PLAY When Horror was horror!
- Thread starter Loretta Van Riet
- Start date
SlipperySlope
Veteran Member
I prefer the old horror movies to the blood/slasher ones of today. One of my faves was The Bride of Frankenstein with Elsa Lanchester and Boris Karloff in 1935.
Lon Chaney Jr. as the werewolf scared the bejeebers out of me as a kid.
happyretiree
Veteran Member
Funny...just recently I have been adding to my collection these very actors / movies. Love the old horror pics.
Lon Chaney Jr’s name was changed when he started his acting career. His father, a well established star already, suggested that he change his name to the same as dad’s (for name recognition), and add the “Jr.” He did so, but hated it.
happyretiree
Veteran Member
Yes, heard that from Svengoolie on Saturday.
Hawke
Veteran Member
Yes.
Border Collie Dad
Flat Earther
Saturday nights watching Chiller Theater on Channel 11 in Pittsburgh with Chilly Billy Cardille were the best.
Turn all the lights out and get scared spitless.
For some reason , I remember Lon Chaney, Jr.'s Wolfman as the "scariest."
Turn all the lights out and get scared spitless.
For some reason , I remember Lon Chaney, Jr.'s Wolfman as the "scariest."
Border Collie Dad
Flat Earther
On MeTv everynight at 1 AM.
day late
money? whats that?
Hitchcock was once quoted as saying something like,
"Horror isn't in the gunshot. It's in waiting for the gunshot."
Understanding this is what made a lot of those old films so great. I know a lot of folks are scared spitless by "The Birds" but I always thought "Lifeboat" was actually a better film. That show couldn't depend on gimmicks like car chases or dark spooky houses with spooky music in the background. There's a bunch of people in a boat in the middle of the Atlantic. No gimmicks here. Just script and acting.
"Horror isn't in the gunshot. It's in waiting for the gunshot."
Understanding this is what made a lot of those old films so great. I know a lot of folks are scared spitless by "The Birds" but I always thought "Lifeboat" was actually a better film. That show couldn't depend on gimmicks like car chases or dark spooky houses with spooky music in the background. There's a bunch of people in a boat in the middle of the Atlantic. No gimmicks here. Just script and acting.
Blacknarwhal
Let's Go Brandon!
Honestly, I think a lot of us think that the stuff that first scared us was the best.
I've seen some of those older horror titles, and frankly, they're the weakest of sauces. But contemporary horror really lost the thread for the most part. Back when horror was big in the eighties, it was about flawed heroes taking down undead juggernauts. It was almost like baseball, in its way. The home team might have been the underdogs, but they took their cuts, won the day, and the bad guys went home, beaten but never truly defeated, because they'd always come back in the sequel to take another run at it.
Today the bad guys win way too often.
I've seen some of those older horror titles, and frankly, they're the weakest of sauces. But contemporary horror really lost the thread for the most part. Back when horror was big in the eighties, it was about flawed heroes taking down undead juggernauts. It was almost like baseball, in its way. The home team might have been the underdogs, but they took their cuts, won the day, and the bad guys went home, beaten but never truly defeated, because they'd always come back in the sequel to take another run at it.
Today the bad guys win way too often.
Ragnarok
On and On, South of Heaven
The kid that played the first Jason in the Friday the 13th movies ( you know, the one that came up out of the water ) tried to make it in the musiv industry.
He failed
First Jason - Victim
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THAGvFdiypM&ab_channel=FIRSTJASON
He failed
First Jason - Victim
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Not really a fan of those as Horror flicks but like almost everything filmed in that era the writing/story telling was substantially better than today.
I suppose many would say the acting was generally campy but those were mostly stage-trained people, used to incorporating exaggerated expressions and gestures to tell the tale.
No Blue Screen, AI Generated characters et al in those days.
PghPanther
Has No Life - Lives on TB
ahh..........the good ole days of serious scary movies........
..and some how folks.
... I can't for the life of me..........figure out why "Plan 9 from outer space" and their actors don't headline the list.
..like Thor Johnson and Maila Nurmai "aka the original Vampira" didn't make the cut...........after all it was one of those great epic horror films that were so much better then..........
What?.......you say it is a comedy??................So I guess I have it all wrong?
But what about the profound philosophical insight of the opening introduction?
..............who could ever forget the epic underpinnings of once in a life time experience with that opening line
"Greetings, my friend........... We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives"
Maybe they should titled it " Plan Obvious from empty space"
..and some how folks.
... I can't for the life of me..........figure out why "Plan 9 from outer space" and their actors don't headline the list.
..like Thor Johnson and Maila Nurmai "aka the original Vampira" didn't make the cut...........after all it was one of those great epic horror films that were so much better then..........
What?.......you say it is a comedy??................So I guess I have it all wrong?
But what about the profound philosophical insight of the opening introduction?
..............who could ever forget the epic underpinnings of once in a life time experience with that opening line
"Greetings, my friend........... We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives"
Maybe they should titled it " Plan Obvious from empty space"
day late
money? whats that?
I know others will disagree, but for my money "Plan 9 From Outer Space" has to be the worst sci-fi film ever made. It is hilarious to watch, especially after an adult beverage or three. But I mean REALLY!!! There are scenes where the police car leaves the station in the dark. It is seen racing down the road in broad daylight and arrives at the graveyard after dark. I've heard of graveyards being out of town, but never THAT far out of town. Forget bad acting. Forget bad scripting. Forget that the star of the film, Bela Lugosi, died about two or three weeks into shooting and was replaced by someone who looked nothing like him. It is just SO bad it's funny.
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Blacknarwhal
Let's Go Brandon!
...have you never seen "This Island Earth?"
12:08 worth of why This Island Earth is so bad it can really only be watched with the aid of puppets.
privatemom
Veteran Member
The original Psycho film. Still can't watch it.
The old monster flicks are a fun watch. Giant ants, spiders, and @Dennis Olson posted one last year about giant shrews. They were scary when I was a kid. Now? Good for a laugh.
The shrews were dogs according to the movie’s trivia section. It was so funny to watch. I can hear it now:
“OH NO! THEY'RE ATTACKING….. STOP THAT! STOP LICKING ME! NO, I WON’T THROW THE BALL FOR YOU!”
“CUT!!”
And again, always remember “Night of the Lepus” (which was DeForest Kelley’s screen debut IIRC) and “Day of the Triffids” (Brit film.)
So bad they were great!
“OH NO! THEY'RE ATTACKING….. STOP THAT! STOP LICKING ME! NO, I WON’T THROW THE BALL FOR YOU!”
“CUT!!”
And again, always remember “Night of the Lepus” (which was DeForest Kelley’s screen debut IIRC) and “Day of the Triffids” (Brit film.)
So bad they were great!
Dobbin
Faithful Steed
I rather enjoy "Forbidden Planet." Speaks a lot to special effects (including Robby the Robot) and also the human psyche.
Leslie (Don't call me Shirley) Nielson and Anne Francis starred.
The music was one of the first instances of the Theremin (Beach Boys) for generation of the soundtrack.
Dobbin
Leslie (Don't call me Shirley) Nielson and Anne Francis starred.
The music was one of the first instances of the Theremin (Beach Boys) for generation of the soundtrack.
Dobbin
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The Theramin was developed for that picture IIRC, thus was the first instance of it being used.
Robbie cost $100,000 (in 1956 $’s) to make, which is roughly $1M in current money.
Robbie cost $100,000 (in 1956 $’s) to make, which is roughly $1M in current money.
Does anyone remember the movie Lou Costello Meets the Werewolf?
My first Saturday horror movie. Admission was a dime and I think a bottle top from a Coke.
It scared me so bad I got down on the dirty, sticky, nasty floor and peeked over the top of the seat in front of me until it was safe to get up.
It has been over 60 years and I still remember the scene that put me on the floor.
My first Saturday horror movie. Admission was a dime and I think a bottle top from a Coke.
It scared me so bad I got down on the dirty, sticky, nasty floor and peeked over the top of the seat in front of me until it was safe to get up.
It has been over 60 years and I still remember the scene that put me on the floor.
WriterMom
Veteran Member
1000% yes!! As a fairly young kid, that movie was terrifying! I've watched it multiple times as an adult, and it doesn't have the same effect - but I still love it.
Countrymouse
Country exile in the city
I LOVE that movie!
Countrymouse
Country exile in the city
Dobbin
Faithful Steed
The "Russian Sleep Experiment" is among my written horrors.
en.wikipedia.org
Somehow humans "losing their spirit" and becoming something else I find horrible.
Dobbin
Russian Sleep Experiment - Wikipedia
Somehow humans "losing their spirit" and becoming something else I find horrible.
Dobbin
The Hammer
Has No Life - Lives on TB
It was a completely serious role for Nielsen, but I saw him in Airplane! before I saw him in this, and it becomes more difficult to take him seriously...I rather enjoy "Forbidden Planet." Speaks a lot to special effects (including Robby the Robot) and also the human psyche.
Leslie (Don't call me Shirley) Nielson and Anne Francis starred.
The music was one of the first instances of the Theremin (Beach Boys) for generation of the soundtrack.
Dobbin
Countrymouse
Country exile in the city
Never saw this till an adult, when my husband showed it to me.I rather enjoy "Forbidden Planet." Speaks a lot to special effects (including Robby the Robot) and also the human psyche.
Leslie (Don't call me Shirley) Nielson and Anne Francis starred.
The music was one of the first instances of the Theremin (Beach Boys) for generation of the soundtrack.
Dobbin
Was scared to be alone in the dark for some time after, even though I was a grown adult---kept thinking I heard -- or felt -- something unseen coming up behind me.
Blacknarwhal
Let's Go Brandon!
I don't think he ever wanted to be taken seriously. His gravestone:
And yes, that IS a fart joke. He also has a nearby bench in case you need to have a seat after laughing so hard. The bench reads "Sit down whenever you can."
Day of the Triffids - the original, not the remakes - was my all time favorite Creature Feature as a kid. I need to start a thread in the media room for these old B movies.
A scary as heck similar type is 13 Ghosts with Tony Shaloub. It was a remake of one of the old B movies from 1960.
13 Ghosts - Wikipedia
That’s because he was.
Nielsen initially wasn’t going to do “Airplane” because he felt it would damage his credibility as a dramatic actor. He was right, but it gave him a whole second career as a comic actor. And he was far better comedically than as a serious actor.