Classic Horror Films: Day 26 (DEAD OF NIGHT - 1945)

Do you like spooky films with several episodes which start rather nice and light and have kind of a surreal finale? Films without gore and such?

Well - in that case one of my alltime favourite films might be just your cup of tea:

Dead of Night (1945)

A man stays for a weekend in a house he never was before - and mets six persons he didn't meet before - though he knows them all: He dreamt of them in his returning nightmares.. And he is sure that something horrible will happen - though he can't remember what. When he tells his companions about his dreams they start to tell him some supernatural stories, too..

This is just a wonderful film - with a great cast: e.g. the magnificent Googie Withers. And the episodes are quite entertaining - and reaching from a wide range: there is kind of a ..uhm.. "gentlemen's joke"-episode about a haunted wedding night - and who ever saw this film will never forget the haunting performance of Michael Redgrave (yes, I have a soft spot for him..) as a ventriloquist driven mad by his dummy..

Please, make sure to get the "full" version: I have heard that for the US market back then two episodes were cut out..

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Rita Hayworth

The incomparable Rita and her little cocker spaniel...

50's era of favorite Hitchcock film tournament begins

Widely regarded as Hitchcock's best decade comes the 50's round of the favorite Hitchcock film tournament. As I stated earlier I had to put North By Northwest into the 60's era as I just short a few films for the last decade. But that was the only way to have the even amount of films for this tournament. So here are the matches represented the 50's which begin today and runs through Friday 7 pm EST.

1 VERTIGO (1958)

VS


8 I CONFESS (1953)



----------------------------

4 TO CATCH A THIEF (1954)



VS


5 THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1956)



------------------------------

2 REAR WINDOW (1954)



VS


7 THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (1955)



-----------------------------

3 STRANGERS ON A TRAIN (1951)



VS


6 DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954)

It's Rebecca vs Shadow Of A Doubt in the 40's era of favorite Hitchcock film tournament

Top seed Rebecca rolled over Suspicion 19-7 and third seed Shadow of a Doubt edged out 2nd seed Notorious 14-11 to advance to the 40's era final match of the favorite Alfred Hitchcock tournament. The winner of this match will become the second film to advance to the final four and join 30's era champion, The Lady Vanishes. The match begins immediately and will run through Friday 7 pm EST.

40'S ERA FINAL MATCH

1 REBECCA (1940)

VS

3 SHADOW OF A DOUBT (1943)

THE FALL SERIES: Greta Garbo

GRETA...need I say anymore? Didn't think so..

Classic Horror Films: Day 25 (DIE! DIE! MY DARLING! - 1965)

Stefanie Powers is Pat, a young woman who recently lost her fiance and goes to meet her fiance's mother, Mrs. Trefoile (played by the great Tallulah Bankhead). Once Pat is there she realizes Mrs. Trefoile blames her for her son's death and plans to exact revenge with psychological torture. A wicked and campy thriller with Bankhead giving one of her last great performances. It will remind you of Bette Davis and her latter day horror film roles of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane and Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte. Bankhead goes all out and doesn't hold anything back. In fact she is so over the top and good, she kind of drowns out Powers who in any other film would be good. But here she has to take a back seat to Ms. Bankhead. One of the better thrillers from the 60's. Oh and check out Donald Sutherland in an early role.

No trailer but a good scene showing Mrs. Trefoile doing her thing....

Classic Stars Match Play # 5 - Errol Flynn vs Tyrone Power (for the ladies..)

For the next match in my series of classic stars competing against each other comes two dashing swashbucklers...Mr. Errol Flynn and Mr. Tyrone Power. Ladies, control yourself. This match will start tonight and run through the whole week giving everyone time to think about who they love the most out of these two men. Their films, their talent and I'm sure looks will play a part in some of the decision making.
So let's find out the stats on these two guys shall we?

Errol Flynn

Name: Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn
Birth Date: June 20, 1909 (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia)
Height: 6' 2"
Academy Awards: none, not even a single nomination, which is a travesty.
Monties: 2 nominations, 1 win: Best Actor - The Adventures of Robin Hood (1939) - so far
My favorite Errol movie: The Adventures of Robin Hood
Match Play Record: 2-1 (beat Paul Muni and Charles Chaplin in the 30's era of the Favorite
Classic actor Tournament before losing to William Powell)


CLASSIC STARS MATCH PLAY

Tyrone Power

Name: Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr.
Date of Birth: May 5, 1914 (Cincinnati,Ohio)
Height: 5' 11 1/2"
Academy Awards: none, same as Flynn, not a single nomination
Monties: none so far but it's still early
My favorite Tyrone film: The Mark Of Zorro (1940)
Match Play Record: 0-1 (lost to Gary Cooper in the 40's era of the favorite
classic actor tournament)

ALL GOOD THINGS in November

So as the scares and chills of October begin to wind down, we look ahead to see what's coming in November. The theme of the month will be great film dramas. Focusing on family and other kinds of issues. Such films like Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, The Best Years of our Lives, Imitation of Life, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, The Chalk Garden, Sunset Boulevard and others. The classic movie goddess will be the English Rose, Deborah Kerr. So look for reviews, pics and anything I fancy about the lovely Deborah. And my friend Sophie from Waitin' on a Sunny Day may drop by to do a guest post. Speaking of friends, that loveable Desiree is my guest of the month and she will be answering questions all month long. The favorite Hitchcock film tournament will wrap up in November and I can't wait to see what film takes the top prize. I'm hoping for The Lady Vanishes but I think it will be Rear Window. And I continue with my classic stars match play events with several more interesting matches including a marquee matchup between James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. So please drop by next month to spend a little time with me and some stars.

THE FALL SERIES: Anita Ekberg

What a beautiful picture...

Classic Horror Films: Day 24 (SCREAMING MIMI - 1958)

Part psychological thriller, part film noir and part slasher film comes this vastly underrated gem from 1958 starring Anita Ekberg as a young woman named Virginia who was attacked by an knife wielding psychopath. She is saved by her step-brother but is severely traumatized by the event. She is treated by a psychiatrist and time passes when she returns to work as an exotic dancer at a club run by Joann (played by the legendary Gypsy Rose Lee). Everything is ok until Virginia is attacked again and a reporter named Sweeney (played by Philip Carey) gets involved with Virigina's past history. This is one wild movie with Ekberg give an understated but effective performance. Her dance routines are not everyday routines as she appears to be dealing with her issues through dancing. A great dane named Devil is her loyal protector. Once an attack is made on her life again, the police do everything they can to find the killer before it's too late. Good stuff.