The beauty and horror of black and white

The Son of Frankenstein has a wonderful use of the medium of black and white film. The shadows on the walls in particular lent and eerieness to an otherwise plain castle and completely transformed the scene in which the monster comes up from behind Dr. Frankenstein for the first time. The only photo I found of the encounter was the end result of the monster creeping up on the doctor, but the sequence leading up to this moment was masterfully done. I think colorizing these scenes would detract from the effect rather than add to it.

Horror and Humor

I just watched The Black Cat (1941)(with a completely different plot/concept than the one we watched in class, but which also stars Bela Lugosi), and though it appeared to be a "horror" movie, it featured more slapstick comedy, puns, and visual gags than actual scary moments. It was definitely an entertaining movie, and it got me thinking about the relationship between the horror and comedy genres. My theory is that, since jumping in fright and bursting out laughing are similar in their emotional intensity, horror and humor, if not necessarily interchangeable, are at least compatible enough that they can be used together without detracting from the overall thematic intent of a movie. From the goofiness of some of the early horror films, to the Abbott & Costello cross-overs, to the outright spoofs like Young Frankenstein, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, and the Scary Movie franchise, horror and comedy seem to be able to go hand in hand. Even in completely serious horror films, some of the over-the-top deaths and precarious situations can elicit an almost comedic response. The Scream movies were also very effective in being self-aware and poking fun at the conventions of horror films, while also remaining pretty frightening. I don't know what the point of this was, but it's a thought.

Faust

I can see how maybe some back then MAY have seen this film as a horror film but in my opinion this was a religious film. The acting was good, especially the actor who portrayed the devil. I know the theme and yes it is horrible and people are often caught in this dilemma however not everyone has the same religious views so that is why I view this as a religious film and not a horror film.

The Wolf Man

Did anyone notice that everyone was centered on the prints as a four legged animals--and yet Larry is the werewolf and walks upright creating two print tracks? ah grasshopper........

I also caught the pun on the store front reading "Saneman Products, LTD" - hmmmm........

Please help me out someone, I thought a werewolf only appeared on the night of a full moon. Larry seemed to be out every night........am I missing something?

See everyone in class
Stephanie

The thing that struck me is that in Son of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's immortal creation seems to assume a supporting player to the activities of its human confederates. Its interesting that this movie was the longest of all Universal's horror genre. And it seems to trigger the twilight (no pun intended) of the classic horror film genre.

The year this was released was 1939. World War II was in the beginning stages, could the atrocities and realities of war beginning to manifest within the world be cause for the rejection of the horror film? Or was it just a calculated move by the studios?? Seems worth reflecting on what might have triggered this shift in the acceptance of horror films at the time.

The Invisible Ray, At the Roxy.

Here's one review of the 1933 film by Carl Laemmle starring Karloff & Lugosi.

At the Roxy. Copyright New York Times Company Jan 11, 1936.
Catching Andromeda's Light (Highlight Magazine for Children December 2007) - that's what Dr. Rukh (Boris) did. In fact, he caught so much light he was glowing. This 1933 film had it all; love triangle, professional rivalry and good against evil (Boris and Bela again), revenge, greed, time travel, radioactivity (RadiumX). Interestingly enough, Boris lived with Mama Rukh, a blind but insightful deeply religious woman. After Boris restores her eyesight with RadiumX (painstakingly retrieved from deep in Africa) she is horrified. The mother mentions how her son broke the first law of science
Poor Boris loses his mind because of the life-long medication he needs from Bela to treat his "light"headedness. In the end .. I'll just say Mama Rukh comes through for all of humanity.
Like Shelley's Frankenstein, there are "some secrets we are not meant to know" (The Invisible Ray.)

And, not to be confused with the Band, The Invisible Rays. Featuring footage from many of our horror movies. Horror, or terror?

The Graveyard of Horror: The movie "The Black Cat" was based on a story by ...

The Graveyard of Horror: The movie "The Black Cat" was based on a story by ...: The movie "The Black Cat" was based on a story by Edgar Allan Poe. Having a large volume of Poe at my house (yes, I am that kind of girl), I...

I see now why gin is such a scary thing!

Having had some time to ponder the significance of the black cat as it relates to the movie, perhaps the cat represents the ability to escape death for some time, but not all time - sort of like Boris, Bella (and all relatives) in "The Black Cat." We saw Bella kill the cat at least once, and it came back. All the women -both dead and alive - were 'taken care of.''
But dead at last, one and all.