless form of the slumbering beauty. 2000's "Shadow Of A Vampire" even hypothetically examined what went on behind the scenes of this dark and wonderful picture.
"The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari" was an original work, created for the screen by Janowitz and Mayer. "Nosferatu," however, was indirectly based on a book rising in fame by a little known author - Bram Stoker. It would be almost another decade before the Dracula we've all come to know would grace the screen.
Before then, an incredible actor by the name of Lon Chaney captivated audiences. In 1925, he absolutely terrified people with his role as Erik in "The Phantom Of The Opera." Once considered the 'Man of a Thousand Faces,' the scene where his true hideous facade is finally revealed is still to this day considered one of the most shocking moments in cinema. 1927's "London After Midnight," directed by Tod Browning, marked one of Chaney's greatest performances as Professor Burke among other characters. Alas, all copies of the film seem to have been destroyed or have disappeared.
With the advent of the "Talkies," movies began to capture an even greater sense of the audiences' imagination. While some actors fell by the way side due to their accents (Rudy Valentino) or felt that the new trend was a lapse in artistic judgment (Vilma Banky), others grew to great status. In any case, 1931 was a great year for horror.
Tod Browning returned with a relative unknown, the Hungarian born Bela Lugosi. Together, they made "Dracula," perhaps the most recognizable movie monster of all time. Browning used what he had learned from the silent film genre to create a dark, claustrophobic atmosphere at the castle, his star portraying The Count in such a subtly malevolent manner that it crept into the psyche of generations. Browning eventually went on to make the insidious cult classic "Freaks" and Lugosi starred in scores of horror and suspense thrillers. While his ending was tragic and quiet, his last role as 'The Ghoul Man' in Ed Wood's "Plan 9 From Outer Space," his legacy is forever cast with blood drenched fangs.
Director James Whale actually wanted Lugosi for the part of The Monster in his recreation of the Mary Shelly novel, but Lugosi didn't want to be covered in so much make-up. Fortunately, Boris Karloff had no such issues. "Frankenstien" amazed movie-goers, and started a trend of confusing viewers with the name of the mad doctor and his creature. While the Monster does not appear remotely as Shelly wrote him, it was actually make-up artist Jack Pierce who designed the look, forever creating a film icon.
First it was called "King Of The Dead," then "Im-Ho-Tep," but finally Universal settled simply on "The Mummy." Boris Karloff plays Ardath Bay, the mummy himself who was resurrected 10 years earlier by foolish archeologists. While this film did not fare so well when it opened, it spawned a great number of sequels and re-makes.
Robert Louis Stevenson's acclaim novel, "Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde" had been made into films during the silent era, 1908 and 1913, respectfully. But in 1931, Rouben Mamoulian and his star Fredric March, made the first "Talkie" based off the book. Only ten years later, master director Victor Flemming ("Treasure Island", "The Wizard Of Oz" , "Gone With The Wind") would assemble Spencer Tracey, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner and a host of other huge names to put on a big budget version. Many critics, however, feel that while it was stunningly beautiful, it was a bit boring.
In 1933, James Whale returned with a young Claude Raines in tow to recreate H.G. Well's masterpiece "The Invisible Man." This Wells character never really took off the way the other so-called 'classic monsters' did, but Raines went on to star in "Casablanca" and the ridiculous 1943 remake of "Phantom of the Opera." He was also in...
"The Wolf Man," in 1941. Finishing up the classics, it only makes sense that this piece starred Lon Chaney's son, Lon Chaney Jr. along with Raines and even had Bela Lugosi running around in it. While "Werewolf In London" pre-dates this by six years, it is "The Wolf Man" that we remember today, along with the mythology that was explored in the film. It's stop-motion transformations stunned audiences and set up Lon Chaney Jr. as a cult hero in his own right.
So many remakes have been done over the years, so many re-imaginings and re-creations of these classic horror films. Some have been incredible, some have terribly lacking. In just the last ten years, we've seen Dracula revealed as Judas Iscariot, Frankenstien played by Robert DiNiro, The Mummy get a grand CGI treatment, Mr. Hyde both a good guy and a villain, The Invisible Man become the 'Hollow' man, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's take on The Phantom go to the big screen. Our Wolf Man is slated for a deluxe re-do in 2008.
And yet, there is something primal in the fear that these old films hold that their re-makes can not capture. Perhaps it it because we can look back upon them and think about how the audience viewed them then, free of the cynicism and bitterness we hold Hollywood in now. Maybe it is because back then, they did it as much for the art as they did for the opening day sales numbers. But in the end, it's probably because, no matter what - Bela Lugosi is just damn creepy.
User Reviews
Submitted by Maddog (user info) at 2006-07-04 20:39:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
All of a sudden I'm humming Bauhaus' "Bela Lugosi's dead".
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-07-04 07:13:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
To me, the Frankenstein monster was always the scariest, and I never understood why...
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-07-04 07:02:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
filename sucks.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-07-03 19:58:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I'll have to take your word for it I suppose.
Submitted by forensicgirl3 (user info) at 2006-07-03 16:55:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
boris boris boris!
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-07-03 15:54:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I loved that part where Jimmy Cagney shoved a grapefruit in that chick's face...
Submitted by GDR (user info) at 2006-07-03 13:26:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
horror = +2
Submitted by dove666 (user info) at 2006-07-03 11:50:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
The last picture is Alice Cooper?
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2006-07-03 11:22:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Best Karloff story... During the shooting of Frankenstein, some people were heading up to Karloff's place for a visit. Karloff had been running late and rushed home, and was still wearing some of his Frankenstein getup. The guests pulled up and saw a monster (remember, the film had not been released yet) holding a garden hose and casually watering the plants.
Submitted by fodesnor (user info) at 2006-07-03 10:40:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent writing.
Submitted by Professional_Peon (user info) at 2006-07-03 10:17:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What??? No killer klowns from outer space????
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-07-03 10:15:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Classic horror flicks earn an easy +2 from me.
NOW, less of this and more UGR writing. B isn't here to crack the whip, so I'm in charge. Hop to it, Skippy.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2006-07-03 10:12:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-07-03 10:04:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
They don't make 'em like they used to.
Submitted by hyprspacd (user info) at 2006-07-03 10:03:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"Bela Lugosi is just damn creepy."
Yes sir.
Submitted by CaptainThorns (user info) at 2006-07-03 09:44:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Ha ha! You're a thespian!
Oh wait, so am I...
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-07-03 09:34:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Made for an interesting read
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-07-03 09:15:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Oh, just so you know... IMDB did most of the work for me...