HORROR MOVIES 101

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

LaBete — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:41:55 GMT

Actually I would consider a classic any film unique enough to make someone want to watch it over frequently. "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006) is a good example. I have watched it so many times I've lost count. I also think "Star Wars" fits as a classic. I'll admit most classic are older films, but being "old" doesn't necessarily make films classics.

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

divinemsjunebug — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 23:40:17 GMT

That is really cute, I bet that molasses was really hard to get off his face. hee hee. Yes I absolutely love all Abbott and Costello movies. In Kansas City they were on Sunday afternoons when I was little along with Shirley Temple Theater too (which my mom just loved) and Tarzan Theater. Anyway, they just cracked me up so much, just the way that Lou would react to everything. I loved them and the Marx Brothers - the Three Stooges were okay but I was a little sensitive when I was young (I know, I know, I watched countless horror movies, but guys hitting each other and poking each others eyes and yelling at each other upset me more that Dracula ripping out the throat of someone, I told you I was a strange child...lol) so I didn't watch them as much, I was watching the reruns on Spike TV the other day of the Three Stooges and it is much funnier to me now, But Abbott and Costello are the best in my book.

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

joem18b — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 19:57:47 GMT

Just to salute Abbott and Costello one more time... When I was a kid (pre-TV where I lived), all the horror classics came and went without me or any of my cohorts getting to see them. But we knew all about them because they howed up again Saturday afternoons in the Abbott and Costello movies. A kid down the street had a black velvet cape (probably his mother's) and a jar of blackstrap molasses for monster makeup; he always got to be the wolfman. Don't know why we all thought the wolfman wore a cape...

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

divinemsjunebug — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 00:35:08 GMT

I agree with you Doc, I think you are right, before 1950 (that is also the way with music too) were the "real" golden age Classics. It was really strange, in 1970 it's almost like they tried to do movies as cheaply as possible, the quality of movies then (early 70s) were very grainy and the color is really off. But in the 60s, you have a movie Like Rosemary's Baby and how much better the quality it. Now I'm not talking about ALL movies, there are always some exceptions...

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is SOOO FRIGGIN SAD, it's in the same category as Frankenstein AND BRIDE of Frankentsein for me. I feel so sad when I watch those movies (as well as Carrie) just because I feel sorry for the main characters, so it's hard for me to watch them. I love Quasimodo (I made a little ceramic cat in an art class I took and it came out a little deformed with a hunch back and a really big eye (it's quite funny actually) anyway, I call it quasimodo and have it in my office in a corner. When people come in to do their paperwork they always jump and laugh when they see it.

The Black Cat is a very EXCELLENT movie, I would say it is one of Bela Logosi's best films (and he is actually the one you feel sorry for in this film) of course Karloff is always incredible. But this movie really haunted me for some reason, I need to watch it again because it's been a while since I've seen it, but I know it was very creepy. I loved it!!

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

Dr_Gor — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:15:16 GMT

Whenever I am talking about the 'true' classics, I am talking pre 1950 ... aka 'The Golden Age' ! In or around 1950, Horror movies suddenly changed (!) into 'sci-fi, radiation (we had just won The War by 'nuking' Japan!), and giant bugs, etc.!" ... About 1960 it changed again... back to the more 'old school' Horror film! Then, about 1970, it changed AGAIN.... And '80... And '90... and on and on through EVERY decade!

Ok... back to the 'golden age'! I have a few 'stand out favorites' that I ALWAYS recomend to EVERYBODY...

1. "The Hunchback Of Notre Dame" (1939: starring Charles Laughton)

2. "The Black Cat" (1934: Karloff and Lugosi)

3. "The Bride Of Frankenstein" (there is only one!)

... There are more...

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

joem18b — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:54:45 GMT

When I think classic monsters, I think Abbott and Costello. Seems like they met all of them.

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

Jymkata — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:16:46 GMT

divinemsjunebug:

I loved watching Nosferatu, it was so cool because in Seattle they have this gorgeous old theater and certain God, I love ANY Vincent Price movie. He is just one of my all time favorite actors, I loved the Pit and the Pendulum, the Fall of the House of Usher, Especially House of Wax, Masque of the Red Death, I also loved his comedic movies. I have to admit, when I heard he died, I was really sad. There are so many others of his films that I just love.

I really enjoy Vincent Price too, and he was a supporting actor in quite a few film noir as well. I just watched The Masque of the Red Death for the first time this year and I was pleasantly suprised at how much I liked it. I thought the cinematography, art design, performances and Poe's story made for an almost perfect atmosphere for a classic horror story.

My favorite classic horror movies are the James Whale horror films - Frankenstein, The Old Dark House, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein. Wow, what a legacy, In my opinion Whale was the best at creating a creepy, menacing atmosphere.

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

divinemsjunebug — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 04:32:22 GMT

I loved watching Nosferatu, it was so cool because in Seattle they have this gorgeous old theater and certain Monday nights they have a silent movie feature and this man comes in to play the organ, just like the old, old days. It is really cool almost like you are in a time warp. Anyway, they showed Nosferatu on the big screen and it was really creepy, I need to watch it again.

God, I love ANY Vincent Price movie. He is just one of my all time favorite actors, I loved the Pit and the Pendulum, the Fall of the House of Usher, Especially House of Wax, Masque of the Red Death, I also loved his comedic movies. I have to admit, when I heard he died, I was really sad. There are so many others of his films that I just love.

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

Dr_Gor — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 03:10:20 GMT

Dont even get me started! ... Just look at my 'favorites' list and you will get the idea!

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

Risselada — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:38:54 GMT

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari for sure.

Another one probably worth mentioning is Mystery of the Wax Museum, which was later remade as an equally good 3-D movie titled House of Wax with Vincent Price. What is interesting about that movie is that it has often been called the greatest 3-D movies of all time, yet the director of the film André De Toth could only see out of one eye! Meaning there was no way the director could even see the 3-D effects. Maybe it was that objectivity that helped him.

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

Indie — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 13:08:55 GMT

I'd definitely consider nosferatu. Renewed interest aside, from Shadow of the Vampire, this one is a fore-father to every vampire movie out there. I think that this is a great one to include.

Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

divinemsjunebug — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:16:36 GMT

Since I am awake and can't get back to sleep, I started watching a very old silent movie from about 1926, directed by Alfred Hitchcock called The Lodger, a story about a man under suspicion of being Jack the Ripper. I started thinking about some of my other favorite old movies like The Mummy, The Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstein, Psycho, The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Suspicion etc. What are some of your favorite "old" Classics (would you consider an old classic to be something before 1970?)...