BLACK SLEEP monster rally in '50s Horror and Sci-Fi Forum

0 Points

Forum Jump

BLACK SLEEP monster rally

Author	Comment
Ted Newsom	BLACK SLEEP monster rally	Lead	[-]
Sep 5 05 1:48 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tom W requested this a long time ago.
Ted Newsom	Re: BLACK SLEEP monster rally	#1	[-]
Sep 5 05 1:52 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	60 seconds later
TomWeaver999	Re: BLACK SLEEP monster rally	#2	[-]
Sep 5 05 2:02 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Worthy of a Special Rondo -- I've got tears in my eyes from laughing -- thanks, Ted!!
carl2000	Re: BLACK SLEEP monster rally	#3	[-]
Sep 6 05 1:20 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Good one, Mister Newsom!
lsasser	Re: BLACK SLEEP monster rally!"	#4	[-]
Sep 7 05 2:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ted, there seems to be a problem with your punchline (60 seconds later) It isn't opening for me. I've tried going directly to Image Shack, but I keep timing out.
Ted Newsom	Re: BLACK SLEEP monster rally	#5	[-]
Sep 8 05 3:35 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Looks fine to me. Maybe the monkey threw your glasses across the room.
lsasser	Silent Bela performance	#6	[-]
Sep 8 05 5:36 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Damn Monkey! Back in your cage, I've heard a rumor concerning Bela's lack of dialogue in THE BLACK SLEEP. It seems that he had lines detailing his plans for world conquest and immortality (when restored to his full power), but Allied Artists thought that a Hungarian accent sounded silly coming out of a butler's mouth, so they cut out all of his dialogue. This post-production butchering forced the editor to build up the minor brain surgery subplot concerning some background characters played by Akim Tamiroff and Basil Rathbone by using outtakes, body doubles and limited stop-motion animation. Of course, Chaney Jr. was supposed to have played all of the parts, so maybe Lugosi got lucky after all.
oldmanster	Re: Silent Bela performance	#7	[-]
Sep 8 05 10:44 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	But just think what Christopher Lee could have done with the Lugosi role! Closeups of large, red, watery eyes (okay, so we wouldn't really know that they were actually red until later) mixed with longer shots of Lee in a butler's uniform! ... Reed
Ted Newsom	Re: Silent Bela performance	#8	[-]
Sep 8 05 12:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Peter Lorre would have been dead wrong for Mungo. Eddie Parker would've had to have doubled him. With Dave Sharpe doing the leaping. In a fat suit. Although as originally cast, Tor Johnson would've excelled as the brilliant surgeon desperate to revive his comatose wife. Herbert Rudley is adequate, but the first inspiration, Roger C. Carmel, would've brought far more color to the bland role, which needed more wide-eyed double-takes. They doubtless discussed the World Which Might Have Been on the set of THE MOTHERS-IN-LAW so many years later. Rudley was fond of saying, "Poor Roger. He was a fine actor, a fine technician, he'd been a big star in Omaha, he did Harry Mudd and so on. We didn't socialize, no. He preferred the company of nuts and fruitbars. But I think the mustache handicapped him in a way. I've always believed a handlebar mustache looks goofier than hell, especially when it's smeared with bread and butter."
Doc Savage	Re: Silent Bela performance	#9	[-]
Sep 11 05 5:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Black Sleep is an interesting little movie (for what it is); in one of the MidMar books, Tom Weaver wrote a great essay on how it is a bridge to the latter (inferior) Hammer films. PS -- I think Rathbone was one of the finest performers to appear in horror films. Not a 'horror star' (whatever that might mean), he probably has more top notch 'real films' to his credit than any of the others, and more versatile and interesting performances, to boot.
Joe Karlosi	Re: Silent Bela performance	#10	[-]
Sep 12 05 5:18 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Tom Weaver wrote a great essay on how it is a bridge to the latter (inferior) Hammer films. And he made a good point. I've been using that ever since. ---------------------- "Why don't you quit these bloody games -- throw away those Halloween costumes and get these people organized, dammit!!"
Ted Newsom	Re: Silent Bela performance	#11	[-]
Sep 12 05 6:36 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Tom Weaver wrote a great essay on how it is a bridge to the latter (inferior) Hammer films. And he made a good point. Luckily Weaver wears a good hat and nobody notices.
Tor havin fun	Re: Silent Bela performance	#12	[-]
Sep 20 05 6:50 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Lugosi's walk and gait in the film makes it look like he's wearing Depends. "I could be goink at any time..."
Ted Newsom	Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#13	[-]
Sep 21 05 3:01 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Tom Weaver wrote a great essay on how it is a bridge to the latter (inferior) Hammer films. I think this was something addressed pre-deluge. Hammer (and various other British companies) were doing costume pictures prior to Black Sleep... as early as the late 40s, early 50s. I think DICK TURPIN, HIGHWAYMAN was released in '55, or at the latest, '56 (coincident with BLACK SLEEP). Given that Richard Wordsworth's performance in CREEPING UNKNOWN/QUATERMASS XPERIMENT was likened in many reviews to Karloff's portrayl of the Monster, a Frankenstein film seems like a natural. BLACK SLEEP is fun but cheap and very old-fashioned 50s. Rudley, the women, and the assorted cops are all supposed to be English-- they sound as British as Kevin Costner doing Robin Hood. The photography is unimaginative, relying primarily on overlit mastershots (thanks, Reggie, for bringing your genius to UA and Bel-Air. We'll be back in touch real soon.) Other than a "stellar" cast (which was not considered particularly stellar in the context of 1956 films...), I think it's worthy of a nervous B-. The Hammers (which were not inspired by BLACK SLEEP at all...) earn a B+ or an A... because they're prettier.
Joe Karlosi	Re: Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#14	[-]
Sep 21 05 5:33 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* The Hammers (which were not inspired by BLACK SLEEP at all...) earn a B+ or an A... because they're prettier. If THE BLACK SLEEP had been made in color (and can't you picture Cushing in the Rathbone role?) it would certainly be very Hammer-like. *Quote:* Rudley, the women, and the assorted cops are all supposed to be English-- they sound as British as Kevin Costner doing Robin Hood. How do you feel about all those "Spanish accents" in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF? :) ---------------------- "It's MORE ... than a hobby!"
Zombiewalkin	Re: Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#15	[-]
Sep 21 05 8:07 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I havent seen this one but it looks very very interesting! I did think the pics were pretty funny though.
hnicolella	Re: Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#16	[-]
Sep 21 05 4:45 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* How do you feel about all those "Spanish accents" in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF? :) ---------------------- Or those Cockney Spanish Armada survivors in DEVIL SHIP PIRATES, especially the one who accosts a girl with "Hullo-hullo-hullo"!
Ted Newsom	Re: Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#17	[-]
Sep 22 05 12:50 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* How do you feel about all those "Spanish accents" in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF? :) Inexcusibly silly.
SFfilmfan	Re: Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#18	[-]
Sep 22 05 4:44 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Quote: If THE BLACK SLEEP had been made in color (and can't you picture Cushing in the Rathbone role?) it would certainly be very Hammer-like. I'm sorry but the only aspect of THE BLACK SLEEP that reminds me at all of a Hammer film is the use of an exposed brain as a prop. THE BLACK SLEEP falls in line much more with low-budget fifties fright films than with the gothic grisliness that was Hammer's stock in trade. (Plus no Michael Ripper, no Thornley Walters, no beautiful babes with plunging necklines and minimal acting skills and no handsome male ingenues with '60s haircuts, etc.)
Joe Karlosi	Re: Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#19	[-]
Sep 22 05 4:51 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Oh, there was at least one Hammer-esque babe in THE BLACK SLEEP (the one that assisted Rathbone, and reminded me of Madeline Smith out of FRANKENSTEIN & THE MONSTER FROM HELL). Also, I wouldn't expect any males with '60s haircuts in 1956 :) ---------------------- "It's MORE ... than a hobby!"
evilskippy	Re: Tom's Hammer Comes Down	#20	[-]
Sep 22 05 6:53 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* How do you feel about all those "Spanish accents" in CURSE OF THE WEREWOLF? :) About the same as I do with all of the American accents in films like Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man, Ghost of Frankenstein etc. You overlook it. "Permit me to introduce myself.My name is Mabuse.Dr Mabuse".

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Yuku free message boards

BLACK SLEEP monster rally

BLACK SLEEP monster rally