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Jewish World Review Oct. 19, 2007 / 7 Mar-Cheshvan 5768 Fright fest By Greg Crosby
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Last Fourth of July I recommend some great patriotic movies to watch. Now that Halloween is practically upon us, here is my list of scary movies to get you in the proper spirit, so to speak.
• Frankenstein The original 1931 version starring Boris Karloff, of course. Following the success of this picture Universal made a gang of sequels, some better than others, but all of them lots of fun. The Bride of Frankenstein came next and some think it is even better than the first film. Watch the original first, and then see the others in the order of when they were released.
• The Wolf Man "Even the man who is pure at heart and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolf bane blooms and the moon is full and bright." Oh man, when I was a kid it didn't get any scarier than this one! Watch out for the old gypsy woman! It's Lon Chaney Jr.'s performance that really makes the picture. He plays it with such sincerity that he makes you truly believe it could happen. Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man is a pretty good sequel too.
• The Werewolf of London This was the first werewolf picture made in 1935 starring Henry Hull. This got the hair on the back of my neck sticking straight up. Actually most of the werewolf pictures scared me pretty good.
• The Mummy Another Universal horror classic starring Boris Karloff made in 1932. There were a bunch of follow-ups made, but this one is the best by far. Just as with the Frankenstein pictures, try to see them in order.
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde My favorite is the 1941 Spencer Tracy version, but the 1932 Frederic March film is a good one too. The silent version staring John Barrymore is probably the scariest one.
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame Not really a Halloween horror movie in the traditional sense, but the 1939 version starring Charles Laughton as Quasimodo is the very essence of a monster movie.
• The Beast With Five Fingers They used to show this spooky Peter Lorrie film on TV all the time when I was a kid. I learned the dialogue by heart. You don't see it around much anymore, but it still offers plenty of scary moments. Perfect for late-night viewing on Halloween night.
• Dracula This 1931 Bela Lugosi classic never really got to me like the other horror films, and in fact it comes off more funny than scary today. But I include it in the list because it truly started an entire genre of gothic horror film that is still going strong today.
• The Invisible Man 1933 Claude Raines version. Still effective!
• Freaks Tod Browning's 1932 horror film using real carnival side-show freaks will "creep you out" as they say.
• The Uninvited A real old fashioned ghost story in a haunted house. 1944 with Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey.
• The Haunting Another classic haunted house story.
• Psycho Alfred Hitchcock decided to show the world how to do a horror movie in 1960 and no one has done it better since.
• The Exorcist When it comes to pure unadulterated fright, this one wins hands down. See the original 1973 picture and skip the sequels.
• The Phantom of the Opera The original silent Lon Chaney classic is still wonderful.
• Nosferatu Made in 1922, this is the very first vampire movie and if this doesn't give you nightmares nothing will.
• The Old Dark House (1932) and Mad Love (1935) are two obscure little films that are perfect for Halloween night. • Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein - My all-time favorite Halloween comedy. Bud and Lou and Frankenstein's monster, Dracula and the wolf man - all on a spooky remote island at night. What 10 year-old kid could ask for more?
• Arsenic and Old Lace Cary Grant goes slapstick in this Broadway hit directed by Frank Capra. Funny stuff.
• The Ghost Breakers (1940) Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard romp in a haunted castle. Lots of laughs as well as plenty of scary moments.
• Young Frankenstein Probably Mel Brooks' best movie after the original Producers. Not scary in the least, but FUNNY, FUNNY, FUNNY! Everyone in the cast was perfect. Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
© 2006, Greg Crosby |
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