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BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE. (1958). Similar in tone to a Hammer film, especially with a Jimmy Sangster script , Barbara Shelly performance and how Donald Wolffit reminds one of Christopher Lee. Sadly, found this pedestrian in Third/Fourth grade on CREATURE FEATURE and even more so on last viewing. OK , but not much more than that. **
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I Wake Up Screaming (1941)
8/10 Victor Mature plays Frankie, a promoter, who helps hash-slinging Vicky (Carole Landis) brush elbows with high-society and media moguls. After Vicky announces she's going to Hollywood, and is murdered, Vicky's skeptical sister Jill (Betty Grable) begins a relationship with Frankie. Meanwhile an obsessed cop (Laird Cregar) tries to nail Frankie as the murderer. The characters are enjoyable, and there's a light gayety that brightens the underlying dark film noir subject matter. The direction has some nice use of shadows and intriguing shot choices, but the film has a odd penchants for playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow at ill-fitting moments. |
THE HELLFIRE CLUB (1961). On the same disc as BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE with another Jimmy Sangster script. Young boy escapes tumultuous family home and tries to get his rightful title from sleazy cousin who nabbed it. Pretty good swashbuckling effort is entertaining and as always., nice to see Peter Cushing. ***
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Rosemary's Baby, 1968. 9/10
Director: Roman Polanski  |
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I'll make three guesses: The Tenant, Repulsion and The Pianist. I wouldn't peg you as a Chinatown fan. |
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MURDERS IN THE ZOO (1934). Lionel Atwill is once again looney tunes as a wealthy Zoo owner convinced his wife (Kathleen Burke from ISLAND OF LOST SOULS) is tomcatting about and his efforts to prevent. This has one of the most startling opening scene ever put on film and some extreme bits of nastiness throughout. Early performance by Randolph Scott as a Scientist and He still moves like a Cowpoke! Sadly, extremely unfunny "Comedy Relief". by top billed Charles Ruggles::shocked:: truly hamper any momentum previously incurred. ***
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yep!::big grin:: |
WHITE ZOMBIE (1932). Impressive atmosphere, great sets and some cool zombies are all but hamstrung by a silly plot and some horrid acting...realize most of the actors here began in silents and were used to over emoting, but it really puts the movie in jeopardy.
The main reason to watch this -and this is the case in many of his films- is for Bela Lugosi as Murder Legendre, the Zombie master. Even with the unibrow, Bela looks fantastic in this and he completely carries WZ As mentioned, many of Bela's films are bad, but he has incredible charisma and truly mesmerizing...You cannot take your eyes off him while he is on the screen. He has some humdingers here for dialogue especially when discussing the origins of his slaves, particularly "He almost executed ME!" *** |
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Always put off this film, but finally sat through it. Absolutely haunting and still relevant today (aside from the Satan aspect) with the issues of isolation, control, and pregnancy. Great performances and music. Just sucks Roman Polanski is a creep. Film is one of the best of the best. |
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NIGGHTMARE (1964). Pretty good BW psychological Hammer film, although I find it pretty mean spirited and two of the most loathsome characters I've ever seen. To tell more would diminish the film, so FD says, Check It Out! ***1/2
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The Birds
It has all the "problems" of an "old" film. By today's standards, the pace seems a bit slow and some of the effects look dated, which is only logical. The end also was a bit underwhelming. Having said that, the attacks towards the end still hold up pretty well and the image of birds pecking away at the doors is indeed scary. Also interesting to see how they bring along the lovebirds. |
Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein
The Giant Gila Monster |
The Wolf Man
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Creature From the Black Lagoon
Still my favorite Universal monster ::love:: |
Recently watched The House That Dripped Blood, my favorite of the Amicus anthology films. The Peter Cushing segment is a bit of a disappointment due to the less-than-realistic heads that are "served" on the platter, but overall, the film holds up very well.
Jim |
The last classic horror film I watched was, "Fiend Without A Face" (1958). It was fairly standard b-movie tropes until the last fifteen minutes, and then I was blown away! This film contains some of the most glorious b-movie action sequences I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. All those flying brains with wriggling tentacles and their viscous, neuron-guts spewing all over in black and white? Awesome!
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Absolutely!
If only the entirety of the film were exciting as the last fifteen minutes... |
The Mummy (1932)
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Frankenstein
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Dracula
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Curse of the Werewolf
Next to Dog Soldiers, my favorite werewolf movie. Of course! It's Hammer! |
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Paranoiac
Excellent thriller from Hammer, starring Oliver Reed |
The Kiss of the Vampire
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NIGHT KEY (1937)>>>>>>>>>>>>>POSSIBLE SPOILERS ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT SPARE YOU THE PAIN AND WASTED TIME>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
One of the first films shot at Universal with new owners, this has Boris Karloff as a kindly inventor who is screwed over, not once, but TWICE by Samuel S Hinds and decides to take an almost Gahndi style form of revenge. Incredibly listless and a completely ridiculous ending. Watch FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY or THE BODY SNATCHER instead. *1/2 |
Horror of Dracula
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So far this month:
Gorgo The Black Sleep Night of the Living Dead |
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We watched The WOLF MAN as well than put in FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN (1943) which, for my money, one of the better Universals from that time. Really like the title sequence with the test tubes, one of the best opening scenes in any film, good cast and of course, "The Battle of the Century" towards the end. Lon JR is really good as WM and while the jury is still out on Bela as the Monster, think it would have played better had the original script been left alone with its references from GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN to explain while the Monster acts as he does. ***1/2
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The Fearless Vampire Killers
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