Sci Fi History: The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Hammer Films Curse of Frankenstein ushered in a new era in horror films. The studio based the movie on Mary Shelley’s novel and its success led to six sequels and new versions of Dracula and The Mummy. Hammer films had its own distinct Gothic feel, which endeared the works to fans.  They felt real and often starred Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Hammer picked up the torch from the old Universal monster movies and made it there own.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEz02uxCPOM

Sci Fi History: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Comedy legends met horror legends in 1948. Abbott and Costello have run-ins with the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney), Dracula (Bela Lugosi), and Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange). The movie marked the end of the golden age of monster films and reinvigorated Abbott and Costello. The movie is considered one of the funniest in history and the duo’s finest.  Boris Karloff declined the role of the monster leaving the spot to Strange. Strange found the duo hilarious and laughed throughout filming leading to excess retakes.  At the very end, Vincent Price makes a cameo as the Invisible Man.  This is the movie to watch during Halloween season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg5N9FJc__Q

Greatest Movie Villains: #1-10

1. Hannibal Lector (Anthony Hopkins)
2. Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen, James Earl Jones, David Prowse)
3. The Joker (Heath Ledger)
4. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins)
5. Alex De Large (Malcolm McDowell)
6. Dracula (Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee)
7. Kahn (Ricardo Montalban)
8. Mrs. John Iselin (Angela Lansbury)
9. Hal 2000 (Himself)
10. Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman)

Sci-Fi History: Dracula (1931)

Bela Lugosi defined the vampire for the next century. Every incarnation of the creature has been influenced by Lugosi either as a knock-off or as a reaction to. Lugosi dominates the film and is a presence even when not on screen. The classic spawned several sequels including Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. The film is now in the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPxAgy7lBA

Sci-Fi History: Dracula (1897)

Bram Stoker did not invent the vampire. The creature has existed in myth for several thousands of years. Stoker did popularize the vampire and has influenced its mythology ever since. All vampires today derive from Dracula either as a counter to the Stoker story or as a continuation. In addition to the vampire myth, Stoker’s work examined several Victorian themes including folklore, the role of women, sexuality, colonialism, and immigration.

What makes Dracula so appealing is Stoker’s historical research. He based his fictional character on a real person. Stoker read Romanian history and discovered “Dracula”, which means “Son of the Dragon.” Dracula was Vlad the Impaler, whose bloody reign may have involved drinking the blood of his victims, whom he impaled on stakes. Stoker directly references Vlad within the pages of Dracula.

Dracula has appeared in a number of movies and books. Stoker wrote the first adaptation for the stage. The most popular film versions include Nosferatu (1922), Dracula (1931), The Horror of Dracula (1958), and Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). There are many other adaptations and sequels. He has even appeared in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In fact, there are over 200 films featuring Dracula as a major character. Additionally, his influence is in any movie, TV show, play, or book featuring vampires.

Nosferatu (1922):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=patgT_qG65U

Dracula (1931):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVPxAgy7lBA

The Horror of Dracula (1958):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gBRe2XMljg

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j6b4Cd3OZo

 

Greatest Movie Scenes #61-70

61. Head in a box: Seven (1995): Yeah, Gwenyth Paltrow getting beheaded by Kevin Spacey should probably rate higher...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnV6Lu0dmkI

62. Butch and Sundance vs. an army: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969): Now THAT is a way to go out.

63. Lector meets Clarice: Silence of the Lambs (1991): Welcome to Hell Clarice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGG84nUlgYg

64. I never drink wine: Dracula (1931): Poor Renfro...he is receiving an ominous warning and does not know it.

65. They call me Mr. Tibbs: In The Heat of the Night (1967): Ties into the Civil Rights Movement. Want to understand the South prior to the 70s, watch this one.

66. The Shower: Psycho (1960): ree ree reee reee

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VP5jEAP3K4

67. Get your stinking paws: Planet of the Apes (1968): Charlton Heston must have the largest catalogue of great quotes.

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

68. Don‘t Stop at the Tollbooth : Godfather (1972): Sonny pays the toll.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e55LYplVo8

69. Bonnie and Clyde eat lead: Bonnie and Clyde (1967): This may have been the first super violent film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhIZ9URHlrQ

70. Eastwood rides into hell: Unforgiving (1992): Eastwood rewrites the Western again.