1931 Frankenstein.... - Page 2

RJDiogenes · September 25 2010, 07:22 PM

I love all the old Universal Monster movies, even the later not-so-great ones. My favorite is Wolf Man. Larry Talbot is such a tragic character and Lon Chaney Jr is amazing in the role.

Warped9 · September 25 2010, 08:19 PM

RJDiogenes wrote:

I love all the old Universal Monster movies, even the later not-so-great ones. My favorite is Wolf Man. Larry Talbot is such a tragic character and Lon Chaney Jr is amazing in the role.

I'm looking forward to this one. I've got it on order.

I like quite a few older films. I don't judge them strictly by current standards, but more what it seems they were trying to achieve. And some of them still work well even by today's standards. I also like to see things as they began and before they became cliches.

Kelso · September 25 2010, 08:32 PM

RJDiogenes wrote:

I love all the old Universal Monster movies, even the later not-so-great ones.

Agreed!

I go through my Universal Monster Legacy set at least once per year.

Warped9 · September 25 2010, 09:54 PM

In the 2-disc version I have there's a documentary about the horror movies of Universal. One film mentioned (I think it was a silent film) was something called The Laughing Man or something like that. This man is disfigured since childhood with a permanent grin on his face. But what really struck me every time I looked at him was that he was a dead ringer for the Joker in Batman. I couldn't help but wonder if by some slim chance this was an inspiration for the Joker's appearance.

Greg Cox · September 25 2010, 10:18 PM

Warped9 wrote:

In the 2-disc version I have there's a documentary about the horror movies of Universal. One film mentioned (I think it was a silent film) was something called The Laughing Man or something like that. This man is disfigured since childhood with a permanent grin on his face. But what really struck me every time I looked at him was that he was a dead ringer for the Joker in Batman. I couldn't help but wonder if by some slim chance this was an inspiration for the Joker's appearance.

You're right on target. According to Bob Kane and others, the Joker was at least partially inspired by Conrad Veidt in THE MAN WHO LAUGHS . . ..

Harvey · September 25 2010, 10:38 PM

You know, If anyone is in the Los Angeles area, there's a free screening (in 35mm) of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN at the UCLA Billy Wilder Theater this Monday, September 27. There's more information to be found here.

The only one of these old Universal films that I've seen since I was old enough to remember is, weirdly, SPANISH DRACULA. It was the bottom half of a long double bill when I saw it, though, so I was pretty tired and unenthusiastic by the end. I definitely saw FRANKENSTEIN as a kid, but I can't remember a thing about it.

Unicron · September 25 2010, 10:48 PM

I found the abbreviated 1910 version on YouTube a while back. A rather odd version.

Greg Cox · September 25 2010, 10:52 PM

I have fond memories of the seventies tv-miniseries, FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY, but haven't seen it in decades.

Believe it or not, a young Jane Seymour played the Bride!

Warped9 · September 25 2010, 11:19 PM

Greg Cox wrote:

I have fond memories of the seventies tv-miniseries, FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY, but haven't seen it in decades.

Believe it or not, a young Jane Seymour played the Bride!

When I was looking up Frankenstein to order it I found that Frankenstein: The True Story is available on dvd.

I'm considering it.

Nowhere Man · September 26 2010, 12:34 AM

I love those old movies, they are great. I haven't watched them since I was a kid, but I do have to admit they are not easy to watch sometimes. They are clasic for a reason, but I prefer my blood and guts movies. I grew up with Jason; Freddy and Mike, but I have a ton of respect for those older movies. It's not their fault visual effects sucked back then.

Christopher · September 26 2010, 12:46 AM

Greg Cox wrote:

Believe it or not, a young Jane Seymour played the Bride!

Ironically, her real name is Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg, and she adopted the "Jane Seymour" stage name (after the third wife of Henry VIII, I assume) because she thought Frankenberg sounded too much like Frankenstein. And then, five years later, she was acting in a Frankenstein story!

Greg Cox · September 26 2010, 12:47 AM

Warped9 wrote:

Greg Cox wrote:

I have fond memories of the seventies tv-miniseries, FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY, but haven't seen it in decades.

Believe it or not, a young Jane Seymour played the Bride!

When I was looking up Frankenstein to order it I found that Frankenstein: The True Story is available on dvd.

I'm considering it.

I picked up a copy several months ago, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet.

Kelso · September 26 2010, 12:54 AM

Greg Cox wrote:

You're right on target. According to Bob Kane and others, the Joker was at least partially inspired by Conrad Veidt in THE MAN WHO LAUGHS . . ..

And there are some fantastic Veidt/Joker photo manips out there.

Warped9 · September 26 2010, 02:26 AM

Greg Cox wrote:

Warped9 wrote:

In the 2-disc version I have there's a documentary about the horror movies of Universal. One film mentioned (I think it was a silent film) was something called The Laughing Man or something like that. This man is disfigured since childhood with a permanent grin on his face. But what really struck me every time I looked at him was that he was a dead ringer for the Joker in Batman. I couldn't help but wonder if by some slim chance this was an inspiration for the Joker's appearance.

You're right on target. According to Bob Kane and others, the Joker was at least partially inspired by Conrad Veidt in THE MAN WHO LAUGHS . . ..

The Man Who Laughs (1928). I'd say it's a dead on inspiration.

Silvercrest · September 26 2010, 02:36 AM

Warped9 wrote:

This makes me think of some superhero films. Much of of we've been getting lately would really have been scaled back drastically or even impossible before. The 1978 Superman was just barely able to get by and even that shows the limitations of the day. Spider-Man and Iron Man and Hulk would have been impossible to do before they were done.

Actually, Spider-Man was done once before. The '70s version with Nicholas Hammond.

And it proves your point pretty well.

September 25 2010, 07:22 PM	#16
RJDiogenes Idealistic Cynic and Canon Champion Location: RJDiogenes of Boston	Re: 1931 Frankenstein.... I love all the old Universal Monster movies, even the later not-so-great ones. My favorite is Wolf Man. Larry Talbot is such a tragic character and Lon Chaney Jr is amazing in the role. __________________ Please stop by my Gallery and YouTube Page for a visit. And read Trunkards!

September 25 2010, 09:54 PM	#19
Warped9 Admiral Location: Brockville, Ontario, Canada	Re: 1931 Frankenstein.... In the 2-disc version I have there's a documentary about the horror movies of Universal. One film mentioned (I think it was a silent film) was something called The Laughing Man or something like that. This man is disfigured since childhood with a permanent grin on his face. But what really struck me every time I looked at him was that he was a dead ringer for the Joker in Batman. I couldn't help but wonder if by some slim chance this was an inspiration for the Joker's appearance. __________________ *STAR TREK:* 1964-1991

September 25 2010, 10:38 PM	#21
Harvey Admiral	Re: 1931 Frankenstein.... You know, If anyone is in the Los Angeles area, there's a free screening (in 35mm) of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN at the UCLA Billy Wilder Theater this Monday, September 27. There's more information to be found here. The only one of these old Universal films that I've seen since I was old enough to remember is, weirdly, SPANISH DRACULA. It was the bottom half of a long double bill when I saw it, though, so I was pretty tired and unenthusiastic by the end. I definitely saw FRANKENSTEIN as a kid, but I can't remember a thing about it. __________________ "What do you hear, Starbuck?" "Nothing but the rain, sir." "Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."

September 25 2010, 10:48 PM	#22
Unicron Continuity Spackle Location: Seeking harmony	Re: 1931 Frankenstein.... I found the abbreviated 1910 version on YouTube a while back. A rather odd version. __________________ "My dream is to eat candy and poop emeralds. I'm halfway successful." Catbert, Evil Director of Human Resources

September 25 2010, 10:52 PM	#23
Greg Cox Vice Admiral Location: Oxford, PA	Re: 1931 Frankenstein.... I have fond memories of the seventies tv-miniseries, FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY, but haven't seen it in decades. Believe it or not, a young Jane Seymour played the Bride! __________________ www.gregcox-author.com

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September 26 2010, 12:34 AM	#25
Nowhere Man Commodore Location: Nowhere Land	Re: 1931 Frankenstein.... I love those old movies, they are great. I haven't watched them since I was a kid, but I do have to admit they are not easy to watch sometimes. They are clasic for a reason, but I prefer my blood and guts movies. I grew up with Jason; Freddy and Mike, but I have a ton of respect for those older movies. It's not their fault visual effects sucked back then.