Showing posts with label 1931. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1931. Show all posts

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Day 23, A Modern Prometheus



DoctorVictor Frankenstein had a dream, a dream to conquer death and disease. Not all dreams work out for you the way you would like them too, sometimes you only create the number 2 box office draw movie monster. If torch-wielding mobs had their say, Frankensteinwould be the number one monster of all time. Pieced together from bits and pieces of murderers, thieves and whatever parts were on hand, Frankenstein has smashed, crashed and torn his way through as many movie theatres as the Prince of the Undeadhas.

Over the years many cinematic scientists have attempted to follow in the footsteps of Boris Karloff, some have succeeded,and some have missed the mark. Rarely does a parody outshine an original, but director Mel Brooks surpassed all expectations and gave us the 1974 comedy gem Young Frankenstein. Luck was with Brooks during the filming as he stumbled across the actual props used in the Karloff film. One year later, the film world would be changed forever as a door was opened that could never be closed again.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Day 22 Vampires on Parade



Call him Dracula,or Vlad the Impaler, or even Nosferatu. There is no doubt that vampires rule the month of October as kings of the night. More movies have been made about vampires then about any other of the classics of cinema monsters. With origins born in folklore vampires have threatened almost every culture on earth, but when an image of a vampire comes to mind, our minds conjure up an image of Hungarian born actor Bela Lugosi.

Any great icon spawns imitators, and Lugosi was not without his bastard children. John Carpenter brought us Vampires,a violent obscenity filled tale of modern day vampire hunters that comes complete with its very own Baldwin brother. Joel Schumacher brought us the tale of the deadly vampire teenagers of Santa Carla. Because no genre is complete until Mel Brooks mocks it movie audiences were subjected to Dracula, dead and loving it,a forgettable film which makes one think fondly of Count Chocula. Keep your crucifix close, the undead are out and about in Hollywood.