Classic Horror Films: Day 30 (THE RAVEN - 1963)

This, my friends, will be the last of my short classic horror film posts for Monty’s Horror Film Fest. So for that post I chose one of my favourite films ever – with two of my all-time favourite actors: Vincent Price and Peter Lorre – and the film that I want to tell you about today also contains one of my favourite animals – actually it’s called after that animal – and also is reminiscenting the famous poem of one of my favourite authors - Edgar Allan Poe:

The Raven (1963)

Magician Dr. Craven (Vincent Price) is mourning about the loss of his wife Lenore (Hazel Court) when not so very talented but poisoned-tongued magician Dr. Bedlo (Peter Lorre) appears, who was changed into a raven.

With Dr. Bedlo’s not so bright son Rexford (Jack Nicholson) and Dr. Craven's daughter Estelle (Olive Sturgess) they go on a trip to mean magician Dr. Scarabus (Boris Karloff) who had done that magical change – and who apparently is in the company of not-as-dead-as-thought Lenore.. Soon there is a magic duel going on between Dr. Scarabus and Dr. Craven..

Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff were - as you hopefully might know - not only geniuses when it came to horror films but also when it comes to comedy. This film just is fun to watch and I imagine the actors had a great time performing.

For lovers of beautiful women we have the gorgeous Hazel Court and Olive Sturgess.

I love the little horror film gimmicks like a tarantula and other “creepy” animals appearing.. And Jack Nicholson's change from easy minded to possessed and back again is really worth a look.

This film was one of my favourites when I was a child - and I still adore it.

Well.. thank you all for reading my posts and commenting on them in this festival.

I hope you all have a wonderful spooky Halloween!

Yours

Irene

“This it is – and nothing more..

… ...

Quoth, the Raven ‘Nevermore..' ”

Top Ten Stars For The Week Ending Saturday, October 29th, 2011

Sorry, I know I haven't posted a top ten list ranking my top stars of the week, here on All Good Things. But here is the latest one for this past week just ending yesterday.

1. TERESA WRIGHT - One of my all time favorites had a birthday last week and she was all over my blog with a birthday tribute and other assorted pics associated with my Fall Series. She also makes her first appearance on this list.

2. ERROL FLYNN - The Swashbuckler himself makes a first appearance on this list as well thanks to his match play event with fellow swashbuckler Tyrone Power.

3. INGRID PITT - One of Hammer Films top actresses of the 60's and 70's, I just did a tribute to her for her part in Hammer history.

4. IRENE DUNNE - Dunnie continues to be ranked as well as she should since she is the classic movie goddess of the month.

5. RITA HAYWORTH - I think the term goddess was coined specifically for Rita.

6. ANITA EKBERG - Just saw her wonderful film Screaming Mimi which I posted about for my classic horror movie series. And I also posted a pic about her for my fall series.

7. CATHERINE DENEUVE - Another birthday tribute and another lovely woman.

8. TYRONE POWER - Can Ty take down Errol in the match play event? Probably not but I'm sure my female readers have enjoyed it.

9. CONSTANCE BENNETT - A birthday tribute to the blonde Bennett girl. And one of screwball comedies best actesses.

10. JOAN FONTAINE - Also had a recent birthday and I did a tribute for that and a piece on The Women over on Screwball Cinema.

So that wraps up this week's top ten list and hopefully I will do this each and every week.

THE FALL SERIES: Ruth Hussey (and a Happy Birthday as well)

Is Ruth gorgeous or what? Happy Birthday Ruth!

Looks like I will be watching The Philadelphia Story and The Uninvited

in her honor today....

Classic Horror Films: Day 29 (ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN - 1958)

More science-fiction than horror and more guilty pleasure than good but this film will give you a few chills and scares. Allison Hayes is game as Nancy Archer, the wife of a no good husband who stumbles across a crashed alien spaceship. Exposed to radiation she becomes ill and quickly starts growing in height to massive levels. And now wants vengeance on her cheating husband and the woman he is carrying on with (Yvette Vickers). Pretty bad special effects and a laughable premise but Hayes goes for broke with her go for it all performance. And let me tell there is nothing scarier than a 50 foot woman pulverizing houses trying to kill you. Good shameless fun.

The Women of Hammer Films: Ingrid Pitt

The beautiful Ingrid...

One of Hammer films most legendary actresses was Ingrid Pitt. She made three films with the studio: The Vampire Lovers, Countess Dracula, and Beyond the Rave. Pitt was born Ingoushka Petrov on November 21, 1937 in Warsaw Poland. She endured the concentration camp during world war two. Her harsh ordeal is widely known as she endured torture and rape. She came through it and made her way to Berlin. There she met an American soldier and married him. On to California and Europe to try her hand at acting.

Her film debut was a minor role in a very big film, Doctor Zhivago. She would land a much bigger part in 1968's Where Eagles Dare alongside Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood.  But it was with her first Hammer film that put her on the map so to speak. As Carmilla in 1970's The Vampire Lovers which cast her as a vampiress feeding on young girls in 19th century Austria. Pitt made an immediate impact, so much that a follow-up film was made the very next year. In Countess Dracula, her character was based on the legend of Countess Elizabeth Bathory. And once again Pitt was unbelievable in the role. I've seen both of these films and they are some of my favorite horror films of all time. I have not seen Beyond The Rave. Pitt would continue on in horror films through-out the 70's including The House That Dripped Blood and The Wicker Man (another fave of mine). 

A scene from The Wicker Man with Ingrid in a spot of trouble...

During the 80's she turned to TV work on such as Unity, Doctor Who, Smiley's People, etc. Theater work would come later in the form of plays Dial M For Murder and Woman Of Straw. Fan conventions popped up during this time and she become a frequent guest. She was married three times and has one daughter Steffanie Pitt, also an actress. Ingrid stood only 5'4" and passed away in 2010 at the age of 73.

Hitchcock Film Tournament Update

In the 40's bracket, top seed Rebecca had to stage a last minute rally to defeat third seed Shadow of a Doubt 11-9 and move on to the final four. In the 50's bracket, we have our two semi-final matches set. Top seed Vertigo had little trouble with 8th seed I Confess 11-2. Second seed Rear Window shut out The Trouble With Harry 11-0. The Man Who Knew Too Much upset To Catch a Thief 8-6. And then Dial M For murder pulled  off an upset of third seed Strangers on A Train 9-4. So below are the semi-final matches set to begin today and run thru Monday 8 pm EST. Good news for Grace Kelly fans is that she still has two films in the tournament. Bad news is they play each other this round. I'm still miffed To Catch a Thief got knocked out. I have a photo from that film that I use as wallpaper on my computer screen at work. Oh well, at least Rear Window is still in the mix. Oh and I just realized Jimmy Stewart has to battle himself as Vertigo meets The Man Who Knew too Much. And actually he has three films left in the mix when you count Rear Window. So it's a safe bet to say he will have a film go on to the final four. Just a hunch.

50'S ERA SEMI-FINAL MATCH 1

1 VERTIGO (1958)

VS

5 THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1956)

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

50'S ERA SEMI-FINAL MATCH 2

2 REAR WINDOW (1954)

VS

6 DIAL M FOR MURDER (1954)

Classic Horror Films: Day 28 (BLOOD OF THE VAMPIRE - 1958)

You are looking for a film you could watch with persons who are not so easy with (classic) horror films?

I think I have one for you:

Blood of the Vampire (1958)

Late 19th century: Mad scientist Dr. Callistratus (Donald Wolfit) is reanimated after is death (the town's folk has made sure he's death by driving a stake into his heart..) with a "donor heart" - but because his blood is now infected he starts to explore blood transfusion - with the "help" of some defenseless inmates of a prison hospital - and the new inmate Dr. John Pierre (Vincent Ball) - who is not that helpless - and not at all embracing these experiments..

This film is quite cute. The female lead is Barbara Shelley, who some will know as "the First Leading Lady of British Horror" - and believe me: she looks gorgeous.

Die-hard Horror fans will be disappointed because the "vampire" is no real vampire and that spookiest things are some doberman pinschers and the "Igor"-like assistant of Dr. Callistratus Carl (Victor Maddern) - with a very obvious make-up.. well.. I won't recommend this film for little children because there are definitively some deaths - but it is really a cute film.

The story line is nice and if you have problems with falling asleep after watching this film - honestly: I think you should visit a doctor then - because that won't be caused by this film.

THE FALL SERIES: Terry Moore

Terry Moore getting into the festive mood of Halloween

Happy Birthday Teresa Wright (1918 - 2005)

Happy Birthday to Teresa Wright, one of my favorite actresses. Best known for playing nice, young women and always seemed to look on the bright side of things, no matter what. Her films include Shadow Of A Doubt, The Pride of the Yankees, The Best Years of Our Lives, Mrs. Miniver and The Little Foxes. Teresa passed away at the age of 86 of a heart attack. TCM is airing several of her movies today in honor of her birthday including The Little Foxes (on right now as I post this), Casanova Brown and Enchantment. Try to watch at least one of her films today. I plan to watch Mrs. Miniver when I get home today from work. Happy Birthday Teresa!

THE FALL SERIES: Henry Fonda

Say CHEESE!