UNIVERSAL - MOVIE MONSTERS

 

THE BEGINNING

A series of distinct horror, suspense and science fiction films made by Universal Studios

1923 to 1960. The series began with the 1923 version

of The Hunchback of Notre Dame Some examples included, The Phantom

of the Opera, Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, Creature From The Black Lagoon

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTREDAME (1923)

Starring Lon Chaney. The lavish production sets rebuilt

15th-century Paris on an epic scale, even re-creating the famed Notre Dame de Paris cathedral.

A runaway success at the box office! http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrLFR8eO9CY

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1925)

Also starring Lon Chaney based on the mystery novel by Gaston

Leroux. Chaney designed and endured torturous

make-up that even exceeded the demands of his previous role as the Hunchback.

As with the film Hunchback, the sets played an important part in the film. The interior of the Opéra Garnier was recreated to scale, and remains one of the longest-standing film sets to this day.

DRACULA (1931)

Vampire-horror film directed by Tod Browning and starring Bela Lugosi

Based on the 1924 stage play “Dracula” by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston.

When the film premiered at the Roxy Theatre in New York on February 12, 1931,newspapers reported that members of the audiences fainted in shock at the horror on screen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjDfOAhtWwo

FRANKENSTEIN (1931)

A Monster – horror film, Directed by James Whale and adapted from the play by Peggy Webling.

The film stars Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles and Boris Karloff.

Mordaunt Hall (premier) gave Frankenstein a very positive review and said that the film "aroused so much excitement at the Mayfair yesterday that many in the audience laughed to cover their true feelings.“

One of best films in ‘31 and of all time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qNeGSJaQ9Q

THE MUMMY (1932)

Horror film directed by Karl Freund and starring Boris Karloff as a revived ancient Egyptian priest.

Inspired by the opening of “Tutankhamun's Tomb” in 1922 and “The Curse of the Pharaohs”

An ancient Egyptian priest called Imhotep is revived when an archaeological expedition led by Sir Joseph Whemple finds Imhotep's mummy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6hA6Hx8PIg

THE INVISIBILE MAN (1933) Science fiction film staring Claude Rains, based on H.

G. Wells' science fiction novel “The Invisible Man”, published in 1897

The film is known for its clever and groundbreaking visual effects When the Invisible Man had no clothes on, the effect was achieved through the use of wires

When he had some of his clothes on or was taking his clothes off, the effect was achieved by shooting Claude Rains in a completely black velvet suit against a black velvet background and then combining this shot with another shot of the location the scene took place in using a matte process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxm4NnI26YM

THE WOLFMAN (1941)

One of the most successful films of the movies monster era at Universal.

The werewolf has had a great deal of influence on Hollywood's depictions of the legend of the werewolf. The film is the second Universal Pictures werewolf movie, preceded six years earlier by the less commercially successful Werewolf of London (1935).

The Wolf Man is the only Universal monster to be played by the same actor in all his 1940s film appearances. Lon Chaney, Jr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnGhskFaOf0

THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (1942)

The fourth in a series of films produced by Universal Studios based upon characters in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein and features Lon Chaney, Jr. (AGAIN)

Frankenstein’s last SOLO appearance.

This film was a “B” status film, not an “A” status one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxtn5mwnMiM

FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN(1943)

Starring Lon Chaney, Jr. as the Wolf Man and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster.

This was the first of a series of "ensemble" monster films combining characters from several film series.

Reviews on the film's original release were mixed, with many critics criticizing Lugosi's performance of Frankenstein's Creature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kaa88LIwJo

SON OF DRACULA(1943)

The film stars Lon Chaney, Jr. Notably it is the first film where a vampire is

actually shown physically transforming into a bat on screen.

It is the third in Universal Studios' Dracula trilogy, beginning with “Dracula” and “Dracula's Daughter”

This is the first Universal Dracula film to take the Count out of Europe and bring him to America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu_5YPEVbHg

THE MUMMY’S TOMB (1942) Lon Chaney, Jr. (first role as the mummy)

disliked the role of Kharis the mummy. Make-up artist Jack Pierce spent up to eight

hours to wrap Chaney. A rubber mask was used for long shots.

Reviews for the film were mostly negative, and did not live up to Universal Movie Monster standards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9DgSqSwXaE

HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1944)

Starring Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, Jr. Sequel to Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. The first multi-monster movie. http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnFu4njuoew

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954)

Directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams.

Originally released in 3-D! One of main movie monsters. Considered a classic of the 1950s, and

generated two sequels, Revenge of the Creature and The Creature Walks Among Us.