Horror Classics – Doyle's Space

“Frankenstein” (1931)

Oh, in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!

I watched the original 1931 Universal Pictures Corp. horror movie “Frankenstein” on Svengoolie. The movie was produced by Carl Laemmle Jr. (founder of Universal Studios and head of the production from 1928 to 1936) and directed by James Whale (The Old Dark House, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein). The story was written by Mary Shelley (she published the story, also called The Modern Prometheus in 1818). Svengoolie pointed out that without this movie there would have been no Herman Munster nor Franken Berry!

The Mummy (1959)

I watched this re-telling of the original, 1932 horror classic, “The Mummy” on Svengoolie. This one is by Hammer Studios from Universal-International, the 1959 “The Mummy”. When searching for Princess Ananka’s tomb in 1895, the protector of the tomb, the Mummy, is released. The film is produced by Michael Carreras (The Curse of Frankenstein, The Abominable Snowman, Dracula, The Revenge of Frankenstein, The Man Who Could Cheat Death, The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll, The Brides of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf,

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

I watched the Universal-International 1954 3D monster horror film Creature of the Black Lagoon. It was directed by Jack Arnold and produced by William Alland (This Island Earth, It came From Outer Space, Tarantula!, The Deadly Mantis, The Mole People, The Colossus of New York, The Space Children, and the three Creature from the Black Lagoon films). The geology expedition ends up in the Black Lagoon off a tributary of the Amazon. Here they find more than just rocks.

Jack Arnold (Director)

Born October 14, 1916, in New Haven, Connecticut, Jack Arnold is famous for his 1950’s Sci-Fi, Horror flics. As a child he was and avid reader of science fiction and began his career as an actor on and off Broadway.

The Return of the Vampire (1943)

I watched this 1943, sorta sequel to Dracula, The Return of the Vampire by Columbia Pictures on Svengoolie. The story starts in World War I and the vampire Armand Tesla is staked in the heart and buried. Twenty four years later, now World War II, bombs upset the cemetery and Tesla is unearthed and a groundskeeper unwittingly removes the stake and horror ensues. Because Universal owned Dracula this is not the official sequel but Bela Lugosi (1931 Dracula, and lots of monster movies), portrays Dracula, I mean Tesla in the this movie.

The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)

I watched this British 1958 Hammer horror film, Revenge of Frankenstein, on Svengoolie. The movie is directed by Terence Fisher (Horror of Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Mummy, The Brides of Dracula, The Curse of the Werewolf, The Phantom of the Opera, Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell) and was the sequel to 1957 The Curse of Frankenstein.

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

I watched the Universal 1948 comedy horror Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein on Svengoolie. The movie stars Bud Abbott and Lou Costello as baggage clerks that receive two packages, Dracula and Frankenstein for McDougal’s House of Horrors wax museum. Larry Talbot (The Wolfman) is trying to stop the delivery because he knows they are really alive.

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)

I watched the 1943 sequel to The Wolf Man, Universal Studios Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man on Svengoolie. When grave robbers, looking for buried money in the Talbot mausoleum, open Larry Talbot’s crypt they find his body and the coffin stuffed with Wolf’s-bane. Lon Chaney Jr. (played the Mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein monster and the Wolf-Man), Larry Talbot, is free and starts seeking an end for his suffering. He locates the gypsy woman Maleva, Maria Ouspenskaya

Son of Dracula (1943)

I watched the first Universal directed movie by thriller specialist, Robert Siodmak, the 1943 Son of Dracula on Svengoolie. Lon Chaney Jr. plays Count Alucard (Dracula backwards) in the third Universal Dracula show, the first two being Dracula and Dracula’s Daughter, and the first bringing the vampire to America. Lon Chaney Jr. played four of the Classic horror monsters in, The Wolf Man, Frankenstein’s Monster and The Ghost of Frankenstein, The Mummy’s Tomb,

The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb (1964)

I watched the 1964 Columbia Pictures, Hammer Film, “The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” on Svengoolie. The movie was produced and directed by Michael Carreras (a British director of many Hammer horror films and others like One Million Years BC, Prehistoric Women and The Lost Continent).

It stars Terence Morgan (best known for 1948 Hamlet and 1951 Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.), Ronald Howard (no relation to Opie –

1967 Secret Agent tv series, 1964 Combat!, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Danger Man) , Fred Clark (Bonanza, I Dream of Jeannie, Beverly Hillbillies, F Troop, Laredo, Addams Family, Dick Van Dyke Show,

Wagon Train, Twilight Zone, The Untouchables and George Burns & Gracie Allen Show), and Jeanne Roland (British model, You Only Live Twice, Casino Royale, The Avengers, 1965 Secret Agent and The Saint). I enjoyed this movie and will give it 4 out if 5 stars. For more information read Wikipedia, IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.