Come on Classichollywood people, throw Rochellelynn a crumb. You know she is right. At this time of year there is nothing better than to watch a Classichollywood scary movie.
Peter Lorre and Raymond Massey in ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’, (1944) the scene where Cary Grant is tied to a chair and Dr. Einstein opens his medical bag to reveal medical instruments to be used in torturing information out of poor Cary. The lighting, the shadows on curtains, the fear in Cary’s eyes as his brother explains that the torture he put him through as a child would pale
compared to what Dr. Einstein’s expertise would elicit. The lighthearted then dramatic when it needs to be Max Steiner music, and director Frank Capra what can I say Halloween isn’t Halloween without watching this movie.
Since Rochellelynn asked a question and no one else has stepped up to the plate to share their favorite spooky films I will. However I tend to think in decades so I will start with the 1922 ‘Nosferatu’ talk about creepy and that Max Schreck… special effects were not what they are today so was Max really a vampire in disguise as an actor?
1932 brought us ‘Island of Lost Souls’ with Charles Laughton, forget the remakes this is the real disturbing deal kind of movie that makes you think twice about genetic engineering.
1956 ‘The Bad Seed’ what a stinker little Rhoda is. Patty McCormack as Rhoda received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for her portrayal of the not so nice cute little ‘I want what I want when I want it or else’ girl. Patty’s spine chilling portrayal is excellent but she loses the Oscar to Dorothy Malone in the movie ‘Written on the wind’.
Rochellelynn mentioned the groundbreaking 1960 ‘Psyco’ so even though it isn’t ‘Golden’ Classichollywood I am going to mention some years that typical children of today(those ages 40 and younger, Rochellelynn excluded) consider classic movies only I’ll call them ‘Silver’ Classichollywood.
The epitome of ‘Silver’ Classichollywood spooky movies is the 1978 movie ‘Halloween’ starring the then unknown daughter of Janet Leigh, Jamie Leigh Curtis. John Carpenter’s triple whammy as Director, Screenwriter and writer of the unforgettable Music soundtrack left us with a character ‘Michael’ that well, just never seems to die.
1984 ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ brought us the very sinister ‘Freddy’ but also brought us the very talented ‘Johnny Depp’. Then there is ‘Jack & Sally’ in the 1993 ‘Nightmare Before Christmas’ Tim Burton’s animated with an excellent music soundtrack movie which was nominated for an Oscar in Visual effects but lost out to ‘Jurassic Park’. You don’t watch it at Christmas you watch it
on the Nightmare before Christmas which is ‘Halloween’ to get you prepared for Christmas.
I suppose I should mention the 2004 movie ‘Saw’ it was a cutting edge (excuse the pun) next Century type gritty shocker movie. There were twists and turns, puzzles, you had to think your way thru the movie it reminded me a little of a Hitchcock movie. However it made me sick made me want to throw-up. If I catch the flu I get sick, sometimes I vomit (ick), so I try to avoid catching the flu. If I want to be entertained I go to see a movie that uplifts me, makes me feel good, makes me sit on the edge of my seat
in anticipation or spooks me a little bit at this time of year. So please, is there anyone out there that will share their favorite spooky movies ‘Golden or Silver’ with Rochellelynn? Because you know what Rochellelynn will ask next…? What are your favorite classichollywood Christmas movies!
I’d have to think about Christmas films but as for scary movies I’d have to go with the 1963 version of “The Haunting”, “Psycho”, “Arsenic and Old Lace”, the 1931 version of “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”, “Rebecca” and “The Night of the Hunter”.
Hey Thanks so much for the comment. After I hit the ‘publish’ button on my Post ‘The Haunting’ (1963) popped into my head. You are correct…the one small part of the film that I have seen, scared me so much I still can’t watch the complete movie. Heaven forbid if I hear anyone banging on a door. Fredric March, Robert Mitchum excellent scary picks, I’m not sure about ‘Rebecca’ though. I am a Daphne du Maurier fan and love the book, unless the scary part is because ‘the other sister’ is starring in it or Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers, well I guess they both caught the attention of the Academy for their commendable performances so who am I to question. Thanks again!
My reason for including “Rebecca” is definitely Judith Anderson. She’s got this menacing hold over the house and feels threatened when the 2nd Mrs. DeWinter arrives. She’s just so creepy and it looks like she glides or floats everywhere, it never looks like she’s actually walking.
‘I had a feeling…’ to quote Jane Darwell in the 1942 WB movie ‘All Through the Night’ (which Judith also appeared in as the bad girl). Even though she lost the Oscar for her performance in ‘Rebecca’ to Jane for her performance in 1940’s ‘Grapes of Wrath’. In the scary category who do we remember decades later but Dame Judith in ‘Rebecca’, excellent choice.