Hello friends, it's been a while since I've posted anything here mainly due to excessive college work but I'm back now and what better way to make a return than to discuss one of the most important era's in cinema, the golden age. Over the next while I will be doing a series of posts on my top 10 horror films from specific era's that I enjoy or that I feel really defined their era, after this post I will be doing them by decade but I thought I'd begin by incorporating the 20's, 30's and 40's into one post. Those three decades were essentially the genesis of horror cinema, they saw the rise and (temporary) fall of gothic horror cinema and the birth of some of the genres most iconic figures. So here are 10 of my favourite horror films from that era, enjoy!
10. Cat People (1942)
A film that lived by the term 'less is more', Cat People was a different kind of horror film for its time. While most horrors focused on creating a terrifyingly memorable antagonist, Cat People's creature is never actually seen, instead the cat creature is more implied and brought to life through the use of sound and shadow. The film follows Serbian fashion designer Irena Dubrovna (Simone Simon) as she struggles with her strange curse that turns her into a cat person when she becomes aroused. The film focuses heavily on suspense as seen from the infamous pool scene, it also introduced a technique known as the Lewton Bus in which a build up of tension is broken by a moment of startlement by something that isn't threatening. In this case, the audience expects Irena to turn into a panther and attack her unsuspecting victim, instead the tension is broken by the sound of a bus pulling up. The technique was named after the films producer Val Lewton. It was a different film for its time but one that made excellent use of suspense to create an atmosphere of dread in its more unnerving scenes.
9. The Mummy (1932)
Another film that relied more on atmosphere than thrills, The Mummy was one of Universal's early monster movies and saw rising horror legend Boris Karloff in the titular role. Karloff plays Imhotep, an Egyptian high priest who was mummified and later resurrected after his tomb is discovered by archaeologists, after this he sets out to bring his dead lover back to life. If that sounds familiar its probably because you've seen the films remake with Brendan Fraiser and its subsequent sequels, but this is where it all began and watching Karloff's captivating performance as Imhotep to me is more entertaining than any blockbuster action sequence. Aside from being a tense horror film it is also a love story about a dead man looking for his dead girl and that is something we can all relate to in some ways. Often overshadowed by other Universal horror flicks such as Dracula and Frankenstein, this film is just as good and left behind a legacy that inspired countless re-imaginings, parodies and remakes in the years that followed.
8. White Zombie (1932)
Before George Romero changed zombie movies forever, classic zombie flicks generally involved more voodoo and less brains and White Zombie is one of the best. It is a twisted tale of unrequited love that sees a man enlist the help of voodoo priest Murder Legendre (Bela Lugosi) to help him win the heart of a woman named Madeleine (Madge Bellamy). One of the main reasons why I love White Zombie is Bela Lugosi, the Hungarian actor always has sense about his performance that is almost bewitching and it is quite evident in this film. Having said that, the acting is a bit hammy but that's the beauty of films like White Zombie, they're over the top, they're melodramatic, but it works! What makes it so memorable aside from the acting is just how bizarre the whole thing is, zombies working in a sugarcane mill under the control of a voodoo priest who looks suspiciously like Dracula before they all slowly walk off a cliff to their death (well, second death I guess). It's totally bizarre and hammy but in the best way possible.
7. The Wolf Man (1941)
Lon Chaney was already a well established name in horror cinema, the renowned makeup artist had become iconic thanks to his roles in films such as The Phantom of the Opera. However it was his son, Lon Chaney Jr. who took the spotlight for this Universal monster movie. Chaney plays Larry Talbot, a man who falls victim to a terrible curse that forces him to transform into a terrifying wolf man when the sun goes down. Chaney is flawless as both man and beast in this film, being cool and calm as Larry Talbot while going full animal for the eponymous monster, he would go on to play the role numerous times after and is known for being very fond of the character. Like the aforementioned Cat People, this is a film that focuses on the struggle between humanity and the beast inside, Talbot does not want to hurt people but the transformation is something that he cannot control. There's this internal conflict going on amidst the conflict between Talbot and those around him and it makes for a really powerful story about mans struggle between good and evil.
6. Frankenstein (1931)
One of the earliest horror films from Universal studios and definitely the most iconic, Frankenstein was a loose adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel of the same name and saw Boris Karloff take on the role of the creature brought back from the dead by the titular doctor (Colin Clive). Karloff's portrayal differs from the character in the book, he is not as educated for one but also he is much more sympathetic. There is a child like essence about Karloff's monster, he is curious and wants to fit in but is constantly rejected by those around him and therefore turns against them. In a way he is very much human despite his inhuman qualities. The film is also stylistically phenomenal, its gothic production design has since become iconic from the looming castles to the massive laboratory while Jack Pierce's monster makeup has become a face we all know at this stage and one that is heavily associated with Frankenstein's monster. This is without a doubt one of the most influential horror films of its own time and of all time.
5. Nosferatu (1922)
Before horror films became big in America they were making quite the impact in inter-war Germany. Cinema became a big deal in the Weimar Republic, particularly expressionist films, and Nosferatu is one of the most iconic. It is essentially an adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula just with the character's names changed and the location moved to Germany, however the film has become very much its own thing. I'll have to admit it took me several attempts to watch this in full but I eventually learned to appreciate it for its haunting atmosphere and unsettling performance by Max Shreck as the terrifying Count Orlok. Like many expressionist films there is this atmosphere that is almost dreamlike, or in this case nightmare-like and combined with Shreck's appearance this is a truly spine-tingling piece of cinema. In a way it pioneered the horror craze that would dominate the decades that followed.
4. Freaks (1932)
And now a film way ahead of its time, Freaks, a film about sideshow performers who come into conflict with the scheming trapeze artist Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) who wants the inheritance of one of their members. Upon its release, Freaks was incredibly controversial mainly due to the fact that the cast was mainly composed of real sideshow performers with real irregularities and it ultimately led to the end of director Tod Browning's career several years later. It was also controversial due to the disturbing imagery in the films shocking climax where it is revealed what the performers did to the unfortunate Cleopatra. Audiences were shocked at the time but it has since become a classic that is considered to be ahead of its time both thematically and visually. I really like this film as it does not portray the titular 'freaks' as monsters but merely as misunderstood people who have found their place in society among each other. Above all, this is a film about acceptance.
3. Dracula (1931)
The film that began the long chain of Universal horror films that dominated cinema during the 30's and 40's, Dracula not only set the standard for horror cinema at the time but also characterised the iconic vampire from Bram Stoker's novel. Bela Lugosi's performance as the titular Count has gone down in history and has influenced countless other adaptations and different vampire films. Although it is more an adaptation of the stage play it still retains the spirit of the novel and certainly excelled in presenting Count Dracula on the big screen. There is a chilling atmosphere throughout from the gloomy corridors of Dracula's castle to the crypts of Carfax Abby, it may seem a bit dated by today's standards however there is an undeniable air of suspense from start to finish that is only enhanced by Lugosi's charming performance as Dracula. It is a true gothic masterpiece and is essentially what brought about the popularity of horror cinema in the golden age.
2. Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Perhaps the first sequel to be considered better than its predecessor, Bride of Frankenstein continues the story from the first Frankenstein and follows the monster as he continues his quest for acceptance. Meanwhile Dr. Frankenstein is reunited with his former friend and mentor Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger) who plans on creating a bride for the creature along with a whole race of undead creatures. The film allows more development for Karloff's monster who longs for companionship and learns how to speak, it is almost heartbreaking watching him interact with the fearful villagers. It is often considered to be one of the first gay horror films not only because of director James Whale's homosexuality but also because of the overly flamboyant character of Pretorius. The titular bride (Elsa Lanchester) doesn't have much screentime but her appearance is a memorable one, the scene between her and Karloff during the films climax certainly pulls on the heart strings. Who knew a film about bringing dead bodies back to life could be so damn emotional.
1. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
It would be a crime not to give the top spot to this film, it is after all one of the first ever horror films. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a milestone in the history of cinema, it is an expressionist masterpiece that maintains an eerie atmosphere from the start until its twisted climax. It follows a strange string of murders that took place after the arrival of the mysterious Dr. Caligari (Werner Krauss), a travelling hypnotist accompanied by the mysterious somnambulist Caesare (Conrad Veidt). Visually this is stunning, the twisted and distorted setpieces enhance that nightmarish atmosphere to give a whole different cinematic experience. Watching the menacing Caesare move through the twisted dark city is very unsettling, the film is almost like being stuck in a nightmare that you never want to wake up from. The film is also known for being the first film with a twist ending, but if you want to see that you'll have to watch it. Dark, chilling yet extremely captivating, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari is a must see film for anybody interested in not only horror but in cinema as a whole too.
So that's this installment finished, next time I'll be looking at my top 10 horror films of the 1950's that will include space monsters and the birth of Hammer horror so stay tuned for that. I hope you liked the list and if you have any other horror films from that era that you enjoy then let me know in the comments, until next time.
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