Starring Kieron Moore, Hazel Court, Ian Hunter, Kenneth J. Warren, Gerald C. Lawson
Directed by Sidney J. Furie
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
A medical student kicked out of his studies in Vienna for experimenting on living patients returns home to a British village, where he continues his efforts in secret caves within a coal mine.
This isn't a great film, with a story that largely takes the main themes from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein novel, and applies them to a more modern setting. Interestingly enough, per IMDB, it was written by Nathan Juran (credited here as Jerry Juran), who's better known for directing films like Attack Of The 50 Foot Woman and The 7th Voyage Of Sinbad. I've found Moore to be a fairly solid lead in his other pictures, but he doesn't compare here to the better known cinematic Dr. Frankensteins. Nevertheless, I still found a good deal to enjoy here- Moore is surrounded by a capable supporting cast, with Court delightful as the nurse he romances, and Hunter, Warren, and Lawson standing out in fine character parts. Cinematographer Stephen Dade captures some very picturesque scenery, including rustic homes and green fields descending down into rocky shoals. The makeup on Moore's monster at the climax is also of quality. The picture just lacks originality, and seems best characterized as an attempt to attract the audiences of previous Frankenstein pictures.
Showing posts with label Ian Hunter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ian Hunter. Show all posts
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Monday, August 21, 2017
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1941)
Starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter
Directed by Victor Fleming
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
The brilliant young Dr. Jekyll risks his impending marriage and standing in society in experiments to unleash his own dark half, a hideous alter ego who is as depraved as Jekyll is good and decent.
The 1941 version of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous story isn't quite the film that the 1931 adaptation with Fredric March is, and suffers a bit due to modifications that must have been made to please the Hays Office, giving the movie's predecessor an edge due to its Pre-Code status. In this version, despite his fantastic theories, Jekyll is a clearly defined Christian, and his atrocities as Hyde are mostly hinted at and kept off screen. Nevertheless, an early fantasy sequence in the film almost makes up for some of the whitewashing with some very daring imagery. The picture may be best remembered for its unconventional casting with Turner and Bergman playing the opposite roles one would expect based on their careers. The film also takes a chance in giving Tracy a somewhat subtle makeup as Hyde, but I think the actor pulls off the role with polish and panache. It's definitely not as exciting a film as the 1931 version, but it certainly looks impressive, with good photography and some elaborate sets, and does have the advantage of a musical score by the great Franz Waxman.
Directed by Victor Fleming
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
The brilliant young Dr. Jekyll risks his impending marriage and standing in society in experiments to unleash his own dark half, a hideous alter ego who is as depraved as Jekyll is good and decent.
The 1941 version of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous story isn't quite the film that the 1931 adaptation with Fredric March is, and suffers a bit due to modifications that must have been made to please the Hays Office, giving the movie's predecessor an edge due to its Pre-Code status. In this version, despite his fantastic theories, Jekyll is a clearly defined Christian, and his atrocities as Hyde are mostly hinted at and kept off screen. Nevertheless, an early fantasy sequence in the film almost makes up for some of the whitewashing with some very daring imagery. The picture may be best remembered for its unconventional casting with Turner and Bergman playing the opposite roles one would expect based on their careers. The film also takes a chance in giving Tracy a somewhat subtle makeup as Hyde, but I think the actor pulls off the role with polish and panache. It's definitely not as exciting a film as the 1931 version, but it certainly looks impressive, with good photography and some elaborate sets, and does have the advantage of a musical score by the great Franz Waxman.
Friday, July 14, 2017
Tower Of London (1939)
Starring Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Barbara O'Neil, Ian Hunter, Vincent Price
Directed by Rowland V. Lee
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Richard of Gloucester plots his ascension to the English throne through trickery and murder with the aid of a loyal executioner.
After teaming earlier in the year for Son Of Frankenstein, Rathbone, Karloff, and producer/director Lee return for this costume drama retelling the cruelties of Richard III, playing it up like a horror movie by tracking in the title music from their previous film. It's a marvelous showcase for Rathbone as the villainous Richard, who brings across icy stares and cruel sneers as well as phony airs of sympathy and sincerity to achieve his aims. He also, despite his debauchery, is the character to root for in the film, opposed by bland heroes played by John Sutton and Ralph Forbes. Karloff has a marvelous opening scene in which he's introduced as the club-footed executioner sharpening an axe with a raven on his shoulder, but disappointingly doesn't have much more to do in the film than obey Richard's orders. To be honest, this isn't among the better films of its type, but I enjoy it, and there's a wealth of character actors on display from Miles Mander to Lionel Belmore to Leo G. Carroll, and even a young Vincent Price, who would take on Rathbone's role in the 1962 remake.
Directed by Rowland V. Lee
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)
Richard of Gloucester plots his ascension to the English throne through trickery and murder with the aid of a loyal executioner.
After teaming earlier in the year for Son Of Frankenstein, Rathbone, Karloff, and producer/director Lee return for this costume drama retelling the cruelties of Richard III, playing it up like a horror movie by tracking in the title music from their previous film. It's a marvelous showcase for Rathbone as the villainous Richard, who brings across icy stares and cruel sneers as well as phony airs of sympathy and sincerity to achieve his aims. He also, despite his debauchery, is the character to root for in the film, opposed by bland heroes played by John Sutton and Ralph Forbes. Karloff has a marvelous opening scene in which he's introduced as the club-footed executioner sharpening an axe with a raven on his shoulder, but disappointingly doesn't have much more to do in the film than obey Richard's orders. To be honest, this isn't among the better films of its type, but I enjoy it, and there's a wealth of character actors on display from Miles Mander to Lionel Belmore to Leo G. Carroll, and even a young Vincent Price, who would take on Rathbone's role in the 1962 remake.
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