Released - November, 1933 

Directed By - James Whale

Starring – Claude Rains (The Invisible Man), Gloria Stuart (Flora Cranley), William Harrigan (Dr. Arthur Kemp), Henry Travers (Dr. Cranley).

Description – A mysterious stranger with his eyes shielded by dark glasses and his face covered by bandages checks into an inn located in an English village. He demands that the staff leave him completely alone while never leaving his room.

His strange behavior cause the innkeeper to call the police and order him to leave. After assaulting the innkeeper he laughs maniacally as he removes the bandages showing himself to be invisible.

This is Dr. Jack Griffin, a scientist who while working on a strange new drug called “Monocane” has accidentally discovered the ability to make himself invisible. Dr. Griffin reveals his secret to his one-time partner Dr. Arthur Kemp and to his fiancee Flora Cranley.

Dr. Griffin forces Dr. Kemp to return with him to the inn in order to retrieve his notes on the invisibility process and while there kills a policeman. This is just the beginning of a series of killings and robberies that follow and threaten the lives of both Dr. Kemp, who Griffin has threatened to kill, and Flora Cranley.

While Monocane has given Dr. Griffin the power of invisibility, he has overlooked one thing. The use of the drug renders its user insane. Now you see him, and now you don’t; it’s catch me if you can when pursuing an invisible man.

NOTABLE: In 2008, The Invisible Man was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

This film is considered one of the great Universal horror films of the 1930′s and was the first American screen appearance for Claude Rains.

The films groundbreaking visual effects were created by John P. Fulton, John J. Mescall, and Frank D. Williams. Their work is often credited with the films success.

Personal Note: This is classic horror/sci-fi at it’s best. Although starting off with the use of invisibility in a comic fashion it turns deadly from then on.

The Invisible Man (Universal Studios Classic Monster Collection)

The Invisible Man – The Legacy Collection (The Invisible Man/Invisible Man Returns/Invisible Agent/Invisible Woman/Invisible Man’s Revenge)

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Released – December, 1932 

Directed By - Karl Freund

Starring – Boris Karloff (Ardath Bey/Im-ho-tep), Zita Johann (Helen Grosvenor), David Manners (Frank Whemple), Arthur Byron (Sir Joseph Whemple), Edward Van Sloan (Dr. Muller).

Description – An archaeological expedition finds the tomb of Egyption priest Im-ho-tep. When on of the archaeologists reads an ancient life-giving spell it brings the mummy of Im-ho-tep back to life.

He escapes with the Scroll of Thoth reputed to bring the dead back to life and sets out to find the reincarnation of his ancient lover Princess Ankh-es-en-amon.

Ten years now pass and Im-ho-tep, now known as the mysterious Egyption Ardath Bey, armed with the Scroll of Thoth joins another expedition to find the tomb of the princess. In order to bring her back to life he must first take the life of Helen Grosvenor who be believes to be the reincarnated Princess.

NOTABLE: This motion picture was inspired by the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.

Actress Zita Johann actually was a believer of reincarnation.

It took makeup artist Jack Pierce eight hours to apply the necessary makeup to Boris Karloff.

The poster for the movie holds the record for the most money ever paid for a movie poster at auction going for more than $453,000, and is #15 on Premiere’s “25 Best Movie Posters Ever.”

Personal Comment: A horror classic that ranks right up there with Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Wolf Man in the genre’s history. Great dialogue, direction, atmosphere, and a first-rate performance by Boris Karloff.

The Mummy (Special Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)

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Released – February, 1932 

Directed By - Tod Browning

Starring – Wallace Ford (Phroso), Leila Hyams (Venus), Olga Baclanova (Cleopatra), Roscoe Ates (Roscoe), Henry Victor (Hercules), Harry Earles (Hans).

Description – An unusual and quite unsettling story of sideshow performers. In order to take advantage of midget Hans’ large inheritance, trapeze artist Cleopatra seduces and marries him.

Cleopatra along with sideshow strongman Hercules, who she has been having an affair with, conspire to poison Hans get the inheritance, and run away together. However, they are overheard talking of the murder plot by another of the ‘freaks’ who informs the others of the plan.

Revenge is now the order of the day; and it will not be pleasant.

NOTABLE: In 1994 the film was chosen to be included in the United States National Film Registry.

Inspired by his actual experiences as a member of a traveling circus , Director Browning chose to cast actual carnival performers and real people with deformities in this film.

Originally, Myrna Loy was to play Cleopatra and Jean Harlow the character of Venus. However, MGM production supervisor Irving Thalberg decided against the use of major stars.

Moviegoers were shocked by the cast of deformed characters and the film, to this day, remains a subject of extreme controversy. So controversial that Director Tod Browning, who had gained acclaim in the horror genre for his work with Lon Chaney and Bela Lugosi, had a difficult time getting more work dramatically shortening his career.

This film was banned in the United Kingdom for 30 years.

Personal Comment: Two words….very creepy!

Freaks (Enhanced) 1932

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Released – November, 1931 

Directed By - James Whale

Starring – Colin Clive (Dr. Henry Frankenstein), Mae Clarke (Elizabeth), John Boles (Victor Moritz), Boris Karloff (The Monster), Dwight Frye (Fritz).

Description – Loosely based on the Mary Shelley novel, Frankenstein is probably the most recognizable monster in the history of the horror genre.

Ambitious scientist Dr. Frankenstein and his hunch-back assistant Fritz have been collecting and reassembling human body parts in an effort to create life. With a loud crack of thunder and lightening igniting Dr. Frankensteins’s electrical machines the monster comes alive.

Unknown to the Doctor is the fact that his assistant Fritz has collected the brain of a criminal for the experiment and his new life form knows only hate and murder. The rest of the story is horror genre history.

NOTABLE: In 1991 this film was selected for the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.

The role of Frankenstein was originally offered to Bela Lugosi who rejected the part because is was a non-speaking role. Actor John Carradine also turned the part down because he felt he was too highly trained an actor to be reduced to playing a monster.

What have commonly been referred to as bolts in the monster’s neck are actually electrodes.

The original release of the film was banned in Kansas because they felt it depicted “cruelty and tended to debase morals”.

Personal Comment: In spite of the production limitations, both Frankenstein and Dracula are immortalized in the minds of horror genre movie lovers; including myself.

There were a string of sequels to this film including what is commonly considered to be the best of the series – ‘Bride of Frankenstein,’ starring Elsa Lanchester.

Talk about typecasting – Enjoy the creepy performances of Dwight Frye as Fritz the hunch-back assistant in this film, and as Reinfield in Dracula.

Frankenstein (75th Anniversary Edition) (Universal Legacy Series)

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Released – February, 1931 

Directed By - Tod Browning

Starring – Bela Lugosi (Count Dracula), Helen Chandler (Mina Harker), David Manners (John Harker), Dwight Frye (Renfield).

Description – In an unforgettable movie role that forever typecast Bela Lugosi, Dracula is a horror movie genre classic familiar to everyone. While this early talkie may seem a little dated, Lugosi’s performance as the Transylvanian bloodsucker will always be the standard for which other portrayal’s of Dracula will be compared.

Equally creepy and enjoyable is the performance of Dwight Frye as the spider-eating Renfield.

NOTABLE: In 2000 this film was selected for the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.

The role of Dracula was originally intended to go to actor Lon Chaney whose untimely death provided Lugosi with the role he originally played on stage.

Contrary to popular belief, in this film, Dracula is never seen showing fangs nor is there a scene showing bite marks to a victims neck.

Bela Lugosi died in 1956 and was buried in the black silk cape used in the film.

Author Bram Stoker’s novel had previously been filmed, without his permission, in 1922 by German film maker F. W. Murnau and titled ‘Nosferatu’.

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