Introduction
Welcome to my corner! Last week, I shared my thoughts about the Thing from Another World (1951), The Rear Window (1954), and Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959); movies that I watched for the Halloween season. This week, I'm sharing my thoughts about these movies: The Black Cat (1934), Horror of Dracula (1958) and What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962).
The Black Cat
The Black Cat (1934) film synopsis: American honeymooners in Hungary become trapped in the home of a Satan-worshipping priest when the bride is taken there for medical help following a road accident.
This movie is the first of eight that Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff starred in together; thanks to the success of this film. I thought that list was smaller. The only other movie I've seen on that list is The Body Snatcher (1945).
I quite enjoyed The Black Cat film. There's some creepy, disturbing scenes, but what else can you expect from Edgar Allan Poe? Apparently this movie is based on one of his short stories of the same name. I haven't read it yet though, so I can't talk much about that side. Wikipedia says that the film and its title were "suggested by" Poe's work and there's actually not much relation. It's unfortunate, but not unheard of in the movie-making business.
The namesake of the film has little to do with the film funnily enough. The cat's only purpose in the film is to scare Lugosi's character once in awhile. His character is deathly afraid of cats for some reason.
The movie starts off with the newlywed couple meeting Lugosi's character on a train. They're later traveling on a bus that crashes, killing the driver. The wife is hurt, so they walk to the nearest house, which happens to be Karloff's character's house. Turns out he's a Satan-worshipping priest up to no good, but the group of three doesn't have much choice but to stay at his place. Also turns out that Lugosi and Karloff's characters know each other and they are not on good terms. Lugosi believes Karloff intentionally sent him to prison, betraying their country, to steal his family, specifically his wife Karen. Convinced of his betrayal, Lugosi plots his revenge, but Karloff won't make it easy.
Horror of Dracula
Horror of Dracula (1958) film synopsis: When Jonathan Harker rouses the ire of Count Dracula for accepting a job at the vampire's castle under false pretenses, his friend Dr. Van Helsing pursues the predatory villain.
First of all, I've read Dracula by Bram Stoker. I've also seen many iterations of the tale. However, none of them seem to come close to the original. Go figure. Horror of Dracula is no different.
The movie's plot seemed pretty promising from the start; I was pleasantly surprised, until the characters' relationships were explained.
For whatever reason, they made Mina, Lucy and Arthur siblings. also, Mina was no longer engaged to Jonathan Harker, instead Lucy was... And Lucy's original betrothed Arthur, is now her older brother... And Jonathan Harker dies within the first half hour of the movie... But like, why? I just don't understand how these changes made the movie better. That would be the only reason to make the change, right?
In my opinion, this movie really did Mina's character dirty. Mina was a badass in the novel, saving her fiance, Harker, and best friend Lucy from Count Dracula, with the help of Van Helsing. By the way, he was also not Harker's friend in the novel. Van Helsing was introduced into the story by one of Lucy's suitors after she falls ill. Mina did so much in the novel, but she's reduced to practically nothing in this movie. The focus is more on Lucy, Arthur and Mina as a family rather than them individually as characters.
Other than my issues with the character relationships, the movie was good as far as Dracula movies go. I would recommend it.
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) film synopsis: A former vaudeville child star torments her paraplegic sister, who eclipsed her as a movie star, in their decaying Hollywood mansion while desperately clinging to hopes of a comeback.
I was lead to believe this was the only movie Bette Davies and Joan Crawford ever starred in together because they hated each other. However, I found another film that they were in together, although not in the same scene. The other movie is Hollywood Canteen (1944).
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a disturbing film to say the least. The absolute psychological torture that Davis's character, Jane, puts Crawford's character, Blanche, through can be hard to watch. And they're sisters!
In a nutshell, Jane is jealous of the attention and fame that her sister Blanche got later in life, compared to her childhood fame. Jane's fame faded into obscurity and Blanche's didn't, which makes Jane bitter.
After a car accident, Blanche is left paralyzed and Jane is left to take care of her. Everything seems fine, but quickly spirals out of control.
It's certainly not a movie for the faint at heart, but is a good watch. I would recommend.
That's it for this week! What were your thoughts? Feel free to share them with us! You can call us, email us, visit us at the office, leave us a comment or message on Facebook, or even mail us something. Keep the comments, suggestions, questions, submissions, etc. coming our way! We'd love to hear from you!
