HORROR MOVIES 101

Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

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.

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

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

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

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

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

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

Re: Horror/Thriller/Mystery Classics

   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

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